Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: City Tour
Day 2: Yerevan - Etchmiatsin - Zvartnots.
Museum of Genocide/ Garden "For Lovers". Arrival in Zvartnots International Airport. Transfer to Hotel(rooms booked beforehand). City tour in Yerevan: A visit to Matenadaran where are kept the depository of over 13.000 ancient manuscripts. The Matenadaran or Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts is considered to be one of the world's richest depositories of and handmade books. This collection dates back to the 5th century, when Saint Mesrop Mashtots created the Armenian alphabet. A visit to “Ararat” Brandy Factory which was built on 1887. The brandy produced in this factory in 1900 got “Grant-Pry” in Paris. In 1913 Armenian Brandy was provided to Russian Empire Kingdom. Here You can get acquainted with brandy distillery and will taste the legendary brandy. “Never be late for dinner, smoke only Havana cigars and drink Armenian brandy” - Winston Churchill.
Etchmiatsin: The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin is the spiritual and administrative headquarters of the worldwide Armenian Church. Holy Etchmiatsin is a cathedral built in the years 302 to 303 AD, soon after Christianity was established as the official state religion of Armenia. It is said that St Gregory, known also as the Holy Illuminator as he enlightened King Tridat and led him to Christianity in 301, had a vision of Christ coming down from the clouds and striking the ground at Etchmiatsin with a golden hammer, thus designating the location of the new church. It is spiritual place for the people who first adopted Christianity and The residence of Patriarch (called "Catholikos") of the world's 7 million Armenian Orthodox. Return to Yerevan with stop at the ruins of Zvartnots temple - the pearl of the 7th century architecture. Both are listed as a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO. A visit to a new-opened Garden called "For Lovers" where You can enjoy Your evening rest. Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.
Day 3: Garni Temple - Gueghard Monastery - National Museum of Armenia
Breakfast at the hotel. A visit to Garni Pagan temple. The temple was built in the 1 st century A.D. by the Armenian King Tridates and was dedicated to Mihr: Armenian God of Sun. Gueghard Cave Monastery is situated on 7km South-East from Garni Temple. Gueghard Cave Monastery: Gueghard is incredible ancient Armenian monastery, partly carved out of a mountain. Though the monastery has been around since before the 4th century, the main cathedral was built in 1215. A visit National Museum of Armenia: It was built in 1921. Here You may find more than 25,000 canvases of different centuries and cultures as Ayvazovski, Roussoi, Garzu, Kodjoyan, Saryan, Donatello, etc.
Day 4: Ashtarak - Karmravor church - Ambert - Yerevan
Breakfast at the hotel. Trip to Ashtarak city. Excursion in Ashtarak. Visit to Karmravor church. The small church of Karmravor meaning reddish hue is dedicated to St. Astvadzadzin and located in the town of Ashtarak There is no exact date of construction known however on the basis of its architecture it is considered to be from the 7th century Karmaravor is a very small domed church measuring only 19 by 24 feet. This church belongs to a series of small Armenian churches built as free crosses It has a horseshoe east apse which is rectangular on the exterior. The other three arms or bays are rectangular both inside and in their exterior. There are four squinches above the central square that complete the octagon of the drum and eight small squinches are used between the drum and cupola Karmravor is simply decorated with geometric motifs braids zigzags of semicircles and foliage.
The cornices are of basket weave sculpturing and the dome eaves are decorated with leaf design Entrance to the church is from the west. Amberd: Amberd is a fortress complex with a church built on the slopes of Mountain Aragats at 2,300 meters above sea level in the XI-XIII centuries. Amberd translates to fortress in the clouds in Armenian. Amberd stands on a rocky eminence, again one of the impregnable fortresses of medieval Armenia. The princely castle of Amberd was built in the 11th to 13th centuries. A two-stored structure fitted with a majestic staircase, the castle is protected by walls with inclined towers. The baths were constructed outside the palace in the 13th century. The church was built in 1026 by Prince Vahram Pahlavuni. It belongs to the cupola hall type. The exterior architecture is simple and expressive, crowned by an umbrella shaped cupola. The road leading up to it on Mountain Aragats is virtually uninhabited and has gently sloping hills with the occasional shepherd and beekeeper, many wildflowers and great views. it is a perfect spot to relax, go back in time, and catch your breath. Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.
Day 5: Yerevan - Khor Virap - Areni village - Noravank - Goris
Breakfast at the hotel. Khor Virap: here you can have the best view of Biblical mountain Ararat. Khor Virap is one of the most popular destinations in Armenia where Grigor Lusavorich (St. Gregory the Illuminator) - the first Catholicon of all Armenians - was imprisoned for 13 years. Noravank: Noravank monastery of 13th century is listed as a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO. Noravank ("New monastery") was founded by Bishop Hovhannes, who moved there in 1205. Overnight at the hotel “Mirhav” in Goris.
Day 6: Goris – Khndzoresk – Karahunch – Selim – Noraduz - Sevan
Excursion tour to Khndzoresk which is a cave village and there are many signs of past settlement throughout the valley which are just waiting for discovery. There are a very large number of caves. You will see that many of the caves have been carved out by man and served as houses for people. You will find the ruins of a village, a beautiful ancient church, and very old tombstones. Continue tour to Karahunge (Stonehenge), ancient observatory 5 mil B.C. or Karahundj, Zorakarer is 3, 500 years older than England's Stonehenge and 3.000 years older than the Egyptian pyramids. The total area of the observatory is 7 hectares.
According to the scientist's findings, a temple consisting of 40 stones built in honor of the Armenians' main God, Ari, meaning the Sun, is situated in the central part of Karahunge. Besides the temple, it had a large and developed observatory, and also a university that makes up the temple's wings. Drive to Lake Sevan through Selim Pass visiting the caravanserai (XIV c.). For many centuries the Great Silk Road connected a complex network of trade routes from Europe with Asia. It was a way to establish contact with the great civilizations of China, India, the Near East and Europe. Trade caravans, diplomatic missions, merchants representatives of religious circles, dervishes, warriors – millions people have passed on this road through time with nothing frightening these brave travelers, neither the difficult roads, nor the waterless deserts.
The East - West trade routes passed across the Armenian plateau (Selim pass) and favored the development of the country's economy, trade, commerce and culture. Noraduz cemetery is a medieval cemetery with a large number of early khachkars located in the village of Noraduz. In Gegharkhunik region about 70 miles north of Yerevan sits lake Sevan the largest alpine in the world. This huge mountain lake which takes up to 5% of Armenia's surface area and is about 2,000 meters above sea level is one of the highest among the freshwater lakes in the world. Some three dozen of streamers pour into it and only one river origins from the lake – Hrazdan. With its history and scenery lake Sevan is among the most inviting destinations in the world. Overnight at the hotel in Sevan.
Day 7: Lake Sevan – Dilijan - Parz Lake – Haghartsin - Yerevan
A walk on the beach of lake Sevan the Gem of Armenia. The tour will continue to Dilijan which is also called Armenia's “Little Switzerland”. The forested town has some great examples of traditional architecture of the region. Continue tour to Haghartsin Monastery. Haghartsin is a 13th century monastery located near the town of Dilijan, Armenia. It was built between the 10th and 14th century. Overnight in the hotel in Yerevan.
Day 8: Transfer to the airport. Departure home!
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- Accommodation: in double room
- 5 overnights in Yerevan - Bed & Breakfast
- 1 overnight in Goris (B&B)
- 1 overnight in Sevan (B&B)
- Transportation as mentioned in the program (all transportation are high class cars with air conditioning, etc.)
- Professional multilingual guide service
- Soft drinks during the trips
- All entrance fees.
Price Excludes:
- Alcoholic beverages
- Flights
- Travel insurance
- Entry visa to Armenia.
Note: It can be received either at Zvartnots airport upon arrival or via Internet.
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Armenia
Local Culture
Cultural Journey
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