The beauty and spirit of Armenia
- Tour countries:
- Armenia
- Type of tour:
- Historical, General
Day 1: Arrival / Yerevan City Tour / Echmiadzin / Garni / Geghard
Arrival at Zavrtnots International airport. Meet and greet transfer to the hotel. Rest. In the morning after breakfast start city tour around Yerevan visiting Memorial Park and Tsitsernakaberd Memorial. Proceed to Echmiadzin which is mere 20 km from Yerevan. Etchmiadzin Cathedral is known as the center of the Armenian Church and appears to be one of the world's first Christian State churches. Legend has it that it was here that Jesus Christ descended from heaven to show where 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. **Opportunity to have lunch in a local community tasting homemade dishes. 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. **Opportunity to have 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". Drive to 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. Drive back to Yerevan. Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan. (B/--/--)
Day 2: Yerevan / Lake Sevan / Dilijan / Haghartsin / Haghpat
After breakfast depart tour to the high-mountainous Lake Sevan - the emerald of Armenia. It is the second largest alpine freshwater lake in the world and the biggest in the Caucasus. This huge mountain lake which takes a huge territory of Armenia's surface area is about 1900 meters above sea level. Sightseeing in Sevan peninsula with Sevan Monastery (8-9 cc). 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". Visit Haghartsin Monastery (13th c.). Overnight at the hotel in Haghpat village. (B/--/--)
Day 3: Haghpat / Sanahin / Spitak / Yerevan
After breakfast visit the monastic 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. Lunch in a local restaurant tasting local barbecue. Continue to Yerevan via the town of Spitak. Optional photo stops on the way. Check into the hotel in the city center. Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan. (B/--/--)
Day 4: Departure
Transfer to the airport. Departure home!
| Pax N | Rates in Euro per person in DBL/TWN occupancy | ||
| 3* hotel | 4* hotel | 5* hotel | |
| 2 | 550 | 570 | 660 |
| 4 | 420 | 450 | 540 |
| 6 | 370 | 400 | 490 |
| 8 | 340 | 370 | 470 |
| 10 | 330 | 350 | 450 |
| SGL Supplm | 70 | 75 | 135 |
Rates include:
" Accommodation
" 3 x overnight at the hotel in Yerevan
" 1 x overnight at the hotel in Haghpat village
" Transfers and transportation as mentioned in the program
" English speaking professional tour guide throughout the program
" Catering BB: (breakfast at the hotel)
" Entrance fees according to the program
" 1 bottle of mineral water per day per person
Rates do not include
" Flights
" Insurance
" Meals except described
" Portage
" Tips
Meals:
14 Euro per person per lunch
18 Euro per person per dinner
