GEMS OF ARMENIA

Day 1/Arrival

Meet at the airport in Yerevan. Transfer to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.(-/-/-)

Day 2/Yerevan – Yerevan Sightseeing Tour

After breakfast at the hotel, we will have an early morning walk in the capital of Armenia, Yerevan which is 2,800 years old ancient city and even 29 years older than Rome. The city has witnessed four settlement phases from the end of the 4th millennium BC to the beginning of the 2nd millennium BC. Lying on the main trade routes between East and West, Yerevan was constantly fought back and forth during the course of the time. Despite the complicated and dramatic history Yerevan has hospitable people who are one of the main treasures of the city. Yerevan is a very comfortable and walkable city, thus you will enjoy your time in the fascinating fall weather of the sunny Yerevan while walking around Cascade Complex. If you walk up the “huge staircase” of 500 meters’ height and 50 meters’ width, you can enjoy the wonderful panorama of the city with the spectacular Opera House, Mount Ararat as well as the view to the whole city. Another mast-see in Yerevan is the legendary Ararat Brandy Factory founded in 1877 during the rule of the Russian Empire. It is definitely a perfect place to try the renowned Armenian brandy/cognac, and even the beloved Armenian cognac of Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin which is still producing. The tour will involve a walk through the factory, a brandy tasting, a guide on how to drink it, and interesting and historical information about their brand. Another great place to visit is the National Gallery of Armenia, which you can combine with a visit to the History Museum of Armenia, since it is situated in the same building, right in the heart of the capital, Republic Square. Founded in 1921, the gallery contains 26,000 artworks and 56 galleries and halls. The History Museum of Armenia holds a national collection consisting of about 400,000 archeological, numismatic and ethnographical objects. Pay a visit to Tsitsernakaberd Monument, situated on a hill. The monument is devoted to the victims of the Armenian Genocide in 1915 by the Ottoman Empire. More than 1.5 million Armenians were killed during those massacres and many more spread around the world, forming a huge Diaspora. (Optional* Dinner at a local restaurant or a tavern tasting traditional dishes in a traditional atmosphere with an opportunity to enjoy a nice folk show. (B/-/-)

Day 3/Yerevan – Garni – Geghard – Miracle Cave – Yerevan

After breakfast at the hotel (10:00), we will explore the top tourist attractions of Armenia: Garni Temple, a pagan temple built in 1st century by Tiridates I, as a king’s summer holiday house, right on the edge of the breathtaking Azat Gorge (UNESCO World Heritage Site). The temple is the only survival of the Hellenic epoch in the whole territory of the Caucasus. Noteworthy to mention that next to the temple there are ruins of the Christian church from the 7th-century. In addition, the construction is recognized by UNESCO. The village of Garni has many restaurants, seasonal cafes right on Garni Gorge, other places to score delicious food, made by the hospitable locals. Another must-see is the Monastery of Geghard (UNESCO Heritage Site), located close to Yerevan and Garni Temple. The structure considered to be one of the most unique pieces of architecture in the world, as the monastery is built into the rocks of a mountain. The monastery was first recorded in a document of 1250. Geghard is famous due to the relics, among which the most important one is the spear which had wounded Christ on the Cross presumably brought there by the Apostle Thaddeus. Here in Geghard, you can also watch the process of “lavash” making in the traditional underground oven “tonir”. All the way down to Yerevan there is another stop at the Miracle Cave, a miraculous subterranean cave of 21 meters’ depth. After descending 80 stairs you find yourself in a round hall, in a pavilion decorated with candles. Each person should enter here individually and making a wish they should light a candle. As the master used to say, a candle lit here by all means serves its purpose and the wish comes true. It took more than two decades to the Master to build this cave-shrine. This cave is often compared with the Noah’s Ark and considered to be the second ark which is to save the humanity not from flood but from fire. Overnight at a hotel in Yerevan. (B/-/-)

Day 4/Yerevan – Lake Sevan – Dilijan – Yerevan

After breakfast at the hotel, we will have a short drive to the pearl of Armenia, Lake Sevan situated in the Sevan National Park, one of the four protected national areas of Armenia. Lake Sevan has a unique combination of great size, high mountain location, and comparatively “soft water”. Lake Sevan is one of the greatest freshwater high-mountain lakes of Eurasia. It is located at about 2000 meters above the sea level. (Optional* lunch tasting barbeque from Sevan trout). We will then explore the 9th century summer residence of the Armenian King Ashot the Iron (Ashot Erkat) – Sevanavank Monastery built on the Sevan Island long before the land became a peninsula (the northwestern part of the lake used to be an island and during the Soviet period, the lake was drained a bit, creating a peninsula out of the former island). The monastery is surrounded by outstanding views of the lake and mountains and many khachkars (Armenian cross stones). (Optional*) If you are an extreme enthusiast, you can take a tandem paragliding or kitesurfing tours above the lake by registering in advance. Drive to Dilijan. Have an evening walk in the wonderfully forested town of Dilijan. It is rich with mineral waters. Some of them are compared with Vichy in France and Davos in Switzerland. The town is nicknamed as the ‘Switzerland of Armenia’ and that is one of the many reasons to travel there all in itself. By taking a journey all the way up to the town, a 13th century Haghartsin Monastery is definitely worth a visit. The monastery consisting of four churches and a royal sepulcher of Bagratunis, is located near the town of Dilijan surrounded by high mountains with foliage forests. The monastery of Haghartsin, along with Goshavank, may become part of a natural site based on the state protected area of Dilijan National Park.

Day 5/Yerevan – Tsaghkadzor – Yerevan

After breakfast at the hotel one of the best day trips from the capital city is undoubtedly the cozy town of Tsaghkadzor surrounded by the Tsaghkunyats Mountains of the Kotayk region. It is a spa and resort town that has become famous for its winter activities, especially skiing. Tsaghkadzor translated as‘’Gorge of flowers’’ truly deserves the name because during spring, the town becomes a shelter for lush, green forests and flowers and the views are just mesmerizing. All the way up from the city center, you can find a 11-century monastery, the Kecharis Monastery which is considered as one of the historical gems of Tsaghkadzor. Kecharis is a great place to get in touch with the history of Tsaghkadzor. Here you can enjoy riding Quadracycles, then use the ropeway to get to the mountain and enjoy the magnificent panorama all around. Drive back to Yerevan. Overnight in Yerevan. (B/-/-)

Day 6/Leisure Day

Breakfast at the hotel. Leisure day for more shopping in the city center and the molls of Yerevan. Optional* balloon flight or paragliding. Overnight at a hotel in Yerevan. (B/-/-)

Day 7/Departure

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport. Departure. (B/-/-)

The rates include*

Accommodation at the hotel on a DBL basis
Meals BB
Transfer to/from Zvartnots International Airport
Transfers during the tours
English speaking guide services on tour days
Entrance fees
Tsaghkadzor ropeway fee
A bottle of mineral water per person per day
Maps of Armenia and Yerevan
24-hour service

The rates exclude*

Flights
Insurance
Visa and visa documents’ related fees (if any)
Portage
Beverages
All other services not mentioned above