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Day 1: Arrival – Transfer from the airport - City Tour
Upon Your arrival our representative will meet You at the airport and accompany to Your hotel. After having a rest You will start a tour through Yerevan. The walking tour starts from the Heart of the city - Republic Square. You will visit History Museum of Armenia which is located on the square. Here You will get acquainted with the rich history of the Armenians. The museum has a national collection of 400,000 objects and was founded in 1920. Then You will continue walking on the Northern Avenue up to the Opera Theater. It is located on Freedom Square. Not far from Freedom square is Saryan s park where you can see pictures of Armenia drawn by Armenian artists. Then You will continue the walk to Matenadaran, a repository of ancient manuscripts, research institute and museum. It holds one of the world s richest depositories of medieval manuscripts and books which span a broad range of subjects, including theology, philosophy, history, medicine, literature, art history, and cosmography in Armenian and many other languages. After it You will walk to Cascade complex and see the giant stairway and modern sculptures. Together You will reach the top of the stairway and admire the mesmerizing panorama of Yerevan.
Day 2: Dashtadem - Sardarapat - Etchmiadzin (Mother Cathedral, St. Hripsime, St. Gayane churches, Treasury Museum) - Zvartnots Temple
Dashtadem Fortress is a substantial fortress of the 10th to 19th centuries located at the southern outskirts of Dashtadem village in the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia. An octagonal walled enceinte surrounds the fortress and was constructed during the beginning of the 19th century. Sardarapat Memorial (located in Araks village) is a memorial complex to the Battle of Sardarapat. Its a symbol of pride and survival, the Sardarapat Memorial marks the place of Armenias successful last-ditch effort to save the nation from obliteration at the hands of the Turks in the Battle of Sardarapaton May 22–26, 1918. Against tremendous odds, and during the haunting backdrop of genocide during the previous few years, Armenias makeshift army rebuffed the Turkish troops and safeguarded the small portion of historic Armenia, what became the current republic as it stands today. On the grounds of the historic battle one can today visit the Sardarapat Ethnography and Liberation Movement History Museum adjacent to the outdoor monument. Etchmiadzin Cathedral has always been in the core of the Armenian and foreign architects’ and scientists’ research. According to History of the Armenians by Agathangelos, Armenias patron saint Gregory the Illuminator had a vision of Jesus Christ descending from heaven and striking the earth with a golden hammer to show where the cathedral should be built. Saint Hripsime Church is one of the oldest churches in Armenia. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. St. Hripsime church in Etchmiadzin is considered a masterpiece of early Christian Armenian architecture. The Church of St. Gayane was built in the 7th century. Gayane came to Armenia with 38 nuns including Hripsime .The legend says the church was built over the tomb of Virgin Gayane who was killed for preaching Christianity. The Treasury Museum is home to rare items such as church accessories with historical and artistic value, gold and pearl dresses, crosses and cathedral rocks, numerous ritual items made of gold, silver and ivory decorated with delicate and precious stones. The museum also features unique sacred relics as well as St. Geghard, the spear by which the centurion Longinus pierced Jesus Christ or the Ark of Noah.
Day 3: Tsaghkadzor (Ropeway, Kecharis Monastery) - Lake Sevan (Sevanavank) - Dilijan
This day You will start the tour to Tsaghakdzor, one of the most popular health resorts of Armenia. Tsaghkadzor literally means valley of flowers or flower canyon in Armenian.The Kecharis Monastery is one of the significant religious complexes of Eastern Armenia located in Tsaghkadzor. The Tsakhkadzor Ropeway is located on a slope of Teghenis Mount. From the height of 2819m, where the speed chairlift will take you in 32 minutes, all Armenia is visible at a glance – in clear weather, it offers a breathtaking view of Mount Ararat. Then You will continue Your way to Lake Sevan. Lake Sevan is the largest body of water in Armenia and the Caucasus region. Its is also one of the largest freshwater high-altitude lakes in the world. It is considered the "jewel" of Armenia and is "recognized as a national treasure" in the country. You will also visit Sevanavank Monastery. Initially the monastery was built at the southern shore of a small island. Dilijan is a spa town in the Tavush Province of Armenia. Usually called Armenian Switzerland or Little Switzerland by the locals, it is one of the most important resorts of Armenia. Hiking, mountain biking, and picnicking are popular recreational activities. Goshavank is a 12th- or 13th-century Armenian monastery located in the village of Gosh in the Tavush Province of Armenia. This is an impressive monastery which has remained in relatively good condition also houses one of the worlds finest examples of a khachkar. Haghartsin is a 13th-century monastery located near the town of Dilijan in the Tavush Province of Armenia. It was built between the 10th and 13th centuries, much of it under the patronage of the Bagratuni Dynasty.
Day 4: Khor Virap – Areni Cave - Noravank - Shaki waterfall - Goris (overnight)
The Khor Virap is the most famous sanctuary in Armenia. It was the prison of the first Armenian Catholicos Gregory the Illuminator. He was kept there for 13 years. From the Monastery You can admire the view of Biblical Mount Ararat. In Armenia, the Areni Cave complex is also known as "Birds Cave". The caves are the site at which archaeologists have discovered what is likely the worlds oldest winery, and ancient human brain, the remnants of a 5,000-year-old skirt made of straw, and the worlds oldest leather shoe. Noravank literally "new monastery" is a 13th-century Armenian monastery. The monastery is best known for its two-storey Surb Astvatsatsin church, which grants access to the second floor by way of a narrow stone-made staircase jutting out from the face of building. Located in Syunik Province 6 km away from the town of Sisian, Shaki waterfall is one of the most inspiring sights in Armenia. Origin of the name Shaki comes from beautiful same-named girl. According to the legend a conqueror admired the beauty of Shaki and ordered her to come to him. Shaki didn’t want to become a victim of his violence jumps from a high rock. When falling down her long dress opens and turns into a waterfall. Since then it is called Shaki waterfall.
Day 5: Khndzoresk - Tatev (Ropeway) - Devil s bridge - Jermuk
Khndzoresk is a village in the South-East of Armenia, in the province of Syunik. It is widely famous for its canyon with picturesque rock formations and ancient cave settlement. The Tatev Monastery is a 9th-century Armenian Apostolic located in South-East Armenia, in the area of ancient Armenian Syunik, not far from the city of Goris and 280 km away from Yerevan. The monastery is the "best-known site" in Syunik. Wings of Tatev, a cableway from Tatev to Halidzor village was opened in October 2010.It was included in the Guinness World Records as worlds "longest non-stop double track cable car." Located below Tatev Monastery, in the 500-meter gorge of the Vorotan River, is one of Armenias natural wonders – “Devils Bridge” . Over the millennia, wind and water have created this wonder of nature, polishing and piercing the petrified lava. Close to the bridge it is possible to swim in the warm, salubrious springs, ringed by stalactites of marvelous colors. Jermuk is a mountain spa town in Vayots Dzor Province at the south of Armenia. Jermuk is famous for its hot springs and mineral water brands bottled in the town. It is attractive for its fresh air, waterfall, artificial lakes, mineral water pools, the surrounding forests and walking trails. The town is being redeveloped to become a modern center of tourism and health services. The Areni winery is a 6100-year-old winery that was discovered in 2007 in the Areni cave. It is the oldest winery in the world. In Areni winery You have the opportunity to taste Armenian wine.
Day 6: Oshakan - Armenian Alphabet Moinument - Lake Kari (Aragats) - Amberd
This day You will start Your tour in Aragatsotn province. Here is located the village of Oshakan. It is well known to historians and pilgrims of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Oshakan is best known for the Saint Mesrop Mashtots Cathedral which is the burial place of Saint Mesrop Mashtots, the creator of the Armenian alphabet. Accordingly, You will continue the tour to Armenian Alphabet Monument. Your next stop will be Lake Kari that is on the slope of Aragats. Mount Aragats is an isolated four-peaked volcano massif in Armenia. Its northern summit, at 4,090 m above sea level, is the highest point of the Lesser Caucasus and Armenia. It is also one of the highest points in the Armenian Highlands. Mt. Aragats plays a special role in Armenian history and culture. Along with Ararat, it is considered a sacred mountain for the Armenians. Then You will continue Your way to Amberd fortress. Amberd is a 7th-century fortress located 2,300 meters above sea level, on the slopes of Mount Aragats. The name translates to "fortress in the clouds" in Armenian. It is also the name incorrectly attributed to Vahramashen Church, the 11th-century Armenian church near the castle.
Day 7: Garni Temple - Symphony of Stones - Geghard - Megerian Carpet Factory-Museum
This day You will go Kotayk province where the only pagan temple in Armenia is located. Garni temple is the simple of pre-christian Armenia. Not far from Garni temple is The Symphony of Stones . The canyon is attractive for the wonderful natural rocks, formed of regular hexagonal cylinders. These rocks start from the beginning up to the highest point of the canyon. The canyons formation is so unique that it almost looks artificial. Here is no human intervention. The composition is called “Symphony of Stones” or “Basalt Organ”. Your next stop will be Geghardavank , a monastery partially carved out of the adjacent mountain, surrounded by cliffs. This one belongs to christian Armenia. Geghardavank that means "the Monastery of the Spear", originates from the spear which had wounded Jesus at the Crucifixion. The holly spear is kept in Etchmiatsin Cathedral. Then You will go to Megerian Carpet Factory-Museum which was founded in 1917 (USA, New York). It presents rare samples of Armenian carpets. Here You have the chance to take part in master-class of carpetmaking as well as taste delicious Armenian dishes in Megerian Restaurant.
Day 8: Transfer to the airport – Departure
