14 Days Armenia Leisure Exploration

After your arrival at the airport, you will be transferred to the hotel in Yerevan and checked in. Yerevan is the capital of Armenia, its largest city and the administrative, cultural, and industrial center. Yerevan is often referred to as the city of contradictions where modernity is interweaving with antiquity. It is filled with a cozy atmosphere, there is no hustle and bustle and you will feel friendliness and hospitality. More interesting facts about Yerevan you will learn the next day during your guided city tour.

After having breakfast at the hotel, you will start your sightseeing tour around Yerevan. It is one of the oldest cities in the world founded in 782 BC. During the tour you will notice that almost all the buildings in the city have а pink tint, that’s because the national pink stone tuff is used in constructing. No wonder that Yerevan is called “the pink city”. Your tour will start from Cascade Monument that is a huge unique staircase 500 meters high and 50 meters wide. From the top of the monument opens a panoramic view of Yerevan. The tour will proceed to Matenadaran Museum - a repository of one of the richest manuscript collections in the world. You won’t also miss such famous sights as the Opera House, Republic Square, and Abovyan Avenue. After a while, you will have a short trip to Echmiadzin town – the religious centre of all Armenians around the world. Hereafter the adoption of Christianity in 301 AD – was built one of the first Christian cathedrals in the world – Echmiadzin Cathedral. It is the seat of the Supreme Patriarch of the Catholicos of all Armenians. The cathedral keeps an important religious relic – the Holy Lance spear. In 2000 Echmiadzin Cathedral was listed as a UNESCO site. You’ll see the ruins of Zvartnots temple (7th century, UNESCO World Heritage Site), that was a miracle of its time. Return to Yerevan and welcome dinner.

This day you will have a 1-hour drive to the Canyon of Azat River. Our destination is Geghard Monastery. This unique monastery is carved into nearby rocks and the surrounding cliffs compose a great part of it. In 2000 it became a UNESCO heritage site. The trip will proceed to Garni village well known for its Garni temple – the only surviving example of Hellenistic architecture in the region. This is the only Greco-Roman style temple with 24 ionic columns both in Armenia and on the territory of the former USSR. A disastrous 1679 earthquake destroyed the temple. It was reconstructed in 20th century. Here you will also have a master class on baking Armenia bread national bread lavash and then head to Genocide Memorial Complex – a solemn reminder of the first genocide of the 20th century.

The tour program of the 4th day includes a trip to the south of Armenia to Ararat Province. The area is famous for its unique architectural monument Khor Virap Monastery - a holy site for the Armenian Apostolic Church and the most revered place of pilgrimage. It was exactly here where began the Christian history of once pagan Armenia. First, in the place of the monastery there was an underground royal prison where Gregory the Illuminator suffered for 13 years for preaching Christianity in Armenia in the 3rd century. After his release Armenia was converted to Christianity and became one of the first official Christian countries in the world. Next, you will head to Areni village located in Vayots Dzor region. This region of Armenia is considered the center of winemaking and it has become famous for its unique grape sort Areni. In a local winery you will taste different types of wines. The tour will continue through a narrow canyon to the valley of red rocks to Noravank Monastery. The day will end in Jermuk, which is a mountain resort town famous for its hot mineral springs and scenic landscape.

After breakfast, you will start your day to Karahunj, which is a 7500-years-old observatory, a prehistoric site in Syunik Province. It is also called Armenian Stonehenge. The trip will continue to Tatev Monastery. In the 14th and 15th centuries, the monastery opened the doors for one of the vital medieval universities of Armenia “the University of Tatev”, which had a gigantic contribution to the development of science, religion and philosophy. Here you have chance to ride on the longest cable car in the world 5.7 km over the 320 meter-deep Vorotan River Canyon. You will stop at the natural bridge named “Devil’s Bridge” at the bottom of the deep canyon. Head to Khndzoresk - one of those places where people were able to dominate nature and take the best of it. Khndzoresk is famous for its antique cave dwellings used up to 1950s. From ancient times people lived in these rocky hills, constructing artificial shelters and places for food storage. After the tour, back to Jermuk town for an overnight.

You will start your day with a trip to the north of the country. Your destination is Gegharkunik Province with its segment of the Great Silk Road. First you will stop to admire the Selim Pass and to visit the 14th century Selim Caravansary – one of the most well-preserved hostels along the ancient Great Silk Road. In Noraduz you will visit Mikaelyan’s family farm where the unique Armenian cheese has been producing for several years by Mikaelyan's family. The company is specialized in the production of wine-cheese, cognac-cheese, and parmesan-type cheeses. After cheese tasting you will head to the gem of the region – Sevan Lake - one of the highest freshwater lakes in the world located at about 1900 meters above sea level.

After having breakfast at the hotel you will head to Sevanavank Monastery located on Sevan Peninsula. Here you will visit the remnants of the monastery that include two temples – Surb Arakelots and Surb Astvatsatsin standing among numerous khachkars. The buildings were constructed from black tuff which probably gave the monastery its name “Sevanavank – “the Black Monastery”. Today the two black temples of Sevan stand deserted like two guards of this ancient lake. The view from there is simply magnificent: the mountains surround lake from all sides and snow tops are seen almost on the entire perimeter and disappear behind the horizon. The trip will continue further north to Tavush Province. Here we have a stop at the cozy resort town of Dilijan known for its arts and crafts as well as picturesque lush nature and healing air. You will have an excursion to the medieval monasteries of Haghartsin and Goshavank. It is a 13th-century monastery located near the town of Dilijan. Goshavank is very impressive monastery which has remained in relatively good condition, it also houses one of the world’s finest examples of crossstones. After the excursion back to Dilijan for an overnight.

The day will start with a tour to Parz Lake. It is located in the Dilijan National Park and was formed by natural climatic changes. “Parz” in Armenian means clear. Near the lake you will find paddle boats rope courses and zip lines. The tour will proceed to the monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin, which have been both listed as UNESCO World heritage objects since 1996. The monastery was founded by Queen Khosrovanush probably in 976. The monastery Sanahin refers to the same time period. Both are typical examples of 10th-century Armenian architecture. The location of Haghpat Monastery was chosen so that it overlooks Debed River. The monastery has been damaged many times by numerous attacks of armed forces and by a major earthquake in 1988. Back to the village and enjoy the rest of the day.

In the morning you will enjoy your trip to Stepanavan Dendropark – Armenia’s first botanical garden. 15 hectares of its territory are planted with exotic trees and the rest 20 hectares are covered by natural wild forest. The tour will proceed to Harichavank, which is a 7th-century monastery near the village of Harich. It is known as one of the most famous monastic centers with its school and scriptorium. The day will end in Gyumri - the second largest city in Armenia.

After having breakfast, start a city tour around Gyumri. People also entitled it as a “city of crafts and arts”, since it is home to many remarkable museums of Armenia. It also hosts the House Museum of Mher Mkrtchyan, which you will be visiting during the tour. Mher Mkrtchyan was a famous Armenian stage and film actor. The tour will proceed to Dzitoghtsyan Museum of Social Life and National Architecture. It is an old mansion, housing collections of history and the everyday life of Gyumri, as well as different paintings and other works of art. You won't also miss an old historical part of Gyumri called Kumayri famous with unique architecture. It has more than a thousand buildings dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries. After the excursion, you will have some free time to discover the city on your own.

A short morning drive will take you to Saghmosavank. It is a Greek-cross style monastery of the 13th century, which played an important role in the religious, academic and cultural development of medieval Armenia. Head to Karmravour – the most well-known historical site of Ashtarak constructed in the 7th century from large square stone blocks. A small cross-shaped church has a porch facade. The legend says that the name of the church symbolizes dress colors of three sisters who committed suicide after falling in love with one man. Your next stop will be at the monument of the Armenian Alphabet founded in 2005 to celebrate the 1600th anniversary of the alphabet foundation. Drive to Amberd – rare historical site that survived and reached us in a good condition from the 7th century. Some say that it was built in the 11-13th centuries, attributing it to the near located church. Amberd means ‘fortress in the clouds’; the name is due to its location 2300 meters above sea level. At the end of the day, you will reach to Yerevan and have overnight there.

This day you will visit important historical sights of Yerevan. The tour will start with the History Museum of Armenia – the main historical museum of the country known for its archaeological, numismatic, and ethnographic collections. After you will visit Megeryan Carpet showroom, which is the private, family-run exhibition space offering high-quality Armenian rugs and carpets. You will get a chance to see weavers working on their patters and learn about the history of the trade. Later you will head to Ararat Brandy Company to try legendary Armenian cognac. In Armenia, the cognac making tradition goes back to the 19th century. Ararat trademark of Yerevan Brandy Company is well known over the world. The last tour destination will be Gum Market. The front section of the Gum Market is devoted to dried and candied fruits, nuts, spices and sujukh. The traders are quite passionate about their product and try to do their best to get your attention with a never-ending stream of free samples.

A free day will let you enjoy some time in Yerevan visiting souvenir shops, outdoor cafes or some fine jazz clubs at one’s liberty. If this day of leisure falls on a weekend, you will have a chance to visit Vernissage, an art and craft market offering both souvenirs and a showcase of local Armenian craftsmanship for purchase or perusal.

Transfer to the airport, departure.