Grand Armenia Tour

Old churches, medieval castles, lakes and cliffs, apricots and brandy, charming sound of duduk – this is all about the unique culture that you will explore during this Armenia tour. You will meet this “pink city” Yerevan, Geghard monastery complex, residence of all Armenians Catholicos – the monastery of Etchmiadzin and also visit a fortress of Amberd located at a height of 2300 meters above the sea level. You will see famous Armenian khachkars, enjoy the beauty of an alpine Lake Sevan and taste well-known waters of Dilijan.

Tour itinerary:

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Day 1: Yerevan – arrival – city tour

Arrive in Yerevan. You will be met by our driver and transferred to hotel. Check in to hotel at noon. Meet your guide to start sightseeing in the capital of Armenia. One of the oldest cities of the world, Yerevan is famous as a pink city and calls visitors with its humble and at the same time splendid landscapes. Start the city tour with a visit to the 572-step Cascade Monument, which serves as the main symbol of the city. The mega scale staircase is 118 meters high and 50 meters wide. A panoramic view from the monument opens up breathtaking city view with Opera House, Mount Ararat, Swan Lake, Republic Square, and posh Northern Avenue around, which you will also walk by during the tour. The next spot is Matenadaran – the Mesrop Mashtots (founder of Armenian alphabet) Institute of Ancient Manuscripts famous for being one of the world’s richest banks of medieval manuscripts with more than 300,000 archive documents. Continue to the Armenian Genocide memorial complex on the hill of Tsitsernakaberd. An excellent round-up of the tour will be a visit to the Brandy Factory in Yerevan to taste renowned Armenian brandy. The legend says that Noah planted the first vine in the abundant Ararat valley; afterwards winery was pioneered all over the country. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2: Yerevan – Garni – Symphony of Stones – Geghard – Etchmiadzin – Yerevan

Depart Yerevan and drive to Garni, one of the major villages in Armenia famous for its fortress. The fortress is the only pagan sacred place from the 1st century that survived aggressive introduction of Christianity in the 4th century. Descend Garni Gorge to explore a monumental rock formation called Symphony of Stones. Next stop is at the monastery complex Geghard (means a spear in Armenian). The beautiful landscape of Geghard is framed with towering cliffs. Decorative art cut into rocks reflects and explains Medieval Ages development throughout the region. The complex was introduced to the history in the 4th century as a sacred spring inside a cave. Continue to the Holy See of Armenia, Etchmiadzin. Visit Etchmiadzin Cathedral*, which is the residence of the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Catholicos of All Armenians. Drive back to Yerevan. Overnight at the hotel.
*The site is currently under conservation works. Observation of the Cathedral is possible from the outside.

Day 3: Yerevan – Khor-Virap – Areni – Noravank – Goris

At 09:00 head to Khor-Virap Monastery (“deep pit”). According to the legend, St. Gregory the Illuminator, the patron saint of Armenia, was kept here in the basement for 13 years for the disseminating of Christianity until tsar Tradt decided to adopt new religion. Monastery location allows you to enjoy the best views of the Mount Ararat. Drive to Areni cave complex, where in 2008 the earliest shoe was found. On the way, stop in Areni for a wine degustation at a local winery. Continue to the famous Noravank Monastery situated on the ledge of a deep winding gorge. Noravank stands amidst the bizarre-shaped precipitous red cliffs.
Arrival in Goris at around 18:00. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 4: Goris – Tatev – Selim pass – Lake Sevan – Sevanavank – Dilijan

In the morning, drive to Tatev Monastery (9-13th centuries). Approaching the jewel of medieval Armenian architecture on the longest aerial tramway in the world you will see the monastery, the powerful impregnable stronghold towering on a rock. The remote location of the monastery was strategically favorable as it played the role of religious and political centre of the region. Standing on the edge of the rock, the monastery takes your breath away. Then head to Selim caravancerai. Stop at the highest point of Vardenyats Pass (Selim pass, 2,410 m) and enjoy view over the valley. Continue to Lake Sevan. Ancient relict Lake Sevan – “The Jewel of Armenia” is one of the largest high-mountain freshwater lakes in the world. The coastline of Lake Sevan is rich with thick woods, white bare steep rocks, mountain steppes and Alpine meadows. Stop at Sevanavank to visit the remnants of the monastery that include two temples – Surb Arakelots and Surb Karapet - standing among numerous khachkars. The buildings were constructed from black tuff which probably gave the monastery its name “Sevanavank – “the Black Monastery”. The view from there is simply magnificent: the mountains surround lake from all sides and snow tops are seen almost on the entire perimeter and disappear behind horizon. The next milestone is Dilijan, the most famous tourist spot where you will visit two monastery complexes. We will finish our sightseeing today at Goshavank Monastery, the best place to explore diverse types of khachkars - carved cross-stones. Overnight at the hotel in Dilijan.

Day 5: Dilijan – Haghpat – Sanahin – Gyumri

After breakfast, start exploring northern part of Armenia – Lori. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Haghpat Monastery. This is a stunning example of traditional Armenian architecture, erected between the 10th and 13th centuries. Standing on a hillside, Haghpat beautifully overlooks the Debed River Canyon. The monastery’s location was chosen to protect the peace and seclusion of the monks. Continue to Sanahin Monastery of the 10-13th century, which is rightly included in the list of best landmarks of Lori as a real treasure of ancient Armenian architecture.
Then drive to Gyumri, the second large city in Armenia. It lies on the Shirak plateau which crosses several mountain gorges. The city itself is located in the close quarters from the Aragats northern mountain ranges. Gyumri concentrates a lot of mineral deposits and the whole city’s southern part is located above an artesian basin. Overnight in Gyumri.

Day 6: Gyumri – Amberd fortress – Oshakan – Yerevan

After breakfast at the hotel, drive towards Amberd fortress, medieval fortress on the southern slopes of the Mount Aragats, away from the hectic cities. Ambered fortress is a rare historical site that survived and reached us in a good condition from the 7-th century. Some say that it was built in the 11-13th centuries, attributing it to the near located church. Amberd means ‘fortress in the clouds’; the name is due to its location 2300 meters above sea level. Next stop is Oshakan, which is known as a burial place of the father of the Armenian alphabet Saint Mesrop Mashtots. A cathedral named after him houses his grave which was rebuilt by Catholicos George IV in 1875. Drive back to Yerevan. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 7: Yerevan – departure

Check-out from hotel till noon.
Transfer to Yerevan International Airport. Departure.

Price includes:

All transfers (1-2 pax by sedan, 3-4 pax by Mercedes Vito or similar, 5-10 pax by Mercedes Sprinter passenger van);
Accommodation based on twin room sharing, breakfasts included;
Sightseeing tour program with local English-speaking guide;
Entrance fees to sights as per itinerary;
Brandy tasting in Yerevan;
Wine tasting at Hin Areni Winery;
Mineral water.