Armenia Tours
A. South Armenia | B. Armenia Classic Tour | C. Extension to Karabakh | D. North Armenia 8 Days/ 7 Nights
A. 9 Days/8 Nights Tour of South Armenia
Day 1
Arrival in Yerevan. You will be transferred at the hotel. You will have time to rest or unpack before breakfast. Breakfast In the morning : Museum of History
Lunch. City tour of Yerevan: Republic Square, Mashdots Avenue, Bagramian Avenue, Palace of the President, the Parliament, the University, Monuments to Vardan Mamigonian, David of Sassoun, Mother Armenia, St. Gregory the Illuminator Mother Temple.
Fruits and vegetables market.
Welcoming dinner. Overnight in Yerevan.
Day 2
Breakfast at the hotel.
Visit to Matenadaran – Depository of ancient books and rare illuminated manuscripts.
Visit to Tsitsernakaberd: 1915 Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex and Museum.
A view of the city. Tour continues to Ashtarak district.
Lunch. After lunch continue your tour around Ashtarak, where you can see the churches of Karmravor and Saghmosavank and the gorgeous Amberd Fortress.
As part of this day trip visit the cemetery of Mesrob Mashdots (founder of the Armenian alphabet) in Oshagan.
Dinner in Ashtaraki Zor. Overnight in Yerevan.
Day 3
Breakfast at the hotel.
Visit to Vernisage, the Armenian version of a flea market. Here you can find all types of artifacts, souvenirs and merchandize to take home with you.Visit to the Garni Pagan Temple (1st c. B.C.) and Geghard Monastery (10th-13th). One hour’s drive will bring you to the superb Roman Temple at Garni dating from the 1st century B.C Then you will visit the Geghard Monastery, which is carved from a solid rock. Geghard meaning “the Holy Lance” is said to be that used the pierce Jesus the Christ. It is now housed at Echmiadzin. Behind the main church is another chapel, which has the most incredible acoustics. Lunch in a local restaurant.Dinner and overnight in Yerevan.
Day 4
Breakfast. Visit to Echmiadzin which is the religious center of Armenia. Legend has it that Jesus Christ descended from Heaven to indicate the perfect location for a church and this is now the seat of the Supreme Catholicos of the Armenians. Inside the main church you can also see what are the Holy Lance and piece of Noah’s Ark.
You will have an opportunity to attend church services of the Katolikos Karigin II (Armenian Holy Liturgy) at the historic Mother Cathedral. After church services you will also visit the 7th century churches of St. Hripsime and St. Gayane. St. Hripsime was another victim of Trdat III king and was murdered for refusing to marry him. You can visit her crypt in a vault below the church. Lunch in a local restaurant. Visit to Zvartnots Cathadral: its architecture is unique among Armenian churches. The site is now a ruin of pillars.
Dinner. Overnight in Yerevan
Day 5
Breakfast. Full day trip to two monasteries outside Yerevan. Khor Virap Monastery sits on the Ararat Valley south of the capital and is utterly dwarfed by Mount Ararat, which rises majestically behind it. This is the proud site of Armenia’s adoption of Christianity in around 300 A.D. Khor Virap is the place where St. Gregory the Illuminator, responsible for the conversion to Christianity, was thrown into as a punishment from the pagan king, Trdat III. A further hour here will bring you to Noravank Monastery. Perched high on a cliff up a pink-walled Noravank was often used as a place of refuge in times of war. You can admire the beautiful and intricate stone carving on its outer walls. Lunch at a local tavern in Noravank and visit Areni wine factory. Drive to Sisian. Dinner in Sisian . Overnight in hotel.
Day 6
Breakfast. Drive to Karahundj Observatory( 5000. B.C.), a circular arrangement of 204 stones, similar to England’s Stonehenge, but Armenian’s is from Bronze Age.
Stop at Shaki Waterfall and Devil’s Bridge.
Tatev Monastery complex, originally built in the ninth century and it is served for many years as a regional center and fortress against foreign invasion.
Lunch in Tatev. Khndzoresk ( city of apples). Village in caves(1-st mil. B.C.) Goris.
Return back to Sisian. Dinner. Overnight in Sisian or Goris.
Day 7
Breakfast.
Drive to Lake Sevan, passing Selim Caravan Sarai.
Stop at Noraduz village, cemetery of ancient Armenian khach-kars(cross-stones).
Sevan Lake is called “the pearl of Armenia”. A lake of great beauty, it lies 2000 m above sea level and is one of the largest mountain lakes in the world.
You will visit the Arakelots Monastery (874 A.D.) and Astvatsatsin Church on the Sevan Peninsula. Lunch at a local restaurant on the lake.
Rest. Dinner. Overnight in Sevan.
Day 8
Breakfast. Drive to Dilijan, Haghartsin Monastery(10-13 cc.), monastic complex of Goshavank which consists of three churches. Lunch. Tsaghkadzor, Kecharis Monastery. Return back to Yerevan. Farewell dinner. Overnight in Yerevan.
Day 9
Departure
B. 8 Day/7 Night Armenia Classic Tour
Day 1
Arrival in Yerevan, transfer from the airport to the hotel and accommodation.
Breakfast. In the morning: Museum of History with a rich collection.
Lunch. In the afternoon: City tour of Yerevan: Republic Square, Mashdots Avenue, Bagramian Avenue, Palace of the President, the Parliament, the University, Monuments to Vardan Mamigonian, David of Sassoun, Mother Armenia, the Cascade, St. Gregory the Illuminator Mother Temple. Welcoming dinner in restaurant.
Day 2
Breakfast in hotel. Morning: Visit to Tsitsernakaberd: 1915 Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex and Museum. A view of the city; Tour continues to Ashtarak district. Lunch. After lunch continue your tour around Ashtarak, where you can see the churches of Karmravor and Saghmosavank and the gorgeous Amberd Fortress.
As part of this day trip visit the cemetery of Mesrob Mashdots (founder of the Armenian alphabet) in Oshagan. Dinner in restaurant in Ashtaraki Zor.
Day 3
Breakfast at the hotel. Morning: Visit to Vernisage, (opened only on Saturday and Sunday). Lunch. Afternoon: Visit to the Garni Pagan Temple (1st c. B.C.) and Geghard Monastery (10th-13th) situated in a solid rock Behind the main church is another chapel, which has the most incredible acoustics. Dinner in a local restaurant.
Day 4
Breakfast. Visit to Khor Virap Monastery sits on the Ararat Valley south of the capital and is utterly dwarfed by Mount Ararat, considerate holy for Armenian people. This is the proud site of Armenia’s adoption of Christianity in around 301 A.D.” It is the place where the man responsible for Armenia’s religious renaissance St. Gregory the Illuminator was reportedly thrown into one (at Khor Virab) as a punishment from the pagan king, Trdat III.
Lunch at Noravank before returning to Yerevan.
The tour will continue following Noravank Monastery and Areni, where you can taste vineyard.
Dinner in restaurant.
Day 5
Breakfast. Morning: Visit to Echmiadzin, mainly holy church of Supreme Orthodox Authority of the Armenia Inside the main church you can also see what are the Holy Lance and piece of Noah’s Ark. After you will also visit the 7th century churches of St. Hripsime and St. Gayane. St. Hripsime was another victim of Trdat III king and was murdered for refusing to marry him.
Lunch in typical restaurant. Visit of Zvartnotz ( 7th century) where you can see the ruins of the ancient circular church. Afternoon: Visit the Museum of the world-famous film-maker Sergey Parajanov. The Museum’s exposition consists of more 250 works: drawings, photographs, collages done by Parajanov. Dinner in restaurant.
Day 6
Breakfast. Morning: Excursion to Lake Sevan. The Lake is called “the pearl of Armenia”. A lake of great beauty, it lies 2000 m above sea level and is one of the largest mountain lakes in the world.
You will visit the Arakelots Monastery (874 A.D.) and Astvatsatsin Church on the Sevan Peninsula. Lunch at a local restaurant .
After lunch the tour will continue to Dilijan-Haghardzin, where you will visit the Monastery there.
Back to Yerevan and dinner in restaurant.
Day 7
Breakfast. Morning: Visit to the National Art Gallery dating from the Early Middle Ages until the present day. Lunch.Visit to Matenadaran – Deposit of ancient books and rare illuminated manuscripts. Shopping in the afternoon. Fruits and vegetables market. In the evening of folkloric music and dance show following the Armenian Days. Goodbye dinner.
Day 8
Departure.
C. Extension to Karabakh
Day 1
Departure for Sissian via Jermuk, the thermal zone, visit Areni Village and Noravank monastery (if not included in Classic Tour). Visit to Shaki falls, Karahundje Stone hang. Overnight in Sissian or Goris.
Day 2
Departure for Tatev, medieval complex of 9th century. Continue tour Khnzoresk, the abandoned cave village, that offer an impressive view of the houses carved into the hill slope. Proceed to Artzakh (Nagorno Karabakh) the Armenian enclave. Overnight in Stepanakert.
Day 3
Visit Stepanakert, capital city of Karabagh, and the museum of Artzak local tradition. Continue to Shushi and visit to Khnatsakh fortress and church and to the monastery of Amaras of the 7th century. Overnite in Stepanakert.
Day 4
Departure from Stepanakert to the monastery of Ganzassar of the 12th century and to Dadi Vank. Continue to Skhtorashen villane to see the 2000 years old tree. Proceed to Yerevan via Lachin. Overnight in Yerevan.
Day 5
Departure from Yerevan
D. North Armenia 8 Days/ 7 Nights
Day 1
Departure to Armenia.
Day 2
Arrival in Yerevan at Zvartnots airport. Time for leisure. Museum of History.
Lunch at a restaurant. City tour : Republi Square, Mashdots street, Bagramian street, Presidential Palace, University, monuments of Vardan Mamigonian, David of Sassoun, Mother Armenia, waterfalls and the Cathedral od S. Gregory the Illuminator. .
Welcoming dinner and overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.
Day 3
Etchmiadzin. Cathedral (303 AD), St Gayane ( 630 AD), St. Hripsime ( 618 AD) churches, lunch in a local restaurant. Zvartnots (643 AD). Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.
Day 4
Departure to Aruch ( 7th cc) Mastara ( 5th cc), Harichavank ( 7-13th cc), lunch. Gyumri. Marmarashen ( 10-11th cc). Dinner and overnight at the hotel Araks in Gyumri.
Day 5
The visit continues : Kobayr ( 12-13th cc) Haghpat ( 10-13th cc), lunch and Sanahin
( 10-13th cc) monastery complexes, Odzun temple (6th c). Dinner and overnight in Alaverdi at the hotel Zoraghet.
Day 6
After the breakfast visit : Dilijian, Goshavank monastery complex ( 10-13th cc), lunch. Haghartsin ( 10-13th cc), Lake Sevan, peninsula, Sevan Monastery ( 9-13th cc). Dinner and overnight at Harsnagar hotel in Sevan.
Day 7
In the morning: Noradouz medieval Khachkars fields ( 9-17th cc). Airvank monastery ( 9-13th cc), lunch. Kecharis monastery ( 11th c). Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.
Day 8
Matenadaran – institute and museum of medieval manuscripts. Geghard ( 4 -13th cc). Garni pagan temple ( 1st c). Lunch in a local restaurant. Time for shopping. Farewell dinner and overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.
Day 9
Transfer to the airport. Departure.