10 days from 826 EUR

Duration: 10 Days / 9 Nights

Dates: guaranteed departure each week from February 5th till November 27th, 2016 year

How to join the group: your arrival/departure airport should be Tbilisi or Yerevan* and flights should be with arrival on Friday or Saturday and departure on Sunday

Day 1. Arrival to Zvartnots International Airport

(It is also possible to arrive to Tbilisi Airport and transfer to Yerevan for joining the tour, cost 50 EUR p.p. by individual transfer). Meet your Tour representative. Transfer to the hotel in Yerevan. Check in.

Day 2. Saturday - Yerevan city tour

Start the city tour round Yerevan. The capital is one of the oldest cities in the world dating back to the 8^th century BC, initially founded as the fortress of Erebuni in 782 BC. Continue the tour to the Matenadaran Manuscript Museum which houses Armenian, Assyrian, Arabic books and ancient manuscripts, as old as fifth century. Walk 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 3. Sunday – Echmiadzin-Zvartnots

Drive to the holy city of Etchmiadzin. The city is home to the most ancient Armenian Apostolic Etchmiadzin Cathedral (301-303) that is also considered to be the oldest cathedral in the world. Continue the tour to the Zvartnots Temple erected in the 7th century near Etchmiadzin. Zvartnot's architecture impresses with its extraordinary artistic splendor. Drive back to hotel (overnight in Yerevan).

Day 4. Monday -Vernissage- Khor Virap and Noravank

Start the tour to visit the local open air crafts bazaar called Vernissage, famous amongst visitors of Armenia. Continue the tour to the Region of Ararat, to visit the 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 the Ararat Mount. Continue the tour to the picturesque Region of Vayots Dzor where you will visit Noravank Monastery (10^th-14^th centuries), the pearl of Armenian medieval architecture. After a wine degustation at local wine factory in Areni, return to hotel (overnight in Yerevan).

Day 5. Tuesday – Garni and Geghard

Drive to the Garni Village in Kotayk Region where  Garni Pagan Temple (77 AD) is located. As the summer residence of the royal family, the construction escaped the mass destruction of the pagan temples. 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. Drive to the hotel (overnight in Yerevan). 

Day 6 Wednesday -Sevan Lake-Sevanavank-Dilijan-Haghpat-Armenian Georgian Border- Military Georgian Road across the Caucasus

Drive to Lake Saven to visit Sevanavank Monastery standing high on Sevan peninsula. Continue the trip to Lori Region through Dilijan city. In Lori visit Haghpat Monastery and drive to the Armenian-Georgian Border to meet Georgian bus and the guide. Visit Ananuri fortress, alpine ski resort Gudauri and via Cross Pass arrival in Stephantsminda, walk up to Gergeti Trinity Church with the beautiful views of Kazbegi mountain peak and the village. Drive to Tbilisi.

Day 7. Thursday - Mtskheta and Gori

City of Mtskheta: historical and architectural complex of Jvari, Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, Samtavro Convent. Continue visiting Uplistsikhe, Stalin's birth place and Museum in Gori. Return to Tbilisi.

Day 8. Friday - Kutaisi tour

09:00 - Check out from Tbilisi hotel and drive to Georgia's second large city Kutaisi; excursion in the old Town, visit Bagrati Temple, historic and architectural complex of Gelati and Motsameta monastery. Check in to Kutaisi hotel and have a diner there.  

Day 9. Saturday - Okatse Canyons

Depart to Okatse Canyons natural monument in Village Gorgi, which is deep and narrow ravine, in the vicinity of the river Okatse. Along the canyon could be found several waterfalls. Drive to Tbilisi and accommodation;

Day 10. Sunday-Departure

Check out from hotel and transfer to airport for departure.

Price for 10 days package in shared Triple room: 826 EUR per person

Price for 10 days package in shared Double room: 887 EUR per person

Price for 10 days in shared Single room: 1126 EUR per person

It is also possible to departure from Yerevan airport; transfer from Tbilisi hotel to Yerevan cost 50 EUR p.p. by individual transfer.

PRICE INCLUDES

all transfers according to a program in a car or minivan with A/C; accommodation 9 nights in tourist class hotels; breakfasts; English or Russian speaking driver-guide; entrance tickets; wine tasting in Areni and Kakheti.