5 days /4 nights
Day 1
Yerevan
Arrival, meeting at the airport. (in the first half of the day)
Transfer.
Accomodation at the hotel.
Wide walking tour round Yerevan, the capital of Armenia.
Yerevan is one of the oldest cities of the world, which is 29 years older than Rome. It’s 2800 years old.
The city is at an altitude of 950-1200 m. above sea level.
A visit to the architectural complex “Caskade”, a unique monument of the Armenian architecture. Caskade seems to be a great multi-layered tower of Babel which leads us to the victory, to the symbol of the revival of Armenia to Obeliscs.
Within the decoration of fountains, of different modern statues and obelisks one can see the ornaments that go back to the oldest Armenian government Urartu.
Here we can also find the statue of the “Black cat”, a number of masterpieces: the works of the famous colombian painter and sculptor Fernando Botero, Jennifer Bartlett, Lynn Chadwick and others, the Cafesjyan Art Museum. It’s a favourite place not only for the local population but also for the guests of the capital. “Matenadaran the repository of the oldest books and rare manuscripts where are kept more than 17.000 ancient manuscripts- the pride of the Armenian people, the storage of Ancient Armenian written language. In Matenadaran is kept one of the three largest collections of the world. In the Ancient Armenian the word consists of two parts: “matean”- a book, a manuscript or a script and “daran”- a repository, a stash. In front of the building rises the monument to Mesrop Mashtots – the creator of the Armenian Alphabet. The writing tradition goes back to 405 B.C. and is one of the oldest writing systems of the world.
Furthermore come the monuments to William Saroyan, Martiros Saryan, Aram Khachatryan, the Freedom Square, the Swan lake, the Mashtots Avenue, The France Square, the mega modern North Avenue and the Republic Square where you can find the Museum of Armenian History, the Government building,the Central Post Office, the hotel Marriot.
In the evening we advise to take a walk in nocturnal Yerevan, to enjoy th time in the Republic Square observing the fantastic program of singing fountains.
An excursion tour to the liquor, brandy factory ” Noy -Ararat” ( the official supplier of Кremlin) with tasting process of wine and brandy.
In the evening we advise to take a walk in nocturnal Yerevan, to enjoy the time in the Republic Square observing the fantastic program of singing fountains.
Rest.
Night stay in Yerevan.
Day 2
Yerevan–Zvartnots–Echmiadzin–Yerevan
The breakfast at the hotel.
An excursion tour through the city Echmiadzin, the spiritual centre of the Armenian Apostolic Church. A visit to the Echmiadzin Cathedral of the 4th century that enters the list of the monuments of the world population of UNESCO. In the Museum of Echmiadzin Cathedral are kept many saint relics: St. Lance (Geghard) with which the roman legionnaire pierced the body of Christ, the relic of Noah’s Ark; the particle of the cross on which was crucified Christ, the King Ashot Erkat’s Cross, etc. Furthermore, you can visit the church of St. Hripsime.
On the way back there’s a visit to the ruins of the ancient temple Zvartnots.
An excursion tour through the Yerevan Wine Factory “Ararat”. Acquaintaince with the technology of cognac production. A visit to the cellars “Avenue of the presidents” and tasting of cognac.
Lunch break.
A free day in Yerevan.
Night stay at the hotel.
Day 3
Yerevan–Khor Virap-Noravank-Yerevan
Breakfast at the hotel.
A pilgrimage to the Monastery Khor-Virap, where Saint Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned for dissemination of Christianity. Here one can see the biblical mountain Ararat. The greatest part of the territory around Khor-Virap is the place of the former capital of Armenia: the ancient Artashat. The capital was built by the king Artashes. Artashat was one of the oldest cities built according to the design of the famous Carthaginian general Hannibal who found a refuge in Armenia after being defeated in the war against Rome.
A visit to the Wine Factory in the village Areni. Tasting of local wines.
The continuation of the tour leads towards the Monastery Complex Noravank (XIII-XIV centuries), which is situated among the fancy red rocks. The spiritual centre of the princedom Orbelyan. Here lived and created many outstanding personalities of medieval Armenian culture.
The lunch break in the restaurant situated on the bank of the river.
Return to Yerevan.
Night stay at the hotel.
Day 4
Yerevan–Garni-Geghard-Yerevan
The breakfast at the hotel. A trip to the ancient village Garni, an excursion tour through the pagan temple of the Sun of exceptional beauty (1 century A.C.) built in the greek style, surrounded by a row of columns on all sides and founded at the top of the hill. Here we can find the pagan temple, which is dedicated to the God of the Sun (Helios). The fortress of Garni used to serve as summer residence for Arsacid (known as Arshakuni) dynasty. A visit to the Monastery Geghard: a rare temple which was carved in the rock (12-13 centuries), which in translation means “saint lance” (Geghard-lance), named after the very lance wich pierced the body of Christ on the cross and which was kept there for a long time. The temple is located high in the mountains in the picturesque valley of the river “Azat”. It’s a masterpiece of medieval Armenian architecture. It’s a complex of buildings that contains the main church, two cave churches and tombs. In the first cave church from the rock hits the cold spring which, to the present day, is an object of warship. The curch is considered to have saint water that cures diseases and provides beauty. The world heritage of UNESCO.
Currently the Saint Lance is kept in the Museum of Echmiadzin.
Return to Yerevan.
Night stay at the hotel.
Day 5
Breakfast at the hotel.
A visit to the «Vernisaj» Fair, where you can acquire gifts, souvenirs, jeweles and other hand-made articles of wood, stone including semiprecious ones, silver and other materials.
Transfer to the airport.
Flight (evening flights).