5 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 proceed to the Grand Cascade (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.

We continue our tour in Armenia and visit “Ararat” Brandy Factory, where we have a fascinating tour with tasting of 2 types of brandies (a three-year “Ararat” and a ten-year “Akhtamar”) – For additional fee

Transfer to the hotel / Check in

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

Breakfast in the hotel

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 – YEREVAN | KHOR VIRAP | BIRDS CAVE | NORAVANK | ARENI | YEREVAN

Breakfast in the hotel

Just After breakfast, we pick you and arrange transfer to the Monastery of Khor Virap, situated at the foot of Mount Ararat. It is a place of pilgrimage, which is connected with the legend of Grigor Lusavorich (Grigor the Illuminator).

Then we continue our way to Vayots Dzor marz of Armenia. We visit the “Cave of the birds”, where the oldest winery in the world and the world’s oldest shoe, which was more than 5500 years old, were found.

Next is Noravank monastery complex, built in XIII-XIV centuries, which is located 1.5 kilometers east to the village of Areni. The complex is located on a narrow ledge winding gorge tributary of the Arpa River. The gorge is famous for its steep red cliffs, towering behind the monastery.

Next stop is Areni village is famous for its amazing wines. In October the annual festival of wines takes place there.

We will visit “Areni” wine factory and taste Armenian wine in the tasting room of the factory. The wines of this producer differ in their unique tastes. The bouquet of the fragrance is revealed gradually leaving a pleasant aftertaste.

Return to Yerevan

DAY 4 – 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 5 – CENTRAL MARKET | VERNISSAGE | TSITSERNAKABERD | ST. ECHMIADZIN | ZVARTNOTS | AIRPORT

Breakfast in the hotel and 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.

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

Next stop is the Vagharshapat – the center of the Armenian Apostolic Church, where the residence of the Catholicos is located. We will visit Echmiadzin Cathedral (301-483 AD), which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage list.

The last destination is 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.

Transfer to airport