The Great Beauty of Armenia: 7-Day Culture and Cuisine Tour

Day 1 · City Tour in Yerevan

1. 1

   Cafesjian Center For The Arts

   one hour Admission included

   This is a real museum in the open air and in the exhibition halls of contemporary art by world famous artists.

2. 2

   Victory Park and Statue of Mother Armenia

   30 min Admission included

   We will find out the interesting history of this magnificent monument and enjoy a wonderful view of the center of Yerevan.

3. 3

   Statue of David of Sassoun

   30 min Admission included

   Monument dedicated to the hero of the Armenian national epic. The wonderful creation of Yervand Kochar.

4. 4

   Republic Square

   one hour Admission included

   The very heart of Yerevan, where we will enjoy the architectural ensemble of the main square of the country and enjoy the show of singing fountains.

Welcome dinner at Yerevan Tavern restaurant with folk program (Armenian national songs and dances).

Overnight in 3* hotel in the city center

Day 2 · Yerevan — Echmiadzin — Zvartnots — Yerevan

1. 1

   Matenadaran - The Museum of Ancient Manuscripts

   one hour Admission included

   Research institute and museum, which holds one of the world's richest depositories of medieval manuscripts and books.

2. 2

   Armenian Apostolic Holy Church Mother See Holy Etchmiadzin

   one hour Admission included

   Tour to so called Echmiadzin – the spiritual center of Armenia, where Pontifical Residence of Catholicos of All Armenians – the head of Armenian Apostolic church is located. The city is just about 20 km from Yerevan. Here we'll visit the 4th century Echmiadzin Cathedral.

3. 3

   Alex and Marie Manoogian Treasury House Museum

   one hour Admission included

   Echmiadzin treasury, where the lance that pierced the side of Christ by the Roman soldier is also exposed.

4. 4

   Zvartnots Temple

   one hour Admission included

   We will visit Zvartnots Cathedral, which is considered as a masterpiece of early medieval Armenian architecture, and listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site.

5. 5

   ARARAT Museum

   one hour Admission included

   Return to Yerevan, where we’ll visit Ararat brandy factory and taste a few sorts of Armenian brandy (cognac).

Restaurant Agape, which is located on the territory of Holy Echmiadzin in the building of the 17th century.

Overnight at 3* hotel in city center.

Day 3 · Yerevan — Khor Virap — Areni — Noravank — Jermuk — Goris

1. 1

   Khor Virap

   40 min

   Khor Virap Monastery which offers magnificent view of the biblical Mount Ararat.

2. 2

   T'rchuneri (Bird) Cave

   40 min Admission included

   Visiting the mystical Bird’s cave, where archeologists recently found the oldest one-piece leather show and a 6000-year old winery. Few years ago the oldest shoe in history was found also in this region. Areni is one of actively developing wine regions in Armenia where famous indigenous red wine Areni is produced.

3. 3

   Areni Wine Factory

   30 min Admission included

   We will not miss a chance to taste it at one of local wine factories.

4. 4

   Noravank Monastery

   40 min Admission included

   Visiting Noravank Monastery of XIII century, hidden in mystic red cliffs – one of the most beautiful landscapes in Armenia.

5. 5

   Jermuk Waterfall

   one hour

   Tour to the resort town of Jermuk which is famous as a retreat center. Here we will visit the Drink gallery with different sources of mineral water and Jermuk waterfall.

Lunch at the house of a local wine maker Hayk, who will offer us barbecue made in tonir. · Dinner at the hotel in Goris.

Overnight in Goris.

Day 4 · Goris — Old Khndzoresk — Tatev — Shaqi Waterfall — Karahunj — Hermon

1. 1

   Stop 1

   one hour

   Visit to Old Kndzoresk – an uninhabited cave town where we will reach via the unique “Swing bridge”.

2. 2

   Wings of Tatev

   2 hours Admission included

   We will go up from Halidzor village to Tatev monastery on a cable car “Wings of Tatev”, which is the longest in the world.

3. 3

   Shaki Waterfall

   30 min

   Visit to the sites of amazingly beautiful 18-meter waterfall of Shaqi.

4. 4

   Zorats Karer

   30 min

   Zorats Stones, metallic installation dating back to the VI millennium B.C. is considered to be the oldest observatory, the so-called “Armenian Stonehenge”.

Lunch in the Shen house authentic restaurant in Shinuhayr village. · Dinner in the comfortable hotel Lucytour.

Overnight in comfortable mountain hotel Lucy Tour in Hermon village.

Day 5 · Hermon — Selim — Noratus — Sevan — Tsaghkunq — Geghard — Garni — Yerevan

1. 1

   Selim Caravanserai

   30 min

   Vardenyats (Selim) caravanserai – one of the important stops in Armenia on the route of Great Silk Road. These buildings were built along commercial routes for the accommodation of travelers, who travelled from Europe to the East.

2. 2

   Noratus Cemetery

   30 min

   Noratus – the biggest khachkar cemetery on the territory of modern Armenia.

3. 3

   Monastery Sevanavank

   one hour

   Tour to Sevan lake – the biggest lake in Caucasus. On the North-West shore we will visit Sevanavank monastery.

4. 4

   Charent's Arch

   10 min

   A photo-stop with the view of Ararat near Charents’ Arch.

5. 5

   The Monastery of Geghard

   one hour

   Tour to the rocky monastery of Geghard – a fantastic example of medieval Armenian architecture of the XII- XIII centuries. It is listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site.

6. 6

   Garni Temple

   one hour Admission included

   our to pagan temple of Garni – the only restored monument, referring to the era of paganism and Hellenism. Armenian traditional bread lavash baking at a village house in Garni.

Lunch at the colorful guest house Tsaghkunq, where the chef will host a master class in cooking Sevan goods.

Return to Yerevan and accommodation at the hotel of 3*

Day 6 · Yerevan — Amberd — Shopping — Yerevan

1. 1

   Amberd Fortress

   one hour

   Departure for the tour to Amberd Fortress – the historical defense complex, which consists of the castle of VII century and the church of XI century. It's one of the fewest preserved fortresses on the territory of Armenia. A perfect place to enjoy the breathtaking view of Armenian mountains.

2. 2

   History Museum of Armenia

   one hour Admission included

   History museum of Armenia, where different eras of the Armenian Highland are represented - beginning from the Paleolithic to the present days.

Lunch at an exquisite restaurant Lebanon with Western Armenian cuisine.

Overnight in Yerevan city center 3* hotel.

Day 7 · Yerevan — Airport

1. 1

   Vernissage Market

   2 hours

   Time for shopping. You can choose from a big variety of souvenirs and local products, which are in high demand among our guests – wines, brandies, dried fruits, sweets, herbs, jewelry, etc. For this purpose we will visit the souvenir market Vernissage and Tashir – the market of local sweets and dried fruits