Amazing Armenia

Amazing Armenia

“If the scriptures are rightly understood it was in Armenia that paradise was placed. But whatever may have been their destiny and it has been bitter whatever it may be in future, their country must ever be one of the most interesting on the globe." ; ”Armenian is the language to speak with God.”
George Gordon (Lord) Byron - English poet.
Lord Byron perfectly understood Armenia and Armenians. You also can.
Dont miss:

- Places many have visited, but few have seen
- 6100 year old wine-making artifacts
- The longest cable car in the world
- Armenian Stonehange, that is older than British
- The only Pagan temple in the region and ancient churches with unique architecture and history
- One of the highest freshwater lakes in the world
- Tasting famous Armenian Wine and Cognac, that Winston Churchill was drinking
- Armenian Lavash baking master class
- Get acquainted with Armenian Carpet weaving history
- A lot of nature, history, culture, fun and much more..

Itinerary

Day 1: Yerevan City Tour

Stop At: Victory Park and Statue of Mother Armenia, Azatutyan Ave, Yerevan Armenia
During second half of the day we will head to explore Yerevan, a city that is older than Rome (782 BC) and one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities. We will visit Mother Armenia Monument, from where an incredible view of Yerevan can be observed. Mother Armenia is a female personification of Armenia and is a monumental statue in Victory Park overlooking the capital.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Cascade Complex, 10 Tamanyan St, Yerevan 0009, Armenia
Further, we will visit Cascade complex - a giant stairway made of limestone . It links the downtown area of Yerevan with the Victory Park neighborhood. At the base of the Cascade is a garden courtyard with statues by contemporary sculptors such as Botero, Lynn Chadwick, and Barry Flanagan.
Duration: 35 minutes

Stop At: The Armenian National Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet named after Alexander Spendiaryan, Tumanyan O. str. 54, Yerevan 0002 Armenia
Our next stop is Opera Theatre which is considered to be the symbol of music culture of Armenia.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Northern Avenue, Northern Ave., Yerevan Armenia
After Opera house, we will walk along the Northern Avenue- a pedestrian avenue, mainly home to luxurious residential buildings, high-end branded shops, commercial offices, coffee shops, restaurants, nightclubs and just a nice place to spent your time. It connects Opera Theater with Republic Square.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Republic Square, Yerevan Armenia
Republic Square- an architectural ensemble of five major buildings surrounding the square and built in pink and yellow tuff in the neoclassical style with extensive use of Armenian motifs. There we will enjoy dancing fountains.
Duration: 35 minutes

Stop At: Gum Market, 35 Movses Khorenatsi Street, Yerevan 0018, Armenia
Next we will head to the biggest dried fruit market in Yerevan, where you can find and purchase the tastiest in the world dried Armenian fruits.
Duration: 40 minutes

Stop At: Ararat Museum, 2 Admiral Isakov Ave, Yerevan 0082, Armenia
We will visit famous Ararat Brandy (Cognac) factory. Here we will have tour and get introduced to Armenian cognac history and sure will taste the famous cognac, which was favored by Winston Churchill.
Duration: 45 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in Yerevan 3* hotel

Day 2: Noravank, Bird Cave, Khndzoresk

Stop At: Noravank Monastery, Areni Armenia
Get ready to watch Mt Ararat, we will be driving very close to it on the road to masterpiece of Armenian architecture - Noravank. This 13 century monastery is situated in a amazing gorge with tall, sheer, brick-red cliffs and is best known for its two-storey Surb Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God) church, which grants access to the second floor by way of a narrow stone-made staircase jutting out from the face of building, one of the earliest examples of cantilever architecture.
Duration: 40 minutes

Stop At: T'rchuneri (Bird) Cave, Highway, At the Entrance To Noravank Canyon, Areni Armenia
Our next stop - Areni 1 cave, is very close to Noravank. The Areni-1 winery also known as Bird Cave is a 6100-year-old winery that was discovered in 2007 by a team of Armenian and Irish archaeologists, sponsored by UCLA and National Geographic Society among others. The winery consists of fermentation vats, a wine press, storage jars, pottery sherds, and is believed to be at least a thousand years older than the winery unearthed in Judea and Samaria. The Areni-1 shoe (a 5,500-year-old leather shoe ) was found in the same cave.
Duration: 35 minutes

Stop At: Old Khndzoresk, Khndzoresk, Near Goris Armenia
Our next stop is Khndzoresk- historic cave village, located on the steep slope of a gorge and comprised of both natural and manmade caves.
Duration: 35 minutes

Stop At: Khndzoresk Swinging Bridge, M12, Yerevan 0032 Armenia
Khndzoresk cave village is also famous for its swinging (cable) bridge to access which you need to decent about 420 stairs into the gorge.
Duration: 30 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in Goris city

Day 3: Tatev Monastery and cable car, Armenia's Stonehenge, Shaki waterfall, Khor Virap

Stop At: Wings of Tatev, H45, Tatev 3218, Armenia
We will get to Tatev Monastery by riding the longest cable car in the world (Guiness Record Book).
Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Tatev Monastery, Tatev Armenia
Tatev Monastery-a 9th century historical monument. The monastic ensemble stands on the edge of a deep gorge of the Vorotan River. During medieval times Tatev Monastery was a vital scholastic, enlightenment and spiritual center and played a huge role in the country’s history.
Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: Karahundj (Armenia's Stonehenge), Sisian Armenia
Get ready to discover enigma. After lunch will visit a prehistoric archaeological site Carahunge also called Zorats Karer, Karahunj, Qarahunj and Carenish and known among tourists as "Armenian Stonehenge, that is older than famous British Stonehenge. It is believed to be prehistoric observatory.
Duration: 40 minutes

Stop At: Shaki Waterfall, Sisian Armenia
Now time to enjoy the highest waterfall in Armenia, named Shaki. This picturesque waterfall is 18 m high and can mesmerize you for a long time.
Duration: 35 minutes

Stop At: Khor Virap, Artashat, Lusarat Armenia
On the road back to Yerevan we will stop at Khor Virap, which notability as a monastery and pilgrimage site is attributed to the fact that Gregory the Illuminator was initially imprisoned here for about 14 years by King Tiridates III of Armenia, who later in 301 AD declared Christianity as state religion in Armenia. Here we will again have the opportunity to observe Mt. Ararat from very close distance.
Duration: 40 minutes

Stop At: Megerian Carpet Museum, Madoyan Gukas str. 9, Yerevan 0006 Armenia
In Yerevan our last stop is Armenian carpet museum at Megerian Carpet factory. Armenian carpet weaving has a centuries-old history. This private, family-run museum offers high-quality Armenian rugs and carpets. You will get a chance to see weavers working on their patters and learn about the history of the trade.
Duration: 40 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner: Dinner at Megerian Carpet Museum. Dinner prepared by one of top Armenian chefs.
Accommodation included: Overnight in Yerevan 3* hotel

Day 4: Sevan Lake, Pagan temple, Geghard monastery

Stop At: Lake Sevan, Unnamed Road, Սևան, Armenia
After the breakfast in the hotel, we will drive towards lake Sevan- the largest freshwater high-altitude (alpine 1900 m above sea level) lakes in Eurasia.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Monastery Sevanavank, next the Holy Mother of God Church, Sevan Armenia
We will visit Sevanavank on Sevan peninsula, take out your cameras and get ready for breathtaking views. Sevanavank is a monastic complex located on a peninsula at the northwestern shore of Lake Sevan and according to an inscription in one of the churches, the was founded in 874.
Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: The Monastery of Geghard, Geghard Armenia
Our next stop is Geghard (meaning "spear") monastery dating back to 4th century. The monastery is partially carved out of the adjacent mountain, surrounded by cliffs and is listed as UNESCO heritage.
Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: Garni Temple, Geghard Monastery Road H3, Garni Armenia
Next stop is Garni pagan temple (Ic AD) - the only Greco-Roman collonaded temple in the region. It is the best-known and preserved structure and symbol of pre-Christian Armenia.
Duration: 40 minutes

Stop At: Garni Gorge, Route Below the Garni Temple, Garni 2215 Armenia
If you have not seen Symphony of Stones, you have not been in Armenia. Along the sides of the canyon are cliff walls of well-preserved hexagonal basalt columns referred to as the "Symphony of the Stones." These columns are known as “Columnar jointing”, which occurs when the volcanic rock cools and contracts, forming a network of hexagonal columns.
Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: Vernissage Market, Northern Avenue 6/2, Yerevan 0013 Armenia
Driving back to Yerevan for shopping. We will take you to Vernissage- an open air handicraft and souvenir market, where you can find anything a tourist might look to take with him/her.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: You will participate in Lavash (Armenian flatbread) baking masterclass.
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in Yerevan 3*hotel

Day 5: Departing Armenia

Stop At: Zvartnots International Airport, Yerevan, Armenia
Transfer to the Zvartnots Airport in Yerevan. Departure
Duration: 1 hour

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.