Day 1: Arrival

Arrival at ZvartnotsInternational Airport. Our tourist guide will welcome you at the airport. Transfer to the hotel in Yerevan.

Overnight in Yerevan

Day 2: Yerevan City tour

Drive through the central streets of Yerevan: Republic Square, Opera House, “Cascade” Monument and Stairs, "Mother Armenia" Monument with a breathtaking 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 Matenadaran, a unique Research Institute of Ancient Manuscripts and a Museum, the largest center of study and safekeeping of Armenian manuscripts in the world. Lunch in a traditional Armenian restaurant, where you’ll enjoy the best dishes of the rich Armenian cuisine.

Overnight in Yerevan

Day 3: Echmiadzin

Leave for Echmiadzin town, the Holy See of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Visit St. Hripsime Church built in the 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. On the way back to Yerevan visit the Ruins of Zvartnots Cathedral. Zvartnots, built as Armenia's main cathedral in 641-661A.D. was to suppress the Echmiadzin Cathedral by its grandeur. The remnants of Zvartnots, even in ruins, are a majestic sight. The Ruins of Zvartnots are listed among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Lunch in a traditional Armenian restaurant. Free time at the Vernissage market, the largest opened-air market of arts and crafts in the Caucasus.

Overnight in Yerevan

Day 4: Garni Temple - Geghard Monastery

Tour 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 77 A.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.

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 in an Armenian peasant house in Garni village. Thereafter we visit "Noy" Wine-Vodka-Brandy factory. Built in 1877 and made famous by the entrepreneur Nikolay Shustov prior to the Russian October Revolution, the factory not only produces premium cognac, but also has an unrivaled wine cellar, complete with wines that are ca. 100years old. Our degustation will include their best cognac and one kind of the oldest wines from 1944.

Overnight in Yerevan

Day 5: Khor Virap - Noravank - Karahunj - Goris

Visit Khor Virap  Monastery. To this day you can visit the underground chamber where St. Gregory the Illuminator, the first Armenia’s Patriarch, 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. Its location, near the closest point to Mount Ararat within Armenian borders, offers a spectacular view of the mountain, the national symbol of Armenia. Proceed to Noravank Monastery (13-14th centuries), an architectural gemstone nestled among brick-red cliffs, just above a deep gorge.
Lunch in a lovely restaurant. Near the town of Sisian visit Karahunj-Armenia’s Stonehenge. This stone circle, now shown to be a prehistoric observatory, long predates Stonehenge in England. Ancient inscriptions found here may mark the birthplace of the Zodiac – and of Western Civilization itself. Possibly it was the world's first astronomical observatory founded 7500 years ago. Its history is really very impressive.

Continue to Goris town which is in a deep gorge having houses with red roofs. It’s a town of orchards having a rather interesting architecture of civil structures.
Overnight in Goris

Day 6: Goris - Khndzoresk - Tatev - Jermuk
In the morning we explore Goris, one of the most beautiful towns in Armenia. It’s a town in orchards where the houses have the same unique architecture with red tile roofs. The town is beautifully planned by a German architect in the 19th century. Drive to  Old Khndzoresk abandoned  cave town frozen in time with thousands of caves, where people were living until the beginning of the 20th century. 

Later we visit the miraculous monastery of Tatev riding the world’s longest aerial tramway (5.7 km) built by the Swiss in 2010. Tatev is a formidable monastic complex founded in the 9th century. It’s the biggest monastery in Armenia. It's located on a rocky peninsula more than 100 meters above the Vorotan River. According to tradition the relics of the Apostles, Sts. Peter and Paul, were placed under the dome's supporting pillars. 

Drive to Jermuk Spa town, famous for its hot spring mineral water. 
Overnight in Jermuk

Day 7: Jermuk - Orbelian's Caravanserai - Noratus - Lake Sevan

Driving through Vardenyats Mountain Pass famous for its fascinating colorful mountains we reach the Orbelian Caravanserai on the Great Silk Road at the highest point of the pass (2410 m). Here little has changed since the fourteenth century. The Caravanserai offered hospitality to travelers along the highway crossing the Selim mountains. 

Visit the Stone Garden - Noratus, the largest field of Armenian exquisite cross-stones in the world. Proceed to Lake Sevan National Park. We drive to the Lake Sevan, the world’s second largest highest lake at 1900 m above sea level and the most beautiful lake of Armenia taking up 4% of the territory of Armenia. Marvel at stunning turquoise waters of the Lake Sevan and dramatic mountain scenery after climbing up the peninsula hill where we visit the 9th century Sevanavank Monastery (optional, over 240 steps to get there). 
Overnight in Sevan

 

Day 8: Sevan - Dilijan - Haghartsin - Goshavank - Dzoraget

After breakfast drive to Dilijan, a resort town in the north of Armenia. Words alone can't describe the natural beauty of Dilijan. Many poets used to say, "If there are woods, mountains, streams and mineral waters in paradise, it must be like Dilijan." As a climatic balneal health centre of medium- mountain zone, Dilijan is characterized by mild, moderate warm summer, sunny warm winter and dry warm weather during the whole year. Due to its forested mountains and mild climate, Dilijan is named "Armenia's little Switzerland."
You'll see the most beautiful part of the town, Old Dilijan. Visit Haghartsin monastery, a fairy-tale nestled in the middle of the forest. The next route will lead to Goshavank, which was founded by famous Armenian cleric and law – codifier, Mkhitar Gosh, in 12-13th centuries. Drive to Lori region.
Overnight in Dzoraget

Day 9: Dzoraget - Haghpat - Sanahin - Gyumri

Today we visit the Monastery of Haghpat (UNESCO), an exceptional example of Armenian ecclesiastical architecture that developed in Armenia in the 10th to 13th centuries which is unique by virtue of its blending of elements of Armenian Church architecture and the traditional vernacular building style of the region. Later we drive to Sanahin Monastery (UNESCO) (7 KM), an important medieval education and spiritual center which was famous for its school of illuminators and calligraphers. Proceed to Gyumri, the 2nd largest city in Armenia.

Overnight in Gyumri

Day 10: Gyumri City tour

Welcome to Gyumri, a vivid town with a distinct urban fabric and friendly locals, famous for their indelible sense of humor! We'll take a stroll in Kumayri Reserve with over 1000 old houses dating back to the 18-19th centuries. The old buildings have their funny nicknames and there are many stories connected with them. Tour of the museum of National Architecture and Urban Life or instead tour of Shiraz House Museum. Drive to Yerevan.

Overnight in Yerevan

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Day 11: Amberd Castle - Saghmosavank

Drive towards Mount Aragats (4090m), the highest peak of Armenia and Trans-Caucasus. Visit Amberd Castle ("castle in the cloud"), a fitting name given to it because of its elevation at 2300m. Breathtaking views of the castle and its citadel, snow covered peaks of Aragats, sun scorched grasslands dressed in wild flowers combine to provide an unforgettable experience this morning. On the way we can stop to take a photo of high-mountain camps of friendly Yezidi people who tend their sheep under the towering peaks of Aragats. Photo stop at "Armenian Letters" park. Visit Saghmosavak ("Psalm Monastery") perched on the edge of Kasakh Canyon.

Overnight in Yerevan

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Day 12: Departure

Transfer to airport. Departure.