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Cultural
Tours in Armenia
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Magical Holiday in Armenia |
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Cultural Tour
(8 days) |
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You want to explore the city
older than Rome ...
Feel the mystery of the Biblical
Mount Ararat of which you have
read many times in the Bible …
experience the freshness of the
second highest alpine lake of
the world …
explore the last pagan temple in
the whole Caucasus …
feel authentic Christianity in
the first Christian church in
the cradle of Christianity …?
Make your dream come true by our
magical holiday program in
Armenia!
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Day 1,
Day 2 |
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Arrival /
Yerevan City tour
Arrival in Zvartnots airport. Meet
and greet transfer, accommodation at
the hotel. Rest. 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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Yerevan /
Matenadaran / Ashtarak /
Saghmosavank / Amberd Fortress /
Yerevan
Start tour to 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. 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
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 4 |
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Yerevan / Noraduz / Lake Sevan /
Dilijan / Goshavank / Yerevan
Early departure from Yerevan to Lake
Sevan. 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. On the way 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.
Lunch in Sevan tasting local fish.
Drive to 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. Drive to
Yerevan.
Dinner and overnight in Yerevan. |
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Day 5 |
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Yerevan /
Khor Virap / Areni / Noravank /
Yerevan
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 6 |
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Yerevan /
Echmiadzin / Zvartnotz / Genocide
museum / Yerevan
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.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel in
Yerevan.
Optional visit to Yerevan Brandy
Factory. |
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Day 7 |
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Yerevan /
Garni / Geghard / Vernisage /
Yerevan
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. 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.
Farewell dinner and overnight at the
hotel in Yerevan. |
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Day 8 |
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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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