September 7th
Departure from LA to Paris
September 8th
Departure from Paris to Yerevan
Day One
September 8th
Arrive in
Yerevan Zvartnots Airport
Transfer to Hotel in Yerevan
Check into the Hotel
Overnight in Yerevan
Day Two September 9th
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 Three September 10th
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 September 11th
Breakfast at
the Hotel
The Tsaghkadzor (“Valley of flowers”)
mountain resort is located on the eastern slope of the Teghenis mountain, 52 km
north of Yerevan. There is a ski lift, operating in season, which leads to the
top of the Teghenis mountain. Tsaghkadzor is a small resort town. It is famous
for its sports complex, equipped with various sports facilities.
You will also visit the town’s Kecharis monastery,
a religious and cultural center of medieval Armenia built in the 11th to 13th
centuries, and comprised of three chapels. The domed hall of St. Gregory, the
ensemble’s most ancient structure dates back to 1003. The other structure is a
small chapel of St. Cross and next to it stands the church of Katoghike – a 13th
century building.
Overnight in Yerevan
Day Five September 12th
Breakfast at
the Hotel
Free Day
Overnight in Yerevan
Day
Six September 13th
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 Seven
September 14th
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 R. of Armenia in 1918.
Here you will visit the
largest ethnographic museum in Armenia, rich with artifacts and memorabilia.
Overnight in Yerevan
Day Eight September 15th
Breakfast at the Hotel
Free Day
Overnight in Yerevan
Day Nine
September 16th
Breakfast at the hotel
Check out of the Hotel in Yerevan
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 at Mirhav hotel
Day Ten
September 17th
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 into
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
Eleven September 18th
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 Twelve Septeber 19th
Breakfast at the hotel.
Check out from the hotel
On the way back visit to:
Jermuk
Lunch
in Jermuk
Overnight in Yerevan
Day
Thirteen September 20th
Breakfast at the Hotel
Free Day
Farewell Dinner at a restaurant
Overnight in Yerevan
Day
Fourteen September 21st
Breakfast at the Hotel
Transfer to Airport
Departure
Bon Voyage!
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