Armenia FAM trip

Breakfast at the hotel. Group gathering at 9:45 at the lobby of the hotel.

Drive to mountainous resort Dilijan, or so called “Armenian Switzerland”. Visit to Haghartsin Monastery complex, dates back to 11-13^th 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.

Lunch in a local restaurant.

Drive Sevan Lake, one of the greatest high mountainous freshwater lakes of Eurasia. During the drive one can enjoy the unbelievable change of the surrounding environment and land shaft from  the green and rich forest mountains to the mountainous lake. Visit Sevanavank monastery, which stands in its greatness on the peninsula overlooking the lake for centuries. Continue to Yerevan.

City tour- Yerevan sightseeing including City center, Republic square, Northern avenue, Swan Lake, State University, Parliament, President’s Palace, Opera, Genocide Memorial, Cascade complex, modern art center of Yerevan.

O/N in Yerevan. (B/L/-)

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit to Zvartnots Temple (included in the UNESCO World Heritage List (2000)) , a temple of Vigil Forces Тhe ruins of this cathedral still speak about the rare beauty of it. Drive to Etchmiadzin  the ancient capital of Armenia and largest religious center, the residency of Catholicos of all Armenians. Visit Etchmiadzin cathedral , one of the oldest churches in the Christian world, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List (2000). Visit the museum of the Cathedral where legendary Holy spear is exhibited.

Drive to Ararat valley. Visit to Khor Virap Monastery – 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. It is also the best point to enjoy the most spectacular view of the gorgeous biblical mountain Ararat.

Lunch in a local restaurant with beautiful view on the canyon. Tasting the famous Armenian Porc Barbeque made in Tonir.

Drive through the spectacular canyon between the red rocks toward Noravank Monastery (13th c.). On the way stop at Areni village, one of the centres of wine production in Armenia and famous for winery  dating 6,100-year-old discovered by archaeologists in 2010 and also the oldest  Drive back to Yerevan.

O/n in Yerevan. (B/L/-)

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit to Matenadaran (depository for ancient manuscripts, the collection of which is one of the biggest in the world). Drive to Garni pagan temple to the God of Sun. On the road photo stop at Charentc Arc. Visit to the ruins of Royal Palace and Royal bath-house nearby. Enjoying the breathtaking view on natural monument “Symphony of Stones” in Canyon of Garni.

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

Drive to the unique rock caved monastery St. Geghard (12th -13th cc.), ,,Biblic Holy spear’’ monastery listed in UNESCO World Heritage  (2000). The same spear that pierced the body of crucified Christ and was kept in this monastery very long period.

Drive back to Yerevan. Inspection of the hotels in Yerevan – 5*, 4*, 3*

Dinner in a local restaurant.

O/n in Yerevan. (B/L/D)