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Cultural
Tours in Armenia
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Armenia - Christian Oasis |
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Cultural Tour
(8 days) |
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Due to its location Armenia
seems really a Christian Oasis.
It’s the first country that
adopted Christianity as a state
religion. It’s the country where
the first religious war took
place. The Noah’s Arc descended
on the Biblical Mt.Ararat
situated in the Historical
Armenia.
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It’s a country where you can
feel authentic Christianity! |
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Day 1,
Day 2 |
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Arrival /
Yerevan City tour
Arrival in Zvartnots airport. Meet
and greet transfer to the hotel,
early check in, rest. Breakfast at
the hotel. 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 Republic square,
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the
Central Post Office, the National
Art Gallery. You will also see Opera
house, Victory Park with the statue
Mother Armenia, the Sports and
Concert complex, Kievyan Bridge,
Baghramyan Avenue, the Presidential
Palace, Academy of Sciences,
National Parliament, Writers Union,
and the fruit market. Lunch in a
local restaurant. Visit to the
Tsitsernakaberd Memorial park and
museum of the victims of Genocide.
While his visit to Armenia Pope
commemorated the Armenians killed by
Ottoman Turks between 1915 and 1920
by laying a wreath at genocide
memorial and planting a fir tree in
the memorial park. Visit to the
Armenian History Museum. Excursion
to the biggest pan Armenian church
Grigor Lousavorich - the opening
ceremony of this church was blessed
by his holiness John Paul II.
Visiting Armenia John Paul II has
brought the holy relics of Grigor
Lousavorich – the first Catholicos
of all Armenians from the church S.
Gregorio di Napoli in Italy.
Welcome dinner and overnight at the
hotel in Yerevan. |
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Day 3 |
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Holy See
Echmiadzin / Zvartnots / Vernissage
After breakfast at the hotel
departure to Echmiadzin which is
mere 20 km from Yerevan. It 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. Visit to the Cathedral
Treasury that hosts the main relics
of Armenian apostolic church such as
the Holy Spear which had wounded
Jesus during his crucifixion, the
famous piece of Noah’s Arc found by
Hakob Mtsbnatsi, the Chrism Bowl
where the holy chrism is made once
in 7 years. Being the center of the
Armenian Church Etchmiadzin was
visited by his holiness John Paul
II. Visit The Churches of St.
Hripsimeh St. Gayaneh (630 AD) that
are veritable masterpieces of
Armenian architecture and St
Hripsime is considered to be one of
the 7 wonders of Armenia. Return to
Yerevan with stop at the ruins of
Zvartnots temple - the pearl of the
7th c. architecture. Lunch in a
national restaurant in Yerevan city.
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 in a national restaurant and
overnight at Yerevan. |
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Day 4 |
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Sagmossavank / Amberd Fortress /
Sanahin & Haghpat Monasteries /
Dzoraget
Excursion to Sagmossavank monastery
of 13 c. 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. Then
visit to Amberd fortress. Amberd is
a fortress complex and means "a
fortress in the clouds" - a fitting
name given for its elevation at
2,300m on the slopes of Mount
Aragats. The princely castle of
Amberd was built in the 9th to 13th
centuries. A two-storied structure
fitted with a majestic staircase,
the castle is protected by walls
with inclined towers. The church,
built in 1026 by the architect
Vahram Pakhlavuni, is slightly down
the hill from the fortress. So
wherever you go, it will be a
fortress or something else you will
always find a church as a testimony
of Armenians’ Christian Faith. Drive
to Lori region. Start 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 5 |
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Dzoraget /
Dilijan / Goshavank / Lake Sevan /
Noradouz / Yerevan
Early departure from picturesque
Dzoraget village for Dilijan which
is one of the famous resort areas in
Armenia. People say, "If Paradise
had mountains, woods, and mineral
springs, it would be just like
Dilijan". The natural beauty of
Dilijan is so, that it is also
called "Armenian Little
Switzerland". In the upper reaches
of the Agstev river, there is
Goshavank (12-13 cc), the monastery
ensemble of the Dilijan district. It
is situated in dense oak woods, in
the gorges of small but turbulent
mountain rivers and is unique with
one of the most interesting and
famous Armenian cross-tone. Continue
tour to Lake Sevan. Lunch in Sevan
tasting local fish. About 70 miles
north of Yerevan sits Lake Sevan the
largest alpine in the world. This
huge mountain lake which takes up to
5% of Armenia's surface area is
about 2,000 meters above sea level
and is the second highest freshwater
lake in the world. The monastery
peninsula is the most popular spot,
and is the closest place to visit as
well. 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. Drive to
Yerevan.
Dinner and overnight in Yerevan. |
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Day 6 |
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Khor Virap
/ Areni / Noravank
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
back to the capital city.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel in
Yerevan. |
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Day 7 |
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The
Matenadaran / Garni / Gueghard
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.
Farewell dinner and overnight at the
hotel in Yerevan. |
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Day 8 |
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Departure
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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