Food & Wine – Gastronomic Tour to Armenia

The tour will begin with a city tour around Yerevan – the ancient city which is 29 years older than the Eternal City of Rome. Nowadays Yerevan is a lively and charming city with green parks, pink buildings, cheerful and hospitable people. From the observation platform of the Victory Park, you will admire the whole city from a bird’s eye view. The walk will continue to the Cascade – this unique construction is a museum of modern art, as well as a favorite place of Yerevan residents. Further, you will walk along the main street of the city, see the Opera and Ballet Theater and several central streets of Yerevan. In the evening, you will have a welcome dinner and a wine tasting at the wine restaurant.

In the morning you will head to Saghmosavank Monastery located atop the yawning gorge carved by the Kasakh River. Amazing view of the canyon will open in front of you once you reach the monastery. You will continue uphill to the Amberd fortress proudly standing on the foot of Mount Aragats (2300 meters above sea). Amberd was once the patrimony of Pahlavuni princes and was a strategically important stronghold of the Armenian kings of Bagratuni. The lunch will be organized in the yard of the local resident house. A bit later you will head to the real wine castle. It is Voskevaz Winery the name of which is translated as “a golden bunch”. Here you will have a wonderful tour around the old winery. You will get acquainted with all the stages of wine fermentation and taste the wines that received the gold and silver medals at MUNDUS VINI exhibition held in Germany.

After breakfast at the hotel, you will head to the picturesque Azat River Canyon, where Geghard Cave Monastery is located. You will continue your trip to Garni Pagan Temple of the 1st century AD, the only preserved sample of Hellenistic architecture in the Caucasus region. The surrounding landscape with deep Azat River Gorge and Geghama Mountain Range gives a distinct charm to the temple. Your lunch will be served outdoors, accompanied by traditional bread baking demonstration in tonir (oven in the ground). Hot, newly baked lavash with cheese and fresh greens smells fantastic and is worth tasting. You will continue to Yerevan to taste some excellent cognacs in ArArAt Brandy Company. In Armenia, the cognac making tradition goes back to the 19th century. ArArAt trademark of Yerevan Brandy Company is well known over the world.

After breakfast, you will head to the south to Khor Virap Monastery which offers the best view of Mount Ararat. In clear days Biblical Ararat seems so close as if on the hand reach. You will continue your trip to the second largest winemaking areas of Armenia, Arpa River Valley. This region is well known for its endemic sort of grape Areni, the red wine made of this grape. In Areni caves the archaeologists found the oldest winemaking facilities in the world. The next stop will be at Noravank Monastery – another gem of the Armenian architecture which stands amidst the red rock valley. Then you will go to Yeghegnadzor town to meet winemaker Arman. He will treat you to local wines and vodka. After lunch, you will head to a cozy rural hotel in the village of Hermon, located in the valley of incomparable beauty. During the dinner, the hospitable hosts will share the most valuable skills of cooking Armenian barbeque. The appetizing aroma of barbeque prepared by your own hands – what can sound more tempting? The hotel has all the conveniences for a cozy evening rest.

This day you will have a very scenic journey along the section of the Great Silk Road. Here you will have an opportunity to see one of the well-preserved caravanserais where merchants and travelers stayed for an overnight during their journey. In a few kilometers, you will reach azure Lake Sevan. It is one of the highest and largest freshwater lakes in the world, located at about 1900 meters above the sea level. Have you ever tried cheese aged in wine? If not, you will have such an opportunity as we will organize a meeting with an interesting person who prepares such dainties with great success. A little later you will spend some pleasant time at Lake Sevan and then continue your tour to Tsakhkunq village. Here the chef cooker Yuri will surprise you with dishes made according to old recipes, as well as conduct a master class for you.

Armenian winery - Echmiadzin Cathedral In the morning you will have a trip to Echmiadzin town – the religious center of all Armenians. First, you will visit the church of St. Hripsime (7th century), which is one of the most beautiful Armenian churches of the early Middle Ages. It was built on the place of the death of one of the Christian virgins who fled to Armenia from Rome. The main sight of the town is Echmiadzin Cathedral which is considered one of the first Christian cathedrals in the world. It is included in the UNESCO heritage list. Lunch will be served in a unique art center, where the owners will share with you their secrets of Armenian traditional sweet cake preparation.

This day we advise you to visit the food market famous for its fresh fruits, beautifully decorated dried fruits, delicious pickled vegetables and spices.

Transfer to the airport, departure.