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Adventure
Tours in Armenia
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Stonehenge No Longer in England |
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Adventure Tour
(10 days) |
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Is it hard to believe that
Armenian Karahoonge (Stonehenge)
is older than
Stonehenge in England?
It has been proved that
Karahounge astrological
observatory was in active use
more than 7,500 years– in the
6th millennium B.C. which means
3,000 years before the Egyptian
Pyramids and 3,500 years before
the famous Stonehenge in
England.
"Kar" in Armenian means "stone"
and "henge" is a variation of
the "haunch", meaning sound in
Armenian from the word "hnchyun"
while "henge" in English has no
meaning.
So welcome to the country of
"Speaking Stones" and the
country of the oldest
civilization.
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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. 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 Mother Armenia
statue, 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.
In the second half of the day your
main attraction will be Armenian
History Museum, here the important
archaeological collection from Stone
Age through Medieval periods is 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 /
Khor Virap / Areni village /
Noravank / Goris
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
Syunik region to the town of 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.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel in
Goris. |
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Day 4 |
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Goris / Khndzoresk / Tatev Monastery
Start the tour from Goris to explore
the city, visiting the exciting Dig
Dig stones – natural monument.
Nestled in a bowl of green hills and
mountains, with interesting
formations and many previously
inhabited caves in them, Goris has
some of the nicest overall Armenian
architecture in Armenia. Excursion
tour to Khndzoresk which is a cave
village and there are many signs of
past settlement throughout the
valley which are just waiting for
discovery. You will see that many of
the caves have been carved out by
man and they served as houses for
people. Continue to explore a
monastic complex of Tatev (Cultural
Heritage Site by UNESCO) which is an
architectural masterpiece dating
from the 10th century and is often
called a monastery built on the edge
of nothing. On the way to this
monastery there is a strange natural
bridge called the Devil’s Bridge.
The journey takes about 7 hours and
is a totally absorbing and unique
experience.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel in
Goris. |
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Day 5 |
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Karahunge
/ Selim Carvansarai / Noraduz / Lake
Sevan
After breakfast start tour to
Karahunge (Stonehenge), ancient
observatory 6mil B.C. It is located
at 1770 m. above sea level and
occupies 7 hectares of territory.
The monument consists of about 223
basalt slabs of which 84 have 4-5cm
long openings in them (which, for
Stone Age, have been rendered with
incredible smoothness). In 2001 in
the vicinity of Karahoonge many rock
– paintings were discovered
consisting of drawings that
represent themselves a great
astronomic interest. Drive to Lake
Sevan through Selim Pass 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.
Visit also to Noraduz, ancient
cemetery with medieval khachkars
(cross-stones) dating back to 6th
c.. About 70 miles north of Yerevan
sits lake Sevan. This huge mountain
lake which takes up to 5% of
Armenia's surface area and is about
2,000 meters above sea level is one
of the highest among the freshwater
lakes in the world.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel
Avan Marak Tsapatagh in Sevan. |
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Day 6 |
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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
11-13 th 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 7 |
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Dzoraget /
Saghmosavank / Amberd fortress /
Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory /
Yerevan
Leave Dzoraget and set off to visit
Saghmosavank medieval monastery,
situated in the breathtaking site,
at the deep canyon of Ashtarak. 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 to
Byurakan village where the Byurakan
Astrophysical Observatory is
situated. Founded in 1946 by Viktor
Ambartsumian, it was one of the main
astronomy centers of the USSR. The
observatory has discovered special
star clusters and hundreds of
galaxies. After the breakup of the
Soviet Union, the observatory fell
into hard times. It has been the
site of two major conferences on
SETI, and is recognized as the
regional center for astronomical
research. Return to Yerevan.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel in
Yerevan. |
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Day 8 |
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Etchmiadzin
/ Zvartnots / Vernissage
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 inscribed in
UNESCO World Heritage list). 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. Optional visit
to Yerevan Brandy Factory.
Dinner in a national restaurant and
overnight at Yerevan. |
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Day 9 |
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Matenadaran
/ Garni / Geghard
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. 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
Geghard 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 10 |
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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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