Armenia a weekend tour (3 days 2 nights)

Armenia a weekend tour (3 days 2 nights)

We offer tour service with well equipped

vehicles, highly qualified drivers and guides.

We respect and appreciate our guests' choice.

Itinerary

Day 1: Airport - City Tour in Yerevan 

Stop At: Armenian Opera Theatre, Tumanyan St, Yerevan, Armenia
Yerevan

Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia as well as one of the worlds oldest continuously inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country. It has been the capital since 1918. The history of Yerevan dates back to the 8th century BC, with the founding of the fortress of Erebuni in 782 BC by king Argishti I at the western extreme of the Ararat plain. Erebuni was "designed as a great administrative and religious centre, a fully royal capital." By the late ancient Armenian Kingdom, new capital cities were established and Yerevan declined in importance. The city is 29 years older than Rome, is the same age as Babylon and the Assyrian city of Nineveh, but unlike the latter, has become a prosperous city now. The principal symbol of Yerevan is Mount Ararat, which is visible from any area in the capital.
Duration: 3 hours

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

Day 2: Yerevan - Garni - Geghard - Sevan - Yerevan 

Stop At: Garni Temple, Geghard Monastery Road H3, Garni Armenia
Geghardavank

Geghard is a medieval monastery in the Kotayk province of Armenia, being partially carved out of the adjacent mountain, surrounded by cliffs. The monastery was founded in the 4th century by Gregory the Illuminator. The site is that of a spring arising in a cave which had been sacred in pre-Christian times. The name commonly used for the monastery today, Geghard, or more fully Geghardavank that means "the Monastery of the Spear", originates from the spear which had wounded Jesus at the Crucifixion, allegedly brought to Armenia by Apostle Jude, called here Thaddeus, and stored amongst many other relics.

The Temple of Garni

The Temple of Garni is the best-known structure and symbol of pre-Christian Armenia. The structure was built by king Tiridates I in the first century AD as a temple to the sun god Mihir. The exterior of the temple is richly decorated. The stones in the front cornice have projecting sculptures of lion heads. A fragment of the architrave bearing a lion head was removed by Captain J Buchan Telfer in the late nineteenth century and bequeathed by him to the British Museum in 1907. The staircase has nine unusually high steps—30 centimetres high, about twice as high as the average height of stairs. It’s said that the unusually high stairs compel a person ascending the staircase to feel humbled and make physical effort to reach the altar. In the early fourth century, when Armenian King Tiridates III adopted Christianity as a state religion, virtually all known pagan places of worship were destroyed. The Temple of Garni is the only pagan to have survived the widespread destruction. It remains unknown why the temple was exempted from destruction, but one of the philosophers argues that its status as a "masterpiece of art" possibly saved it from destruction.

Symphony of Stones

Garni Canyon lies across the length of the Azat (Garni) River and its confluent Goght. The canyon is attractive for the wonderful natural rocks, formed of regular hexagonal cylinders. These rocks start from the beginning up to the highest point of the canyon. The canyons formation is so unique that it almost looks artificial. Here is no human intervention. The composition is called “Symphony of Stones” or “Basalt Organ”.
Duration: 4 hours

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

Day 3:  Republic Square - Echmiadzin - Zvartnots - Airport 

Stop At: Zvartnots Temple, Vagharshapat Armenia
Etchmiadzin Cathedral

Etchmiadzin Cathedral has always been in the core of the Armenian and foreign architects’ and scientists’ research. This historical, spiritual and architectural place is not only a church, but also a unique museum for researchers. Etchmiadzin Cathedral, likewise other Christian churches, was established in the location of a pagan temple. According to Armenian church tradition, the cathedral was built between 301 and 303. According to History of the Armenians by Agathangelos, Armenias patron saint Gregory the Illuminator had a vision of Jesus Christ descending from heaven and striking the earth with a golden hammer to show where the cathedral should be built. Hence, the patriarch gave the church the name of Etchmiadzin which translates to "the Descent of the Only-Begotten (Son of God)."

The Treasury Museum

The museum is home to rare items such as church accessories with historical and artistic value, gold and pearl dresses, crosses and cathedral rocks, numerous ritual items made of gold, silver and ivory decorated with delicate and precious stones. Here you can see rare, ancient coins and ancient manuscripts. The catholic chairs of the 17th-century are particularly remarkable, decorated with peppermint and ivory, with lions head and scarf.

The museum also features unique sacred relics as well as St. Geghard, the spear by which the centurion Longinus pierced Jesus Christ or the Ark of Noah.

St. Hripsime

Saint Hripsime Church is one of the oldest churches in Armenia. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is located in Echmiadzin. According to legend, the girl named Hripsime, escaped to Armenia from Roman emperor Diocletian for her Christian beliefs. Here, Armenian king Trdat lll fell in love with her beauty and wanted to marry her. As the king was rejected commanded to kill her. After the adoption of Christianity in the place where she was killed a church was built. St. Hripsime church in Etchmiadzin is considered a masterpiece of early Christian Armenian architecture.

St. Gayane

The Church of St. Gayane was built in the 7th century. It is domed-basilica in style. Gayane came to Armenia with 38 nuns including Hripsime .The legend says the church was built over the tomb of Virgin Gayane who was killed for preaching Christianity.

Zvartnots temple

Zvartnots Cathedral is a 7th-century centrally planned aisled tetraconch type Armenian cathedral built by the order of Catholicos Nerses the Builder from 643-652. Now in ruins, it is located at the edge of the city of Vagharshapat in Armavir Province of Armenia. It is said that the cathedral was built on the post where Grigir Lusavorich met Trdat, initiating the king’s conversion and leading to Armenia adopting Christianity as the state religion. The cathedral’s unique construction was an engineering marvel. Many legends are connected to the monument. One legend relates how the Byzantine Roman Emperor Cosas II, attending the temple, impressed by its design, hired the master architect to built a similar church in Constantinople.
Duration: 4 hours

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