Route: Areni Wine Factory-Noravank-Tatev, Stepanakert city-tour- Monument “We and Our Mountains” -Tigranakert-Mayraberd, Shushi fortress-Ghazanchetsots Church-Kanach Zham – Hunot Gorge-Waterfall Umbrellas, Gandzasar-Tsovin Kar(Rocky Lion)-Dadivank-Noratus-Sevan-Ayrivank.
Duration: 3 nights/4 days
Day |
Destination |
Day 1 |
Areni Wine Factory-Noravank-Tatev. Night in Stepanakert |
Day 2 |
Stepanakert city-tour- Monument “We and Our Mountains” –Tigranakert-Mayraberd . Night in Stepanakert |
Day 3 |
Shushi fortress-Ghazanchetsots Church-Kanach Zham – Hunot Gorge-Waterfall Umbrellas. Night in Stepanakert |
Day 4 |
Gandzasar-Tsovin Kar(Rocky Lion)-Dadivank-Noratus-Sevan-Ayrivank. Return to Yerevan |
1 Day: Areni Wine Factory-Noravank-Tatev.
Areni is a wine region of Armenia, where an annual wine festival is held. Areni winery was opened in 1994. In the tasting room, you can try red and white wines, fruit and berry. The most popular are pomegranate and apricot wines, but you can also try wine from quince, cherry, BlackBerry, raspberry, peach and others.
Noravank monastery-was built in the XIII century on the ledge of a narrow winding gorge of the Amagu river. The gorge is famous for its steep red rocks rising behind the monastery. During the reign of the Orbelyan princes, the monastery became a major religious center, and in the XIII-XIV centuries – the residence of the bishops of Syunik. Thanks to the magnificent creations of medieval architects and its location against the backdrop of a beautiful landscape, it leaves an indelible impression.
Tatev monastery-the pearl of medieval Armenian architecture was built in the IX-XIII centuries. Its name (translated from Armenian as “give wings”) is associated with the disciple of the Holy Apostle Thaddeus, Saint Eustathius, who suffered a Martyr’s death in this place. Thanks to the beautiful combination of medieval architecture and fabulous nature, the monastery is considered one of the most beautiful places on the planet.
Wings of Tatev-the longest cable car in the world., which is registered in the Guinness book of records. Its length is 5,752 m. It stretches over surprisingly beautiful places and ends at the legendary Tatev monastery of the 10th century.
Night in Stepanakert
2 Day: Stepanakert city-tour- Monument “We and Our Mountains” –Tigranakert-Mayraberd .
Breakfast
Stepanakert is a city that is the capital of Artsakh. Surrounded on all sides by mountains and forests, it is a great place to relax. Although the city is small, there are many picturesque places, green squares and cozy courtyards. The heart of Stepanakert is Veratsnund (Renaissance) Square with the Presidential Palace, the buildings of the Parliament and Government, the Youth Palace. The square smoothly turns into the Alley of Lovers, with a staircase leading to the stadium and decorated with lanterns in the form of sculptures of grooms and brides. The square ends with a green square with a fountain and benches, which has received a nice name from local residents “Piglet” for its round shape.
The monument “We and Our Mountains” (1967) is perhaps one of the most beloved monuments among the people, which people here affectionately call “Grandfather and Grandmother” (“Pap u tat” or “Papik-tatik”). The monument is a symbolic symbol of the capital of Artsakh – the city of Stepanakert. “Grandfather and Grandmother” are located at the very entrance to the city on a high hill. The sculpture symbolizes the will to live, the preservation of traditions and the great value of the family.
Mayraberd fortress or Askeran fortress was built in the XVIII century by panakhali Khan. The Eastern walls of the fortress were the gates of the Karabakh khanate and guarded the approaches of the city of Shushi. The fortress walls are 2 m thick and 9 m high. On the walls are round towers built of small pebbles and crushed limestone on lime mortar. The towers served as observation posts.
Night in Stepanakert.
3 Day: Shushi fortress-Ghazanchetsots Church-Kanach Zham – Hunot Gorge-Waterfall Umbrellas.
Breakfast
Shushi fortress-built in the XVIII century, and belonged to the Shahnazarian princes. The fortress walls are 2.5 km long and start from a high rock mass overhanging the precipice. They defend the most accessible places of the city and merge with steep cliffs up to 300 m high.
Cathedral of St. Amenaprkich kazanchetsots (Cathedral of St. Christ the Saviour) is an Armenian Cathedral in the city of Shushi. It was built in the years 1868-1887. The Church was built by the residents of Shusha, the architect was Simon Ter-Hakobyan. For the first time the Cathedral was mentioned in the book Mesrop Takhiadyan “Journey to Armenia”(1820). Being in harmony with the environment, the Church is the pride of the city of Shushi.
Surb Amenaprkich Ghazanchetsots Cathedral (Cathedral of St. Christ the Savior) is an Armenian cathedral in the city of Shushi. It was built in 1868-1887. The church was built by residents of Shushi, the architect was Simon Ter-Hakobyan. For the first time about the cathedral was mentioned in the book of Mesrop Takhiadyan “Travel to Armenia” (1820). Being in harmony with the environment, the church is the pride of the city of Shushi.
Kanach Zham (“Green Chapel”) is located in the center of Shushi, in Artsakh . The high Church dome can be seen from almost anywhere in the city. The Church of “Kanach Zham” is also called the Church of St. John the Baptist. According to the inscriptions preserved on the walls, the Church was built in 1847. Previously on this place stood an old wooden Church from the 18th century Karabakhtsi . “Green chapel” has an unusual architecture, which makes it a unique monument in its own way.
The state natural and historical reserve “Unot Gorge” will not leave any visitor indifferent. This picturesque gorge, located right in the heart of Artsakh, contains a lot of historical, natural and architectural monuments. Huge rocks, 20 to 300 meters high, stretch from the valley of the Karkar river to the city of Shushi. Under these rocks is hidden the cave of the military commander Avan, as well as a natural monument waterfall “Umbrellas”, the village of Unot with its medieval bridge, old mills and much more.
Natural waterfall Umbrellas or Mamrot Kar-this is a great place for family holidays, as well as for extreme or educational tourism, that is, historical places, architectural monuments. This is a stone formation completely covered with moss on which water flows in drops and trickles, hence the second name Mamrot Kar, which literally means – a stone covered with moss in Russian. On the way to the umbrellas, you can see stunning mountain scenery, a great view of the canyon itself, get the opportunity to pass through an old, abandoned Armenian village, the remains of which can be seen on the slopes of the mountain.
Night in Stepanakert
4 Day: Gandzasar-Tsovin Kar(Rocky Lion)-Dadivank-Noratus-Sevan-Ayrivank.
Breakfast
Gandzasar (translated as “mountain of treasures”) is a monastery complex, a spiritual and cultural center. The complex got its name from this hill; in the bowels of Gandzasar, mines of silver and other metals were found. The monastery was the residence and ancestral crypt of the princes of Khachen Asan-Jalalyans. Thanks to the efforts of the Asan-Jalalyan princes, Gandzasar retained the role of a spiritual center. The monastery had a rich repository of manuscripts, a school where precious manuscripts were created, spiritual leaders who contributed to the development of spiritual and cultural education were trained.
Dadivank-is one of the largest architectural complexes of Medieval Armenia, distinguished by a large number of Church and secular buildings, as well as the originality of designs and ornaments. The name of the monastery was chosen for a reason. According to legend, the complex was built in the first century near the grave of Saint Dadi. Dadi was one of the disciples of the Apostle Tadevos, who preached Christianity in the Upper Khachen district of Artsakh (Verin Khachen). The Church was also called “Khutavank” because it was built on the “hoot”, that is on the hill. The remains of the Holy Apostle Dadi were found under the altar of one of the churches of the complex during restoration works in 2007.
Noratus is a medieval Armenian cemetery with a large number of early khachkars.The cemetery has the largest number of khachkars on the territory of Armenia. Here are presented khachkars of various stages of development of this art, which are grouped into three main periods: IX-X, XI-XII and XIII-XVI centuries. The oldest khachkars in the cemetery date back to the X century.
Lake Sevan – “The Pearl of Armenia” – is one of the largest high-altitude freshwater lakes in the world. This natural wonder is located in the very center of the Armenian highlands, in a huge mountain bowl framed by picturesque mountain ranges at an altitude of 1,900 m. The area of its water mirror is 940 square meters. km, maximum depth – 95 m.
Sevanavank is a monastic complex located on a Peninsula on the northwestern shore of lake Sevan. According to an inscription in one of the churches, Sevanavank monastery was founded in 874 by Princess Mariam, daughter of Ashot I
Return to Yerevan
Rate includes:
- 3 nights’ accommodation in Stepanakert hotel 3* or 4* with breakfast
- High-quality guide service
- Transport services during the tour
- Excursions: Areni Wine Factory-Noravank-Tatev.
- Excursions: Stepanakert city-tour- Monument “We and Our Mountains” –Tigranakert-Mayraberd .
- Excursions: Shushi fortress-Ghazanchetsots Church-Kanach Zham – Hunot Gorge-Waterfall Umbrellas.
- Excursions: Gandzasar-Tsovin Kar(Rocky Lion)-Dadivank-Noratus-Sevan-Ayrivank.
- Entrance tockets: cable car *Wings of Tatev*
- Wine degustation at Areni Winery
- Bottle of drinking water for every day
Rate doesn’t include:
- Extra meals and drinks
- Extra tours
- Souvenirs