Route: Yerevan city-tour-Matenadaran, Great Thursday. Khor-Virap-Noravank, Red Friday. Tsaghkadzor-Kecharis Monastery-Dilijan-Haghartsin-Goshavank, Holy Saturday. Garni-Geghard-Symphony Of Stones-Sevan-Sevanavank, The Resurrection Of Christ. Etchmiadzin-Zvartnots-Festive lunch.
Duration: 6 nights/7 days
DAY |
DESTINATION |
Day 1 |
Meeting at the airport. Transfer to the hotel. Night in Yerevan |
Day 2 |
Yerevan city-tour-Matenadaran. Night in Yerevan |
Day 3 |
Great Thursday. Khor-Virap-Noravank. Night in Yerevan |
Day 4 |
Red Friday. Tsaghkadzor-Kecharis Monastery-Dilijan-Haghartsin-Goshavank . Night in Yerevan |
Day 5 |
Holy Saturday. Garni-Geghard-Symphony Of Stones-Sevan-Sevanavank. Night in Yerevan |
Day 6 |
The Resurrection Of Christ. Etchmiadzin-Zvartnots-Festive lunch . Night in Yerevan |
Day 7 |
Transfer to the airport |
Armenia is filled with ancient temples, monasteries and churches, rich in sacred and historical sites, and the Holy week of Easter is the most important time in this ancient Christian culture. It was here, in 301, that Armenia officially adopted Christianity as a state religion. Armenians, as well as Christians all over the world, are waiting for this holiday with trepidation. Easter, in the Armenian language Surb Zatik, which means “liberation”, “freedom”. In Armenia, when Christians meet, they say: “Christ has risen from the dead” and in response they hear: “Blessed is the Resurrection of the Christ”. The main teaching of Christianity is the idea of the resurrection.
1 Day: Meeting at the airport. Transfer to the hotel.
Meeting at the Yerevan airport.
Transfer to the hotel.
Free time.
Night in Yerevan.
2 Day: Yerevan city-tour-Matenadaran.
Breakfast
Yerevan is one of the most ancient cities in the world, the city was founded in 782 BC by king Argishti I. Because of the pink hue of tuff, which is mostly built up in the city, Yerevan is poetically called “pink”. There are about 5,000 cultural monuments in Yerevan. Victory Park is one of the greenest squares in the city, where the Mother Armenia monument is located and offers a beautiful panorama of the city.
The Tsitsernakaberd memorial complex, built in Yerevan in 1967, is dedicated to the memory of 1.5 million Armenians who were killed during the first genocide of the 20th century at the hands of the Turkish government, and has become a place of pilgrimage and an integral part of the architecture of Yerevan.
Matenadaran – the world’s largest repository of ancient manuscripts-rises above Mesrop Mashtots Avenue in the center of Yerevan. It was created on the basis of the collection of manuscripts of the Etchmiadzin monastery that was nationalized in 1920. The chronological sequence of placement of the exhibits represents the national written culture, starting from the epoch of the emergence of writing up to the XIX century.
Night in Yerevan
3 Day: Great Thursday. Khor-Virap-Noravank.
Breakfast
Khor Virap is one of the symbols of Armenia. It offers a magnificent view of the biblical mount Ararat. This was the beginning of the baptism of Armenia, the first state to become Christian before Rome. The monastery was built in the period from VI to XVII centuries, over the dungeon where the Baptist of Armenia – Saint Gregory the Illuminator-languished for spreading Christianity, until king Trdat decided to accept this religion as the state one. The dungeon where the Holy elder suffered was a Royal dungeon. Here prisoners were lowered into a pit infested with venomous snakes and Scorpions. According to legend, Saint Gregory the Illuminator was in this pit for 13 years.
Noravank monastery complex-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. The Noravank complex, thanks to the magnificent creations of medieval architects and its location against the backdrop of a beautiful landscape, leaves an indelible impression.
Night in Yerevan
4 Day: Red Friday. Tsaghkadzor-Kecharis Monastery-Dilijan-Haghartsin-Goshavank
Breakfast
Tsakhkadzor ski resort-Tsakhkadzor means “Valley of flowers” in Armenian. The fact that the beauty of this place is indescribable, and its air is healing, became known in the V century ad. During the tour, guests will have the opportunity to ride a cable car.
Kecharis monastery is an ensemble of ancient structures that are built on the model of classical Armenian medieval architecture. The Kecharis complex includes four churches, two chapels, a” gavit ” (an extension at the temple entrance) and an ancient cemetery with khachkars of the XII-XIII Centuries. The oldest building is the Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator.
Dilijan has the status of a mountainous climate and balneological resort. The center of Dilijan is located on the right Bank of the Agstev river, where its residential quarters and shops are concentrated. There is also a restored quarter of “Old Dilijan” – a historical building with architectural elements typical of Dilijan-dormers, wooden balconies with carved railings, window and door borders. This quarter recreates the traditional way of life of citizens-artisans work, cafes, bakeries operate, and sell Souvenirs.
Haghartsin monastery rises among the majestic mountains where eagles fly, which is why its name is associated with. Haghartsin means “game of eagles”in Armenian. The most ancient structure of Agartsin is the Church of St. Grigor, built in the XI century.
It was built by monks who fled from Western Armenia to escape persecution. Since the 13th century, Haghartsin has been a major center of culture and spiritual life in Armenia.
Goshavank monastery is the largest spiritual and educational center. It was built in 1188 on the site of the destroyed Getik monastery. The monastery is named in honor of the outstanding writer, scientist and politician Mkhitar gosh, who took an active part in the construction of the temple complex.
Night in Yerevan
5 Day: Holy Saturday. Garni-Geghard-Symphony Of Stones-Sevan-Sevanavank
Breakfast
The temple of Garni is the only fully restored architectural monument of the pagan and Hellenistic period in Armenia. It was built in 76 ad by king Trdat and served as a summer residence for the Armenian kings. It offers a picturesque view of the Azat river and the Garni gorge. Not far from the Palace there was a bathhouse, which was built at the end of the third century ad and is marked by features typical of Roman baths of that time. One of them has preserved a mosaic floor, which is beautiful an example of fine art of ancient Armenia
Geghard monastery-was founded in the IV century on the site of a sacred spring that originates in a cave. This is a two-story temple carved in solid stone with an adjacent Church. Geghard got its name from the spear of Longinus, which pierced the body of Christ.. Geghardavank is a UNESCO world heritage site and is one of the most visited places in Armenia.
Symphony of Stones are basalt rocks in the form of straight pipes and about 100m high. Symphonies are called because they resemble an organ from a distance. Such rocks are formed when the lava hardens sharply: this form is energetically advantageous. There are especially many such rocks in the Azat river gorge, which is listed as a UNESCO site.
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
Night in Yerevan
6 Day: The Resurrection Of Christ. Etchmiadzin-Zvartnots-Festive lunch
Breakfast
Etchmiadzin is the spiritual center of Armenia. In the center is the Cathedral, built in the first years of the IV century on the place where, according to legend, Christ appeared to Gregory the Illuminator. In memory of this event, the Cathedral was named Echmiadzin — lit.: “the only begotten descended”. Of particular interest are the relics stored in Etchmiadzin: a piece of the cross on which Christ was crucified, and a fragment of Noah’s Ark.
The Cathedral is the oldest Christian Church. It was built in 303, shortly after the introduction of Christianity as the state religion in Armenia.
The Church of Saint Hripsime was built in 618 and is a masterpiece of early Christian architecture. It is a slender and majestic structure, beautiful in its simplicity. In the rectangular base of the temple, four semicircular niches form a cross. Under the altar is the crypt where, according to legend, Hripsime was buried.
The Church of Saint Gayane was built in 630 on the site of a fourth-century chapel and is still one of the best monuments of Armenian architecture. This is a slim, concise and strict building. From the decor, only vegetable ornaments on the frames of doors and Windows.
Shogakat temple was built in 1694 on the site of a fourth-century chapel. It is notable for its peculiar architecture, known as the”dome hall”.
Zvartnots temple – the most striking monument of medieval Armenian architecture-built in the VII century. Unfortunately, Zvartnots has reached our days only in ruins, completely destroyed by a powerful earthquake in the X century. But even the ruins of this temple give us an idea of its rare and majestic beauty.
After a busy tour, guests will enjoy a festive Easter lunch
Night in Yerevan
7 Day: Transfer to the airport
Transfer to the Yerevan airport
Rate includes:
- 6 nights’ accommodation with breakfast in Yerevan hotel 3*: Bomo Nairi 3* / or hotel 4*: Imperial Palace
*Other hotels by the request - High-quality guide service
- Transport services during the tour
- Transfer: airport Yerevan-hotel Yerevan-airport Yerevan
- Excustion: Yerevan city-tour-Matenadaran
- Excustion: Хор-Khor-Virap-Noravank
- Excustion: Tsaghkadzor-Kecharis Monastery-Dilijan-Haghartsin-Goshavank .
- Excustion: Garni-Geghard-Symphony Of Stones-Sevan-Sevanavank
- Excustion: Echmiadzin-Zvartnots
- Entrance ticket: Garni Temple, Echmiadzin Museum, Zvarrtnots temple, Tsaghkadzor cable car
- Gala dinner
- Bottle of drinking water for every day
Rate doesn’t include:
- Extra meals and drinks
- Extra tours
- Souvenirs