Arrival in Yerevan, then direct transfer to the hotel for the accommodation and the overnight stay at the hotel in Yerevan
Day 2: Yerevan City tour
Breakfast in hotel, then start a city tour of the capital Yerevan, founded in the eighth century B.C. Start by visiting 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 to the "Mother Armenia" and the Cascade- an impressive marble staircase. Visit the History Museum of Armenia. Lunch. Free time in the afternoon to explore the city by foot with the guide; Welcome Dinner with live music.
Day 3: Tsitsernakaberd / Echmiadzin / St Gayane & St Hripsime / Zvartnots Cathedral
Breakfast in hotel and 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, which is 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 Catholics. Visit the churches of St. Gayane (630) and St. Hripsime (618)- Christian virgins killed for their faith. Lunch in Echmiadzin. 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: Garni / Geghard / Cafesjian Museum
Breakfast in hotel. Visit 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. After the visit we return back to Yerevan, and visit the Museum of Contemporary Art Cafesjian, dedicated to bringing 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, Dinner and overnight in Yerevan
Day 5: Ashtarak / Oshakan village / Talin / Anipemza & Arush / Gyumri
Breakfast in hotel and departure to the North-Western Armenia, the region of the churches and historical monuments, the town of Ashtarak, surrounded by three mountains- Ararat, Aragats and Ara, and to the Oshakan village where Mesrop Mashtots was buried- the inventor of the Armenian alphabet. Lunch in Oshakan. Continue to the seventh century Talin, where you can visit the Castle Dashtademi (XI c), then visit to Yereruyk (V c) from where you can see the Armenian-Turkish border and the ruins of the ancient city of Ani. The tour continues to Anipemza and Aruch. In the evening, arrival in Gyumri. Dinner and overnight stay in Gyumri.
Day 6: Gyumri / Sanahin / Haghpat / Akhtala / Dilijan
Breakfast in hotel in Gyumri, and start a short tour of the city of Gyumri, then departure to the North of Armenia 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. And continue to visit the monastery of Akhtala, dating back to the 13th century. Lunch in Lori. Dinner and overnight stay in hotel in Dilijan.
Day 7: Dilijan / Tsaghkadzor / Sevan / Dilijian
Breakfast in Hotel in Dilijian; then direct transfer to the valley of flowers-Tsaghkadzor to visit the monastery of Ketcharis (11-13 c). The day continues with the discovery of the wonderful Lake Sevan peninsula on the top of which is the monastery of Sevanavank (9 c). Lunch in Sevan with local fish specialties, then drive back to Dilijan which is called the "Armenian Switzerland" to visit the monastery of Goshavank of the 13th century. Dinner and overnight stay in Dilijan.
Day 8: 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", dating back to the 6th 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 Tatev Monastery). Dinner and overnight stay in Sisian.
Day 9: Sisian / Khndzoresk / Goris
Breakfast in hotel in Sisian. Excursion to Goris, with a stop in Khndzoresk- “City of Apples”, where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the fortress and the cave "Old Khndzoresk" and houses that once were carved into the rock. Then continue to visit Goris, lunch and free time for a walk in the city center of Goris. Then return back to Sisian for the dinner and overnight stay.
Day 10: Goris / Noravank / Khor Virap / Yerevan
Breakfast in hotel and excursion to Noravank, passing through the narrow road surrounded by rocks of hundred caves where one discovers a scene of harmony of architecture with nature. The monastery Noravank enshrined with fine architectural solutions and luxurious embellishments is one of the brightest examples of Armenian architecture of the 13th c. Lunch in Noravank. Then departure to the Ararat valley with a visit to the monastery of Khor Virap, which was built in the 17th century, A famous place of pilgrimage, where St. Gregory the Illuminator, the first Armenian Catholicos was imprisoned for 13 years. The monastery is located in a high position on the left bank of the river Araks on the Turkish border with a splendid view of Mount Ararat. At the end of the day we return to Yerevan for a dinner and overnight stay.
Day 11: Matendaran / Free time for shopping / Farewell Dinner
Breakfast in hotel. Visit to Matenadaran library of Armenian manuscripts- one of the largest libraries in the world. Matenadaran is a treasure trove of Armenian culture, with more than 17,000 preserved Armenian ancient texts and manuscripts of the history of Armenians, art, literature and natural sciences. Visit the food market called "Shuka". Optional visit to the Carpet or the Jewelry shops, or we can visit the Cognac Factory (entrance fees not included). Free time for shopping and a Farewell dinner with live music and overnight stay in Yerevan
Day 12: Departure via Yerevan Airport
Breakfast in hotel. Regarding your flight, your vehicle will drive you to Yerevan Airport for the final departure.
