Visit to Armenia

Arrival in Yerevan. Transfer to the selected hotel. The city tour of Yerevan begins with a panoramic view of Yerevan, followed by visits to key landmarks in the city center: the Mother Armenia Monument, Republic Square, Northern Avenue, the Opera and Ballet Theatre, Swan Lake, the Parliament, the Presidential Residence, Yerevan State University.

Visit Tsitsernakaberd, the Armenian Genocide Memorial and Museum, which honors the memory of 1.5 million Armenians who perished during the first genocide of the 20th century in Ottoman-controlled Western Armenia.

Continue to the Cascade Complex, a modern art hub and home to the Cafesjian Center for the Arts. In the evening, the Cascade becomes a lively gathering place for locals and visitors alike, with outdoor cafés, blooming flowers, glowing sculptures, and open-air summer concerts.

Visit the Blue Mosque, one of the oldest and largest mosques in the Caucasus, located in the heart of the city.

Optional: Take a one-hour guided tour of the Armenian Brandy Factory. Learn about the brandy’s history and production process, visit the aging cellars and exhibition halls, and enjoy a tasting of two types of brandy in the tasting room. The factory shop offers bottles for purchase.

Overnight in Yerevan.

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Garni village. Visit the only remaining Pagan temple in Armenia, devoted to the God of Sun – Myrth, in Garni.

Photo stop at Charentc Arc.

A visit to the ruins of Royal Palace and Royal bath-house nearby, Symphony of stones.

Optional: Family hosted lunch in a private village house, with watching the preparation of “Lavash” (Armenian traditional flat bread baked in stone-make oven) by countryside Armenian ladies using the same ancient
technology as hundreds of years before.

Continue the tour to the uniquely caved Geghard monastery, which dates back to 12th-13th centuries, the name of which means “holy spear” in the honour of the long-preserved spear, the same spear that pierced the body of crucified Christ, which were brought here by Apostle Thaddeus.

Optional: Concert of liturgical songs in the monastery Geghard where amazing acoustics allows everyone to enjoy crystal-clear sounds.

Optional: Small performance of Armenian national musical instrument ,,Duduk’’ (Tsiranapogh- means Tsiranabricot, pogh- trumpet) in Garni Temple. After the local musician will describe the origin, nature, symbolism of Duduk and fully experience its rich and versatile music. One of the most famous performance of it was in the movie “Gladiator’.

Drive back to Yerevan.

Overnight in Yerevan.

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Ararat valley, visit Khor Virap Church, which is one of the holy places for the Christian world, from where opens the closest and the most spectacular view of the gorgeous biblical mountain Ararat, shining with its two white peaks. After visiting Khor Virap continue driving to Gnishik canyon, the narrow road of which goes through the beautiful steep rocks which change the color from gray to red.

Drive through the spectacular canyon between the red rocks towards Noravank Monastery complex (13-14th century). There is such an incredibly beautiful scenery along the road to Noravank, that the visitors cannot resist stepping out of the vehicle and walking all the way to the Monastery with their cameras, to enjoy and record the unique bizarre-shaped precipitous red cliffs.

Overnight in Yerevan.

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Lake Sevan, one of the wonders in Armenia, via Selim Pass. 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. Total surface of the lake is 940 km2. Climb on peninsula, from where opens a fascinating and breathtaking view on Sevan Lake. Visit Sevanavank Monastery (9th century), which stands in its greatness on the peninsula, overlooking the lake for centuries.

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 with a visit to handicrafts’ street, where one can watch the preparation of different national souvenirs from wood, stone and ceramics.

A visit to Haghartsin Monastery complex, located in a secluded place of a forest. Appearing unexpectedly in front of the visitors, out of the dense forests, the Monastery creates a magical impression of a lost world. After a visit to the monastery in 2005, His Royal Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi made a generous donation for certain renovation works and preservation of this monastery, representing the rich history of the human kind. Complex includes Church St. Stepanos, St. Mary and St. Gregory’s Church, as well as a famous refectory.

Overnight in Yerevan.

After breakfast at the hotel, check out and enjoy a free morning in Yerevan, with time to explore the local market and Vernissage, the city’s open-air arts and crafts fair offering handmade souvenirs, antiques, and local artworks.

In the afternoon, travel to Echmiadzin (Vagharshapat), the ancient capital of Armenia and the spiritual heart of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Since the 4th century, it has served as the country’s main religious center and the residence of the Catholicos of All Armenians. Founded in 301 AD by Gregory the Illuminator, Echmiadzin Cathedral is the oldest state-built Christian church in the world. Over time, the complex has grown to include the cathedral itself, the Theological Academy, the Catholicos’s residence, the Synod, and a library. The museum behind the altar preserves priceless religious artifacts, including items of gold and silver, sacred relics, an enormous silver cauldron used for preparing holy chrism, and the legendary Holy Lance believed to have pierced Christ’s side.

The tour continues to the ruins of Zvartnots Temple, built between 641 and 661 AD, also known as the Temple of the Vigilant Powers. Once a three-tiered masterpiece supported by massive columns adorned with eagle carvings and intricate reliefs of grapevines, pomegranates, palm leaves, and acanthus, the temple’s remains still reflect its rare architectural beauty. Zvartnots was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.

In the evening, transfer to Zvartnots International Airport for your departure.