Unusual Armenia

Meeting at the airport. Transfer to the selected hotel.

Overnight in Yerevan

Breakfast at the hotel.

Drive to the high-mountain Lake Sevan – one of the wonders of Armenia. This dazzling blue lake is located high in the mountains. Cold and majestic, it conceals an inexplicable beauty. It is not without reason that many artists choose Sevan as the object of their art. Visit to the Hayrivank Monastery(9-th century). Travel to Noratus, famous for its cemetery, where a large number of khachkars have been preserved. Most of them date back to the 13th-17th centuries.

A trip through the Selim Pass to the resort town of Jermuk. On a way visit Selim Pass Karavansaray, which was used for having a rest by Silk road caravans.It was built in 1332, by prince Orbelian. Jermuk  famous for its healing hot mineral springs. The beauty of Jermuk is known far beyond the borders of Armenia. No wonder it is called the green pearl of Armenia. Piercingly blue – light blue sky, bizarre outlines of mountain ranges, the dull noise of a mountain river in the depths of a canyon framed by rock fragments, cool spicy air, the murmur of mountain streams, a cascade of artificial ponds and a foamy waterfall, white buildings of sanatoriums, buried in the greenery of spreading poplars and mighty blue spruces. Picturesque canyon leading to the waterfall. Here you can take many beautiful pictures as a keepsake of this paradise.

Visit to a winery with a tasting of Armenian wine. Return to Yerevan.

Overnight in Yerevan

Breakfast at the hotel. Trip to the north of Armenia to the Haghpat and Sanahin Monasteries (Lori Region), listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (1996). Visit to the functioning Haghpat Monastery (10th century), located on a small plateau surrounded by gorges. In the 10th-13th centuries, it was one of the spiritual and cultural centers of Armenia. Here they studied the humanities, theology, painted and copied books. For some time, the great Armenian poet-ashugh Sayat-Nova lived in the Haghpat Monastery, about whose life Sergei Parajanov made his famous film “The Color of Pomegranates”. Part of the filming took place in this Monastery.

Then visit the cave-fortress complex of Zarni Parni.

Drive to Akhtala Fortress. Akhtala Monastery (13th century) is unique for its perfectly preserved frescoes on the walls.

Visit to Aramyants Castle, after to Sanahin Monastery (10th century). In the 12th century, there was a medical school in Sanahin where human anatomy and physiology were studied.

Return to Yerevan.

Overnight in Yerevan

Breakfast at the hotel.
Trip to Amberd Fortress — an outstanding example of medieval architecture (11th–13th centuries). Its majestic structure rises above the gorge. The fortress is surrounded by massive defensive walls with towers. Everything here served a defensive purpose. The architecture is simple and austere. Amberd had two reservoirs and its own water supply system. This castle was the ancestral estate of the Pahlavuni princes. Within the fortress stands the Church of Amberd, built in 1026.

Continue to the high-mountain Kari Lake, located in the crater between the four sharp peaks of Mount Aragats, at an altitude of 3,207 meters above sea level. Mount Aragats is the highest peak (4,090 m) of the Armenian Highland within the borders of modern Armenia. The beautiful landscape of foothills and alpine zones attracts hiking and mountain climbing enthusiasts. In summer, the slopes are covered in a lush, flowering carpet. Before you open up flower valleys so vibrant that their colors seem almost surreal. Here you’ll find lavender, balsam, sage, alpine chamomile, bellflowers, wild dill, and other alpine herbs. The Aragats massif is an inexhaustible source of water for Armenia.

Next, visit a dried fruits and eco-products factory. The factory produces dried fruits without sugar or additives, as well as dried vegetables and chips.

Trip to Saghmosavank Monastery, located on the edge of a rocky cliff overlooking the picturesque Kasagh River gorge. Saghmosavank dates back to 1215 when, by the order of Prince Vache Vachutyan, the Church of Surb Sion was built here.

Visit the Armenian Alphabet Monument, located on a small plain where all the letters of the Armenian alphabet are carved from tuff stone, each the height of an average person. Each letter features artistic design, and they are scattered naturally among volcanic stones, as if emerging from the distant past. Tourists love to take selfies next to the first letter of their name.

Return to Yerevan.

Overnight in Yerevan.

Breakfast at the hotel. Trip to the Ararat Valley to visit the Khor Virap Church. From here opens a unique panoramic view of the magnificent biblical Mount Ararat with its dazzling snow-capped peaks. Deep beneath the church lies a sacred site: the underground pit where Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned for 13 years by order of King Trdat for preaching Christianity in Armenia. After being released in 301 AD, Gregory baptized the Armenian people and Christianity was adopted as the state religion of Armenia. The Khor Virap Church was built on the site of Gregory’s imprisonment, becoming a holy place for the Christian world. Gregory the Illuminator was canonized and is considered the founder of the Armenian Apostolic Church. The entrance to the dungeon has been preserved, and visitors can descend and see the place of his imprisonment.

Next, drive to the Noravank Monastery complex (13th–15th centuries), an outstanding monument of medieval architecture and an important religious and cultural center. Located among fantastic red cliffs on a ledge of a winding gorge, it presents a breathtakingly beautiful sight. The church is decorated with images of the Virgin Mary with the Child, God the Father, the Crucifixion of Christ, and many finely carved khachkars (cross-stones). Nearby is the Surb Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God) Church—a highly artistic structure of memorial importance. The first floor served as a tomb, and the second as a memorial chapel. The western façade is especially beautiful, with cantilevered staircases leading to the second floor.

Trip to Tatev Monastery—one of the most unique and beautiful monasteries in Armenia. It is located on the edge of a deep gorge and is surrounded by strong fortifications. The Tatev ensemble harmonizes perfectly with the surrounding mountain landscape. In the past, Tatev was not only a religious but also the political center of the Syunik principality.
Return to Yerevan via the “Wings of Tatev” ropeway.

Overnight in Yerevan.

Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out before 12:00. Transfer to the airport 2.5 hours before departure.