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Armenia Between Nature and Religion

Armenian Highlands
Armenian Highlands

General information

DurationDestinationDeparture
10 days and 9 nights
Armenia (Yerevan, Haghpath, Dilijan, Yeghegnadzor, Goris, Garni)
Armenia (Yerevan)

Description

This adventurous tour discovers all hidden tracks and well known sites of Armenia and is designed for seekers of adventure.

Category

 
3* hotel (Scheduled Tour)
Half Board 3 Stars
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4* hotels (Scheduled Tour)
Half Board 4 Stars
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4* Superior Hotels (Scheduled Tour)
Half Board
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Program

Day 1:
Yerevan
Arrival at the Zvartnoc airport and transfer to the hotel.

Day 2:
Yerevan (Breakfast/ Dinner)
Breakfast. We will visit Matenadaran which is both a museum of ancient manuscripts and a scientific research institute. Here all ancient Armenian Manuscripts are kept. Hardly a visitor leaves Yerevan without visiting the institute; it is one of the most interesting things to see in the republic. Then we should visit the memorial of Armenian Genocide: the official memorial dedicated to the victims of the Armenian Genocide, built in 1967 on the hill of Tsitsernakaberd. Visit Genocide museum. Visit Ararat Cognac Factory.

Day 3:
Yerevan – Ejmiatsin – Zvartnoc – Yerevan (Breakfast/ Lunch)
Start tour by visiting to centuries-old monuments Ejmiatsin and Zvartnots. These sites are listed on UNESCO World Heritage list. The Cathedral of Ejmiatsin, founded in 303, is the official residence of the Catholicos of Armenia. We’ll continue the trip to Zvartnots Temple, which was built on 7th century by Nerses Builder. Get back to Yerevan, visit ‘‘Megeryan’’ Carpets Factory. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 4:
Yerevan – Stepanavan – Lori berd – Haghpat (Breakfast/ Dinner)
Breakfast. Departure towards Lori. Visit "Dendropark" which is based on the natural forest, a few kilometers away from the center of Stepanavan where, due to a beautiful various plants from different countries of the world, we will find a pleasant relax path away from the traditional routes of tourism. Visit Lori fortress. Drive towards Haghpat monastery. Visit Haghpat Monastery (The UNESCO World Heritage Site). Haghpat Monastery is a statue of the Magnificent, Medieval, Cultural and Educational Culture of Armenia. Dinner and overnight stay in Haghpat.

Day 5:
Haghpat – Akhtala –Lake Parz –Dilijan (Breakfast/ Dinner)
Breakfast. Visit monastery Akhtala, was built at the end of the 10th century. The main church at the compound is famous for its highly artistic frescoes, which cover the inside walls, the partitions, and the bearings of the building. Visit Lake Parz where you’ll enjoy the splendid panorama of the lake. Passage through the city. Fresh air is a huge advantage of this place. Dinner and overnight in Dilijan.

Day 6:
Dilijan – Sevan – Noratus – Selim – Hermon (Breakfast/ Dinner)
Breakfast. Departure towards lake Sevan, which is one of the largest freshwater high-altitude lakes in Eurasia. Here you can enjoy the beautiful view of the island. Visit two monasteries of the X century. Visit Noratus which is most famous for its cemetery, the oldest part of which includes over 800 khachkars (stone crosses), carved between the 9th-17th centuries. Selim carvansarai was an important center of commerce on the Great Silk Road. Here you can see the world's most powerful traces. Dinner and overnight in Hermon.

Day 7:
Hermon - Jermuk - Karahunj (Stonehenge) – Tatev – Goris (Breakfast/ Dinner)
Breakfast. Departure to the famous SPA city of Armenia: Jermuk is a spa town in Southern Armenia, where much of the country's mineral water comes from. The countryside at this very high elevation resort is worth visiting as well, with canyons, forest and wildlife to explore. Visit Karahunj or Zorakarer which is 3, 500 years older than Stonehenge and 3,000 years older than the Pyramids. According to many archaeologists, Karahunj was a "temple with a very large-scale observatory". Then we will continue to travel to the complex monastery of Tatev (9-13 s), which was the center of study of those times, to reach the monastery of the world's longest non stoppable cable car. Drive to Goris. Check in at the hotel. Dinner and overnight in Goris.

Day 8:
Goris – Khndzoresk -Noravank – Areni – KhorVirap– Yerevan (Breakfast/ Lunch)
Breakfast. Visit Khndzoresk. Which is a village and rural community (municipality) in the South-East of Armenia, in the province (marz) of Syunik. Departure to Vayots dzor region Noravank Monastery (12th / 13th century) placed in an unprepared position at the edge of a precipice. Lunch in a local home. Here you can attend and see the preparation of the "Barbeque". Continue for Areni winery which is a 6100-year-old winery that was discovered in 2007. Departure to Ararat region to visit the Monastery of KhorVirap, the famous pilgrimage site, visited by Pope John Paul II. The Monastery used to be the prison of St. Gregory the Illuminator. KhorVirap means “deep gorge’’. From here a breathtaking panoramic view opens up to biblical Mount Ararat. After all drive to Yerevan and overnight there.

Day 9:
Yerevan – Garni – Geghard – Yerevan (Breakfast/ Lunch)
Breakfast. Departure to Garni (about 30 km from Yerevan) which is the only Pagan Temple preserved in Armenia from pagan times. It was dedicated to son God Mihr. By taking the 4x4 cars we visit Garni's gorge to see “Symphony of stones”. Visit local house where you can have the opportunity to see and participate in the preparation of Armenian bread Lavash, (which is baked in underground called ''tonir”). Lavash has a UNESCO Cultural Heritage Status. Continue the tour by visiting Geghard Monastery (UNESCO Heritage Site) named after the spear that pierced Christ’s body located in a very spectacular deep canyon: which is carved out of the gorge. Overnight in Yerevan.

Day 10:
Yerevan (Breakfast)
Breakfast and transfer to the airport.

Price includes

- Hotel accommodation in Yerevan and regions 9 nights
- Transportation according to programs
- Professional English speaking guide
- Half board as indicated in the program
- Entrance fees
- Wine degustation in Areni
- Brandy degustation
- A bottle of water Per Person per day
- Map

Price does not include

- Alcohol drinks
- Meals not specified
- Extra charges
- Personal wastes

Itinerary

Day Overnight Itinerary highlights
1 Ani Central Inn or similarYerevan   Zvartnots International Airport, Yerevan - Pick up at Zvartnots International Airport
2 Ani Central Inn or similarYerevan   Yerevan - Yerevan City Tour
3 Ani Central Inn or similarYerevan
4 Qefilyan Hotel or similarHaghpath
5 Toon Armeni or similarDilijan
6 Lucy Tour Hermon or similarYeghegnadzor
7 Mina Hotel or similarGoris
8 Ani Central Inn or similarYerevan
9 Ani Central Inn or similarYerevan
10   Yerevan
  Zvartnots International Airport, Yerevan

Accommodations provided in each place

Place3* hotel4* hotels4* Superior Hotels
YerevanAni Central Inn or similarOpera Suite or similarRamada Suite or similar
HaghpathQefelyan Hotel or similarAvan Dzoraget or similar
DilijanToon Armenia or similarBest Western paradise or similarBest Western Paradise or similar
YeghegnadzorArevi hotel or similarArevi Hotel or similar
GorisMina Hotel or similar