Circular tour - 10 days

Program

Day 1: Yerevan

• Arrival at Zvartnots International Airport.
• Meeting at the airport and transfer to the hotel in Yerevan.
• Check-in and time to rest.
• In the afternoon, guided sightseeing tour of Yerevan, with a walk through the city center and an introduction to the history, architecture and atmosphere of the Armenian capital.
• In the evening, welcome dinner with Armenian cuisine.
• Overnight in Yerevan.

Day 2: Garni – Geghard – Yerevan

• After breakfast, departure from Yerevan to Garni Temple, Armenia’s best-preserved monument from the pre-Christian period.
• Descend into the Azat River Gorge to see the Symphony of Stones, an impressive natural formation of basalt columns.
• Lunch at a local restaurant or family-run venue, accompanied by a demonstration of traditional Armenian lavash making in a tonir.
• Continue to Geghard Monastery, a medieval monastic complex surrounded by mountain cliffs, with part of its churches and chambers carved directly into the rock.
• On the way back to Yerevan, stop at the picturesque Azat Reservoir.
• Return to Yerevan.
• Overnight in Yerevan.

Day 3: Khor Virap – Noravank – Areni – Karahunj – Goris

• After breakfast, departure from Yerevan towards Khor Virap Monastery, one of Armenia’s most important pilgrimage sites. The monastery is closely associated with Gregory the Illuminator and the adoption of Christianity in Armenia. On a clear day, it offers one of the country’s most famous views of Mount Ararat.
• Continue through the landscapes of Vayots Dzor to Noravank Monastery, dramatically surrounded by towering red cliffs.
• Visit Areni-1 Cave, an important archaeological site where evidence of some of the world’s earliest known winemaking was discovered.
• Depending on the selected rate, visit a local winery for wine tasting and lunch.
• Continue south towards Goris, with a stop at Karahunj (Zorats Karer), one of Armenia’s most intriguing prehistoric archaeological sites.
• Arrival in Goris in the evening.
• Overnight in Goris.

Day 4: Khndzoresk – Tatev – Yeghegis

• Breakfast
• Departure for Old Khndzoresk, known for its historic cave settlement and dramatic gorge.
• Walk across the suspension bridge and explore the unusual landscape, where caves were used as homes until the 20th century.
• Continue towards Tatev, crossing the spectacular Vorotan Gorge on the famous Wings of Tatev cable car.
• Visit Tatev Monastery, dramatically located on the edge of the gorge and once an important spiritual, cultural and educational center of medieval Armenia.
• After lunch, continue north with a stop at Shaki Waterfall, surrounded by the mountain landscapes of southern Armenia.
• The road then leads through Vayots Dzor to the historic village of Yeghegis.
• Dinner and overnight in Yeghegis.

Day 5: Sevan – Dilijan – Haghartsin

• After breakfast, departure towards Lake Sevan along a scenic mountain road.
• On the way, visit a family-run cheese farm, with an introduction to local cheesemaking traditions and a tasting of Armenian cheeses.
• Continue to Noratus, home to Armenia’s largest historic collection of khachkars — traditional Armenian cross-stones.
• Arrival at Lake Sevan and visit to Sevanavank Monastery, set on a peninsula overlooking the lake and surrounding mountains.
• With good weather conditions, a boat ride on Lake Sevan is also included for groups of 4 or more.
• After lunch, continue to Dilijan, surrounded by the forests of Dilijan National Park.
• Walk through the historic part of the town before continuing through the forested mountains to Haghartsin Monastery, beautifully set among the woods.
• Dinner and overnight in Dilijan.

Day 6: Dilijan – Sanahin – Haghpat

• After breakfast, departure from Dilijan towards Lori, one of Armenia’s greenest and most mountainous regions.
• Travel through the Debed Gorge to Sanahin Monastery, an important medieval religious, cultural and educational center.
• Continue to Haghpat Monastery, located on a plateau overlooking the gorge and surrounding mountains.
• The road through Lori reveals a different Armenia — green mountains, deep valleys, small towns and medieval architecture far removed from the dry landscapes of the south.
• Lunch in the region.
• Overnight in Haghpat.

Day 7:  Gyumri 

• After breakfast, departure for Gyumri, Armenia’s second-largest city and one of the most distinctive stops on the journey.
• Explore the historic center of Gyumri, with its old streets, 19th-century buildings and characteristic black and red volcanic tuff architecture.
• Visit the Black Fortress, one of the city’s best-known landmarks.
• Lunch in Gyumri and time to enjoy a city famous throughout Armenia for its traditions, craftsmanship and sense of humor.
• Overnight in Gyumri.

Day 8: Saghmosavank – Amberd – Aragats

• After breakfast, departure from Gyumri towards Mount Aragats, the highest mountain in Armenia.
• Visit Saghmosavank Monastery, dramatically located above the deep Kasagh Gorge.
• Continue to the Armenian Alphabet Monument, dedicated to the Armenian script created in the early 5th century.
• The road then climbs towards Amberd Fortress, a medieval fortress standing high on the slopes of Mount Aragats.
• Weather and road conditions permitting, continue higher into the mountains to Lake Kari, located at approximately 3,200 meters above sea level.
• After lunch, depending on the selected rate, visit a winery in the Aragatsotn region for a guided tasting and an introduction to local winemaking.
• Return to Yerevan in the evening.
• Overnight in Yerevan.

Day 9: Yerevan

• After several days travelling through the regions, the day is dedicated to enjoying Yerevan at a more relaxed pace.
• Visit the Matenadaran, home to an extraordinary collection of ancient Armenian manuscripts and historical documents.
• Continue to Megerian Carpet, where traditional Armenian carpet-making techniques and designs can be discovered.
• Lunch in Yerevan.
• Depending on the selected rate, visit the Ararat Brandy Factory for a guided tour and tasting.
• Free time in the afternoon and evening to enjoy the cafés, restaurants and streets of central Yerevan.
• Overnight in Yerevan.

Day 10: Echmiadzin – Zvartnots

• After breakfast, departure for Echmiadzin, the spiritual center of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
• Visit Etchmiadzin Cathedral, as well as the ancient churches of Saint Hripsime and Saint Gayane.
• Continue to Zvartnots, where the impressive ruins of the 7th-century cathedral stand against the landscape of the Ararat Valley.
• Transfer to Zvartnots International Airport for departure.

Price for person:

Depending on the exchange rate, the cost of the tour in USD may vary. The price is indicated at the exchange rate as of 20.11.2024. courses: 1 USD = 385 AMD

ECONOMY RATE — lunches and wineries on days 3 and 8 are not included, hotel in Goris — Goris hotel, Khoreai dzor, hotel in Dilijan — Toon Armeni, hotel in Gyumri — Gyumri hotel
STANDARD RATE — lunches and tasting at Momik wines or Stepanyan’s garden winery on day 3 are included, hotel in Goris — Goris hotel, Khoreai dzor, hotel in Dilijan — Toon Armeni, hotel in Gyumri — Gyumri hotel
PREMIUM RATE — lunches and tasting at Old Bridge winery on day 3 are included, excursion with tasting at the winery on day 8, as well as an excursion with tasting at the Ararat Brandy Factory, hotel in Goris — Mirhav, hotel in Dilijan — Dilijan resort, hotel in Gyumri — Villa Kars

Single room supplement  — 103 000 AMD /270$ 

The tour price includes:

• Meeting and transfers Airport – Hotel – Airport
• Comfortable transport with a driver for the entire route
• Accommodation in a 3* hotel with double occupancy
• Guide services
• Entrance fees to specified museums and cultural centers including the cable car in Tatev
• Welcome dinner
• Breakfast at the hotel
• Nine Lunches (Standard and Premium rates)
• Winery visit and wine tasting on Day 3 (Standard and Premium Rates)
• Winery visit and wine tasting on Day 8 (Premium Rate)
• Cheese farm visit and tasting on Day 5 (Standard and Premium Rates)
• Excursion to the cheese factory with tasting (Standard and Premium rates)
• Ararat Brandy Factory tour and tasting (Premium Rate)
• Boat trip on Lake Sevan (for groups of 4 people or more)

The tour price does not include:

• Flight to Yerevan and back
• Other dinners
• Additional alcohol outside the program.
• Medical insurance  recommended 
• Personal expenses