Travel to Armenia cannot be considered complete without a visit to Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh). During 13 unforgettable days you will get familiar to all the treasures of Armenia and Artsakh. During the visit to Nagorno Karabakh you will have a unique opportunity to see both the fortress of Shushi, which was destroyed during the Karabakh war, and the capital of Artsakh, Stepanakert, that thrives every year, and for its cleanliness and livability can be compared with a small cozy European city. During this tour you will also visit the second largest city of Armenia – Gyumri. This is a very unique city with its own color and character. And the old image of the streets in this city and the unique architecture will not leave anyone indifferent. INCLUDED transportation throughout the program experienced English language guide water during the entire program 12 breakfasts, 11 lunches, 1 dinner entrance fees to museums 3 star hotel NOT INCLUDED flight visa to Armenia insurance alcoholic drinks tip to guide and driver
Day 1: Arrival at Zvartnots airport. Here you will receive your guide. Transfer from airport to hotel. Accommodation.
Day 2: Yerevan Breakfast at the hotel. We start the tour from History Museum of Armenia. Visit to Tsitsernakaberd, memorial dedicated to victims of the Armenian Genocide. Lunch at a restaurant. Visit to Matenadaran, the museum of manuscripts where about 17,000 ancient manuscripts are kept. Leisure. Overnight in Yerevan.
Day 3: Yerevan – Garni – Geghard-Yerevan Breakfast at the hotel. Visit to Erebuni Fortress, founded in 782 BC, the silent witness of the ancient stone of Yerevan. We will visit the only pagan temple of Garni (II c.) and looking at the picturesque gorge called Azat (World Heritage of UNESCO). We will visit the cave monastery of Geghard (V-XII c., World Heritage of UNESCO). Lunch at Garni, in a village house. Here we will see how the villagers prepare traditional Armenian bread lavash. Return to Yerevan. National Gallery. Overnight in Yerevan.
Day 4: Yerevan – Echmiatsin – Yerevan Breakfast at the hotel. Travel to the holy city of Echmiatsin, with its cathedral and churches registered in the list of World Heritage of UNESCO since 2000. Visit to the Cathedral (IV c.), the temple of the Saint Hripsime (VII c.), Saint Gayane (VII c.), and the archaeological site of Zvartnots (VII c, World Heritage of UNESCO). Return to Yerevan. Lunch. Paradjanov Museum, a unique artist world known film director. Overnight in Yerevan.
Day 5: Yerevan – Khor Virap – Areni – Noravank – Goris “]Breakfast at the hotel. On the road Yerevan-Artashat, with the majestic scenery of Mount Ararat, we come almost to its foot to visit the monastery of Khor Virap, where St. Gregory the Illuminator remained for 13 years. We continue the journey to the south to the Vayots Dzor region. In Areni wine factory we will taste local wines, then through a picturesque gorge Noravank we will reach the monastery, one of the most beautiful and original ones of Armenia (IX-XIII c., World Heritage of UNESCO). Lunch. We shall continue the journey to the south to Zorats Karer (or Karahundj) Armenian Stonehenge (V millennium BC). Overnight in Goris.
Day 6: Goris – Shushi – Stepanakert – Gandzasar – Stepanakert Breakfast at the hotel. We will travel to Nagorno-Karabakh. In the city of Shushi we will visit the church Khazanchetsots Surb Amenaprkich (1868-1887) and the castle of Shushi, destroyed during the conflict in Karabakh. We will continue the trip to Stepanakert, capital of Nagorno Karabakh. Lunch. Gandzasar Monastery (XIII c.), the country’s treasury. Overnight in Stepanakert.
Day 7: Stepanakert – Khndzoresk – Tatev – Sisian”]Breakfast at the hotel. Village Khndzoresk with its houses in caves near the town of Goris. Lunch. Visit to the prodigious Tatev monastery (IX-XI c.), with surrounding areas of Vorotan Valley recorded in the list of Heritage of UNESCO . Overnight in Sisian.
Day 8: Sisian – Karavansaray – Noratus – Sevan – Goshavank – Dilijan”]Breakfast at the hotel. Selim Karavansaray (XIV c.) in the Selim pass (2400m). Khachkars of Noratus. Mountainous Lake Sevan, the pearl of Armenia at a height of about 2000m, visit to Sevan monastery (IX c.) in the Sevan peninsula. Lunch. We will continue the journey to Northeast, to the region of forests, to Dilijan. Goshavank monastery (XII c.). Overnight in Dilijan.
Day 9: Dilijan – Odzun – Sanahin -Haghpat Breakfast at the hotel. We will travel to the north, to the Lori region, where we will visit Odzun Temple (VI c.), one of the oldest Christian churches in the country, the monastery of Sanahin (X c., World Heritage Site of UNESCO) and the monastery of Haghpat (X c., World Heritage Site of UNESCO). Lunch. Overnight in Haghpat.
Day 10: Haghpat – Akhtala – Marmashen – Gyumri. Breakfast at the hotel. Visit to the monastery of Akhtala (X c.) with breathtaking frescoes (XIII c.). Trip to Gyumri, Armenia’s second largest city. Visit to Marmashen Monastery (X c.). Museum of Gyumri. Overnight in Gyumri.
Day 11: Gyumri – Harich – Mastara – Dashtadem – Ashtarak – Amberd – Yerevan”]Breakfast at the hotel. Visit to Harich Monastery (VII-XII c.), one of the most impressive monasteries in Armenia, different and an excellent example of the architectural school of Ani. Visit to S.Hovannes curch (V c.) in Mastara. Dashtadem Fortress (X-XVII c.). On the road to Yerevan – Gyumri we shall visit a thirteenth-century karavansaray. Lunch. Travel to the slope of Mount Aragats where lies the Fortress of Amberd (X c.). Overnight in Yerevan.
Day 12: Yerevan – Ashtarak – Ohanavank -Saghmosavan – Yerevan.
Breakfast at the hotel. Karmravor church. (VII c.) in Ashtarak. Visit to the monasteries of Hovhanavank (XIII c.) and Saghmosavank (V-XIII c.). Return to Yerevan. Ararat Brandy Factory, where we will visit the sector of aging cognac, the factory museum, the tasting room and shop. Short walk along Mashtots Avenue with views to the Market Hall and Blue Mosque (the only one in the country). Leisure. Farewell dinner. Overnight in Yerevan.
Day 13: Departure Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Zvartnots airport. Departure*.
Note
* The program also includes a visit to the Vernissage, the craft market where you can see the works of Armenian craftsmen working with silver, various stones, wood, ceramics, paintings and sculptures, dolls and more. As the Vernissage works only on Saturdays and Sundays the visit depends on the date of arrival.
Tour package price depends on the selected hotel and the number of tourists in the group.
