Arrival to the Zvartnots International airport of Yerevan. Meet and transfer to the selected hotel in Yerevan.

Accommodation:

• Mid-Range Accommodation: 3* Hotel
• High-end Accommodation: 4* Hotel

This time, let's explore the city on foot. Stroll around Cascade with the statues of Botero and visit Matenadaran, a depositary of ancient manuscripts, research institute and museum located in Yerevan. It holds one of the world's richest depositories of medieval manuscripts and books which span a broad range of subjects, including history, philosophy, medicine, literature, art history and cosmography in Armenian and many other languages. Our next stop is the Museum of History of Armenia, which represents an integral presentation of the history and culture of Armenia from prehistoric times (one million years ago) till our days. Overnight at the selected hotel in Yerevan.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

• Mid-Range Accommodation: 3* Hotel
• High-end Accommodation: 4* Hotel

Direction to Geghard (UNESCO World Heritage) a cave Monastery. The hermitage was renamed Geghard, which meant "lance", as it was the depositary of one of the relics of the Armenian Apostolic church: The lance that one of the Roman guards had used to pierce the rib of crucified Christ. Drive to Garni village. Hiking in Garni gorge to admire the beauty of Symphony of stones (1,5-2 hours, ~ 5 km). After, our next stop is at the pagan temple of Garni, which is the only remaining monument of the Hellenistic period in Armenia. The holy place is dedicated to the God of the sun Mithra and was built in the 2nd half of the I century A.D. during the reign of king Trdat I. Notice that it is built of basalt stone. After, Armenia adopted Christianity as a state religion in 301, the temple became the summer residence of the Armenian royal family. Drive back to Yerevan. Overnight at the selected hotel in Yerevan.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

• Mid-Range Accommodation: 3* Hotel
• High-end Accommodation: 4* Hotel

Take the direction to the Monastery of Khor Virap. The landscape here is dominated by Mount Ararat (5165 m). The Monastery of Khor Virap is one of the sacred places of the Armenian Apostolic Church, where one can see the pit that served as a prison for Gregory the Illuminator, the first Armenian saint and founder of the Apostolic Church. Drive to village Areni, visit wine factory. After visit cave Areni 1, where was finded the ancient winery in the world. Then, we will move to Noravank, a canyon flora, very interesting and its preservation is of crucial importance because you can find either rare plants or an entire row of wild relatives of exceptional endemic cultivated plants there. The canyon was also populated by one of the precious animals of the country that is currently missing: the Persian Leopard (Panthera paradus saxicolor). Visit the Monastery of Noravank founded in the 13th century which is located in a deep gorge. The monastery is dominated by high mountains of exceptional beauty. Continue to Khndzoresk, a village that was once inhabited and is now about to be discovered. Most of the caves were built by the people who used to live here. Drive to the city of Goris, famous for the medieval cave-dwellings carved out of the soft rock in the southern part of town. Overnight at the selected hotel in Goris.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

• Mid-Range Accommodation: 3* Hotel
• High-end Accommodation: 4* Hotel

Continuation towards the monastic complex of Tatev by longist cable car in the world (5.7km), which is an architectural masterpiece dated from the 9th century and is often called a monastery built on the edge of nothing. Starting from the 14th century it is mentioned as a university. It’s one of the oldest universities in the world where students used to study humanitarian and social sciences, music, writing skills, calligraphy and so on. Direction to Karahunge, 3,500 years older than England’s Stonehenge and 3,000 years older than the Egyptian pyramids. The total area of the observatory is 7 hectares. According to the scientist’s findings, a temple consisting of 40 stones built in honour of the Armenians’ main God,"Ari", meaning the Sun, is situated in the central part of Karahunge. Besides the temple, it had a large and developed observatory, and also a university that makes up the temple’s wings. Continuation of the trip by Selim pass, on the way visiting Selim Caravanserai, situated in the Selim mountain pass, 2410m above the sea level, on the old road that connected historical Gegharkunik with Vayots Dzor. According to the two building inscriptions, the caravanserai was built in 1332 by Prince Orbelyan Chesar. Overnight in Nerkin Getashen.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

• Mid-Range Accommodation: 3* Hotel
• High-end Accommodation: 4* Hotel

Next stop is Noraduz, a cemetery of crosstones (khachkars). It is a big cemetery and widely known thanks to its great numbers of unique khachkars mostly of the 13th to 17th century. After that, departure to Lake Sevan. Discovery of the Lake Sevan, or Armenia’s Blue Pearl, which is located at 2000m above sea level. Surrounded by mountains it one of the largest mountain lakes in the world and strikes the imagination with its magnificent beauty. It deserves to stroll along its coasts enjoying its breathtaking view. Visit the Monastery Sevanavank, located on a peninsula. The monastery was founded in 874 by Princess Mariam. It consists of two churches dating back to the 10th century, the holy apostles and holy mother of God. Continuation and stop in Dilijan. We will explore the Sharambeyan street in the centre has been preserved and maintained as an "old town," complete with craftsman's workshops, a gallery and a museum. Continue to Haghartsin monasery. St. Astvatsatsin Church in Haghartsin (1281) is the largest building and the dominant artistic feature. The sixteen-faced dome is decorated with arches, the bases of whose columns are connected by triangular ledges and spheres, with a band around the drum’s bottom. This adds to the optical height of the dome and creates the impression that its drum is weightless. The platband of the southern portal's architrave is framed with rows of trefoils. The 12th-century gavit abutting St. Grigor Church is of the most common type of plan. It is a square building, with roofing supported by four internal abutments. Drive to Yerevan. Overnight at the selected hotel in Yerevan

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

• Mid-Range Accommodation: 3* Hotel
• High-end Accommodation: 4* Hotel

Departure to Echmiadzin which is located at 30 min outside of the city and considered as the holiest city in Armenia. This former capital is now the residence of the Supreme Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church. The main Cathedral (UNESCO world heritage) was founded by St. Gregory the Illuminator in 303 and stands on a former pagan temple. On the way back, we will see the ruins of Zvartnots cathedral (UNESCO world heritage), one of the most original masterpieces of Armenian architecture. This place was built in the 7th century by Catholicos Nerses III Shinarar. It collapsed by an earthquake in the 10th century. The temple was a two-tiered central-domed structure that amazes with its magnificence. After that, return to Yerevan. Visit to the Armenia Genocide Museum and Memorial. The Genocide Monument is designed to memorialize the innocent victims of the first Genocide of the 20th century. Its mission statement is rooted in the fact that understanding the Armenian Genocide is an important step in preventing similar future tragedies, in keeping with the notion that those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it. Overnight at the selected hotel in Yerevan.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

• Mid-Range Accommodation: 3* Hotel
• High-end Accommodation: 4* Hotel

Transfer to the airport and flight back home.

Meals: Breakfast