August 10th
Departure from LA to Paris
August 11th
Departure from Paris to Yerevan
Day One August 11th
Arrive in
Yerevan Zvartnots Airport
Transfer to Congress Hotel in Yerevan
Check into the Hotel
Overnight in Yerevan
Day Two August 12th
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 August 13th
Breakfast at the Hotel
    
Ejmiatsin 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.
Overnight in Yerevan
Day
Four August 14th
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
Five August 15th
Breakfast at the
Hotel
Free Day
Overnight in Yerevan
Day
Six August 16th
Breakfast at the
Hotel
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
Seven August 17th
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. You will also visit the remains of the city of Dvin.
Dvin is situated on a hill where a
settlement, turned into a fortress in the antique epoch, had existed since the
third millennium B.C. In the reign of Khosrov II (330—338) Dvin became the
capital, and since the middle of the fifth century till the middle of the 13th
century, it was a major trade, handicraft and cultural center of Armenia known
in the countries of Asia Minor and Europe.
Noravank
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 Eight
August 18th
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 at the Hotel
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 Nine August 19th
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 picnic style in Gandzasar
The symbol of Artsakh “ Tatik Papik” statue
Overnight in Karabagh
Day Ten August 20th
Breakfast at
the Hotel
Check out from the hotel
On the way back visit to:
Jermuk
Lunch in Jermuk
Overnight in Yerevan
Day
Eleven August 21st
Breakfast at the
Hotel
Free Day
Overnight
in Yerevan
Day
Twelve August 22nd
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
Thirteen August 23rd
Breakfast at
the Hotel
Free Day
Farewell Dinner at a restaurant
Overnight in Yerevan
Day
Fourteen August 24th
Breakfast
at the Hotel
Transfer to Airport
Departure
Bon Voyage!
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