Armenia is a land of legends

Itinerary

14-day program

1 day: Yerevan

Arrival in Yerevan, at the International Airport “Zvartnots” Meeting and pick up to the HTL . Check in. Leisure time.  City tour. Visit the Museum- Fortress Erebuni, proceed to the History Museum of Armenia. Visit Tsitsernakaberd, memorial complex dedicated to the victims of the Genocide, 1915. Matenadaran – rare depository of manuscripts Visit Yerevan Brandy Factory with the tasting.

2day: Garni- Geghard (80 km)

Yerevan

Drive to Garni – pagan temple, the summer residence of Armenian Kings (1st. C ). Observing Geghard monastery complex (12-13th. C ), cut in one monolithic rock. Return to the city. Walking around the Vernissage – open-air handicraft shop.

Free time. Visit Concert hall or the opera performance.

3 day: Echmiadzin-Metsamor-Sardarapat (140 km)

Drive to Echmiadzin – Armenians’ spiritual center .

Visit the Cathedral of Armenian Apostolic Church (4th. C ). Enter the museum inside the church. Visit the church St. Hripsime (7th. C ). Proceed to Metsamor- observing the ruins of the settlement ( 2 thousand years BC) and local archeological museum exhibits.

Drive to Sardarapat .Visit the Ethnographic Museum of Armenia. On the way back –observing the ruins of the church Zvartnots (7th. C ). Return to Yerevan.

4 day: Talin – Aruch –Ereruk –Ani (300 km)

Drive to the early Christian churches along the Silk Road. Visit the churches in Talin (7th. C ), Aruch (11-12th. C ) and Ererujk (6th. C ). View of the Ani - medieval capital of Armenia, located just on the opposite bank of Akhuryan river. Return to Yerevan.

5 day: Tsakhkadzor - Sevan (80 km)

Drive to Tsakhkadzor –“ the gorge of flowers”, during the Soviet times there was located Olympic center of winter sport games. Observing Kecharis monastery (11-12th. C ). Ascent to the mountain Tegenis (3100 m) by the cable way. Drive to the Lake Sevan , 1900 m above the sea level. Observing the monastery complex on the peninsula (9th. C ). Rest on the lake shore. Overnight in the local HTL

6 day: Sanahin – Haghpat (320 km)

Drive to the high mountain resort Dilijan. Observing the monastery complex Haghartsin (11-13th. C ). Proceed to Alaverdi , observing the monasteries Sanahin (9-12th. C ) and Haghpat (11-13th. C ). Return to Sevan.

7 day: Rest on the lake shore. Return to Yerevan

8 day: Free day

9 day: Khor Virab- Noravank (250 km)

Drive to Khor Virab, the border with Turkey and observing the church St. Blessed Mother (17th. C ). From the hill everyone can admire the handsome view of the biblical mountain Ararat. Visit Noravank monastery (13-14th. C ). Proceed to Sisian. Overnight.

10 day: Sisian – Stepanakert (160 km)

Drive to Nagorny Karabagh. Observing ancient people’s cave homes with paintings on the walls. Visit Tatev monastery (9-13th. C ). Proceed to Stepanakert – the capital of Nagorny Karabagh

11 day: Shushi – Gandzasar (200 km)

Drive to medieval capital of Karabagh – town-fortress Shushi. Observing the local church (19th. C ). Drive to Gandzasar monastery (13th. C ). Return to Stepanakert and wine tasting

12 day: Stepanakert – Yerevan (340 km)

Return to Yerevan

13 day: Free day

14 day: Ashtarak – Amberd (120 km)

Drive to Ashtarak to the foot of the mountain Aragats.

Observing the churches Tsiranavor (5th. C ) and Karmravor (7th. C ). Proceeding up by the mountainside of Aragats- the highest point of Armenia (4090 m). Observing the fortress Amberd (2300 m above the sea level). Return to Yerevan. Free time. Farewell dinner.

Check out, pick up to the Airport “Zvartnots”.

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