This short Tour of Armenia is studied for those people who want to discover the UNESCO protected sites of Armenia. It covers all of them: the rock-hewn Monastery of Geghard and the Upper Azat Valley, the Cathedral of Echmiadzin and the Churches of St. Gayane and St. Hripsime with a tour to Zvartnots Cathedral, the Monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin. This short tour of Armenia gives also the opportunity to get in touch with some aspects of the everyday life of Armenians and to taste some of the delicious traditional food.
Tour UNESCO Sites of Armenia
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 cave 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. Visit of the Cathedral and of the churches of St. Gayane and of St. Hripsime; after a short drive, 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 – 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 isAkhtala, one of the few churches in Armenia painted with frescoes inside. Then proceed to the magnificent monasteryofHaghpat 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 5: 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 cave 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. Visit of the Cathedral and of the churches of St. Gayane and of St. Hripsime; after a short drive, 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 – 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 isAkhtala, one of the few churches in Armenia painted with frescoes inside. Then proceed to the magnificent monasteryofHaghpat 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 5: Yerevan - Departure
Transfer to airport for the outgoing flight.
End of services.