|
|
|
|
Adventure
Tours in Armenia
|
|
| |
|
| |
Nature and Hiking |
|
| |
|
| |
Adventure Tour
(11 days) |
| |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
| |
Day 1,
Day 2
|
|
Arrival /
Yerevan City Tour / History museum
Arrival in Yerevan in the early
morning. Meet and greet transfer to
hotel. Short rest. After a late
breakfast Visit Armenian History
Museum where the testimonies of
Stone Age until the 19th century are
held. Walking tour through the
capital, like visiting the monument
of Cascade 500 m in length and
Genocide Memorial. In the evening a
welcome dinner in a traditional
restaurant.
Overnight at hotel in Yerevan.
(~3 hour hiking). |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Day 3
|
|
Yerevan /
Echmiadzin / Zvartnots / Vernisage
Breakfast at the hotel. Start tour
to the Matenadaran – depository of
antient manuscripts of highest
value. Visit to the church of
Hripsimeh which is considered to be
the seventh wonder of Armenia with
its unique cruciform domed
architecture. Visit to the town of
Echmiadzin. Echmiadzin is the center
of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
Here is the location of Echmiadzin
Cathedral, which is one of the
oldest standing churches in
Christendom. The cathedral was built
in 301-303 AD over a pagan fire
altar. Continue tour to the ruins of
Zvartnots Temple (7th century) which
is listed as a World Cultural
Heritage Site by UNESCO. Zvartnots
is an outstanding monument of world
architecture, an evidence of the
high level of the development of the
artistic and engineering thought in
the 7th-century Armenia. The
cathedral had been standing for
about 300 years and was destroyed by
a disastrous earthquake. But even in
ruins it has a majestic beauty.
Return to Yerevan. In the second
half of the day visit Vernissage
open air market (this market is open
on Saturday and Sunday) where you
can buy souvenirs and jewellery
silver handicrafts made by Armenian
masters.
Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.
(~3 hour hiking). |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Day 4 |
|
Yerevan / Khor Virap / Noravank
Monastery / Noravank Canyon /Karahunge
/ Goris
Breakfast and check out from the
hotel. Start tour to the north, to
Ararat region home to former town of
Artashat an ancient capital of
Armenia. Visit to Khor Virap
Monastery, the site of royal prison
where St. Gregory the Illuminator
was held for thirteen years before
converting Armenia into the first
Christian country in 301. This is
the closest point to this mountain
and to the Armenian-Turkish border.
Hiking on the hill where the
monastery is located from where the
Armenian – Turkish border and the
Mt. Ararat are seen. Continue tour
to Vayots Dzor region. En route
visit Areni wine producing factory
in the village of the same name.
Situated high in the mountains this
region will thrill you by its sheer
arid magnificence. Hiking from the
village to the canyon full of caves.
Then arrive at Noravank monastery of
13th c. which is listed as a World
Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Noravank ("New monastery") was
founded by Bishop Hovhannes, who
moved there in 1205. During the 13th
and 14th centuries a series of
princes of the Orbelian clan built
churches which served as the burial
site for the family. Drive to Goris
by visiting the famous pre-Christian
sites of Zorats Karer (Karahunj) - a
4200 BC astral observatory, and
Bronze Age Vishap (dragon) stones.
Arrival in Goris by a stop at the
gates of the town to admire the
panoramic view of the landscapes.
Check in and overnight in Goris.
(~3 hour hiking) |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Day 5 |
|
Goris /
Devil’s bridge / Tatev Monastic
Complex / Goris
Breakfast at the hotel. Through the
mountains of the Syunik region an
approximately 1.5-hour drive brings
us to the "Devil’s Bridge" which is
a natural bridge over Vorotan river.
Possibility to walk a part of the
long Vorotan Pass and arrive to
Tatev monastic complex (1,500 m).
The up and downs are not very steep.
The monastery complex is located
near the village of Tatev. In the
Middle Ages, the monastery was one
of the most important centers of the
Armenian Apostolic Church, Armenian
Science and Education. Due to its
strategic position high above the
canyon Vorotan it was protected and
not very accessible. Another
possibility to have a 40 min. hiking
continuing the pass and having a
magnificant view to the monastery
and the gorge from the top.
Drive back and overnight in Goris.
(~3-4 hour hiking). |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Day 6 |
|
Goris /
Selim Pass & Caravanserai / Noraduz
/ Lake Sevan
Breakfast at the hotel in Goris.
Check out and proceed to Lake Sevan
by visiting the highlights of the
region. Visit to the medieval
amazingly intact Selim Caravanserai,
an important trading post on the
Great Silk Road. In medieval Armenia
many buildings were built along
commercial routes for the
accommodation of travelers. One of
those, the Selim caravanserai,
according to an inscription in
Armenian and Arabic was built in
1332 by Prince Chesar Orbelian, This
caravanserai offered hospitality to
travelers along the highway crossing
the Selim (Sulema) mountains. Selim
is an excellent example of Armenian
secular architecture in the middle
Ages. Possibility to walk a part of
the Silk Road where once caravans
passed. Through the pass proceed to
Noradous – an ancient cemetery of
Middle Ages, this is the biggest
cemetery of khachkars (cross-stones)
in Armenia, dating back to 7-10 c.
The second half of the day will be
already in Sevan Lake. About 70
miles north of Yerevan sits Lake
Sevan the second largest alpine in
the world. This huge mountain lake
which takes up to 5% of Armenia's
surface area and is about 2,000
meters above sea level and it is one
of the highest among the freshwater
lakes in the world. With its history
and scenery Lake Sevan is among the
most inviting destinations in the
world. Visit to the Sevanavank
monastic complex on the peninsula
which used to be an island.
Possibility to arrive the top of the
penisula and have a beautiful view
to the lake and the monasteries.
Overnight at the hotel in Sevan.
(~2 hours hiking). |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Day 7 |
|
Sevan /
Dilijan Nature Park / Lake Parz /
Goshavank Monastery / Dilijan
Breakfast at the hotel in Sevan.
Journey southward to forested
Dilijan Nature Park, a protected
area renowned for its serene lakes,
picturesque hill trails and peaceful
villages. This is a prime hiking
area and tourists can enjoy a
relaxing day on foot actively
experiencing nature. Stop at the
medieval bridge to start walking to
the Aghavnavank. Visit also the
beautiful lake Parz in Gosh village.
There is an opportunity to explore
the architectural jewel of Goshavank,
which was erected in the place of an
older monastery, Nor Ghetik, which
had been destroyed by an earthquake
in 1188. Mkhitar Gosh, a statesman,
outstanding scientist and writer, an
author of numerous fables and
parables and of the first criminal
code, took part in building the
monastery, which was known as
Goshavank in his honor.
Overnight at the hotel in Dilijan.
(~3-4 hour hiking). |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Day 8 |
|
Dilijan /
Kobayr / Sanahin / Hagpat /
Dzoraghet
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to
Lori region. Set high in the
mountains, this charming site
promises some of the most thrilling
discoveries taking you back to the
times of powerful kings. Walking
tour through the forested mountain
and arrive to Kobayr monastic
complex . It is situated through the
mountain on the left bank of the
Debed river gorge (about 1 hour
hiking to arrive to the monastery).
Lori is home to Hagpat and Sanahin
monasteries listed as UNESCO World
heritage sites. The architectural
complexes of Sanahin and Haghpat are
among the outstanding works of
medieval Armenian architecture.
Sanahin was an important literary
and educational centre in medieval
times. It was founded in 966. One of
the most beautiful monastries
Haghpat was founded later in around
976. Haghpat was also a major
literary center in the middle ages.
One can never describe these
monasteries by words, one should see
them. Another possibility to have a
3 hour walk through the villages and
go from Sanahin to Hagpat monastery.
Overnight at the hotel in Dzoraghet.
(~4 hour hiking). |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Day 9 |
|
Dzoraget /
Byurakan Observatory / Amberd
Fortress / Sagmosavank / Yerevan
Breakfast at the hotel. Start back
to the highest peak of
Transcaucasia, Aragats (4,090m), an
extinct volcano. Stop at the
Byurakan observatory – the peak of
Armenian science. Walking tour to
Amberd fortress. Visit Amberd
fortress reached its zenith as the
seat of the Pahlavuni feudal family
in the 11th century and remained a
key defensive site for centuries.
Prince Vahram Pahlavuni built the
church in 1026, as documented by the
inscription on the inside lintel of
the north doorway. Stop at the
letter park – this is a little park
where all the letters of Armenian
alphabet are erected from Armenian
stone –tuffa, it was built in 2005
and symbolizes 1600 anniversary of
Armenian alphabet. Return to the
capital. On the way to the capital
visit also Sagmosavank monastic
complex located near the Kasagh
gorge.
Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.
(~3 hour hiking). |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Day 10 |
|
Yerevan /
Geghard / Garni Temple / Garni
Canyon / Monastery Havuts Tar /
Yerevan
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to
Kotayk region. Higher up the gorge
of the Azat river the magnificent
monument of medieval Armenian
architecture— Gueghard monastery
(13th century). Geghard is an
incredible ancient Armenian
monastery, partly carved out of a
mountain and is also listed as a
World Cultural Heritage Site by
UNESCO. Outside the monastery
complex there are some caves which
have a bunch of little cave rooms
and are quite interesting for
exploring. Continue to Garni village
with visiting of the Hellenic –
Pagan temple of Garni (1 A.D.).
Lunch in Garni in a private house
where the tourists will have the
opportunity to participate in lavash
(Armenian bread) baking process,
this particular kind of bread is
baked in a special underground stove
called "tonir"; they will try also
Armenian barbeque made in this
stove. Garni - the citadel and pagan
temple of Garni is a picturesque
temple of the Hellenistic period and
an impressive piece of ancient
Armenian architecture. It was built
in the first century A.D. by the
Armenian King Tiridates and was
dedicated to a heathen god, probably
to Mithra, the god of the sun whose
figure stood in the depth of the
sanctuary. Possibility to have a
walking tour to the gorge of Garni
to see the Symphony of Stones and
arrive at another beautiful piece of
Armenian architecture Havuts Tar
monastery located in Khosrov
National Park.
Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.
(~3-4 hour hiking). |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Day 11 |
|
Departure
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to
the airport |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
| |
Other details available upon request
|
| |
|
| |
Note:
Duration of the tour must be fit to your
arrival and departure Flights. |
| |
|
| |
| |
 |
Airport - Hotel - Airport
Transfer |
|
|
Inland transportation |
|
|
Tour Guide |
|
|
Hotel Accommodation (in the
cities) Double room |
|
|
FB Meal: BLD |
|
|
1
bottle of mineral water per
person per day |
|
|
Museums Entrance fees |
|
|
Meeting dinner at the restaurant |
|
|
Leaving party at the National
restaurant |
|
|
Wine tasting |
| |
|
|
|
Air
fare |
|
|
Single room supplement
|
|
|
Meals except described |
|
|
Alcoholic beverages |
|
|
Travel insurance
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |