Spirit of Armenia

Yerevan is considered to be the oldest operating capital in the world, older than Rome and Nineveh and will celebrate its 2800th anniversary in 2018. Now Yerevan is a vibrant and modern European city with much to offer.

In the morning you visit the Matenadaran – depository and Museum of Ancient Manuscripts with a collection of about 17,000 manuscripts. The heaviest book in Matenadaran is around 34 kgs and consists of 2 pieces. Afterwards, you can see the most beautiful panorama of Yerevan City and the biblical Mount Ararat from the top of huge Cascade Monument. Cascade is a masterpiece in terms of architecture and is decorated in a very stunning way.

Not far from Cascade you see the Mother Armenia Statue, which symbolizes ”peace through strength”. Having its location on a hill overlooking Yerevan City, makes her ”The Guardian of the Armenian Capital”.

During a short walking tour in the City Centre you pass through the Northern Avenue which connects the two Yerevan Famous Squares – The Republic Square and the France Square (where Opera House with the original statue of Rodin is located).

The Republic Square in Armenia with the governmental buildings is considered to be one of the most beautiful squares of the world.

The tour also includes Yerevan State University and the Island of universities, Victory Bridge, Tsitsernakaberd Hill with Genocide Museum, Sports & Concerts complex, Kiev Bridge, Parliament, Residence of President, Academy of Sciences.

Overnight stay in Yerevan.

A fantastic tour dedicated to exploration of southern Armenia combining the magic of Armenia’s finest medieval architecture with stunning landscapes by driving through the agricultural heart of Armenia.

Your first stop will be at the Khor Virap Monastery – the most important place of pilgrimage in Armenia. From here you get a unique view of the holy Armenian mountain Ararat (5,165 m), on which (according to the Bible), Noah’s ark landed after the world flood.
As soon as you pass the Ararat Plain, you can experience the untamed beauty of southern Armenia – surreal red rocks providing an eerie echo, honey-colored villages sandwiched between them.

Continue to the previous residence of Syunik’s bishops – Noravank monastery, nestled at the edge of the narrow gorge in the impressive mountainous landscape with peculiar red hanging rocks.

The most interesting part of the tour is still waiting for you – the majestic Tatev monastery, which you reach with the longest cable tram in the world (already registered in the Guinness World Records Book). This used to be wealthiest medieval monastery in Armenia. Besides being a religious center, Tatev was also the important strategic center of Syunik kingdom, surrounded with deep gorge.

Overnight stay in the small city of Goris, surrounded by mountains which are famous for their medieval cave-dwellings carved out of the soft rock.

After breakfast, the most part of today’s tour will go on the Great Silk Road. Passing through the Selim Pass, you stop at the the caravanserai of Selim, which offered hospitality to travelers along the silk road crossing the Selim (Sulema) mountains. The best preserved of all medieval caravanserais in Armenia, it comprises a vaulted antechamber and a large hall partitioned into three sections lighted through openings in the ceiling.

After a few kilometers, you will get to admire the beautiful view of Lake Sevan – the 2nd largest fresh-water high-altitude lake in the world after Titicaca (Los Andes, Bolivia) and the largest lake in Armenia and the Caucasus Region. Lake Sevan is the pearl of incomparable beauty with stunning turquoise waters. On the Lake bank, you will visit the largest cross-stones field of Armenia, Noradusa unique open-air museum. The Cross-Stone is a typical manifestation of the Armenian culture, as other nations do not have this type of culture, and is already a UNESCO World Heritage.

On the picturesque peninsula, you visit the Sevanavank monastery, which once used to serve as a place of exile of the Armenian nobility. You will then proceed to Dilijan spa town in the Dilijan National Park, a protected area renowned for its serene lakes, picturesque hill trails and peaceful villages. Due to its forested mountains and mild climate, Dilijan is named ”Armenia’s Little Switzerland”.

Overnight stay in Dilijan.

After breakfast, take a short walking tour along one of the most beautiful and oldest streets of the Old Dilijan – Sharambeyan where you will find small art schools and souvenir shops. Continue to Haghartsin Monatsrey, a fairy-tale monastery set amidst flower-filled glade in a dense rainforest.

Tour to the medieval city-fortress Lori (Lori berd). Its ruins are located 5 km. north-east of Stepanavan regional centre, on the left bank of River Dzoraget.

Overnight stay in Dzoraget at the Debed River, nestled among the forest-covered hills and rocky slope of Caucasus Mountains. Here you can enjoy the views and serenity of the Debed River, as well as the hospitality and comfort Armenia is known for.

After breakfast, today you explore north Armenia, visit one of the masterpieces of medieval Armenian architecture – Haghpat Monasteries at the Debed gorge (UNESCO World Heritage Site). This fortified monastery served as the main cultural and literary center during the middle ages. The floor of one of the buildings is notable for the clay pots recessed into the dirt. In the past, this building was used as a library.

On the way back to Yerevan, you drive through Yezidi Villages and stop at an old Yesdi graveyard with about 20 small stone horse statues. Visit Gntunik Bakery, which is a paradise for all bakery lovers! Bread, cakes, sweets, everything so tasty that one can hardly leave the bakery.

Following by the highest mountain of Armenia – Aragats (4090 m), drive to the Saghmosavank Monastery (”Psalm Monastery”) at the foothills of Mount Ara, perched at the edge of Kasagh River Canyon, a dramatic setting with the views of 3 amazing mountains in the horizon – Ararat, Aragats and Ara. Saghmosavank was once a religious, academic and cultural center of medieval Armenia. Continue to Yerevan.

Overnight stay in Yerevan.

After breakfast, you will visit the religious center of Armenia – Echmiadzin which is the ”Vatican” city of Armenia with the Holy See of the Armenian Apostolic Church where the Supreme Patriarch (Catholicos) of All Armenians resides. Armenia is the first Christian country in the world since 301 A.D. and the world’s oldest official Christian church is to be found in Echmiadzin – the Mother Cathedral of Echmiadzin.

Continue to St. Hripsime church, a true masterpiece of early medieval Armenian architecture. On the way back to Yerevan visit the Ruins of Zvartnots Cathedral – the place of ”celestial angels”. The remnants of Zvartnots, even in ruins, are a majestic sight.

Overnight stay in Yerevan.

Just outside of Armenia’s capital, a quiet mountain road leads high above the city, offering a glimpse into Earth’s ancient history. You stop first at Charent’s Arch – the breathtaking lookout point of the biblical Mount Ararat. Then drive to the Geghard Monastery carved out of a huge monolithic rock. It is said that the Holy Lance that pierced the body of Christ was kept here. It is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Then continue to the Garni Pagan Temple, the only Hellenistic temple in the Caucasus. Gracing the hillside, the temple was dedicated to the God of Sun, Mithra, and comprises also royal palace ruins, Roman Baths with a well preserved mosaic.

Master class of traditional Armenian bread ”lavash” being baked in tonir (ground oven). The preparation, meaning and appearance of traditional bread as an expression of culture in Armenia has been inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Drive back to Yerevan.

Overnight stay in Yerevan.

After breakfast, transfer from hotel to the airport for your departure.