Pilgrim tour - 10 days

Program

Day 1: Yerevan

• Arrival in Yerevan
• Meeting at the airport
• Hotel accommodation
• City tour in Yerevan
• Welcoming dinner
• Free time

Day 2: Garni – Geghard – Echmiatsin – Zvartnots

• Driving to the monastery Geghard, a unique architectural building, which is partially craved out of a rock. The name of the monastery came from a spear which was used to pierce Christ’s side. And so, as historical sources say, the spear was brought to Armenia by the Apostle Thaddeus, with many other relics.
• Then we will drive to Garni, the only temple from the period of paganism and Hellenism
• Then we will have lunch where you’ll participate in baking of Armenian traditional bread, intangible cultural heritage – “lavash“
• After lunch we will drive to the religious center of Armenia, Etchmiatsin where we will visit the Cathedral, residency of the Catholicos, as well as churches of st. Gayane and st. Hripsime
• On the way back to Yerevan we will stop near Zvartnots Cathedral
• Dinner

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

• Drive to Khor Virap, which is located in the foothills of the mount Ararat. Khor Virap is known as a jail, where Grigor the Illuminator, the first Catolicos of all Armenians spend 13 years of his life.

• Then we will continue our tour to Noravank, a wonderful monastery, surrounded by red vertical cliffs
• After we will visit village Areni, which is the viticultural center of Armenia, where we will have lunch at local people’s place

• Then we will visit a cave, which is around 6,000 year old. During an expedition there have been found old anforas and a shoe

• We will visit a winery and have a wine tasting
• After that we will drive to the on of the most green city of Armenia, Goris. On the way to Goris we will stop near Zorats Karer (Carahunge) which is also called Armenian Stonehenge
• Will arrive to Goris in the evening

Day 4: Khndzoresk – Tatev –  Yerevan

• After having tasty breakfast we will drive to the old village Khndzoresk, will pass through the bridge which connects two sides of the gorge, will visit old caves, where people were living hundred years ago
• Then we will continue our road to magical Tatev monastery
• We will get there on the longest aerial tramway in the world, located above Vorotan gorge, having around 320m height
• Then we will have a tour around Tatev monastery, where you will feel the spirit of these places and we will move forward to discover other places
• Then we will have lunch and return to Yerevan

Day 5: Dilijan – Haghartsin – Goshavank

• We will drive to well-known resort Dilijan

• After having a walk through the city, where will pass through the reserved beech forest to a beautiful monastic complex, Haghartsin, XI-XIII centuries.
  It is a pearl of the canyon, one of the most mysterious places in Armenia, drowning in the greenery of mountain forests.

• Lunch in a guest house

• Then we will have an excursion to monastic complex Goshavank, where you will see a fabulous khachkar, which we can say is probably the most beautiful in Armenia
• We will stay in Dilijan for the night

Day 6: Dilijan – Akhtala – Haghpat

• Breakfast
• Then we will drive to Lori. Our first stop will be the monastery Akhtala, known for its ancient frescos.
• Lunch
• After lunch we will continue our road to the village Haghpat, to one of the wonderful architectural buildings of Armenia – Haghpat monastery. You will fall in love with this fairy place.
• We will stay in Haghpat for the night

Day 7: Haghpat – Sanahin – Odzun – Dilijan

• Breakfast

• We will drive to the birthplace of brothers Mikoyan, Sanahin. Sanahin monastery is very similar to Haghpat monastery
• After we will continue our acquaintance with wonderful Lori, visit Odzun, which is known for its beautiful khachkars
• We will return to Dilijan in the evening

Day 8: Dilijan – Sevan – Noratus – Yerevan

• After having breakfast we will drive to Sevan, which is the largest mountain lake in the world. Here we will admire the emerald waters of Sevan, get acquainted with the monastery situated on the peninsula and try delicious trout.
• Then we will visit Noratus, where we will see cemetery with more than 900 unique khachkars

• Driving back to Yerevan

• Walking through evening Yerevan

• Dinner

Day 9: Hovhanavank – Saghmosavank – Amberd – Oshakan

• After having breakfast we will take a trip to the direction of the mount Aragats, highest mountain in the territory of Armenia
• During the first stop, we will visit monasteries Hovhanavank and Saghmosavank monasteries, both are located on the edge of Kasakh canyon
• Then we will stop near the monument of Armenian alphabet
• After will drive to the slope of the mount Aragats, where is located a fortress of VII century, Amberd
• Tradidional delicious lunch
• On the way back to Yerevan we will have a stop in the village Oshakan. Oshakan is the birthplace of Mesrop Mashtots, who created Armenian alphabet
• Will return back to Yerevan in the evening

Day 10: Yerevan

• Breakfast

• We will spend this day in Yerevan

• Will visit manuscript museum Matenadaran and Yerevan Brandy Company

• Lunch and transfer to the airport

 Tour Price:

The tour price includes:

• Accommodation in a 3* hotel with double occupancy
• Meeting and transfers Airport-Hotel-Airport
• Comfortable transport
• Guide services
• Entrance tickets to the indicated museums and cultural centers, including the cable car in Tatev
• Breakfast at the hotel
• Welcome Dinner
• Lunches
• Four dinners
• Master class on baking lavash
• Wine testing

The tour price does not include:

• Flight to Yerevan and back
• Other dinners
• Additional alcohol outside the program
• Excursion to the Yerevan Brandy Factory – 20$
• Insurance – recomended