If you desire to learn about Armenia almost everything within 8 days, then the package tour will be just ideal for you. You will have time to cover everything – history, culture, architecture and natural monuments, archaeological sites, caves. You will not get bored that’s for sure. Armenia will surprise you with its versatility: a beautiful pagan temple of II century just 10 minutes away from one of the architectural masterpieces of Armenia – Geghard monastery complex – carved in the rock!
You will have the opportunity to enjoy the view of Mount Ararat from the nearest point in Armenia – from the monastery of Khor Virap, where St. Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned for 13 years.
Due to this tour you will see how diverse the Armenian nature is, how the landscape in Dilijan differs from the one in Ararat Valley.
There is a special surprise waiting for the gourmands – a lunch in a village house in Garni. You will see how the traditional Armenian bread – lavash – is baked, and of course, you will taste it, along with other tasty dishes.
Day 1: Arrival at the airport Zvartnotc. Our guide will meet you and transfer to you hotel.
Day 2: Yerevan Breakfast at the hotel. History Museum of Armenia. Visit tsitsernakaberd dedicated to the victims of Armenian Genocide of 1915. Lunch. Matenadaran, the museum of manuscripts, which holds about 17.000 ancient manuscripts. Leisure. Overnight in Yerevan.
Day 3: Yerevan – Garni – Geghard – Yerevan Breakfast at the hotel. The tour starts with Erebuni fortress, which was founded in 782 BC, with the silent stone witness of ancient Yerevan. We will have a trip to Garni, a half-hour walk through the picturesque valley of the river Azat (UNESCO World Heritage), with its amazing basalt columns. Lunch at Garni, in a village house. There you will also see how traditional Armenian bread lavash is cooked. Visit to the only pagan temple of Garni (I c.). Visit to the cave monastery Geghard (V-XII c., UNESCO World Heritage). Overnight in Yerevan.
Day 4: Yerevan – Metsamor – Echmiatsin – Yerevan Breakfast at the hotel. Archaeological excavations of Metsamor, a unique monument of world culture of the Bronze Age. A trip to the holy city of Echmiatsin, with its cathedral and churches, registered in the list of World Heritage by UNESCO.. We will visit the Echmiatsin Cathedral (IV c.), the temple of St. Hripsime (VII c.), St. Gayane (VII c.), the ruins of the temple Zvartnots (VII c., UNESCO World Heritage).Return to Yerevan. National Gallery. Overnight in Yerevan.
Day 5: Yerevan – Bjni – Sevan – Dilijan – Haghpat.
Breakfast at the hotel. A trip to Bjni located in the valley of the river Hrazdan, with its natural bridge, church and fortress of the X century. Trip to the mountainous lake Sevan, the pearl of Armenia, which is located at an altitude of about 2000m. Lunch.Sevan Monastery (IX cent.) on the Peninsula Sevan. We will continue the trip to the north-east, the area of forests, resort hydropathical city of Dilijan. Lunch. Continuing the route to the forest (1,5 hours walk, easy), in yew wood (pine relict (Jurassic period), a long-standing (which live 3000 years), rarely met under natural conditions and listed in the Red Book of the tree). Continue the trip to the north, the Lori region. Overnight in Haghpat.
Day 6: Hagpat – Sanahin – Yerevan Breakfast at the hotel. Visit to the monastery of Haghpat (X c., World Heritage of UNESCO) and the monastery of Sanahin (s. X, World Heritage of UNESCO). Lunch. Visit to the Kobayr monastery (X c.) with breathtaking frescoes of the XIII century (40 minutes walk, scarp). The road back to Yerevan through the picturesque gorge of the river Debed, and down the mountain slopes and the passage of Spitak. Mount Aragats, 4,430 meters high, is the highest point in Armenia. You will see also the town of Spitak, the epicenter of a massive earthquake with a magnitude of 7.2 degrees, almost completely destroyed in 1988 and rebuilt during the following years. We will go through two villages of Yezidi (national minority). Overnight in Yerevan.
Day 7: Yerevan – Khor Virap – Areni – Noravank – Yerevan ”
Breakfast at the hotel. Along the highway Yerevan – Artashat, the majestic Mount Ararat will be constantly in our sight and we will come almost to its foot to visit the Monastery of Khor Virap, where St. Gregory Illuminator was imprisoned for 13 years. We will continue our tour to the south, province of Vayots Dzor. We will try wonderful local wines in the factory of Areni wines. Close to the village Areni, in the picturesque valley of the river Arpa, we will visit the karsts cave Areni-1 with the relics of the material culture of the Stone and Bronze Ages. Lunch. Then, along the gorge will arrive at the Monastery Noravank (IX-XIII c., World Heritage of UNESCO), hidden between the red cliffs, one of the best monasteries in Armenia. Return to Yerevan.
Day 8: Yerevan – Ashtarak – Agarak – Aghdzk – Tegher – Amberd – Yerevan “Breakfast at the hotel. Parajanov Museum (the unique artist, painter, world famous filmmaker). Tour continues to the southern slopes of Mount Aragats, where are situated the archaeological excavations of ancient site of Agarak (Bronze Age). Armenian kings Arshakuni tomb in the village Aghdzk. Monastery Tegher (XII c.). Lunch. Tour to Amberd Fortress (X cent.), which is on the south-eastern slopes of Mount Aragats, at the altitude of 2.300m. Return to Yerevan. Farewell dinner. Overnight in Yerevan.
Day 9: Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to airport Zvartnotc.
