8 Days Classic Tour in Armenia

 Arrival in Yerevan. Transfer from Zvartnots International Airport. Check in a hotel. Free time in the city. Overnight in Yerevan.

After breakfast at the hotel we will board 4x4 vehicles and will drive to Kotayk region. On the way we will visit Victory Park in Yerevan and will enjoy morning bird eye view to the center of the city. Before we get to Garni village we will take off road way through the Canyon of Garni, stretching along the rivers Azat and Goght. We will stop in the gorge for having coffee break in the garden on the bank of Azat river. After the break we will continue our trip through the Canyon, enjoying magnificent, seemingly artificial slopes from the foot to the top of the gorge named "Symphony of Stones". Climbing up from the canyon to the village, we will continue our way to Garni Temple, built in the second half of the 1st century A.D. and dedicated to the God Mitra, the God of the Sun. After Christianity the temple was used as a summer residence of Armenian Kings, described as ‘‘A House of Coolness‘‘. After excursion in the temple and a lunch time we will drive up to the magnificent monument of medieval Armenian architecture Geghard Monastery founded in IV century A.D. (at that time called Ayrivank or a “Cave Monastery”) and rebuilt in 1215, when as a legend says the name Geghard was given as the legendary spear - Geghard - (that pierced Christ) was brought there. After excursion in the monastery we will be back to Yerevan. Dinner and overnight in Yerevan.

After breakfast at the hotel we will take our way to the North to the highest mountain of Armenia Aragats (4090 m) to visit Amberd Fortress a midcentury fort-city built during the X century. On the way we will visit the Park of Armenia Alphabet and will be introduced to the history of invention of Armenian scripts. Getting to Amberd, we will enjoy the landscape surrounding the fortress and alpine flowers on the wings of Aragats. Then we will visit Byurakan village, where we will participate in a folk show with lavash baking, folk song and dances and will have a delicious lunch. After lunch we will visit Agarak pre-historic settlement and will continue our way to Gyumri, which is the second city in Armenia. After accommodation in a hotel we will have dinner and will stay for overnight in Gyumri.

After breakfast at the hotel,  we will have short city tour visiting the most interesting places and sights in one of the oldest cities in Armenia, which is also famous place for its historical-cultural traditions, strong art and crafts, education and also by film making industry (a lot of films were produced in Gyumri). We will visit Yot Verk Church in the Central Square of Gyumri built in 1859, also we will walk in Gyumri’s famous  craftsmen street and other streets of old Gyumri, where a lot of Armenian films have been shot. After city tour we will take our way to the East towards Lori Region and passing through Stepanavan city we will continue our trip along Dzoraget River surrounded by the mountainous beautiful natural and historical sites. Then we will visit one of the most beautiful places in northern Armenia called Sanahin Monastery Complex, that is included in UNESCO Heritage Sites list. The complex was built in 966 A.C. After excursion in the complex we will take our way to Haghpat village, where we will visit Haghpat Monastery built in X century and standing against the background of steep forest-grown slopes of Bazum ridge. After excursion in the monastery with amazing architecture, we will check in the nice hotel in Haghpat village surrounded by the rich flora and having fascinating view over Debed river valley. Here we will have dinner specific to the northern Armenian kitchen. Overnight in Haghpat.

After breakfast at the hotel we will visit Akhtala’s fortress, built in the X century, by Kyurik Bagratounis and located on the left bank of Debed river, on the slopes of Lalvar mountain. The impressive Akhtala monastery was reconstructed during the XIII century by prince Ivaneh Zakarian with a unique architectural style. This medieval Christian complex which is located inside the fortress was one of the important educational centers in the historical province of Gugark. Leaving the fortress we will take our way towards Dilijan National Park located on the upstream pool of Aghstev river, and surrounded by the Lesser Caucasus mountains. Here we will stop in the village Gosh, where we will visit Monastery Complex Goshavank, built in XII century. During many centuries the Monastery was one of the most important religious and educational centers of Armenia. After visiting the monastery we will continue our way to Dilijan, where after accommodation in the nice hotel we will have rest.  Accommodation, dinner and overnight in a hotel in Dilijan.

After breakfast we will take our way towards to Lake Sevan, which is the largest lake in Caucasus as well as one of the largest, and highest freshwater lakes of the world. It is located on 1900m above sea level.  We will go to Sevan Peninsula to visit Sevanavank monastery built in 874 A.C. by the daughter of King Ashot Bagratuni – Mariam. During the 9th century the Monastery became the royal citadel of the Armenian Kings. After excursion in Peninsula, we will continue our way around the lake towards Vardenyants Pass. Climbing up over 2,410m and following the historical Silk Road we will stop at the place to see the medieval Caravanserai built in the XIV century by Prince Orbelyan. Continuing our way through Vardenyants Pass we will take our way to Goris. After accommodation in a hotel, we will have dinner and overnight.

After breakfast at the hotel we will take our way to Tatev Monastery Complex built in 895-906, which is one of the most important Education and Religion Centers situated in medieval Syunik region and is in the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. On the way we will take Tatev Wings ropeway, which is the longest two-way ropeway of the world and flies above deep Vorotan canyon, opening breath-taking views of the canyon. Visiting Tatev Monastery we will enjoy Tatev ensemble fitting in perfectly with the mountainous landscape around it. This gives the ensemble an original and majestic appearance.  During the XIV and XV centuries it was famous for its university. Leaving Tatev Monastery we will continue our way to visit to one of the most ancient megalithic constructions of the world near Sisian, called Zorats Karer. The two-meter pointed blocks last precisely from the south to the north, fencing large territory, and in the center they form a correct circle. There is a hypothesis, that Zorats Karer has been an observatory built in VI mil. B.C. Scientists have found similar constructions in many areas of Europe. The most known of them is the Stonehenge in England (II mil. B.C.).  Leaving the Stonehenge we will take our way to Areni village, which is famous for its wines. Areni is a variety of grape, which is used for making wine from ancient times. We will have lunch in the local family, exploring Armenian village life typical to Vayots Dzor region culture and traditions. Introduction to old Armenian lifestyle, experiencing the hospitality and participating in Armenian Lavash (bread) baking and homemade wine tasting will accompany our delicious lunch. Our next stop will be famous Areni Cave (Birds Cave), where the oldest shoes and winery (4500 B.C.) in the world have been founded by local and foreign archeologists.  Then we will continue our way to Ararat Valley and enjoying the view of Byblical Ararat mountain we will get back to Yerevan. After accommodation in a hotel we will have dinner and will stay for overnight.

After breakfast at the hotel we will visit the Institute of Ancient Manuscripts known as Matenadaran. It contains over 16,000 manuscripts that document the centuries-old history of the Armenian nation, art, literature, and natural sciences. Manuscript art is one of the most unique examples of Armenia’s medieval culture. After excursion in Matenadaran we will visit Noy brandy factory in Yerevan and will be introduced to the history and culture of making Armenian cognac, as well as will taste several types of brandies. Then we will visit Megeryan Carpet Factory, which brings together time-honored traditions and a range of exquisite aesthetics to create objects of art for modern living. We will have lunch in the Carpet Factory tasting unique Armenian kitchen. After lunch we will visit Memorial and Museum of Armenian Genocide. Then we will have free time to walk in the center of the city visiting Cafesjian Center for the Arts located in the Cascade. Inspired by the vision of its founder, the Center offers a wide variety of exhibitions, derived from the Gerard L. Cafesjian Collection of contemporary art. This collection of more than 5,000 works includes one of the most comprehensive glass collections in the world. In the evening we will have Gala Dinner in one of the nice restaurants in the center of Yerevan, tasting Armenian kitchen and enjoying Armenian music. After dinner we will embark on an evening tour of Yerevan city that includes walking through nice Northern Avenue towards the Republic Square, where we can enjoy the Large Dancing Water Fountains. At the end of the tour we will transfer to Airport.