May 30th
Departure from LA to Paris
May 31st
Departure from Paris to Yerevan
Day One May 31st
Arrive in
Yerevan Zvartnots Airport
Transfer to Hotel in Yerevan
Check into the Hotel
Overnight in Yerevan
Day Two June 1st
Breakfast at the Hotel
    
Edjmiatsin Monastery- Visit the Edjmiatsin
Cathedral, the most ancient Christian temple in Armenia, and the Holy See and
official residence of the Catholicos of all Armenians. According to tradition,
St. Gregory, the Illuminator, saw a vision of the “Only Begotten” descend from
heaven and show the spot where the church should be erected. In 303 A.D., two
years after Christianity was declared the state Religion, the Mother Church of
the Holy See was completed. It was rebuilt in the 480s. Through the centuries
there have been construction and additions. The main dome was rebuilt in 1627.
The interior murals were painted by Nagash Ovnatan in 1720. The church is
surrounded by gardens, where you will see examples of “khachkars” or stone
crosses.
St.Gayane and St. Hripsime Churches - The St.
Gayane church is built in the City of Edjmiatsin, a short walk from the
Cathedral. Built in 630 (according to a chronicle) they are the two oldest
churches in Armenia. St. Hripsime is a beautiful example of Armenian
architecture of the classical period.
Zvartnots - Visit the magnificent ruins of
the Cathedral of Zvartnots, built in the 7th century by Catholicos
Nerses III. Here once stood a mighty three-tiered circular structure
with a glorious central dome. The Cathedral was decorated with sculptured
floral and geometric patterns and decorative pillars and arches, the ruins and
remnants of which can be seen on the grounds. Zvartnots is considered to be
the masterpiece of Armenian Church architecture.
Visit Sardarabad - Pay tribute to the heroes
of the Battle of Sardarabad! The Sardarabad Memorial and Museum ensemble was
built in 1968 to mark the victory over Turkey in the Battle of Sardarabad in
1918, which led to the first independent Republic of Armenia in 1918.
Here you will visit the largest ethnographic museum
in Armenia, rich with artifacts and memorabilia.
Overnight in Yerevan
Day Three June 2nd
Breakfast at the Hotel
Garni -The only pagan temple existent in
Armenia, the 2nd century pagan temple of Garni was reconstructed from ruins.
This pre-Christian structure, with its classical Hellenist lines, is situated in
a picturesque mountain locale, offering a breathtaking panorama of the valley
below. The structure of the temple with its columns and dimensions was created
to please the gods and protect the people from their wrath. Garni temple was
destroyed by an earthquake in 1679 and rebuilt during the Soviet era. The ruins
include a bathhouse, where you can see remnants of beautiful mosaic work.
Geghard -This ancient monastery was carved
out of solid rock. In ancient times this monastery was known as "the monastery
of the seven churches", "the monastery of the forty altars" or Ayrivank (the
monastery of the cave), confirming the presence of ancient caves dug into the
rock. Geghartavank is the monastery of the spear. This last name derives from
the relics, for many years conserved in the monastery and now in Edjmiatsin’s
museum, of the spear that was said to have wounded the chest of Christ on the
cross. The exact date of Geghard’s foundation is not known, but according to the
inscriptions found locally dating from the 7th and 8th centuries, it is likely
that it dates back to the early times when Christianity was recognized and
declared the official state religion. The main church dates back to 1215. Inside
the church’s interior exists a natural spring, anciently worshipped and today
carefully preserved. A visit to Geghard is truly a spiritual experience.
Overnight in Yerevan
Day
Four June 3rd
Breakfast at the
Hotel
Yerevan City Tour -Tour the sights and sounds
of one of the most ancient and fabulous cities of the world, where the earliest
recorded settlement dates back to 782 B.C. Your tour of the capitol city of the
Republic of Armenia will include visits to:
Also visit the Erebouni Museum and the ruins, with
its hundreds of artifacts from Erebouni, Karmir Blur and Armavir, the three
principal Urartian cities in the Ararat valley. This small two-story museum is
located on the western slope of the Erebouni elevation where hundreds of
artifacts were dug out during the excavations in 1950. You will also visit the
ruins of Erebouni.
Matenadaran - The Research Institute of
Armenia which houses beautiful illuminated manuscripts created by scribes
centuries ago. The Matenadaran is named after Mesrob Mashtots, founder of the
Armenian alphabet. Over ten thousand manuscripts detailing history, philosophy,
medicine, and geography written in Armenian, Greek, Arabic, and other languages
are preserved here.
Tsitsernagaberd Monument and Museum - This
monument commemorates the 1915 Genocide. It was built around 1965. The monument
and its eternal flame are pilgrimage sites for Armenians all around the world.
Overnight in Yerevan
Day
Five June 4th
Breakfast at the
Hotel
Free Day
Overnight in Yerevan
Day Six June 5th
Breakfast at the
Hotel
Khor Virab -
The site where St. Gregory the
Illuminator was imprisoned by an Armenian king for preaching Christianity. You
can climb down into the dark pit on foot and upon climbing back up treat
yourself to the most spectacular view of the glorious Mt. Ararat. Enjoy one of
the most breathtakingly scenic areas in all Armenia and sample some fine
Armenian wine along the way.
Visit the monastery of Noravank, a 13th
century structure with beautiful stone crosses. This monastery is considered to
be the pulpit of Suinik bishops. The main church of St. Karapet was built in
1227. the relieves on the entrance tympanum and the windows on the western
façade are interesting from an architectural point of view. The focus of the
southern section is the two-storied church of Prince Orbelian, completed by
Momik (great sculptor) in 1339. Two console stairs on both sides of the entrance
take you inside the church.
Continue the tour to the Areni Winery and
taste the bounty of Armenia’s sun kissed grapes. Along the way you would be
greeted by hospitable villagers under the apricot trees (in season).
Lunch on
the road
Stonehenge
Also known as Karahunj, Angelakoth, and
just Zorakar, the ancient monument of Zorakarer is an equivalent to England's
Stonehenge, only older and cruder.
a Bronze Age
settlement/cemetery site left of the road, around whose large chamber tombs are
a series of standing stones, some with holes pierced in them. It is universally
assumed that this is an early observatory, though the alignment is not ideal for
the purpose. In any case, the site is beautiful and ancient, well worth the
visit
Overnight in Goris in Mirhav Hotel
Day
Seven June 6th
Breakfast at the
Hotel
Visit the
majestic Tatev monastery, a former center for the sciences and arts,
where many famous Armenians lived and worked centuries ago. The Tatev complex
consists of three churches, a refectory, a library, a vault, and several
residences Magnificent canyons surround the monastery.
Check in to Shushi hotel
Lunch
Shoushi City Tour
The
Ghazanchetsots Church (19th century)
Tank (1993)
Shoushi liberation monument
The Muslim
Mosque (19th century)
The Djdrdjuz
(Panoramic view of mountains and spectacular nature)
Overnight in Karabagh
Day Eight June 7th
Breakfast at
the Hotel
The panoramic
view of Karin tak village (under stone)
Stepanakert city tour
The
Historical museum of Artsakh
The memorial
Monument to the killed soldiers of Karabagh
Revival
Square
The Tombstone
of the first president of Karabagh (Arthur Mkrtchian)
The monument
of the legendary freedom fighter Ashot Ghulian
Gandzasar
monastery
Lunch.
The symbol of
Artsakh “ Tatik Papik” statue
Overnight in Karabagh
Day Nine June 8th
Breakfast at the Hotel
Check out from the hotel
On the way back visit to:
Jermuk
Lunch
Overnight in Yerevan
Day Ten June 9th
Breakfast at
the Hotel
Free Day
Overnight in Yerevan.
Day Eleven June 10th
Breakfast at the
Hotel
No trip to
Armenia is ever complete without a visit to Lake Sevan, one of the
largest of the highest lakes in Eurasia at about 1,900 meters above sea level.
At Lake Sevan you will visit these monasteries, then take a serene stroll on the
beach and a boat ride, in season. By then, you will have worked an appetite and
will be ready to taste the most delicious trout, fresh from the lake.
Dilijan -
Located in the northern part of Armenia, this region is famous for its forests
and health resorts, its spectacular scenery and cultural centers. You will drive
through a plush forest to reach the Haghartsin Monastery, an 11th-13th
century church situated deep in the woods, about 18 km from the town of Dilijan.
Overnight
in Yerevan
Day
Twelve June 11th
Breakfast at the
Hotel
Free Day
Farewell
Dinner at a restaurant
Overnight
in Yerevan
Day Thirteen June 12th
Breakfast
at the Hotel
Transfer to Airport
Departure
Bon Voyage!
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