Armenia Travel

Types: Cultural-Historical

Period: Weekend

Hotel: Nare

Guaranteed: Yes

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Day 1
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Arrival in Armenia.

On arrival you are met at the airport and transferred to your hotel.

Day 2
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Yerevan City tour – Matenadaran - Ararat brandy factory - Vernisage and Food Market (B/L/D)

Breakfast at the hotel. Start the City tour of Yerevan. Yerevan is the capital of the Republic of Armenia, as well as being the largest city in the country. It is one of the oldest cities in the world. Its foundation dates from the century 782 A.C. when carried the name Erebuni. Here are both historical and cultural values that have secular life. The city tour will give you the opportunity to get to know the two hearts of the city - the Republic Square and the Opera Square, then go up or down the Cascade monument, which become an open-air museum today. Lunch in Armenian restaurant.

Visit the Genocide memorial. During the 1st World War Armenia suffered one of the bloodiest and most painful pages of its history - the Armenian Genocide of 1915. Every year on April 24 thousands of people visit the memorial to pay homage to their ancestors. Our first impressions about the country will be highlighted with the visit to Manuscript museum of Matenadaran which has an amazing collection of beautifully illuminated medieval Armenian manuscripts, including medieval Bibles.

Visit the famous Ararat Brandy Factory where we can make an excursion through the factory and have a cognac tasting. By the way, this brandy has many famous lovers, such like Winston Churchill, all Russian leaders.

You will also have a chance to explore the outdoor handicraft market Vernisage where you can find the most attractive hand-made souvenirs, carpets, handicrafts made from local volcanic glass obsidian, Armenian cross-stones (khachkars) made of tuff stone, some interesting ceramic items and other local souvenirs. We will visit the Yerevan Food Market: here we can taste traditional Armenian dried and candied fruits, nuts, spices, cheeses, meat delicacies.

Dinner with Armenian folk music. Overnight at the hotel.

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Day 3
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Geghard Monastery – Garni - Sevan Lake and Sevanavank

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to the Geghard Monastery (4th century, UNESCO) that is a unique architectural building in Armenia, partially excavated in the adjacent mountain, surrounded by cliffs. The name Geghard, or in its entirety Geghardavank, means "the monastery of the Lance", which originates from the lance that wounded Jesus at the crucifixion, brought to Armenia by the apostle Thaddeus and preserved in the monastery. Drive to the Garni. Lunch in a local family house/ garden to taste Armenian famous barbeque and see how Armenian people are making our traditional bread “Lavash” in the underground oven. Visit the Garni temple that is the only pagan buildings preserved in Armenia. The Hellenistic style, the Roman baths, the surrounding landscape and the sound of "duduk" concert in the Temple (Duduk- the apricot tree flute, typical Armenian musical instrument) gape at the lucky visitor. The pagan temple of Garni dates from the 1st century A.C. We will enjoy ourselves at Lake Sevan - the “Pearl of Armenia”, which is one of the largest high-altitude lakes in the world located at 1900m. We visit a 9th century Sevan monastery, perched on a cliff above the lake. From this point we will a wonderful view of the lake and if we are lucky we will witness the changing colors of the water. Drive back to Yerevan. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 4
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In the shadow of Mt Ararat: Khor Virab – Echmiatsin - Zvartnots

Breakfast at the hotel. The road leads through the plains of Ararat. Lying in the shadow of Biblical Mt. Ararat, where Noah’s Ark landed, this piece of the land in Armenia has always been vital for the agriculture of the country. According to tradition, this was the place where Noah first planted a vine after he descended from the Ark. Driving past the farms all of a sudden an attractive picture of Khor Virab Monastery appears, resting on a lonely hill. Weather permitting we will have an exceptional view of Mt. Ararat from here!

The great monastic complex of Echmiatsin, which is currently the residence of all Armenian Catholicos, is composed of several buildings or groups of buildings dating from the 4-17 centuries. As it is well known, Armenia is the first country to adopt Christianity as a state religion in 301 D.C. Echmiatsin Cathedral is the oldest Christian building in the world. Its first construction dates from 303, but was rebuilt repeatedly during its secular life. The cathedral of Zvartnots ("celestial angels" in Armenian) was a circular cathedral in ruins of the 7th century. Zvartnots remained standing until the end of the 10th century and was destroyed by an earthquake. Together with churches and Echmiatsin Cathedral, Zvartnots was added to UNESCO's list of World Heritage in the year 2000.

Drive back to Yerevan. Overnight at the hotel.

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Day 5
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