Armenia

Day 1. Arrival
Arrival at the Zvartnots International airport. Transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Yerevan.
Day 2. City tour /Yerevan/
Breakfast. We will start the tour in the capital of Armenia: Yerevan. For ages this city has been known as a “pink city” because of the color of the stone it has been built with. So we will visit Republic square, Mashtoc Avenue, the House of Opera and Ballet after Aram Khachatryan, the park “Cascad”. Then we will visit the Manuscript Museum of Armenia, which is called Matenadaran; here all ancient Armenian Manuscripts are kept. Then we should visit to History museum and Genocide Memorial known as
Tsitsernakaberd. Dinner at the traditional restaurant with folk music. Overnight in the hotel. (B/D)
Day 3. Yerevan – Ejmiatsin – Zvartnoc –Yerevan
Breakfast. We will start the excursion to centuries-old monuments Ejmiatsin and Zvartnots. These sites are listed on UNESCO World Heritage list. Zvartnots Temple was built in 7th century by Nerses Builder Catholicos. Here we will enjoy the fantastic concert by the choir, which will be organized by our company by your group. We will enjoy the music of Classical Armenian Music of world famous
composers. The choir consists of Operate Professional Singers. Lunch at the local house where you can see and participate in preparation of Armenian traditional pasta “Arishta” and sweet “Gata”. Our next step is the spiritual center of Armenia: Ejmiatsin. The Cathedral of Ejmiatsin, founded in 303, is the official residence of the Catholicos of Armenia. We will also visit the museum of Ejmiatsin where a small part of Noah’s ark is kept. After all get back to Yerevan. Visit to brandy factory. Short rest in the
hotel. In the evening you may enjoy the night life of modern Yerevan. Overnight in Yerevan. (B/L)
Day 4. Yerevan – Khor Virap – Areni – Noravank – Karahunj – Goris
Breakfast. Take trip to Khor Virap Monastery (4-18th cc.). This monastery is very prominent because of its history; Gregory the Illuminator, who introduced Christianity to Armenia, has been imprisoned there about 13 years as  at that time there was a prison in the place of the monastery. Here we can enjoy the about 13 years as  at that time there was a prison in the place of the monastery. Here we can enjoy the Stonehenge in England. The columns sit like soldiers on a hill. The 204 stones near Sisian have been ascribed with mystical, fertility and cosmic powers, but rarely have ancient monuments caused such a sensation in astronomical circles. Drive to Goris. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Goris. (B/D)

Day 5. Goris – Tatev – Khndzoresk – Jermuk

Breakfast. We will continue our trip visiting the monastic complex of Tatev.  The complex was found within the ages of 9-13. Formerly it was a very famous educational center in Armenia and all famous contemporary scientists and philosophers were educated there. It used to accept students from abroad as well. Here we can use the world’s longest rope way, which has length of 5700 m. Visit the cave village of Khndzoresk. Drive to Jermuk. Sightseeing in Jermuk. Dinner at the local restaurant. Overnight in Jermuk. (B/D)

Day 6. Jermuk – Selim – Noraduz – Sevan – Dilijan

Breakfast. Today we are going to pass the pathways that have been used by the travellers of Great Silk Road. We will drive through the Selim Caravanserai, which served as an important center of exchange, trade and for overnight during the times of Great Silk.

Road. Here we can see the immortal tracks of world history. Visit to Noraduz. After here we will drive to Lake Sevan which is one of the largest lakes in the world. It stands out with its sweet and astonishingly blue water. Here we can enjoy the breathtaking scenery of the beautiful lake. Another surprise is expected for our tourists; we will have a cruise in Lake Sevan and take the chance to admire the beauty of blue pearl of Armenian highland. Then we will visit Sevanavank Monastery which is situated on Sevan Peninsula. There are 2 monasteries actually; one of them is destroyed but the other stands still. They have been built in the middle Ages, around 10th century. Then we will drive to Dilijan. Walking along the Sharambeyan Street, which is one of the oldest streets of the city, we may buy souvenirs and see the life of the small city. During the walk you will breathe the clean mountain air. Dinner and overnight in Dilijan. (B/D)

Day 7. Dilijan – Sanahin – Haghpat -Yerevan

Today we will visit two unique masterpieces of Armenian architecture of X-XIV centuries: the monasteries of Sanahin and Haghpat which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Literally the name ’’Sanahin’’ in Armenian means “this one is older than the other,” which probably means that this monastery is older of than Haghpat. These two monasteries are very close to each other and can be easily seen from one to the other. Both are located on an uneven plateau, separated by a deep crack formed by a small river that flows into the river Debed. Haghpat Monastery was one of the largest religious, cultural and educational centers of medieval Armenia. Lunch at the local restaurant. Back to Yerevan. Overnight (B/L)

Day 8. Yerevan – Garni – Geghard – Yerevan

Breakfast. Take trip to Garni. This Pagan Temple built in the 1st century AD. It is the only temple that has been preserves from the Pagan times in Armenia. It

was devoted to the god Mihr, who was the god of cleanness. In 1679 it was destroyed by earthquake. In the 1975 the Temple was restored. Visit to Garni gorge with 4×4 cars. Afterwards we will visit a local house for lunch where you will have the chance to see and participate in the preparation of Armenian national bread: lavash. It is a very thin, usually sold in very large forms. It is usually cooked in a ground oven: “tonir”. In 2015 it has been inscribed in UNESCO intangible heritage list. Here we will enjoy the “Armenian fast food” with lavash and cheese. Then we will continue our trip to Geghard Monastery. Its name came from the legendary lance that was used to pierce the body of Christ. It has been kept here for centuries. Though the exact foundation of the monastery is unknown, the present complex was built in the mid – 13th century.  Get back to Yerevan and overnight at hotel. (B/L)

Day 9. Departure

Breakfast. Transfer to the airport. Say goodbye to Armenia.

Note:
Vernissage / Armenian handicraft market / is open only on Saturdays and Sundays
On Monday all museums are closed/ Matenadaran is also closed on Sundays /
Tatev ropeway is closed on Mondays
Zvartnots monument is closed on Mondays
Ejmiatsin Cathedral is under restoration and the visit to Ejmiatsin will be comprised of the other churches and monasteries there