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Train Tour in Armenia

10 days/ 9 nights

                          Tour highlights:

  •  Authentic experience
  •  Trips on the soviet electrical train
  •  Garni, only remaining pagan temple in Armenia
  •  Geghard, a unique caved temple • Local life experience
  •  Echmiadzin, one of the oldest church in the world
  •  Sevan,one of the greatest high mountainous freshwater lakes of Eurasia
  •  Ancient Artashat city ruins, built by the special design of the famous Carthaginian general Hannibal.
  •  Areni, 6.100-year-old 5 winery and wine cellar in Vayots Dzor region
  •  "Tatever" 5.7 km- Longest ropeway in the world
  •  Zorats Karer or Qarahunj, one of the oldest observatories in the world
  •  Very cool concept of hotel in "Halidzor

Open Detailed Descriptions
Day 1:

Arrival in Yerevan - transfer to the selected hotel

Day 2:

Yerevan City tour

Breakfast at the hotel. City tour in Yerevan. Yerevan sightseeing including City center, Republic square, State University, City panorama, Mother Armenia Monument, Parliament, President’s Palace, Opera, Sports & Concert Complex.

Visit to Matenadaran (depository for ancient manuscripts, the collection of which is one of the biggest in the world). This outstanding collection includes manuscripts dating from 7th century and is widely appreciated by history and art amateurs and professionals.

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.

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The tour package includes a lunch in a local restaurant.

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A trip on the subway to Sasuntsi David station. Visit the railway station and the small museum that was opened in 2009. In the museum you can get acquainted with the history of Armenian railways from 1896 to our days.

O/n in Yerevan

Day 3:

Garni - Geghard

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).

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Family hosted lunch in village house with watching of “Lavash” (Armenian traditional flat bread baked in stone-make oven) making process, testing authentic Armenian food, get acquainted with local village life.

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Drive back to Yerevan.

O/N in Yerevan

Day 4:

Train to Artashat - Khor Virap - Noravank - Areni wine village - Goris

Breakfast in the hotel. Morning train to Artashat. From railway station drive by bus to Khor Virap church, 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 of 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 special design of famous Carthaginian general Hannibal. After the defeat in a war against Rome he found a shelter in Armenia…

Drive to Vayots Dzor province to visit Areni village that is used to be one of the centers of wine production in Armenia. Recent archeological findings makes place worldwide famous. Visit the Areni cave where in September 2010, archaeologists discovered a 6,100-year-old 5 winery and 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. Stop at local winery in Areni village for wine testing. Trip through the spectacular canyon between the red rocks to Noravank Monastery (13th c.).

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Lunch in a local restaurant with spectacular view of the canyon.

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Visit to the monastery that is consider to be the masterpiece of Momik, a talented sculptor and a miniaturist. Drive to Zorats Karer “Amenian Stonehenge” which is proved to be one of the oldest, observatories in the world.

Drive to Goris, a city with unique architecture in natural fortress with rocks. In the evening the rocks acquire a fairytale-like view under the special lighting, which is an excellent occasion to capture some impressive night shoots.

O/N in Goris

Day 5:

Goris - Tatev- Khndzoresk – Halidzor

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to the ancient cave-city Khndzoresk with ancient caves where people lived 100 years ago. Trip to Tatev Monastery, enjoying spectacular view of the scenery around, passing Devil’s bridge. View of recently constructed rope way – the longest in the world (5,7 km), recorded in Guinnes record book.

Optional: Ride on the longest ropeway in the world over the canyons to the Monastery of Tatev and back.

Overnight in a very special place in Halidzor village in eco resort. The tourists will have a unique opportunity to be accommodated in the large barrel-type structured rooms overlooking a canyon with amazing smell of wood inside.

Day 6:

Halidzor – Selim – Noratouz- Dilijan - Sevan o/n

Breakfast. Drive by Selim pass. On a way visit Selim Pass Karavansaray, which was used for having a rest by Silk road caravans. On the road visit Noradouz cemetery, located near Sevan Lake, and looks like field full of well preserved khachkars or cross stones of medieval times. It represents the pearl of medieval Christian culture. Noraduz is one of the biggest villages, located on right bank of river Gavara.

Drive to mountainous resort Dilijan, or so called “Armenian Switzerland”, which is well-known for its forests as well as for its mysterious flora and fauna. Small walking city tour in Dilijan: visit to handicrafts’ street, where you can watch the preparation of different national souvenirs from wood, stone and ceramics. Here you will have the opportunity to take photos of masters during their work and experience local life.

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The tour package includes a lunch in a local restaurant.

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Visit to Haghartsin Monastery dating back to 11-13th century representing a magnificent piece of history, culture and architecture. Appearing unexpectedly, out of the dense forests, in front of the visitors, the Monastery creates a magical impression of a lost world. During the drive you can enjoy the unbelievable change of the surrounding environment and land shaft from the green and rich forest mountains to the mountainous lake.

O/n in Sevan

Day 7:

Sevan - Sevanavank - Electrical train ride to Yerevan

Breakfast at the hotel. Sevan is one of the greatest high mountainous freshwater lakes of Eurasia, climb on Akhtamar 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. Free time in Sevan, where you can enjoy fresh air at the blue pearl of Armenia.

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Lunch in a local restaurant with local fish from Sevan.

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In the evening return by electrical train to Yerevan

O/N in Yerevan.

Day 8:

Etchmiadzin - Zvartnots - Yerevan

Breakfast at the hotel. Trip to Etchmiadzin, the spiritual and administrative center of Armenian Apostolic Church. Etchmiadzin cathedral is one of the ancient churches in the Christian world, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List (2000). 

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Lunch in a local restaurant with local fish from Sevan.

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A trip to one of the architectural wonders of Armenia: Zvartnots tample (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).

O/N in Yerevan.

Day 9:

Gyumri

Breakfast in the hotel. Free time in the city. Drive to Central railway station to catch the train to Gyumri. Gyumri is the second largest city in Armenia, located 130 km from Yerevan, Shirak Marz. Gyumri is distinguished by its unique deeply preserved folk traditions. Walking tour in the old part of city to admire the architecture.

Visit the Museum of National Architecture and Urban Life of Gyumri that presents crafts, public and cultural life of Alexandrapol from 50s of the 19th century to 20s of the 20th century. Apartments of crafters and reach people are staged and presented in the museum. The museum building was built in 1872 and is located in the center of Gyumri. Free time.

Drive back to Yerevan by Aparan. Stop at the bakery. Arrival in Yerevan.

O/N in Yerevan

Day 10:

Departure

Train Tour in Armenia