CULTURAL ARMENIA

Day 1/ Arrival

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

Day 2/Yerevan Sightseeing Tour – History Museum of Armenia – Ararat Brandy Factory

After breakfast at the hotel (10:00) we will have an unforgettable sightseeing tour in Yerevan. The capital city is one of the most ancient cities in the world with a rich history and incredible historical landmarks. The city is coeval with the Babylon, Nineveh and other ancient cities of the Mesopotamia. It is an “open-air museum” – there is much to see and explore. During the sightseeing tour you will get acquainted with the city architecture and visit the main sights of the “Pink City”. Then we head to one of the most beloved museums of locals and tourists. Right in the heart of the capital city, in the Republic Square, located in the central and main building there is a museum and gallery complex, where you can get acquainted with the true history and culture of the entire country. First, we will give a visit to the National Gallery of Armenia. Founded in 1921, the gallery contains 26,000 artworks and 56 galleries and halls. Beside the local art, you can find international pieces of art as well. There are holding international and renowned exhibitions annually, for example, the National Gallery has hosted the Dali and Picasso Exhibition consisting of 250 artworks in 2020, the Aivazovsky Exhibition in 2018, etc. The History Museum of Armenia is another great museum where you can see the Armenian history of thousands of years in a bite-sized chunk. The museum holds a national collection consisting of about 400,000 archeological, numismatic and ethnographical objects. Then we will have lunch at one of the best authentic Armenian restaurants in the heart of Yerevan. After lunch we will visit the Ararat Brandy Factory, which was 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. Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan. (B/-/-).

Day 3/Yerevan – Cascade Complex – Sergey Parajanov’s Museum – Tsisternakaberd Memorial Complex

After breakfast at the hotel (10:00) we will walk to the Cascade Complex, one of the charming and at the same time cozy places in the capital city. Yerevan is a very comfortable and walkable city; thus, you will enjoy your time in sunny Yerevan while walking around Cascade Complex. When in Cascade Complex it is worth to visit the Cafesjian Art Center and Sculpture Garden. The Cafesjian Center for the Arts is dedicated to bringing the best of contemporary art to Armenia and presenting the best of Armenian culture to the world. Inspired by the vision of its founder, Gerard L. Cafesjian, the Center offers a wide variety of exhibitions, including a selection of important work from the Gerard L. Cafesjian Collection of contemporary art. Having celebrated its grand opening in November 2009, Cafesjian Center for Arts continues to exhibit unique works of modern and contemporary art and offers a diverse program of lectures, films, concerts, and numerous educational initiatives for adults and children. Over one million people have visited the Center annually since its opening. The Sculpture Garden is another great and photographic place right in the center of city. Cafesjian Sculpture Garden is located at the base of the Cascade and presents one of the finest collections of monumental sculpture found anywhere in the world. Its unobstructed walkways, long vistas, and formal garden areas have been specially designed to provide a modern setting for large-scale sculpture by such internationally recognized figures as Fernando Botero, Jaume Plensa, and Barry Flanagan, the copy of infamous “New York Love”. Once you get to this favorite promenade venue, you will immediately be exposed to modern art, will plunge into the atmosphere of culture without as much as entering the galleries. 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. Then we will give a visit to the Sergei Parajanov’s Museum. He was one of the 20th century’s greatest artists, filmmakers and film directors, who made significant contribution to Ukrainian, Armenian and Georgian cinema. The museum represents Parajanov’s diverse artistic and literary heritage. After we will give a Tsiternakaberd Memorial Complex (Swallow’s Fortress) is only 4 km away from the museum. It is Armenia’s official memorial built during the Soviet era, dedicated to the 1.5 million of victims of the Armenian Genocide of 1915. Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan. (B/-/-).

Day 4/Shopping Day – (Shopping at North Avenue, Dalma Mall, Yerevan GUM Food Market, Vernissage open-air market for souvenirs and handicrafts)

Free for leisure. Farewell Dinner with live Armenian music and folkloric dance. Overnight in Yerevan. (B/-/-)

Day 5/Departure

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

The rates include*
Accommodation at the hotel on a DBL basis
Meals BB
Transfer to/from Zvartnots International Airport
Transfers during the tours
Brandy factory tour, brandy testing 3 types
English speaking guide services on tour days
All entrance fees
A bottle of 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)
Beverages
All other services not mentioned above