Yerevan

Yerevan is the pink “pearl” of Armenia, a beautiful European city mostly built with different shades of local pink stone called "tuff" quarried in Armenia. Founded in 782B.C. Yerevan is reputedly one of the oldest cities in the world to have been continuously inhabited. We start our exploration with the Republic Square with it magnificent buildings enhanced by singing fountains. Walking down the Abovyan Street, one of the oldest streets in Yerevan which used to be a part of the Great Silk Road, Northern Avenue, Opera House. Visiting the colossal Monument of Cascade. A visit to the “GUM" Bazaar, a real museum of food. We will visit the Victory park where the Statue of "Mother Armenia" is located from where we are going to have an amazing view of Yerevan with the Holy Mount of Ararat. Our trip also will include the visit to Food Bazaar, a real museum of dried and fresh fruits. We will also visit the largest church in Armenia, St Grigory the Illuminator - built in 2001.

Khor Virap

Visit Khor Virap Monastery. To this day you can visit the underground chamber where St. Gregory the Illuminator, the first Armenia’s Patriarch, was imprisoned for 13 years before curing King Trdat III of a disease. This caused the conversion of the king and Armenia into the first officially Christian nation in the world in the year 301. Its location, near the closest point to Mount Ararat within Armenian borders, offers a spectacular view of the mountain, the national symbol of Armenia.

Noravank Monastery

Visit Noravank Monastery (13-14th centuries), an architectural gemstone nestled among brick-red cliffs, just above a deep gorge.

Areni

Visit one of the wineries in Areni village to have a wine tasting

Lake Sevan

Drive the Lake Sevan, the world’s second largest high altitude lake at 1900m above sea level. It’s a huge mountainous lake which takes up 5% of Armenia's surface area. Climb up to Sevanavank Monastery to marvel at the beautiful view of the Lake Sevan, the “blue-eyed” bride of Armenia.

Dilijan

Continue to Dilijan spa town in Dilijan National Park, a protected area renowned for its serene lakes, picturesque hill trails and peaceful villages. Dilijan is named "Armenia's Little Switzerland". Take a stroll in the most beautiful part of the town, Old Dilijan Complex on historic Shamambeyan street. Here we experience the town as it was in the 19th century.

Haghartsin Monastery

We continue our journey to Haghartsin, a fairy-tale medieval monastery nestled in the middle of the forest.

The Churches of Echmiatsin and the Archaeological Site of Zvartnots

Today we embark on our journey to the lands of ancient treasures of Christian history…Vatican city of Armenia, Holy Echmiadzin with its world’s earliest Christian churches included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Visit Echmiadzin Mother Cathedral. It was originally built by Saint Gregory the Illuminator in 301-303A.D., when Armenia became the first officially Christian state in the world. It’s the most luxurious Armenian cathedral covered by stunning frescoes painted in the 18th century. Continue to St. Hripsime and St. Gayane churches built in 7th century. On the way back to Yerevan visit the Ruins of Zvartnots Cathedral. Zvartnots was a majestic cathedral dedicated to St. Gregory. Zvartnots, built as Armenia's main cathedral in 641-661A.D., was to suppress the Echmiadzin Cathedral by its grandeur. The remnants of Zvartnots, even in ruins, are a majestic sight... It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Garni Temple

We drive to Garni Fortress, the royal summer residence of the Armenian kings and visit Garni Temple of the Sun, the only standing Hellenistic temple in the Caucasus and the former USSR. It resembles Parthenon in Greece but its dimensions are smaller as it was built only for the Armenian royal family to worship the Sun God.

The Monastery of Geghard

We continue to Geghard Monastery (UNESCO), the most beautiful rock-cut medieval monastery in the world with its fascinating natural setting and decorative art carved inside the solid rock. It is the only place in Armenia where you can see a large number of the Armenian exquisite lace-type cross-stones carved on the rocks.