Arrival in Yerevan. Direct transfer to the hotel for the accommodation and the overnight stay in Yerevan.
Day 2: Yerevan City tour / Garni / Geghard
Breakfast in hotel, then start a city tour of Yerevan, which was founded in the 8th century BC. Visit to the Republic Square, surrounded by the most beautiful buildings of the city, the Opera House, the Academy of Sciences, the Presidential Palace, the Parliament, the Victory Park where you can enjoy the spectacular views of the city and the Biblical Mount Ararat, with the monument of the "Mother Armenia" and the Cascade- an impressive marble staircase. Visit to the History Museum of Armenia and lunch. Excursion to Garni- with its fortress dating back to the 3rd century BC and a heathen dating back to the 1st century AD. Then continue to visit Geghard Monastery, which is a unique architectural construction, partially carved out of the adjacent mountain, surrounded by cliffs. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dinner and overnight stay in Yerevan.
Day 3: Tsitsernakaberd / Echmiadzin / St Gayane & St Hripsime / Zvartnots Cathedral
Breakfast in hotel, then visit to Tsitsernakaberd- "the hill of the swallows", a memorial dedicated to the martyrs of the Armenian Genocide executed by the Turkish in the years 1915-22. Continue to Echmiadzin, where you will find one of the first Christian churches in the world, founded by Gregory the Illuminator in 303. The cathedral is the center of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the residence of Armenian Catholicos. Visit the churches of St. Gayane (630) and St. Hripsime (618), Christian virgins killed for their faith. Lunch in Echmiadzin, then a visit to the ruins of Zvartnots Cathedral - a masterpiece of medieval Armenian architecture, destroyed by an earthquake in 939. Return to Yerevan, dinner and overnight stay in Yerevan.
Day 4: Ashtarak / Oshakan village / Yerevan
Breakfast in hotel and departure to the north-western Armenia, a town Ashtarak surrounded by three mountains- Ararat, Aragats and Ara. Ashtarak is one of the oldest cities in Armenia with numerous historical and cultural monuments that allowed the town to retain the flavor of the ancient and beautiful Armenian town. It was founded in the 9th century and reconstructed in the 17th century. Then transfer to visit the city of Mughni, which is located within the city limits and just north to Ashtarak. It has a recently restored 14th century monastery of S. Gevorg, which was formerly a popular pilgrimage site and the seat of an archbishop. Then transfer to visit the monastery of “Tegher” which means medicines. The Tegher village was well-known because of its plentiful healing herbs, grown in its territory, and that’s the reason for its name. Then transfer to Oshakan and visit the Church of Mesrop Mashtoc, which also happens to be the burial place of Mesrop Mashtoc- the creator of Armenian alphabet. Lunch in Oshakan. At the end of the day, we return back to Yerevan for the dinner and overnight stay.
Day 5: Matenadaran / Tsaghkadzor / Sevan / Dilijan
Breakfast in hotel, and transfer to Mesrop Mashtoc Institute of Ancient Manuscripts (commonly referred as Matenadaran Museum). It holds one of the world's richest depositories of medieval manuscripts and books, which span a broad range of subjects, including history, philosophy, medicine, literature, art history and cosmography in Armenian and many other languages. Then direct transfer to Tsaghkadzor (“the valley of flowers”) which is located at 1750 m. above sea level and surrounded by alpine meadows. Visit to the monastery of Ketcharis (Xl-Xlll). Then Departure to Sevan, which is called “the pearl of Armenia”- a lake of great beauty that lies at 2000 m. above sea level, one of the largest mountain lakes in the world. Visit to the Arakelots Monastery (874 AD) and Astvatsatsin Church on Sevan Peninsula. Then drive to Dilijan- "Armenian Switzerland " to visit the monastery of Goshavank dating back to the 13th century. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel in Dilijan.
Day 6: Dilijan / Haghpat / Sanahin / Akhtala / Dilijan
Breakfast in hotel, then transfer to visit the famous monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin, Sanahin was founded in the first half of the 10th century and considered one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites; it’s a unique and magnificent example of medieval Armenian architecture. Situated not far from Sanahin, the monastery of Haghpat has its significant place in the historical and cultural life of Armenia. It was built during the reign of King Ashot Bagratuni. Numerous valuable manuscripts and miniature paintings have been produced in the scriptorium of Haghpat for many centuries. Visit to the monastery of Akhtala, dating back to the 13th century. Lunch in Lori. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel in Dilijan.
Day 7: Sisian / Tatev / Halizor / Sisian
Breakfast in hotel, and transfer 200 km to the south of Armenia to visit Sisian. Start by visiting the ancient site of "Zorats Karer", which means Armenian Stone, dating back to the VI millennium BC. According to some scientists, Zorats was an ancient observatory where they observed the movements of the star Sirius. Then continue to visit the monastery of Tatev, consisting of three churches (St. Paul and Peter, St. Gregory the Illuminator and St. Mary), a library, dining hall, belfry, mausoleum, as well as other administrative and auxiliary buildings. Then transfer to Halidzor for the lunch. Halidzor can be reached via the world’s longest ropeway- a 5750 m long cable-car (named “Wings of Tatev”), which connects the village of Halidzor with the Tatev Monastery. Dinner and overnight stay in Sisian.
Day 8: Sisian / Shushi / Tigranakert / Stepanakert
Breakfast in hotel, then direct transfer to Nagorno-Kharabakh Arrival in Shushi- a city, which was founded in the 18th century, standing on the top of a mountain at an altitude of 1400-1800 meters. Visit the Cathedral of Ghazancezots, (where you can hear the voice of Christ’s soul) also known as Christ the Savior Cathedral dating back to the 19th century, made of white limestone. It is the second center of religious Artsakh after the monastery of Gandzasar. Lunch in Shushi. Then transfer to Tigranakert, which is a ruined Armenian city dating back to the Hellenistic period. Then visit to Stepanakert, the capital city and also the capital of Kharabakh. Enjoy a city tour- the city which owes its name to the revolutionary Bolshevik Stepan Shahumyan. Dinner and the overnight stay in Sepanakert.
Day 9: Stepanakert / Gandzasar / Dadivank / Stepanakert
Breakfast in hotel, and then transfer to the district of Mardakert. Visit the monastery of Gandzasar (“Treasure Mountain”), which according to the legend is the place where the head of St. John the Baptist was brought after he was beheaded in a site called Mukawir in Jordan. The complex is protected by high walls. Within the complex, there is the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, built between 1216 and 1238. The drum of its dome has exquisite bas-reliefs that depict the Crucifixion, Adam and Eve, and two ministers holding a model of the church above their heads as an offering to God. Lunch in Ganzasaar. Then transfer to the Shahumian Regionin Karabakh and visit Dadivankmonastery (also called Khutavank). The monastery was founded by St. Dadi who was the disciple of Thaddeus the Apostle who spread Christianity in Eastern Armenia during the first century AD. In June 2007, the grave of St. Dadi was discovered under the holy altar of the main church. Return back to Stepanakert for the dinner and the overnight stay.
Day 10: Stepanakert / Khndzoresk / Goris / Sisian
Breakfast in hotel, then return to Sisian with a stop at Khndzoresk (City of Apples), which is widely famous for its canyon with picturesque rock formations and ancient cave settlement, the artificial caves, some of which are currently used as stables and warehouses, used to be inhabited till the 1950s. In the bottom of the gorge is located the Church of St. Hripsime, dating back to the 17th century. On a spur beyond the right side of the gorge, there is Anapat (hermitage) with the tomb of Mkhitar Sparapet. The cave church of St. Tatevos can also be found nearby. Excursion to Goris and lunch. Then continue to Sisian for the dinner and overnight stay in hotel.
Day 11: Sisian / Noravank / Khor Virap / Yerevan
Breakfast in hotel, then visit to Noravank Monastery- a 13th century Armenian monastery, located in a narrow gorge made by the Amaghu River near the city of Yeghegnadzor. The gorge is known for its tall, sheer, brick-red cliffs, directly across the monastery. It is best known for its two- storey Surp Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God) church, which grants access to the second floor through a narrow stone-made staircase jutting out from the face of building. Lunch in Noravank. Then visit to Khor Virap Monastery, which is situated in the Ararat Valley under Mount Ararat. It is the site, where St. Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned for 13 years in a deep hole in the ground, by the pagan king Trdat III. Return to Yerevan, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 12: Cafesjian Museum / Free time for shopping / Farwell Dinner
Breakfast and return to Yerevan. Then visit to the Cafesjian Museum of Art, dedicated to bring the best of contemporary art to Armenia and presenting the best of Armenian culture to the world, inspired by the vision of its founder, Mr. Gerard L. Cafesjian. Visit the food market called "Shuka". And an optional visit to the Carpet or the Jewelry shops, or the Cognac Factory (entrance fees not included). Free time for shopping and a Farewell dinner with live music. Overnight stay in Yerevan.
Day 13: Departure via Yerevan Airport
Breakfast in hotel. Regarding your flight time, your vehicle will drive you to Yerevan Airport for the final departure.
