Thursday: ARRIVAL IN ARMENIA

Arrival in Yerevan.

Meet&Greet in the airport

Transfer to the hotel

Friday: CITY TOUR + TEMPLE OF GARNI + GEGHARD + SYMPHONY OF STONES + DINNER WITH FOLKLORE

Breakfast at the hotel

09:00 – 12:00 City tour of Yerevan with Victory Park, in which stands the large statue to Mother Armenia and from which there is the best view of the city. We continue to Cascade Complex and stroll through the city center from the Armenian Opera House Square to Republic Square. Then departure to the Kotayk region. Not far from Yerevan you can visit an extremely picturesque sight - the Charents Arch, giving an incredible view of Mount Ararat.

13:00 You have a lunch at a family-owned restaurant in Garni village and are welcome to have your first contact with delicious Armenian cuisine by participating in a culinary master class for preparation of Lavash, Armenia's traditional bread.

14:30 Visit to the Temple of Garni, the only standing Greco-Roman colonnaded building in Armenia. The temple dedicated to the sun god Mihr is the best-known symbol of pre-Christian Armenia.

15:30 We continue to the Geghard Rock Monastery (UNESCO World Heritage Site) being partially carved out of the adjacent mountain. The monastery was originally named Ayrivank ("the Monastery of the Cave"). The name Geghard, or more fully Geghardavank, meaning "the Monastery of the Spear", originates from the spear which had wounded Jesus at the Crucifixion, allegedly brought to Armenia and stored at the monastery for a long time. This masterpiece of Armenian medieval architecture is set into a landscape of great natural beauty, surrounded by towering cliffs at the entrance to the Azat Valley.

Short descent and you see a deep canyon with walls covered in basalt rock formations shaped like organ pipes. This place has earned the name "Symphony of Stones."

18:00 Return back to the hotel.

Free time in the city.

19:00 Dinner at a city restaurant with folklore

Saturday:   KHOR VIRAP + ARENI CAVE + ARENI VILLAGE + WINE TASTING + NORAVANK

Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out of the hotel.

Meeting with guide.

09:00 Depart for the Ararat valley to visit the Khor Virap Monastery where St. Gregory the Illuminator lived in captivity for thirteen years in an underground cell.

10:00 – 11:00 Visit to the Khor Virap Monastery, which is located in a high position on the left bank of the Araks River on the Turkish border with a splendid view of Mount Ararat.

Continue to the Vajots Dzor region along the beautiful Gnishik River Gorge.

12:30 You will visit Areni Cave 1 (Bird Cave). The oldest shoe in the world and an ancient wine cellar were found right there during archaeological excavations.

The village of Areni is located in the Vayots Dzor region. This sunny village is famous for its best wine assortments. Due to its specific flavor and delicate taste, "Areni" wine has its respected place among the best Armenian wines.

13:00 – 14:30 Lunch in a village house with a master class on cooking barbecue in a tandoor and wine tasting.

15:00 – 16:30 We arrive at the wonderful monastic complex of Noravank, particularly famous for its architecture, refined architectural solutions and luxurious embellishments. Noravank is one of the most brilliant examples of 13th-century Armenian architecture. The monastic complex includes the churches of St. Karapet, St. Gregory the Illuminator and St. Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God).

16:30 - 18:30 Transfer back to the hotel

Free time in the city

Sunday: ECHMIADZIN + ZVARTNOTS

Breakfast at the hotel

Check-out of the hotel and transfer to the airport

OPTIONAL:

09:00 Transfer to Zvartnots

09:30 – 10:30 Visit to Zvartnots, a magnificent and majestic temple built in the 7th century, which is one of the masterpieces of Armenian architecture, registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Zvartnots means "Celestial Angels". Departure to Echmiadzin, the city nicknamed the "Armenian Vatican" because it is the seat of the "Catholicos," the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

11:00 – 12:00Visit to the Museum "Treasures of Echmiadzin" housing unique holy relics and religious art. Among the many treasures there are: the Holy Lance (Geghard), which pierced the side of Christ; the relics of Noah's Ark and other valuable pieces of art.

12:00 – 13:00 Territory of the Monastery of Echmiadzin. Visit tothe St. Gayane Church and the St. Hripsime Church

13:00 Lunch in the Echmiadzin monastery

14:30 Transfer to the airport (12 km, 15 min).

The price includes

The price doesn’t include

- Transfers airport – hotel and hotel - airport;

- Accommodation in a 4* hotel;

- 1 pax free in a SGL room;

- Guide for the entire period (available languages: English, German, French, Italian. Chinese – per request);

- Accommodation for 3 nights in Yerevan;

- 3 breakfasts + 2 lunches;

- 1 dinner with folklore;

- 1 wine tasting;

- 1 master class on Armenian baking;

- Radio equipment;

- 1 bottle of water per day per person during the tour;

- Transportation services;

- All entrance fees to historical and cultural sites mentioned in the program

o Airline tickets;

o Optional excursions:

“Zvartnots + Echmiadzin” on the departure day:

50 EUR/pers (min. group 15 pers),

43 EUR/pers (min. group 25 pers)

o Drinks and gratuities;

o Dinners (except 2^nd day);

o Any services not mentioned in the section “The price includes”