Arrive in Armenia, Yerevan. Transfer to the hotel.

Overnight in Yerevan.

After breakfast we will have a city tour in Yerevan, which is the capital of Armenia. Yerevan is one of the oldest cities in the world, 29 years older than Rome. Visit the remarkable Matenadaran Library including 17,000 rare manuscripts one of the world’s oldest repositories of Greek, Persian and Arabic manuscripts. Have a small walking tour in Yerevan. From the top of Cascade Complex you can admire the panorama of the city. Explore the Modern Art by visiting Cafesjian Center for the Arts just in the Cascade Complex. You will see the differentiation of new art in its unique way. Read more

Overnight in Yerevan.

Excursion to the centuries-old monuments Echmiatsin and Zvartnots listed on UNESCO World Heritage list. Zvartnots (7-10th cc.) - a Temple of Vigil Forces. The Cathedral of Echmiatsin (303) is an official residence of Armenian Catholicos. Visiting one of the churches of 3 Virgins: center-domed cruciform church of Saint Hripsimeh (618) (dormical basilica of Saint Gayaneh (630) and 'domed gallery' type church of Shoghakat (1694)). Option, for additional cost: Visit Machanents Art School. There you can have master classes (make pottery, rug weaving, painting, as well as making Armenian dishes). Machanents Art School has a kind story of foundation, and you will be told about it during the tour there. They also have puppet shows and a small theatre. In Ejmiatsin you can have lunch and have a degustation of Armenian wine, as well as you have a chance to order a glass of wine by/for your name and keep it bottled there in the center where you can return anytime (even after a few years) and find the bottled wine especially kept for you by the company. After returning Yerevan, visit Genocide Memorial on the hill Tsitsernakaberd. Read more

Overnight in Yerevan.

Trip to Khor Virap Monastery (4-18th cc.) the importance of which is connected with name of Gregory the Illuminator, who introduced Christianity in Armenia. Here you can enjoy the spectacular view of the sacred Ararat Mountain - an immortal symbol of Armenia. Then we will continue the tour to Noravank - a monastery of XII century situated among amazing sheer rocks on the bench of a twisty gorge. Visit Areni village. Continue to Birds – Cave (Areni – 1) which is situated on the left bank of river Areni. As a result of studies, metal knives, fruit seeds, grain residues, rope, dishes, clothing, dried grapes and plums, dates to 4200 – 3500 BC, were found in the cave. The oldest leather shoe of the world was found right here. It is more than 5500 years old. Also, in the same area, there were found world’s oldest women’s skirt (3900 BC), as well as the first winery in the whole world. Nowadays the mentioned winery is considered to be the ancient one and it is referred to 4th millennium BC. No one has lived inside the cave, at the meanwhile, wine consumption was of ritual meaning for them. Drive to Goris, Syunik region. Read more

Overnight in Goris.

We will have a beautiful excursion to a very old monastery: by the one of the world’s longest non-stop reversible aerial tramway, an unforgettable route to Armenia’s medieval Tatev Monastery (9-13cc), a former center for the sciences and art, where many famous Armenians lived and worked centuries ago. The Tatev complex consists of three churches, a refectory, a library, a vault and several residences. Magnificent canyons surround the monastery. Travel to Sevan by Vardeniats Pass, through which the Great Silk Road passed, visit Orbelian Caravanserai (XIV century). It was built to accommodate weary travelers and their animals as they crossed from, or into, the mountainous Vayots Dzor region. On your way stop to one of the most beautiful regions, Noratus village. The village is famous for its cemetery. Finally reach Lake Sevan – the Pearl of Armenia. The Lake is the highest sweet water lake in the Caucasus (2000m above sea level) and is one of the prides of Armenians. It is also rich in different types of fish ad is especially famous for its Trout. It has become a well-known vacation spot for long years. Option, for additional cost: Walk to Sevanavank monastery. From its height a beautiful view of lake Sevan will be admired. Drive to Dilijan. Read more

Overnight in Dilijan.

Dilijan is famous for its climate and its mineral water and also mountains with its thick forests. It’s a SPA town. Drive to Goshavank Monastery which is not far from Dilijan and is situated in a beautiful forest. Here you can also see the most famous and unique Khachqar (Cross stone). Continue to Haghpat monastery (X century UNESCO Heritage site) which used to be a spiritual, cultural and educational centre of the region. The monastery is one of the masterpieces of Armenian medieval architecture. Drive back to Yerevan. Read more

Overnight in Yerevan.

Tour to the monument of gigantic Armenian Alphabet, where you can take photos of your name’s first letters in Armenian. Driving to Amberd fortress. It’s a 7th-century fortress located 2,300 meters (7,500 ft) above sea level, on the slopes of Mount Aragats. Continue to Saghmosavank monastery. It’s a 13th century Armenian monastic complex situated atop of the precipitous gorge carved by the river Kasagh. Its and Hovhanavank’s (a similar monastery just 5 km away from Saghmosavank, in the neighbor village) silhouettes dominate the adjacent villages and rise sharp against the background of the mountains crowned by Mount Aragats. Drive back to Yerevan. Visit history Museum of Armenia. Read more

Overnight in Yerevan.

Take a trip to Garni. You will walk along the canyon, by the beautiful columnar basalt 9th century stone bridge over the Azat River to Garni the Pagan Temple, built in the 1 Century AD. In 1679 it was destroyed by earthquake. In the 1975 the Temple was restored. Geghard Monastery (the name comes from the legendary lance that was used to pierce the body of Christ, which was kept here for centuries. Though the exact foundation of the monastery is unknown, the present complex was built in the mid – 13th century. Drive back to Yerevan. Visit Ararat Brandy Factory for degustation of Armenian cognacs. Read more

Overnight in Yerevan.

Transfer to airport, departure.