10 day classic tour for Armenia

DAY 1 – AIRPORT | CITY TOUR IN YEREVAN | MEGERIAN CARPET FACTORY

Arrival and meeting in Zvartnots airport

The tour starts with a walking trip through the city. You will see key landmarks such as Cascade Monument, the Opera House,��Northern Avenue and Republic Square.

Next we will visit the Megerian Carpet factory. Megeryans expanded production of carpets in Armenia by recreating special carpets of Vaspurakan, Karabakh, Lori and other regions through contemporary design skills. This private, family-run exhibition space 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.

We shall then visit to the Grand Cascade of Yerevan (open-air museum). It is a 500-meter high staircase (522 steps) with fountains and flower beds, as well as an open air museum, which presents about 30 sculptures by famous masters. Inside the complex Cafesjian Center of Arts is located on 5 tiers.

Transfer to the hotel / Check in

DAY 2 – EREBUNI FORTRESS | GARNI | MASTERCLASS OF BAKING LAVASH | GEGHARD | YEREVAN

The day starts with a visit to the Erebuni Fortress,also known as Arin Berd. It was one of several fortresses built along the northern Urartian border and was one of the most important political, economic and cultural centers of the vast kingdom. The name Yerevan itself is derived from Erebuni.

Next stop is the pagan temple of Garni. Garni Temple built in the 1st century by the Armenian King Tiridates I and dedicated to the God of the Sun Areg (Mihr).

Masterclass of baking lavash in tandoor and Gata making masterclass (national baking)

Next stop is Geghard monastery complex (XIII century), which is included in the list of World Cultural Heritage by the UNESCO.

Back to Yerevan

DAY 3 – MATENADARAN | SEVAN | DILIJAN | HAGHARTSIN | YEREVAN

Breakfast in the hotel

After breakfast we visit the Institute of Ancient Manuscripts – Matenadaran named after St. Mesrop Mashtots. The Matenadaran, officially the Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts, is a unique museum, repository of manuscripts, and a research institute in Yerevan. It is the world’s largest repository of Armenian manuscripts.

We continue the tour to the Sevan. Sevan is considered one of the three great “seas” of historic Armenia. The bird fauna of the lake Sevan and its vicinity makes over 200 species, out of which 95 species are breeding. We will also visit Sevanavank monastery. Initially the monastery was built at the southern shore of a small island. After the artificial draining of Lake Sevan, which started in the era of Joseph Stalin, the water level fell about 20 metres, and the island transformed into a peninsula.

We continue our tour to Tavush region of Armenia – to a beautiful town-resort Dilijan, located on the picturesque banks of the river Aghstev.

The next stop will be Haghartsin Monastery, which was built in the X-XIII centuries, mostly under the auspices of the Bagratuni Dynasty.

Return to Yerevan

DAY 4 – KHNDZORESK | JERMUK | CARAVANSERAI | NORATUS | SEVAN

Breakfast in the hotel

After breakfast, we visit a village in the eastern part of the Syunik region of Armenia – Khndzoresk. The main attraction of the city is the “cave city”. Here people lived in the caves until 1958. In 2012 there was built “Hanging Bridge” over the gorge that connects the two banks of the old village Khndzoresk. The height of the bridge is 60 meters and its length is 100 metres.

Then we visit the prehistoric complex Karahunj (Zorats Karer), located at an altitude of 1770m, which is also called “Armenian Stonehenge”. The complex consists of lots of large standing stones, some of which have circular openings in thier upper part. Karahunj is considered to be one of the oldest observatories in the world.

Trip to Jermuk – a resort town in Vayots Dzor region of Armenia. It is located on the Arpa river, North of the Kechut reservoir, on a plateau to the West of the Zangezur ridge. In Soviet times, the city was a popular holiday destination, known for the warm spring. The city produces the famous mineral table water “Jermuk”. Here is the waterfall of Jermuk. Currently, the city is being rebuilt to make Jermuk the center of tourism again.

Next we visit Selim Caravanserai. Orbelian’s Caravanserai, is a caravanserai in the Vayots Dzor Province of Armenia. It was built along the Vardenyats Mountain Pass in 1332, by prince Chesar Orbelian to accommodate weary travelers and their animals as they crossed from, or into, the mountainous Vayots Dzor region.

Then we continue our way to Noratus. Noratus is a village in the Gegharkunik Province of Armenia, near the town of Gavar. The village has a rich historical past, and is famous for the Noratus cemetery, the largest surviving cemetery in the world featuring khachkars.

Then we rout to Mikayelyan Family Farm, which is established in 2012 in village of Noratus. You will see how locals produce various production like wine-cheese, cognac-cheese, pamesan-type cheese etc. and taste different sweets, fruits and wine.

Overnight in Sevan

DAY 5 – SEVAN | DILIJAN | HAGHATSIN | GOSHAVANK | IJEVAN WINERY

Day starts with breakfast in the hotel then our guide pick you and arrange trip along the coast of Sevan Lake. Then we visit Sevanavank – a monastery in the north-west beach of Sevan Lake.

If you visit Armenia from mid-May to October we will arrange 30 minutes boat ride on Lake Sevan.

The next stop is Dilijan spa-town. It’s known for spa resorts and traditional craft workshops. The town is surrounded by the forests of Dilijan National Park. The Geological Museum and Art Gallery displays archaeological finds and international art. North of town, Haghartsin Monastery is a complex of stone churches. East, Goshavank Monastery is known for its intricate khachkars, or carved stones.

We will visit Haghatsin Monastery and Goshavank monastery complex.

Next stop is Ijevan city and excursion to the Ijevan winery, which was built in 1951. Ijevan’s wine factory is a large industrial complex where the local grape harvest is transformed into dry white and sparkling wines under the Haghartsin, Gayane and Makaravank labels.

Overnight in Dilijan

DAY 6 – DILIJAN | SANAHIN | AKHTALA | HAGHPAT

Day starts with hotel breakfast

We will leave Dilijan and rout to Lori marz and visit Sanahin. Founded in the 10th-century by King Ashot III Voghormats, Sanahin Monastery is the oldest of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The next stop is Mikoyan brothers museum. The Mikoyan brothers went on to become influential Soviet citizens for helping to create the MiG fighter aircraft in World War II and beyond and for surviving the viper’s nest of Russian politics respectively and their legacy is remembered in this museum in their home town.

Another place we will visit is Akhtala Monastery. This is a unique site to visit if you like Gregorian Churches.

The next stop is Haghpat monastery. It is notable for Haghpat Monastery, a religious complex founded in the 10th century and included in the UNESCO World Heritage List along with monastery Sanahin.

Overnight in Haghpat village

DAY 7 – ODZUN | LORI FORTRESS | STEPANAVAN DENDROPARK | GYUMRI

Breakfast in the hotel

Day begins with a visit the Odzun Church. Odzun Church is an Armenian basilica constructed around the 5th–7th century in the Odzun village of the Lori Province of Armenia. There are numerous gravestones of the clergy around the church, as well as a funerary monument.

Lori Berd is the next stop of our trip. Medieval fortress “Lori Berd” located on a peninsula along the deep gorge cut by the Dzoraget and Tashir rivers.

Then we visit Dendropark of Stepanavan, which is located near Gyulagarak village. The park was founded in 1931 by Polish engineer-forester Edmund Leonowicz. The arboretum is 35 ha in total of which 17.5 ha consist of natural forest and 15 ha of ornamental trees.

Day ends in the second largest city of Armenia – Gyumri. By the end of the 19th century, when the city was known as Alexandropol.

Overnight in Gyumri

DAY 8 – GYUMRI | HOUSE -MUSEUM OF FRUNZIK MKRTCHYAN | DZITOGHTSYAN MUSEUM | BLACK FORTRESS | YEREVAN

Breakfast in the hotel

City tour in Gyumri.

Gyumri is home to many prominent museums of Armenia. We visit the Mher Mkrtchyan museum and the Dzitoghtsyan Museum of Social Life and National Architecture of Gyumri is an old mansion, housing collections related to both history and the everyday-life of Gyumri, as well as paintings and other works of art.

The next stop is Black Fortress (Sev Berd in Armenian).

Check in at the hotel in Yerevan.

Breakfast in the hotel

City tour in Gyumri.

Gyumri is home to many prominent museums of Armenia. We visit the Mher Mkrtchyan museum and the Dzitoghtsyan Museum of Social Life and National Architecture of Gyumri is an old mansion, housing collections related to both history and the everyday-life of Gyumri, as well as paintings and other works of art.

The next stop is Black Fortress (Sev Berd in Armenian).

Check in at the hotel in Yerevan.

DAY 9 – TSITSERNAKABERD | ARARAT BRANDY FACTORY | VAGHARSHAPAT | RUINS OF ZVARTNOTS

Breakfast in the hotel

We will visit the Tsitsernakaberd memorial complex, dedicated to the victims of the Armenian Genocide of 1915, and the Genocide Museum.

Then we continue to Ararat Brandy Factory and enjoy fascinating tour with tasting 2 types of Armenian brandies.

The next stop is Vagharshapat and St. Echmiadzin – The center of Armenian Apostolic Church.

The we visit the Zvartnots temple, which was destroyed in the earthquake. The ruins and Zvartnots is so special because it was made with a rare construction technique that was not common during the 7th-century and the methods used were considered extremely advanced.

Free evening.

DAY 10 – CENTRAL MARKET | VERNISSAGE | AIRPORT

Breakfast in the hotel

Check out

Day starts with a visit Farmers Markets place. The Gumi Shuka in Yerevan, Armenia is a food market where locals sell Armenian cheese, herbs and spices, dried fruits and nuts, and bread.

Next we visit the Vernissage. This is the right place to get little taste of Armenia and a special spot to witness the fusion between national traditions and modern taste.

Transfer to airport