Did you know that the Great Silk Road passes through Armenia? During our 9-day tour through Armenia, you will have the opportunity to visit Selim Caravanserai dating from the 14th century. It is night lodging for caravans loaded with goods, which head to Europe and to the East through Armenia. This is not the only thing Armenia will surprise you with. Garni pagan temple, a monastery carved in a cave, an observatory dating back to the 5th millennium BC, a mosque in the heart of the capital, the first country to adopt Christianity as a state religion – Armenia is a multifaceted and diverse country and it never leaves anyone indifferent. Discover it with us! INCLUDED transportation throughout the program experienced English language guide water during the entire program 8 breakfasts, 7 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: 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. Visit to Matenadaran, the museum of manuscripts where about 17,000 ancient manuscripts are keptLeisure. 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 watch the picturesque valley of the Azat (Heritage of UNESCO). We will visit the cave monastery of Geghard (V-XII c., a World Heritage Site by UNESCO). Lunch at Garni, in a village house. Here we will see how traditional Armenian bread lavash is prepared. Return to Yerevan. Visit to National Gallery. Overnight in Yerevan.
Day 4: Yerevan – Echmiatsin – Yerevan “]Breakfast at the hotel. Travel to the holy city of Echmiatsin which with its cathedral and churches is registered in the list of World Heritage by UNESCO in 1996, 2000. Visit to the Cathedral (IV c.), the temple of the Saint Hripsime (VII c.), the Saint Gayane (VII c.), the archaeological site of Zvartnots (VII c., World Heritage of UNESCO). Return to Yerevan. Lunch. Visit to Paradjanov Museum, an original filmmaker known world artist. Overnight in Yerevan.
Day 5: Yerevan – Khor Virap – Areni – Noravank – Sisian Breakfast at the hotel. On Yerevan-Artashat road all the time in sight of the majestic Mount Ararat, come to its feet to visit the monastery of Khor Virap, where St. Gregory the Illuminator remained for 13 years. We continue the journey to the south, to Vayots Dzor region. In the winery Areni we will taste local wines, then through a picturesque gorge we reach Noravank monastery (World Heritage of UNESCO), one of the most beautiful and original monasteries of Armenia. Lunch. We continue the journey to the south to Zorats Karer (or Karahundj) Armenian Stonehenge (V millennium BC). Overnight in Sisian.
Day 6: Sisian – Selim – Noratus – Sevan – Dilijan Breakfast at the hotel. We travel to Sevan by Selim Pass, through which the Great Silk Road passed, visit Selim Karavansaray (XIV century). Khachkars of Noratus (XIII c.). Mountainous Lake Sevan, the pearl of Armenia, which is at a height of about 2000m, visit to Sevan monastery (IX c.) in the Sevan peninsula. Lunch. We shall continue the journey to the northeast, the region of forests, the pleasure resort of Dilijan. Visit to Goshavank Monastery (XII c.). Overnight in Dilijan.
Day 7: Dilijan – Sanahin – Haghpat – Odzun – Yerevan “]Breakfast at the hotel. We will travel to the north, to the Lori region, where we will visit the monastery of Sanahin (X c., World Heritage of UNESCO) and the monastery of Haghpat (X c., World Heritage of UNESCO). Visit to Odzun temple (VI c.), one of the oldest Christian churches in the country. Lunch. The road back to Yerevan passes through the picturesque gorge of the river Debed, then down the mountain slopes and the passage of Spitak climbs Aragatsotn region (foot of Aragats) to the plain of the highest mountain in Armenia. By the way we shall see the town of Spitak which in 1988 was the epicenter of a massive earthquake with a magnitude of 7.2 degrees and was almost completely destroyed and was rebuilt in subsequent years. We will go through two villages of Yazidi (national minority). Overnight in Yerevan.
Day 8: Yerevan – Ashtarak – Ohanavan – Amberd – Yerevan Breakfast at the hotel. Visit to the monasteries of Hovhanavank (XIII c.) . We shall continue the journey to the slopes of Mount Aragats where is the fortress of Amberd (X c.). Lunch. Karmravor Church (VII c.). Return to Yerevan. Short walk along Mashtots Avenue with visits to the Market Hall and Blue Mosque (the only one in the country). Farewell dinner. Overnight in Yerevan.
Day 9: Departure Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to airport Zvartnots. Departure.**
Note
* The tour includes one more visit. You can choose between Saghmosavank monastery (V-XIII c.) and the Ararat Brandy Factory, where we will visit the sector of aging cognac, the factory museum, the tasting room and shop.
** 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.
