Duration-7 days, 6 nights|Typ-Excursion, Cultural, Panoramic|Meal Plan-BB, Farewell Dinner|

 Cultural & Panoramic Tour 7 Days from 366 EUR

Day 1/Tuesday. Arrival  to Zvartnots airport in Yerevan–City tour

Transfer to hotel.
Check-in assistance.

After a little rest start the city tour round Yerevan. The capital is one of the oldest cities in the world dating back to the 8th century BC, initially founded as the fortress of Erebuni in 782 BC. Visit Erebuni Fortress Museum at the slop of the Arin Berd hill. The museum has been founded to house houses 12, 235 exhibits, items from everyday life of the Urartu people. Continue the tour to the Matenadaran Manuscript Museum which houses Armenian, Assyrian, Arabic books and ancient manuscripts, as old as fifth century. After walk through Mashtots avenues to Cascade giant stairways, a favorite place both for the locals and foreigners. Continue walking to the Freedom Square that is home to Opera & Ballet National Academic Theater, an impressive building designed by the city’s main architect Alexander Tamanyan in 1933. Drive to the hotel (overnight in Yerevan).

Day 2/Wednesday. Yerevan-Hovhannavank-Armenian Alphabet Monument-Sanahin-Haghpat

After breakfast check-out and start the tour to Aragatsotn Region to visit Hovhannavank medieval monastery (13th century) standing at the edge of Kasagh river canyon. The deep canyon with the medieval monastery on the edge will transfer you the spirit of old times the overall imagination of the life monks lived in the picturesque surrounding. First chapel was built on the place by Gregory the Illuminator as early as the fourth century. Continue the tour to the Armenian Alphabet Monument which is as old as 2005. The park is located at the slope of the mount Aragats, in Artashavan village. To celebrate the 1600th anniversary of the invention of the Armenian Alphabet, the monument was founded to signify its importance for the Armenians. After drive to the Region of Lori which has the largest population in Armenia and is home to some of the impressive Armenian landmarks. In Lori visit Sanahin Monastery (10th century) in the same name village, situated on a high plateau. Founded by Tashir-Dzoraget Armenain Kingdom, it was favored institute for studying medicine and humanitarian studies, as well as creating manuscripts, paintings. Continue the tour to another medieval architectural treasure in Armenia, Haghpat Monastery Complex (10th century). Sanahin and Haghpat are rich in cross-stones; one of the unique khachkars (cross-stones) that locals call All-Savor khachkar is situated in the monastery, which was a pilgrimage site for those who those who needed healing of the soul and body. Drive to hotel in Alaverdi city in Lori (overnight).

Day 3/Thursday. Alaverdi-Dilijan-Goshavank-Haghartsin-Sevanavank-Yerevan

Check-out after breakfast and start the tour to the Region of Tavush and the city of Dilijan that is called by the locals as the ‘Armenian Switzerland.’ Located in Dilijan National Park, Dilijan has been a popular spa, resort town from Russian Empire and USSR times. After visit the Monastery of Goshavank (12th-13th century) that house one of the brightest example of a khachkar (cross-stone). The first Armenian criminal code was written here by the Armenian scholar and scientist Mkhitar Gosh. The place is also unique for a ruin of cyclopean wall or construction that served as a medieval school. By paving the green road continue the tour to another hidden sight where the lime stone Monastery Complex of Haghartsin (10th-14th) strikes in its all beauty. As the legend goes, the name as Haghartsin was given by a monk that was considering a place where the monastery should be constructed. After spotting the right site he saw two eagles (eagle-‘artsiv' Armenian word) playing (play – 'Khakh' Armenian word) on the place. Accordingly he named the coming monastery as Play of Eagles (Hagh 'khakh' artsin). Dining rooms were not preserved as it is with churches, but Haghartsin Monastery complex has one of the impressive examples of monastery dining rooms still existing on the place. Drive to the Region of Gegharqunik to visit Sevan Lake (one of the highest sweet water lakes in the world) where on the former island nowadays peninsula, the Monastery of Sevanavank (9th century) is situated. Once as considered only for monks it has still an active seminary living on the peninsula. Return to Yerevan. Check-in the hotel (overnight in Yerevan).

Day 4/Friday. Yerevan-Garni (offroading in the gorge)-Geghard-Yerevan

After breakfast drive to the Garni Village in Kotayk Region, where the same name, Garni Pagan Temple (77 AD)is located. Dedicated to the God of Sun, Mitra, Garni Temple is a vivid symbol of pre-Christian Armenia, the only surviving one in the territory of CIS. As the summer residence of the royal family, the construction escaped the mass destruction of the pagan temples. The location has one of the oldest Armenian fortresses (3-2 centuries BC) that was reconstructed in the 1st century AD covering other complexes like 3rd century roman baths, royal summer palace, and the seventh century church of Sion. In the Garni village take a Soviet truck to enjoy the beauty of the volcanic symphony of stones down in the gorge of Azat River. Drive alongside the river and stop at the river bank to taste local wine and vodka , Continue the tour to the UNESCO site Geghard Monastery (10th-13th centuries) complex also called Cave Monastery as it is half carved in the rock. Initially as a pagan site the Monastery has a natural spring rising from rocks over centuries. It was called Geghard (spear) after the spear with which Jesus Christ was wounded by the Roman soldier that was kept in the monastery for a long period of time. Drive to the hotel (overnight in Yerevan).

Day 5/Saturday. Yerevan-Vernissage crafts bazaar-KhorVirap-Noravank-Areni-Yerevan

Breakfast at the hotel. Start the tour to visit the local open air crafts bazaar called Vernissage, famous amongst visitors of Armenia. It’s a unique place where local craftsmen will offer you everything that is a traditional Armenian art. Continue the tour to the Region of Ararat, to visit Khor Virap Monastery (4th-18th centuries), meaning Deep Dungeon, which is significant for Armenian Pilgrims as a sight were the first Catholicos of the Armenians spent in torture for 13 years.  It's the closest spot from where you can admire the majestic view of Ararat Mount. Continue the tour to the picturesque Region of Vayots Dzor where you will visit Noravank Monastery (10th-14th centuries), the pearl of Armenian medieval architecture. To enjoy the spirit of antiquity and the sheer rocks of the region, we will have a stop at the Chalcolithic cave of Areni where a six thousand-year-old winery has been found. Archeologists have unearthed the oldest wine-making facility, using biochemical techniques to identify a dry red vintage of the winery. An international group of archeologists have discovered the world's oldest leather shoe in this very cave. The 5500 years-old shoe was perfectly preserved in a cool and dry condition (see in the State History Museum). After a wine degustation at local wine factory in Areni, return to hotel (overnight in Yerevan).

Day 6/Sunday. Yerevan-Etchmiadzin-Mather Cathedral-Zvartnots-Yerevan

After breakfast drive to the holy city of Etchmiadzin, where the same name Mother Cathedral is located. Also called Vagharshapat, Etchmiadzin city is an open air museum as the whole of the city is under the protection of the UNESCO. The city is home to the most ancient Armenian Apostolic Mother Cathedral of Etchmiadzin that is also considered to be the oldest cathedral in the world. They started to build it between 301 and 303 following the adoption of Christianity as state religion in 301. It’s a nice occasion to be in the city on Sunday, as all of the churches in Etchmiadzin are on their regular liturgy service.

Continue the tour to the Zvartnots Temple erected in the 7th century near Etchmiadzin.  Zvartnot's architecture impresses with its extraordinary artistic splendor. It has distinctive differences in size, layout and arrangement as compared with the traditional architecture of the Armenian churches. It was built in the place where Trdates the Great and Gregory the Illuminator (first Catholicos of all the Armenians) first met after Gregory was set free after 13 years of imprisonment. Drive back to hotel (overnight in Yerevan).

Day 7. Breakfast at hotel. Check-out and transfer to the airport 2 hours in advance. Airport check-in assistance.

PRICES PER PERSON IN EUR (NET):

Tour package includes:

All transfers by program
Welcome drink
Comfortable bus/mini-bus with climate-control system
Professional friendly driver
High-qualified guide-interpreter in the preferred language
Accommodation in 3* hotel in DBL/TWIN room
6 Breakfasts, Farewell dinner
Entrance fees
24-hours tourist support
Souvenirs as presents from El Travel Club

Tour package does not include:

Air ticket
Visa for entry
Insurance
Lunches
Dinners
Alcohol drinks
Expenses of personal nature