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Adventure
Tours in Armenia
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Standing on the Silk Road |
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Adventure Tour
(9 days) |
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The Silk Road, or Silk Routes,
are an extensive interconnected
network of trade routes across
the Asian continent connecting
East, South, and Western Asia
with the Mediterranean world,
including North Africa and
Europe. The Silk Road earns its
name from the extensive Chinese
silk trade, the main reason for
which the road was created. The
Silk Road represents an early
phenomenon of political and
cultural integration due to
inter-regional trade. In its
heyday, the Silk Road sustained
an international culture that
strung together groups as
diverse as the Magyars,
Armenians, and Chinese.
This program gives you a nice
opportunity to discover some
routes of the Great Silk Road in
Armenia!
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Day 1
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Arrival
Arrival at the International
Zvartnots Airport. Meet and greet
transfer airport / hotel.
Accommodation. Rest. |
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Day 2
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Yerevan
City tour
In the morning meet your tour
director and start city tour around
Yerevan. The history of Yerevan
dates back to the 8th century BC. A
little part of the capital city's
3,000-year history has survived:
Central Yerevan was once dominated
by huge Soviet-style buildings, but
now, due to the nowadays active
constructions, many modern-style
buildings appear and are going to
appear. While your tour you will see
the Republic Square which is
designed in the traditional Armenian
architectural style and includes the
Government House, the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, the Central Post
Office, the National Art Gallery.
Along with all major sights of the
capital you will also see "Cat
statue" by famous sculptor Fernando
Botero, will climb up the Cascade to
enjoy the panoramic view of Yerevan
as well as will see Opera house,
Victory Park with Mother Armenia
statue, Kievyan Bridge, Baghramyan
Avenue, the Presidential Palace,
Academy of Sciences, National
Parliament,Writers Union and Fruit
market. Lunch in a local restaurant.
In the second half of the day your
main attractions will be Erebouni
Fortress Museum and Armenian History
Museum, here the important
archaeological collections from
Stone Age through Medieval periods
are dark and almost unlabeled, but
should not be missed.
Welcome dinner and overnight at the
hotel in Yerevan. |
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Day 3
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Genocide
museum / Echmiadzin / Zvartnots /
Vernisage
After breakfast at the hotel
departure to Echmiadzin which is
mere 20 km from Yerevan. On the way
visit to St Hripsime church which is
considered to be one of the 7
wonders of Armenia. Etchmiadzin
Cathedral is known as the center of
the Armenian - Gregorian Church and
appears to be one of the world's
first Christian churches. Legend has
it that it was here that Jesus
Christ descended from heaven to show
were he wanted a church built. So
Echmiadzin means "The only-begotten
descended". The Church was built
between the years 301 - 303 AD under
the Armenian king Tiridates III and
the first Armenian Catholicos, St.
Gregory the Illuminator. Return to
Yerevan with stop at the ruins of
Zvartnots temple - the pearl of the
7th c. architecture which is listed
as a UNESCO World Heritage. Lunch in
a national restaurant in Yerevan
city. Visit to the Tsitsernakaberd
Memorial park and museum of the
victims of Genocide. In the second
half of the day visit open air
market Vernissage that bustles with
hundreds of vendors selling a
variety of crafts on weekends. The
market offers woodcarving, antiques,
fine lace, and the hand-knotted wool
carpets and kilims that are a
Caucasus specialty.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel in
Yerevan. |
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Day 4 |
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Khor Virap / Noravank / Selim
Caravansary / Noraduz / Tsapatagh
Sightseeing tour to Khor-Virap
monastery 4- 17th cc. 45 km. from
Yerevan the monastery of Khor-Virap
has a very rich history, both
religious and secular. Khor Virap
was built in Artashat during the
reign of the Arshakids dynasty. At
that time it was used as a pit-
dungeon for convicts. In the 60s of
the 4th century Artashat was ruined
by Persian invaders. It is situated
in the Ararat valley against the
biblical Ararat Mountain, were
Noah's arch cast anchor. The
importance of it is connected with
Gregory the Illuminator, who
introduced Christianity to Armenia
and is considered to be the first
Armenian catholicos. Here you will
also have an opportunity to take a
lit candle from the pit like His
holiness Paul II did while his visit
to Khor Virap. Continue tour to
Noravank monastery - a great
religious and cultural centre of
12th c. On the way visit Areni wine
factory to taste local wine made
from special sorts of vines.
Noravank ("New Monasterey") is 122
km away from Yerevan and is located
in an inaccessible location
throughout the stunning nature. The
oldest structure of the monastery is
the church of St. Karapet (9-10 c)
that has not survived. The principal
church is known as St. Karapet as
well, which was built in the 13th c.
The church has an atrium, which was
rebuilt by the famous architect and
sculptor Momik and is decorated with
bas-relives on religious themes.
Lunch in a local cave cafe. Drive to
Selim Pass for visiting the
caravanserai (XIV c.). The Selim
caravanseray was built in 1332 by
Prince Chesar Orbelian, according to
an inscription in Armenian and
Arabic, this used to be an important
trade point in the famous Silk Road.
Overnight at the hotel in Sevan. |
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Day 5 |
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Sevan /
Dilijan / Goshavank / Haghpat /
Sanahin Monasteries / Dzoraget
Start tour from Sevan to the North
of Armenia through spectacular
forested region of Dilijan, where
you can walk through a museum
street, with the buildings preserved
from 19 c. with the ceramics
workshop and woodcarvers’ studio.
Visiting of Gohsavank complex
situated in the woodlands of Dilijan
that represents an indescribable
example of blend of nature with
architecture. It was founded in
11-13th centuries. Continue tour to
the architectural complexes of
Sanahin (966 AD) and Haghpat (976
AD) which are among the outstanding
works of medieval Armenian
architecture and are inscribed in
UNESCO World Heritage list. The
architectural details and decoration
of the monuments, which belong to
the same epoch, have much in common
and are even exactly alike in some
cases, which gives us ground to
presume that they were created by
craftsmen of the same school.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel
Avan Dzoraget. |
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Day 6 |
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Dzoraghet
/ Gyumri City tour / Mastara / Talin
/ Aruch Caravansary / Yerevan
Drive to Gyumri. Tour in Gyumri –
the second largest city of Armenia.
Lunch in Gyumri. Drive back to
Yerevan. The road leads toward an
excellent early church called
Mastara (7 c.). Continue to Talin
village in which are the impressive
remains of an important cathedral
church of 7 c. The village Aruch is
one of the oldest settlements of
Armenia. Aruch and its environs are
rich with historical- architectural
monuments; burial-vaults from Bronze
Age, temples, palaces, fortresses,
khachkars, etc The temple of Arutch
(7 c A.D) is one of the most
important medieval Armenian
architectural constructions. The
walls of the temple are plastered
and decorated with frescos (now
seriously damaged). The
half-destroyed caravansary is
preserved on the northern side of
the village, on the Ashtarak-Talin
highway. It belongs to the
three-nave caravansaries type with
one hall, that were built in Armenia
in XIII-XIV cc. These three
architectural highlights are unique
as they are works of the same
century but the have quite different
architectural conceptions. Drive to
Yerevan.
Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan. |
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Day 7 |
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Yerevan /
Ashtarak / Sagmosavank / Hovanavank
/ Amberd / Yerevan
Proceed to Ashtarak – one of the
most ancient Armenian cities, to
visit the church of Karmravour. It’s
one of the smallest pan-Armenian
churches but in spite of its size
you can still feel authentic
Christianity. It’s also one of those
rare churches where some traces of
frescos are still seen. Continue to
Hovanavank Monastery (5-13 cc.), is
proud of its reach decoration both
in internal and in external parts.
The monastery was dedicated to John
the Baptist whose relics are said to
be buried in this area. Not far from
Hovanavan is situated Saghmossavank
medieval monastery, situated in the
breathtaking site, at the deep
canyon of Ashtarak. Sgmossamvank is
translated as "monastery of psalms".
According to the tradition when the
first church of the monastery was
built the priests kept reading
psalms 40 days long so the monastery
was called monastery of psalms. .
Lunch in a local house tasting
homemade dishes. Tour to Fortress of
Amberd, 9th century, 6 km from the
village of Byurakan, stands halfway
up Mt. Aragats, at the height of
2300m. The fortress stands on a
rocky cape formed by the rivers
Amberd and Arkhashen. There are also
vestiges of a fortified
three-storied palace, a church built
in 1026, a palace bathhouse with two
domes, a central heating system,
water tanks, a water-supply system,
and a secret passage to a nearby
cleft, and other buildings. Drive
back to Yerevan.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel in
Yerevan. |
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Day 8 |
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Matenadaran
/ Garni / Gueghard / Fruit Market
Visit to the depositary of ancient
manuscripts the Matenadaran which
contains historical documents from
all over Europe and Asia throughout
many centuries. There is also the
first copy of the Bible in Armenian
and the Gospels that fascinate with
their beautiful miniatures.
Departure to Garni Temple. The
citadel and pagan temple of Garni is
a picturesque monument 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 it is dedicated
to a heathen god, probably to Mithra,
the god of the sun whose figure
stood in the depth of the sanctuary.
After proclaiming Christianity as a
state religion in Armenia in 301,
the temple was probably used as a
summer residence of the kings. Lunch
at a local house in Garni where you
will have opportunity to watch
Armenian national bread "lavash"
baking and barbeque making process
in the underground stove called "tonir".
Northeast of Garni, higher up the
gorge of the Azat river, there is a
magnificent monument of medieval
Armenian architecture - Geghard
monastery inscribed in UNESCO World
Heritage list (inscribed in UNESCO
World Heritage list). Geghard is
another incredible ancient Armenian
monastery, partly carved out of a
mountain. The meaning "the Monastery
of the Spear", originates from the
spear which had wounded Jesus during
his crucifixion, allegedly brought
to Armenia by Apostle Thaddeus, and
stored amongst many other relics.
Now the historical spear is
displayed in the Etchmiadzin
treasury. Though the monastery of
Gueghard was around before the 4th
century, the main cathedral was
built in 1215. The entrance of the
compound is surrounded by high walls
on three sides and mountain on the
other. Outside the monastery complex
there are some caves which have a
bunch of little cave rooms and are
quite interesting. Return back.
Visit the fruit market where local
merchants sell fresh and dried
fruits and vegetables, spices, and
delicacies.
Farewell dinner and overnight at the
hotel in Yerevan. |
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Day 9 |
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Departure
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to
the airport |
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Other details available upon request
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Note:
Duration of the tour must be fit to your
arrival and departure Flights. |
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Airport - Hotel - Airport
Transfer |
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Inland transportation |
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Tour Guide |
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Hotel Accommodation (in the
cities) Double room |
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FB Meal: BLD |
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1
bottle of mineral water per
person per day |
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Museums Entrance fees |
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Meeting dinner at the restaurant |
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Leaving party at the National
restaurant |
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Wine tasting |
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Air
fare |
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Single room supplement
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Meals except described |
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Alcoholic beverages |
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Travel insurance
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