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Ararat Hotel: Check-in - 2 p.m. Check-out - 12 noon  Price excludes:Air tickets Visa to Armenia. Get it online by clicking on e-Visa Travel insurance
DAY 1 Arrival at Zvartnotz International Airport. Our tourist guide will welcome you at the airport. Transfer to the hotel/apartment in Yerevan. Rest.  YEREVAN CITY TOUR - Drive through the central streets of Yerevan, Republic Square,Opera House, Cascade Monument and stairs, "Mother Armenia" Monument with a fantastic view of Yerevan, Victory Bridge, Hrazdan Stadium, Sports and Concerts Center, Presidential Palace, National Assembly Building, Academy of Sciences, Tsitsernakaberd-Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex. Visit Erebuni Museum and Fortress, the birthplace of Yerevan. Erebuni is an Urartian fortress in the south-eastern part of modern Yerevan founded in 782B.C. by King Argishti I. Lunch in a traditional Armenian restaurant. Then you’ll be taken to "Ararat" Brandy Factory of Yerevan. Here a guide will tell you the history of brandy-making in Armenia. After tour you’ll taste the best Armenian brandies with chocolate: Nairi (maturity of 20 years), Akhtamar (maturity of 10 years) and 3* (maturity of 3 years). Overnight in Yerevan. DAY 2  Tour to Garni Pagan Temple and Geghard Monastery. The Pagan Temple of Garni is the only non-Christian temple currently standing in Armenia. Gracing the hillside the pagan temple was dedicated to the God of Sun, Mithra. It was built in 77A.D. by the Armenian King Trdat I. The architectural complex of Garni was Armenia's foremost center of Hellenistic culture and the summer residence of Armenian kings. The fortress is situated in a picturesque locality and commands a broad panorama of orchards, fields and mountain slopes covered with motley carpets of varicolored grasses, of the jagged and precipitous canyon of the Azat river. The artistic merit and uniqueness of its monuments place Garni among outstanding creations of architecture of world importance.Driving for 9 more kilometers from Garni, you'll reach the Monastery of Geghard, which is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Geghard is an incredible ancient Armenian monastery, partly carved out of a mountain. Though the monastery has been around since before the 4th century, the main cathedral was built in 1215.It is said that the holy lance that pierced the body of Christ was kept here. The architectural forms and the decoration of Geghard's rock premises show that Armenian builders could not only create superb works of architecture out of stone, but also hew them in solid rock. Lunch in an Armenian peasant house in Garni village.  Visit the Lake Sevan, the largest lake in Armenia and one of the largest high-altitude lakes in the world, situated at the altitude of 1900m above sea level. A famous writer has poetically characterized Sevan; "A genuine piece of sky, dropped down on earth among the mountains". Visiting the Monastery of Sevanavank (IX century) which is located on Sevan peninsula. Overnight in Yerevan.Day3  Leave for Khor Virap Monastery, one of the most popular destinations in Armenia for a number of reasons, primarily because it is where Grigor Luisavorich (St. Gregory the Illuminator) was imprisoned for 13 years before curing King Trdat III of a disease. This caused the conversion of the king and Armenia into the first officially Christian nation in the world in the year 301. To this day you can visit the underground chamber he was imprisoned, located in the nondescript St. Gevorg Chapel apart from the main church. Its location, near the closest point to Mount Ararat within Armenian borders, offers a spectacular view of the mountain, the national symbol of Armenia. Continuing to more south you'll reach Noravank Monastery, an architectural gemstone nestled among brick-red cliffs, just above a deep gorge. This monastic complex is a masterpiece by the 13th century architect Momik. The surrounding cliffs offer a spectacular backdrop of mineral colors reflected from the sun. The breathtaking church of the monastery is St. Astvatsatsin a two-storied building with an open-air church. It is also worth mentioning that Noravank once treasured a piece of the true cross-stained with the blood of Christ, brought by a mysterious stranger.On the way back visit "Areni" winery in the village of Areni, where you can taste different sorts of wine. Overnight in Yerevan. DAY 4  Leave for Echmiadzin town, the Holy See of the Armenian Apostolic Church, where the Armenian Catholicos (Supreme Patriarch) resides.Visit St. Hripsime Church which was built in 7th century and is considered a masterpiece of early medieval Armenian architecture. Continue to Echmiadzin Mother Cathedral. Historically, it is the focal point of the town of Echmiadzin, and it’s the oldest church in the world. It was originally built by Saint Gregory the Illuminator as a vaulted basilica in 301-303A.D., when Armenia was the only country in the world the state religion of which was Christianity. The church was built on the place of a pagan temple, the remains of which can be seen until now. The Etchmiadzin Cathedral is listed among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Transfer to airport. Departure. *Itinerary is subject to change at any time upon your request.
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