Tour-1

ARMENIA NATURE AND CULTURE
8 days / 7 nights (May - October)

Day 1: Meeting at the airport.

Travelers arrive at the airport. Airport transfer to the hotel & relax. Overnight in Yerevan in a 3 or 4 star hotel.

Day 2: Hiking in Garni Gorge “Symphony of stones”.

(B/L/D)

Hiking in Garni Gorge

Distance: 3 km

Duration: 2 hours

Height difference: ↓90m ↑100m

After breakfast we drive to the only remaining Pagan Temple of Garni (I c. AD). After the visit in the temple  we will go down to Garni Canyon that is attractive for its wonderful natural rocks named “Symphony of Stones”. Lunch in a private house. Participation in lavash baking (national Armenian paper-thin bread). Return to Yerevan. Yerevan sightseeing includes city center, Republic Square, Opera House, North Avenue, “Cascade” Monument, Yerevan State University, Victory Park with its “Mother Armenia” statue  and others.  Dinner and overnight in a hotel in Yerevan.

Day 3: Mount Ararat where Noah’s Ark came to rest; wine tasting in the Land of Wine

(B/L/D)

Hiking in the Canyon of Noravank

Distance: 3 km

Duration: 2 hours

↓200m

Visit in the monastery of Khor Virap (meaning “deep dungeon”) that stands before the snow-capped flanks of the symbolic Mount Ararat. “Khor Virap” is considered to be the cradle of Christianity for Armenians. WE arrive at the beautiful Noravank Canyon with its huge red rocks. We start trekking in the Canyon of Noravank. Lunch on the way. We arrive at Noravank monastery. Short sightseeing of Noravank. Dinner and overnight in a small hotel boutique in Goris town.

Day 4: South of Armenia- Amazing Tatev Monastery and Armenian ancient observatory

(B/L/D)

Hiking in Khndzoresk-village of troglodyte dwellings

Distance : 1 km

Duration : 1 hour

 

Departure to troglodyte village of Khndzoresk. A nice walk over the bridge of Khndzoresk. Afterwards, transfer to Tatev village. On the way we take aerial tramway called “Wings of Tatev” (the longest reversible aerial tramway recorded in the “Guiness Book of Records”). Lunch in a restaurant. Dinner and overnight in Goris town.

Day 5: Armenia on the caravan route. (B/L/D)

On the way back to Vayots Dzor we will stop by an ancient observatory (III-II millennium B.C.) being older than Stonehenge in Britain. Drive to Lake Sevan through Selim Pass (2410m). Selim Pass has the remains of Selim caravanserai (1332). Then we enter Noratuz village & visit a cemetery which contains the largest concentration of khatchkars – stone crosses.  Arrival in Lake Sevan where we will enjoy a wonderful boat ride. Lunch in a restaurant by the lake where we will taste local fish. Then we continue to the town of Dilijan and visit famous artisan street named Sharabeyan.Dinner and overnight in a small hotel boutique in Dilijan.

Day 6: UNESCO Heritage monasteries and villages of Molokans

(B/L/D)

Hiking from Sanahin to Haghpat

Distance : 6 km

Duration : 3 hours

↓250 m  ↑ 150 m

We depart to Sadakhlo Border. We reach Sanahin Monastery. Sanahin and Haghpat monasteries form part of UNESCO heritage. Hiking from Sanahin to Haghpat. Lunch on the way. Dinner and overnight in a hotel boutique in Alaverdi.

Day 7: In the shadow of Ararat and at the foot of Aragats

(B/L/D)

Return to Yerevan after breakfast. Visit in Amberd fortress. We go down to the Arkashen river where we admire the basalt of “Sun Stone”. Then we will enjoy a wonderful lunch in “ARMENIA” wine factory and after that will visit the factory. Return to Yerevan. Free time for personal purchase. Farewell dinner in a restaurant. Overnight.

Day 8: Departure

(B/–/–)