This classic Tour of Armenia is made for those who have less time but don’t want to miss the most important sights of Armenia. The tour is based in Yerevan, the modern capital city of Armenia, and, with daily excursions, allows the visitor to see the most important places of religious, archeological and cultural interest. This tour of Armenia starts with the Greek-roman temple of Garni and the beautiful cave monastery of Geghard, and then reaches the Armenian Vatican, Echmiadzin, the seat of the Catholicos of Armenian Apostolic Church. Another excursion reaches Sevan Lake, the second highest freshwater lake in the world, and the beautiful Monastery of Sevanavank, in a wonderful location on a peninsula dominating the lake.
But, a Tour of Armenia cannot be complete without a visit to Haghpat and Sanahin, two beautiful monasteries both protected by UNESCO, or without a visit to Khor Virap, the Monastery with the best background of Armenia: the imposing Mount Ararat. These and many other sights are inside this classic tour of Armenia which will help visitors to understand the millenary culture of Armenian People and to get in touch with their hospitality and their pride to live in one of the cradles of western civilization.
But, a Tour of Armenia cannot be complete without a visit to Haghpat and Sanahin, two beautiful monasteries both protected by UNESCO, or without a visit to Khor Virap, the Monastery with the best background of Armenia: the imposing Mount Ararat. These and many other sights are inside this classic tour of Armenia which will help visitors to understand the millenary culture of Armenian People and to get in touch with their hospitality and their pride to live in one of the cradles of western civilization.
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Itinerary map
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Tour Armenia pearl of Caucasus
Day 1: Arrival – Transfer to hotel
Arrival in Yerevan at Zvartnots International Airport, our representative will wait at the arrival hall for the transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Yerevan
Day 2: Yerevan city tour – Garni – Geghard – Grandfather Levon's cave – Yerevan
After breakfast, an half day tour will show the city of Yerevan (Republic Square, Opera House, Cascade, Victory Park where you can admire the best view of the city, Matenadaran the museum of ancient manuscripts, Tsitsernakaberd the memorial to the Armenian Genocide). After lunch, departure to Kotayk region to visit the Temple of Garni, a first century Hellenistic Pagan temple and the only one to survive after the christianization of Armenia in the IV century AD. A short drive leads to the Unesco protected Geghard Monastery, probably the most beautiful of Armenia, which lies in a narrow gorge and is partially carved out of the adjacent towering cliff. Lunch in Garni where the group will have the opportunity to see the lavash (the traditional armenian bread) baking process. Trip to Avan-Arinj village to visit grandfather Levon's cave, where many years ago Levon Arakelyan, a resident of the village, started to dig a potato cellar in its home basement. Having heard a voice from the mist of a white fog telling him to make a miracle, he continued and dug for the next 23 years until his death a series of caves, connected by narrow passages and stairs, which go 21 meters deep into the earth. His wife will tell the complete story. Return to Yerevan, dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Yerevan – Echmiadzin – Zvartnots – Yerevan
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for the holy city of Echmiadzin, home of the "Catholicos" of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Sightseeing tour of the Cathedral and of the churches of St. Gayane and of St. Hripsime; after a short trip, visit of the ruins of Zvartnots Cathedral, which used to be one of the most powerful and beautiful examples of armenian architecture. Return to Yerevan and visit of the Vernissage open air market (working days Sunday and Saturday). Dinner in Yerevan with folklor music and degustation of armenian tasty dishes. Overnight in Yerevan.
Day 4: Yerevan – Areni – Khor Virap –Noravank – Yerevan
Breakfast at the hotel. Depart for the Ararat region where, in a spectacular location just under the imposing mount Ararat, lies the Monastery of Khor Virap: here, from its terrace, everyone can enjoy the fantastic view of the two peaks of this magnificent extinct volcano. In the yard of the monastery there's a deep well: inside it saint Gregory the Illuminator was prisoned by king Trdat because of his predication of Christian Religion. Trip to the village of Areni, famous for its wines, time for a wine degustation tour at a local wine factory. Lunch and then continue to Noravank Monastery, located in a narrow canyon made by reddish rocks. The unique location and the unique architecture make Noravank one of the most beautiful monasteries of Armenia. Return to Yerevan, dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Yerevan – Sevan – Noratus – Dilijan – Yerevan
After breakfast, departure for the Sevan Lake, the second highest freshwater lake in the world at about 2000 m above sea level. One of the highlights of today's visits is the Noratus cemetery famous for its many khatchkars, the carved cross-stones, dotting the compound of the cemetery. The tour goes on with the visit of Dilijan, a small resort-town, one of the most green cities of Armenia. Visit of Haghartsin Monastery and then back to Sevan to have lunch with lake fish dishes. On the way back to Yerevan visit of the Sevan peninsula with its monastery Sevanavank. Departure to Yerevan for dinner and overnight.
Day 6: Yerevan – Akhtala – Haghpat – Sanahin – Yerevan
After breakfast, departure for Lori region and the Valley of Debed to visit three gems of Armenian architecture. The first one is Akhtala, one of the few churches in Armenia painted with frescoes inside. Then proceed to the magnificent monastery of Haghpat and, after lunch, visit of the Monastery of Sanahin. These two UNESCO protected monasteries, both built in the X century, are among the most outstanding works of Armenian medieval architecture. Departure to Yerevan. Dinner andovernight.
Day 7: Yerevan – Saghmosavank – Hovhannavank – Amberd – Oshakan – Yerevan
After having breakfast, departure to Ashtarak region to visit the two Monasteries of Hovhannavank and Saghmosavank, both located on the edge of the deep Kasagh River Gorge. Proceed to Amberd, a 7th century fortress located on the slopes of Mount Aragats at about 2300 m above sea level. Lunch and departure to Oshakan to visit the cathedral and the tomb of St. Mesrop Mashtots, the inventor of Armenian Alphabet. Return to Yerevan, farewell dinner and transfer to hotel.
Day 8: Yerevan - Departure
Transfer to airport for the outgoing flight.
End of services.
Arrival in Yerevan at Zvartnots International Airport, our representative will wait at the arrival hall for the transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Yerevan
Day 2: Yerevan city tour – Garni – Geghard – Grandfather Levon's cave – Yerevan
After breakfast, an half day tour will show the city of Yerevan (Republic Square, Opera House, Cascade, Victory Park where you can admire the best view of the city, Matenadaran the museum of ancient manuscripts, Tsitsernakaberd the memorial to the Armenian Genocide). After lunch, departure to Kotayk region to visit the Temple of Garni, a first century Hellenistic Pagan temple and the only one to survive after the christianization of Armenia in the IV century AD. A short drive leads to the Unesco protected Geghard Monastery, probably the most beautiful of Armenia, which lies in a narrow gorge and is partially carved out of the adjacent towering cliff. Lunch in Garni where the group will have the opportunity to see the lavash (the traditional armenian bread) baking process. Trip to Avan-Arinj village to visit grandfather Levon's cave, where many years ago Levon Arakelyan, a resident of the village, started to dig a potato cellar in its home basement. Having heard a voice from the mist of a white fog telling him to make a miracle, he continued and dug for the next 23 years until his death a series of caves, connected by narrow passages and stairs, which go 21 meters deep into the earth. His wife will tell the complete story. Return to Yerevan, dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Yerevan – Echmiadzin – Zvartnots – Yerevan
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for the holy city of Echmiadzin, home of the "Catholicos" of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Sightseeing tour of the Cathedral and of the churches of St. Gayane and of St. Hripsime; after a short trip, visit of the ruins of Zvartnots Cathedral, which used to be one of the most powerful and beautiful examples of armenian architecture. Return to Yerevan and visit of the Vernissage open air market (working days Sunday and Saturday). Dinner in Yerevan with folklor music and degustation of armenian tasty dishes. Overnight in Yerevan.
Day 4: Yerevan – Areni – Khor Virap –Noravank – Yerevan
Breakfast at the hotel. Depart for the Ararat region where, in a spectacular location just under the imposing mount Ararat, lies the Monastery of Khor Virap: here, from its terrace, everyone can enjoy the fantastic view of the two peaks of this magnificent extinct volcano. In the yard of the monastery there's a deep well: inside it saint Gregory the Illuminator was prisoned by king Trdat because of his predication of Christian Religion. Trip to the village of Areni, famous for its wines, time for a wine degustation tour at a local wine factory. Lunch and then continue to Noravank Monastery, located in a narrow canyon made by reddish rocks. The unique location and the unique architecture make Noravank one of the most beautiful monasteries of Armenia. Return to Yerevan, dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Yerevan – Sevan – Noratus – Dilijan – Yerevan
After breakfast, departure for the Sevan Lake, the second highest freshwater lake in the world at about 2000 m above sea level. One of the highlights of today's visits is the Noratus cemetery famous for its many khatchkars, the carved cross-stones, dotting the compound of the cemetery. The tour goes on with the visit of Dilijan, a small resort-town, one of the most green cities of Armenia. Visit of Haghartsin Monastery and then back to Sevan to have lunch with lake fish dishes. On the way back to Yerevan visit of the Sevan peninsula with its monastery Sevanavank. Departure to Yerevan for dinner and overnight.
Day 6: Yerevan – Akhtala – Haghpat – Sanahin – Yerevan
After breakfast, departure for Lori region and the Valley of Debed to visit three gems of Armenian architecture. The first one is Akhtala, one of the few churches in Armenia painted with frescoes inside. Then proceed to the magnificent monastery of Haghpat and, after lunch, visit of the Monastery of Sanahin. These two UNESCO protected monasteries, both built in the X century, are among the most outstanding works of Armenian medieval architecture. Departure to Yerevan. Dinner andovernight.
Day 7: Yerevan – Saghmosavank – Hovhannavank – Amberd – Oshakan – Yerevan
After having breakfast, departure to Ashtarak region to visit the two Monasteries of Hovhannavank and Saghmosavank, both located on the edge of the deep Kasagh River Gorge. Proceed to Amberd, a 7th century fortress located on the slopes of Mount Aragats at about 2300 m above sea level. Lunch and departure to Oshakan to visit the cathedral and the tomb of St. Mesrop Mashtots, the inventor of Armenian Alphabet. Return to Yerevan, farewell dinner and transfer to hotel.
Day 8: Yerevan - Departure
Transfer to airport for the outgoing flight.
End of services.
