Breakfast at the hotel. Sightseeing tour in Yerevan, ancient and at the same time a modern city (29 years older than Rome) with a unique coloring with the majestic biblical mountain Ararat on the background. Visit to the fortress ruins of Erebuni, founded during the Urartian Kingdom by the King Argishti in 782 BC and the Erebuni museum (1968) with the Urartian period exhibits. The fortress has played a significant role for the Armenian Statehood. Erebuni has been renamed Yerevan since at least the 7th century A.D., when it was the capital of Armenia. Yerevan is currently 2797 years old and still counting.

Visit to Armenian hand made carpet factory with possibility to watch the production of the rugs which involve dyeing of the yarns by using vegetable dyes, weaving, shearing, finishing, etc. The factory has showroom where purchases are offered (shipping of rugs to your country is possible). Yerevan sightseeing including City center, Republic square, State University, City panorama, Mother Armenia Monument, Parliament, President’s Palace, Opera, Sports & Concert Complex. Visit to Cascade complex, which is considered the modern art center of Yerevan, with art pieces displayed throughout the whole area: the boulevard and up the stairs, from top of which you can enjoy the panoramic view on the city and Mountain Ararat. Cascade is home to Cafesjan modern art museum. This place becomes even more charming in the evenings, when it is full of people, both locals and tourists from all over the world, enjoying the magic and the warmth of the capital. You will enjoy spending time in one of the cozy open-air cafes surrounded by beautiful sculptures, redolent flowers shining brightly with magic colors. It is also a popular place for open air concerts at summer season.

Very interesting one hour tour around Armenian brandy factory offers tourists familiarization with the history of the plant, process of brandy preparation, showrooms and halls of storages. Visitors will also have degustation of 2 types of brandy of different age in degustation hall. Brandy shop at the factory territory will be available for purchasing of this famous Armenian brandy directly from the factory. 

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Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Ararat valley, visit to Khor Virap Church – the place of imprisonment of St. Gregory the Illuminator, who stayed here in the small dungeon for 13 years without any food, accused by the Armenian King of preaching Christianity. Khor Virap Church was built on the dungeon and now people have a chance to go down into the dark pit themselves. It is one of the holy places for the Christian world. It is also the best point to enjoy the most spectacular view of the gorgeous biblical mountain Ararat shining with its two white peaks. The hills adjoining Khor Virap were the site of the early Armenian capital - ancient Artashat built by King Artashes I, founder of the Artashesid dynasty, around 180 B.C. It is one of the few ancient towns, built by the special design of the famous Carthaginian general Hannibal. After the defeat in a war against Rome, he found shelter in Armenia…

Drive through the spectacular canyon between the red rocks toward Noravank Monastery (13th c.). On the way visit local winery in Areni village - wine testing. Areni used to be one of the centers of wine production in Armenia. Recent archeological findings makes place worldwide famous. In September 2010, archaeologists discovered a 6,100-year-old 5 winery and wine cellar in Areni (Vayots Dzor province) in Armenia. Within the underground wine cellar, a wine press for stomping grapes, fermentation and storage containers, drinking cups, grape vines, skins, and seeds were found. This is the earliest winery and wine cellar found to date. The findings indicated large scale wine production, quite possibly the earliest retail winery. Drive back to Yerevan.

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Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to the only remaining pagan temple in Armenia devoted to the God of Sun – Myrth, in Garni, built in 77 AD by King Trdat (Arshakid Dynasty). Photo stop at Charentc Arc. The temple is Greco-Roman style with characteristic pillars. It stands proudly on a rocky ridge with a deep canyon presenting a beautiful view. The temple was a summer residence for Arshakid dynasty. Visit to the ruins of Royal Palace and Royal bath-house nearby. Canyon of Garni -magnificent and outstanding scene which creates the image of falling crags. It obtained the name "Symphony of Stones" due to its view. The fantastic landscape of Garni canyon shakes the human imagination.

Drive to the unique caved temple St. Geghard (12th -13th cc.), the name of which means “holy spear” in the honor of the long-preserved spear, the same spear that pierced the body of crucified Christ. It is now exhibited in the museum of Etchmiadzin Cathedral. Geghard Monastery is included in the UNESCO World Heritage list (2000).

Watching of “Lavash” (Armenian traditional flat bread baked in stone-make oven) making process in local village house

Drive back to Yerevan. 

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Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Etchmiadzin City, which is used to be the ancient capital of Armenia. Since 4th century, it is the largest religious center, the residency of Catholicos of All Armenians. Etchmiadzin cathedral is one of the ancient churches in the Christian world, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List (2000), it is the center of Armenian Apostolic Church. It was founded in 301 A.D. by St. Gregory the Illuminator. Later, it was rebuilt and currently it stands as a complex including the Cathedral, Spiritual Academy, residency of the Catholicos of all Armenians, Synod of Armenian Church and a library. The museum of the Cathedral, located behind the Altar, has collection of religious artifacts about Holy Mass, subjects made of gold, silver, precious stones, decorations, colossal silver boiler for making the myrrh and legendary Holy spear. Before entering in the town of Echmiadzin visit the majestic St. Gayane Church and St. Hripsime Church. The legend of Hripsime dates from the early days of Christianity. Hripsime fled to Armenia to escape persecution by the Roman Emperor Diocletian. A beautiful but totally devoted follower of Christ, Hripsime refused to marry the pagan Armenian King Tirdat III when ordered, and chose the death of a martyr. A small chapel was erected over the spot where she was murdered. In the 7th century a wondrous church - a masterpiece of Armenian architecture - was built in its place by order of Catholicos Komitas.

A trip to one of the architectural wonders of Armenia: Zvartnots temple (641-661 BC) the temple of "Vigil Forces", which got its name from the word "Zwart", which translated from Armenian means "joyful and beautiful." The remaining ruins give an idea of the rare beauty of this temple. The temple is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (2000). Drive back to Yerevan.

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Optional excursion: 

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Lake Sevan is one of the wonders in Armenia. This blue lake is one of the greatest high mountainous freshwater lakes of Eurasia. On a clear and sunny day, the water is often of a deep turquoise colour. Visit the ancient Sevanavank Monastery (IX century), which stands in its greatness on the peninsula overlooking the lake for centuries.

Drive to mountainous resort Dilijan called “Armenian Switzerland”, which is well-known for its forests as well as for its mysterious flora and fauna. During the drive one can enjoy the unbelievable change of the surrounding environment and landscape from the mountainous lake to the green and rich forest mountains.

Visit to Haghartsin Monastery (13th c.), located in the secluded place of the forest, which includes the group of Monastery buildings. Appearing unexpectedly, out of the dense forests, in front of the visitors, the Monastery creates a magical impression of the lost world. Drive to Goshavank Monastery (11th -13 th cc), which was one of the spiritual and cultural centers of medieval manuscript.

Drive back to Yerevan.

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