Route: Yerevan city-tour-Matenadaran-Ararat Cognac factory, Echmiadzin-Zvartnots, Garni-Geghard-Symphony Of Stones-Levon varpet’s Cave-Museum, Khor-Virap-Areni Winery-Noravank, Tsaghkadzor-Kecharis-Sevan-Sevanavank-Dilijan-Hagharstin.
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-Ararat Cognac factory. Night in Yerevan |
Day 3 |
Echmiadzin-Zvartnots. Night in Yerevan |
Day 4 |
Garni-Geghard- Symphony Of Stones- Levon varpet’s Cave-Museum. Night in Yerevan |
Day 5 |
Khor-Virap-Areni Winery-Noravank. Night in Yerevan |
Day 6 |
Tsaghkadzor-Kecharis-Sevan-Sevanavank-Dilijan-Hagharstin. Night in Yerevan |
Day 7 |
Transfer to the airport |
1 Day: Meeting at the airport. Transfer to the hotel.
Meeting at the airport.
Transfer to the hotel.
Free time.
Night in Yerevan.
2 Day: Yerevan city-tour-Tsitsernakaberd-Matenadaran-Ararat Cognac Factory.
Breakfast
Yerevan is one of the oldest cities in the world. The city was founded in 782 BC by the Urartian king Argishti I. Due to 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 areas of the city, where the Mother Armenia monument is located and offers a beautiful panorama of the city. From here, you can see the whole of Yerevan at a glance.
The Tsitsernakaberd memorial complex, built in Yerevan in 1967, is dedicated to the memory of 1.5 million Armenians who died 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.
The National gallery of Armenia is the largest Museum in the country, where the works displayed in 56 exhibition halls give a General idea of the history of national fine and decorative arts, as well as the art of foreign countries, from ancient times to the present day.
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.
Ararat cognac factory is the leading enterprise in Armenia for the production of alcoholic beverages. It traces its history back to the factory established in 1887 by the merchant of the first Guild Nerses Tairyants. Worldwide fame for the products of the factory came in 1900: during the world exhibition in Paris, samples of “Finshampan selected”, cognac produced in Armenia, were presented. During the” blind tasting ” cognac was recognized as the best and received a gold medal.
Night in Yerevan
3 Day: Echmiadzin-Zvartnots
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.
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.
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.
Church Shogakat 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.
Night in Yerevan
4 Day: Garni-Geghard- Symphony Of Stones- Levon varpet’s Cave-Museum.
Breakfast
Garni Temple 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 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 a fine example of the 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.
Master Levon’s cave is one of the most interesting places in Armenia. The master created this miracle independently, using ordinary tools: a hammer and chisel. Interestingly, he always asked guests to bring new instruments. The rooms have well-finished walls, smooth ceilings, and doorways and small Windows are decorated with hand-carved stone patterns. The maximum depth of the cave “castle” is 21 meters, and the total length of the corridors is about 150 meters. The intersection of the corridors creates a room that looks like a cross. In the cave there is another interesting invention of the Levon warpet – a working fireplace with a ventilation shaft cut in the upward direction. It is interesting that the master created all this unique structure without any preconceived project or drawings. He says that when he was engaged in work, it seemed to him that some force from above was directing him, telling him how to continue working or in which direction to make a turn in a particular corridor.
Night in Yerevan
5 Day: Khor-Virap-Areni Winery-Noravank
Breakfast
Khor Virap is one of the symbols of Armenia, offering a magnificent view of the biblical mount Ararat. This is where the baptism of Armenia, the first state to become Christian before Rome, began. 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.
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 Yerevan
6 Day: Tsaghkadzor-Kecharis-Sevan-Sevanavank-Dilijan-Hagharstin.
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.
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.
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 in the North-East of Armenia. The Western 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
Dilijan has the status of a mountain 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-attics, wooden balconies with carved railings, edging Windows and doors. This quarter recreates the traditional way of life of citizens-artisans work, cafes, bakeries operate, and Souvenirs are sold.
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.
Night in Yerevan
7 Day: Transfer to the airport
Transfer to the 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
- Excursion: Yerevan city-tour-Matenadaran-Ararat Cognac Factory
- Excursion: Echmiadzin-Zvartnots
- Excursion: Garni-Geghard-Simphony of Stones-Levon varpet’s Cave-Museum.
- Excursion: Khor-Virap-Areni Winery-Noravank
- Excursion: Tsaghkadzor-Kecharis-Sevan-Sevanavank-Dilijan-Haghartsin
- Entrance tickets: Garni Temple, Echmiadzin Museum, Zvartnots Temple, Matenadaran, Levon varpet’s Cave-Museum.
- Cognac tasting at the factory, at the Areni Winery
- Bottle of drinking water for every day
Rate doesn’t include:
- Extra meals and drinks
- Extra tours
- Souvenirs