The hugs of a Nature 8 Days/7 Nights Places of Visit: Yerevan, Etchmiatsin, Zvartnots, Garni Temple, Gueghard Monastery,
National Museum of Armenia, Ashtarak, Karmravor church, Ambert, Khor Virap, Areni village, Noravank, Goris, Khndzoresk, Karahunch,
Selim, Noraduz, Sevan, Lake Sevan, Dilijan, Parz Lake,
Haghartsin.
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| Tour Program:
Day 1 Yerevan Arrival in Zvartnots International Airport. Transfer to
Hotel(rooms booked beforehand) .
City tour in Yerevan:
A visit to Matenadaran where are kept the depository
of over 13.000 ancient manuscripts. The Matenadaran
or Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts is
considered to be one of the world's richest
depositories of and handmade books . This
collection dates back to the 5th century, when
Saint Mesrop Mashtots created the Armenian
alphabet.
A visit to “Ararat” Brandy Factory which was built
on 1887. The brandy produced in this factory in
1900 got “Grant-Pry” in Paris. In 1913 Armenian
Brandy was provided to Russian Empire Kingdom.
Here You can get acquainted with brandy distillery
and will taste the legendary brandy.
Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.
Day 2 Etchmiatsin Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to Etchmiatsin.
The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin is the spiritual
and administrative headquarters of the worldwide
Armenian Church. Holy Etchmiatsin is a cathedral
built in the years 302 to 303 AD, soon after
Christianity was established as the official state
religion of Armenia. It is said that St Gregory, known
also as the Holy Illuminator as he enlightened King
Tridat and led him to Christianity in 301, had a vision
of Christ coming down from the clouds and striking
the ground at Etchmiatsin with a golden hammer,
thus designating the location of the new church.
It is spiritual place for the people who first adopted
Christianity and The residence of Patriarch (called
"Catholikos")of the world's 7 million Armenian
Orthodox .Return to Yerevan with stop at the ruins of
Zvartnots temple - the pearl of the 7 c. architecture.
Both are listed as aWorld Cultural Heritage Site by
UNESCO.A visit to a new-opened Garden called
“For Lovers” where You can enjoy Your evening rest.
Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.
Day 3 Yerevan Breakfast at the hotel.
A visit to Garni Pagan temple. The temple was built in
the 1 st century A.D. by the Armenian King Tridates and
was dedicated to Mihr: Armenian God of Sun .
Gueghard Cave Monastery is situated on 7km
South-East from Garni Temple.
Gueghard Cave Monastery: Gueghard is incredible
ancient Armenian monastery, partly carved out of a
mountain. Though the monastery has been around
since before the 4th century, the main cathedral was
built in 1215.
A visit National Museum of Armenia: It was built in
1921. Here You may find more than 25,000 canvases
of different centuries and cultures as Ayvazovski,
Roussoi, Garzu, Kodjoyan, Saryan, Donatello, etc.
Day 4 Ashtarak Breakfast at the hotel. Trip to Ashtarak city.
Excursion in Ashtarak. Visit to Karmravor church .
The small church of Karmravor meaning reddish
hue is dedicated to St Astvadzadzin and located
in the town of Ashtarak There is no exact date of
construction known however on the basis of its
architecture it is considered to be from the 7th
century Karmaravor is a very small domed church
measuring only 19 by 24 feet This church belongs
to a series of small Armenian churches built as free
crosses It has a horseshoe east apse which is
rectangular on the exterior The other three arms
or bays are rectangular both inside and in their
exterior There are four squinches above the central
square that complete the octagon of the drum and
eight small squinches are used between the drum
and cupola Karmravor is simply decorated with
geometric motifs braids zigzags of semicircles
and foliages. The cornices are of basket weave
sculpturing and the dome eaves are decorated with
leaf design Entrance to the church is from the west
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Amberd: Amberd is a fortress complex with a church
built on the slopes of Mountain Aragats at 2,300 meters
above sea level in the XI-XIII centuries. Amberd
translates to fortress in the clouds in Armenian.
Amberd stands on a rocky eminence, again one of
the impregnable fortresses of medieval Armenia.
The princely castle of Amberd was built in the 11th
to 13th centuries. A two-storeyed structure fitted
with a majestic staircase, the castle is protected by
walls with inclined towers. The baths were
constructed outside the palace in the 13th century.
The church was built in 1026 by Prince Vahram
Pahlavuni. It belongs to the cupolad hall type. The
exterior architecture is simple and expressive,
crowned by an umbrella shaped cupola.
The road leading up to it on Mountain Aragats is
virtually uninhabited and has gently sloping hills
with the occasional shepherd and beekeeper, many
wildflowers and great views. it is a perfect spot to relax,
go back in time, and catch your breath.
Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.
Day 5 Areni Breakfast at the hotel.
Khor Virap: here you can have the best view of
Biblical mountain Ararat. Khor Virap is one of the
most popular destinations in Armenia where Grigor
Luisavorich (St. Gregory the Illuminator)-the first
Catholicon of all Armenians- was imprisoned for 13
years. Noravank: Noravank monastery of 13 c is
listed as aWorld Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Noravank ("New monastery") was founded by Bishop
Hovhannes, who moved there in 1205.
Overnight at the hotel “Mirhav” in Goris.
Day 6 Sevan 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. There
are a very large number of caves. You will see that many
of the caves have been carved out by man and served
as houses for people. You will find the ruins of a
village, a beautiful ancient church, and very old
tombstones. Karahunge: Continue tour to Karahunge
(Stonehenge), ancient observatory 5mil B.C.
or Karahundj, Zorakarer is 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 honor 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.
Carahunge
Drive to Lake Sevan through Selim Pass visiting the
caravanserai (XIV c.). For many centuries the Great
Silk Road connected a complex network of trade routes
from Europe with Asia. It was a way to establish
contact with the great civilizations of China, India, the
Near East and Europe. Trade caravans, diplomatic
missions, merchants representatives of religious circles,
dervishes, warriors – millions people have passed on
this road through time with nothing frightening these
brave travelers, neither the difficult roads, nor the
waterless deserts. The East -West trade routes
passed across the Armenian plateau (Selim pass) and
favored the development of the country's economy,
trade, commerce and culture.
Noraduz cemetery is a medieval cemetery with a large
number of early khachkars located in the village of
Noraduz. In Gegharkhunik region 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 and is about 2,000 meters above
sea level is one of the highest among the freshwater
lakes in the world. Some three dozen of streamers
pour into it and only one river origins from the lake –
Hrazdan.With its history and scenery lake
Sevan is among the most inviting destinations in
the world. Overnight at the hotel in Sevan.
Day 7 Dilijan A walk on the beach of lake Sevan the Gem of Armenia.
The tour will continue to Dilijan which is also called
Armenia's “Little Switzerland”. The forested town has
some great examples of traditional architecture of the
region. Continue tour to Haghartsin Monastery.
Haghartsin is a 13th century monastery located near
the town of Dilijan, Armenia. It was built between the
10th and 14th century.
Overnight in the hotel in Yerevan.
Day 8 Yerevan Departure
Standard Tour price Includes:
- Accommodation
- Transportation
- Full board
- Entrance fees
- English speaking guide
Does not include:
- Personal insurance;
- Photo and Camera fees;
- Visa and consular fees;
- Tips for guide and driver;
- International/local Flight Tickets;
- Items not mentioned above.
- Visa to Armenia
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