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Tour Duration: May 1 - May 10
Early May is a magical season in Armenia for those who love spring
 and flowers. The mountains and field are full of wild flowers and fresh green grass, the trees are in full blossom. The weather is excellent with the sun shining in the blue sky. The air is transparent and the birds are chirping everywhere.By participating in these tours we'll explore Armenia admiring the beautiful landscapes, flora and the most beautiful architectural ensembles of Armenia. Day 1 – May 1
Arrival at Zvartnotz International Airport. Our tourist guide will welcome you at the airport. Transfer to the hotel in Yerevan. Hotel check-in. Rest.
Breakfast at the hotel.
Day 2 – May 2 Yerevan City Tour / Museums / Brandy and Wine Tasting
Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, is a modern, colorful city, situated in the Northeastern part of the Ararat Valley. Yerevan is one of the oldest
.jpg) cities in the world. Yerevan skyline with biblical Mount Ararat on the background is very impressive. You are going to see the following places: 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 and Museum. Visit the Museum of Yerevan History. Lunch - traditional Armenian restaurant. Visit Yerevan’s “Noy” Brandy - Wine - Vodka Factory. During the tour you’ll visit the distillation department, the cooperage department, the museum, the wine-cellar. Tasting three wine varieties from 1913, 1924 and 1944 and two cognac varieties of 10 and 20 years’ maturity. Evening program: Walking tour in downtown Yerevan.
Day 3 – May 3 Garni Pagan Temple / Geghard Cave Monastery  A visit to Garni Pagan Temple and Geghard Monastery. The Pagan Temple of Garni is the only pagan 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. 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. Lunch- Armenian peasant house in Garni village.Day 4 – May 4 Amberd Fortress/Saghmoasavank Monastery/Oshakan  Today you’ll have an unforgettable tour to Amerd Fortress which is translated as “a fortress in the clouds”, a typical name given to it because of its elevation. The fortress is located on the slopes of Mount Aragats at 2300 meters. It was founded in 7th century by Kamsarakan princely family. At this time of the year the fortress is surrounded by some amazing flora species.Continue to Saghmosavank Monastery, situated on the edge of a deep gorge at the foot of Mt. Ara, with Mt. Ararat and Mt. Arargats rising majestically on the western and northern horizons. It's an 11th century structure. It’s surrounded by beautiful orchards and gorges. Visit Oshakan - St. Mashtots Church where the primordial alphabet-giver St. Mesrop Mashtots is buried, just under the altar of the church. It's a hall-type church with frescoes. The church is surrounded by an apricot orchard with ornamented Armenian alphabet letter statues. Lunch – a very lovely restaurant in Ashtarak gorge, by a river.
Day 5 – May 5 Free day. Explore Yerevan on your own!
Day 6 – May 6 Lake Sevan / Dilijan / Parz Lake / Haghartsin Monastery
 Drive to the Lake Sevan to admire the beauty of the aquamarine waters of this huge alpine lake, described as "a genuine piece of sky in the dropped from heaven into the mountains”. Here you'll climb up to Sevanavank Monastery (9th century). Continue to the north. Words alone can’t describe the natural beauty of Dilijan. Here you’ll visit Haghartsin Monastery. It is nestled in a temperate rainforest on a It is one of those spots in Armenia that feels like you are walking through a huge, unreal  movie set. It was founded in the 12th -13th c.c. It was a scholarly, cultural, and educational center in the Middle Ages. Continue to the Lake Parz ("Clear" lake) in the middle of a thick forest. Here you’ll admire the tranquility of the lake and will hear the voice of the forest. Proceed to the town of Dilijan, named “a piece of Switzerland in Armenia”. You’ll explore the old part of the city with its unique architecture. Lunch - traditional Armenian hospitable family. Day 7 – May 7 Khor Virap Monastery / Areni Winery / Noravank Monastery  Visit Khor Virap Monastery. It was in Khor Virap Monastery where 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 301A.D. Its location, near the closest point to Mount Ararat within Armenian borders, offers a  spectacular view of the mountain, the national symbol of Armenia. Visit “Areni” Winery which specializes in the production of premium dry red Vayots Dzor wines from the Areni grape. Wine tasting! Proceed to Noravank Monastery (12th – 14th c.c.), an architectural gemstone nestled among brick-red cliffs, just above a deep gorge. It’s a majestic sight to visit which will remain in your memories forever. Lunch in Noravank.Day 8 – May 8 Matenadaran / Carpet Factory / “Pak” Market / Sergey Parajanov House-Museum
Today you are going to explore some interesting sights in Yerevan.Visit
 Matenadaran-repository of ancient manuscripts. Matenadaran is a scientific research institute of old manuscripts, the largest center of study and safekeeping of Armenian manuscripts in the world.Continue to a Carpet Factory and show room which brings together time-honored traditions and a rang of exquisite aesthetics to create objects of art for modern living. After this you’ll be taken to “Pak Shuka” (Closed Market) – a covered bazaar where you can taste dried fruits, some stuffed with different kinds of nuts, flavorsome vegetables, spices, typical Armenian desserts. Lunch – Armenian restaurant. Proceed to Sergey Parajanov house-museum, an exceptional Armenian film director. Here you’ll marvel at Parajanov’s fabulous works: his graphics, dolls, collages, 23 screenplays and librettos of unrealized productions of cinema, theater and ballet. Day 9 – May 9 Echmiadzin Mother Cathdral / St. Hripsime Church / Zvartnots’ Ruins / Vernisage Market / Farewell Party
Leave for the town of Echmiadzin, the Holy See of the Armenian Apostolic Church, where the Armenian Catholicos (Supreme Patriarch) resides. Visit St. Hripsime Church built in 7th century. It is considered a masterpiece of early medieval Armenian architecture
Proceed to Echmiadzin Mother Cathedral, where you’ll participate in
 DIVINE LITURGY. This church, historically, is the focal point of the city of Echmiadzin, one of the oldest churches in the world. It was originally built by Saint Gregory the Illuminator as a vaulted basilica in 301-303, when Armenia was the only country in the world the state religion of which was Christianity. The Etchmiadzin Cathedral is listed among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. On the way back to Yerevan visit the Ruins of Zvartnots Cathedral. It was a majestic cathedral built as Armenia's main cathedral in 641-661. The remnants of Zvartnots, even in ruins, are a majestic sight. The Ruins of Zvartnots are listed among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In Yerevan visit Vernisage Market where you can buy all kinds of artwork, carpets and rugs, jewelry and other typical Armenian souvenirs. Lunch in Yerevan.
Evening program: Farewell dinner at a fancy Armenian restaurant with live music!
Day 10 – May 10 Transfer to airport. Departure.
*Itinerary is subject to change at any time upon your request. |
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