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. 

 O/N in Yerevan.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Drive to the monastery complexes of Saghmosavank, situated on the edge of the precipitous gorge of the Kasakh river. The Church of Zion in Saghmosavank (1215 y.), the main temple, was erected by Prince Vache Vachutyan. The book depository of Saghmosavank located on the territory of the Monastery, was built in 1255 A.D. under Prince Kurd Vachutyan. Many richly ornamented stone crosses have been preserved on the territory of the monasteries.

Continuation to Alphabet park - a location where all letters of Armenian alphabet made from tuff of human-size are scattered around volcanic stones.

Visit to the Amberd fortress, meaning "fortress in the clouds" in Armenian. It is a fortress complex with a church built XI-XIII centuries on the slopes of Mt. Aragats at 2,300 meters above sea level. The fortress was founded in the 7th century A.D. during the rule of the Kamsarakan princes. It was rebuilt 4 centuries later by the architect Vahram Vachutian Pakhlavuni.

Visit small church Karmravor in Ashtarak town.

Drive to Oshakan, a typical Armenian village with preserved traditions and lifestyle. The major sightseeing spot of Oshakan village is St. Mesrop Mashtots Church. The relics of Mesrop Mashtots, the founder of the Armenian alpha bet (V c.), lie here. Mesrop Mashtots was canonized by the Armenian Church in the V c. Initially, the chapel was raised on the gravestone of Mesrop Mashtots and later in the XIX c. the temple was erected. Drive back to Yerevan.

O/N in Yerevan.

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.

O/N in Yerevan.

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. 

O/N in Yerevan.

Breakfast at the hotel. 

Drive to Sevan, one of the greatest high mountainous freshwater lakes of Eurasia, climb on the peninsula from where the fascinating view on the Lake is open. Visit Sevanavank monastery, which stands in its greatness on the peninsula overlooking the lake for centuries. During the drive you can enjoy the unbelievable change of the surrounding environment and land shaft from the mountainous lake to the green and rich forest mountains resort Dilijan or so called “Armenian Switzerland”, which is well-known for its forests as well as for its mysterious flora and fauna.

Visit to Haghartsin Monastery complex, located in the secluded place of the forest. Haghartsin dates back to 11-13th century and represent a magnificent piece of history, culture and architecture. The place is so unique and the scenery with the nature surrounding it is so breathtaking that most of visitors are in awe. Appearing unexpectedly, out of the dense forests, in front of the visitors, the Monastery creates a magical impression of a lost world. Complex includes Church St. Stepanos, St. Mary and St. Gregory’s Church, as well as famous refectory. After visit one of the spiritual and cultural centers of medieval manuscript, Goshavank monastery. It was founded by the famous medieval spiritual figure, the jurist and fabulist Mkhitar Gosh on the territory of the ancient monastery of Getik, which was completely destroyed by the earthquake of 1186. Goshavank Monastery (11th -13 th cc), situated in the forest beautiful architectural treasure and is famous for the carved s tone, which is a rare monument that belongs to the series of "embroidered khachkars" (cross stone).

Drive back to Yerevan.

O/N in Yerevan.