Cultural Discovery Tours in Armenia

You'll be welcomed at Zvartnots airport and roomed in a hotel in Yerevan. After a short rest you'll undertake a tour around Yerevan, the magnificent capital of Armenia, representing a sweet mixture of East and West cultures, ancient and modern. You are in Yerevan for the first time? Then prepare yourself for fresh experiences and unknown feelings, for that's what you are sure to have seeing sites of Yerevan by the daylight, and even more seeing magic Yerevan at night.
Overnight: Hotel in Yerevan.

You'll enjoy sightseeing in the vicinage of Yerevan with first stop at Etchmiadzin, one of the ancient capitals of Armenia, with the Mother Church, The Cathedral of Holly Etchmiadzin (UNESCO World Heritage Site), a masterpiece of classical Armenian architecture, founded in 301 AD. Your second stop will be at ruins of Zvartnots temple (built in 7-th c., destroyed by an earthquake in 10-th c., UNESCO World Heritage Site), a magnificent massive complex of temple, palace, wine cellars and food storage. Next site will be the medieval fortress of Amberd, a fortress of great defensive significance, which sheltered people of nearby villages during the enemy's attacks. Amberd is situated at a height of 2300 m on the slopes of Aragats Mountain.
Overnight: Hotel in Yerevan.

You'll spare on visiting the temple of Garni (I c. AD), suspended between earth and sky, on the top of huge granite rocks. Garni area is also famous for Garni gorge with peaks soaring 2000-300 feet above the canyon, known for its "Stone Organ". You'll also go to ageless monastery of Geghard (IV c. AD), carved in stone, settled under the wing of a grand rock. Back to Yerevan you'll have leisure hours to lead your private investigation in the local shops, bars, restaurants or any other areas and make your own discoveries.
Overnight: Hotel in Yerevan.

You'll visit the monastery complex of Khor Virap, located just at the slope of Ararat. Here the establisher of Christianity in Armenia Grigor the Enlightener had been in confinement for 13-14 years. Then the tour will bring you to attractive monastic complex of Noravank (XIII-XIV), standing gracefully on a flat surface of a hill. Among other monuments you'll see the main church of St. Karapet (1221-1227) and two-storeyed memorial church of Astvatsatsin (1339), the last work of famous Armenian architect Momik. Then you'll go to fairy Karahounj, the ancient astral observatory, which is much older than more famous Stonehenge in England. At last you'll reach Goris, and have overnight stop at hotel in Goris.
Overnight: Hotel in Goris.

You'll start from the hotel in the direction of the Khndzoresk. Khndzoresk is a cave settlement of the Bronze Age. It looks like almost vertical multi-story rocky amphitheater. Tatev (IX c) is a majestic monastery, a mighty defense complex, undergone considerable destructions from the earthquake of 1931. Having explored Tatev, you will return to Yerevan.
Overnight: Hotel in Yerevan.

Day is given to visitting the Fortress Town of Erebuni, the ancient forerunner of Yerevan, located at Arin-Berd hilltop. At present Erebuni is partially restored and made into an open-air museum. In the pathway of the entrance to the fortress Erebuni Museum (1968), located in the pathway of the entrance to the fortress. The second place of great importance you'll visit this day is Matenadaran, one of the world's largest depositories of ancient manuscripts (more, than 17,000 documents) and the Institute for manuscript study. Here the tour of this day will end, and you'll have some leisure hours for wandering and shopping.
Overnight: Hotel in Yerevan.

You'll be taken to a breathtaking excursion to Sanahin monastery (X c.), which you'll reach over Sanahin Bridge (1195) of supreme artistic merit across Debed River. Then you'll continue your tour to Haghpat monastery (Xc) rising sharply against a background of steep forested slopes. Exploring this tremendous work of architecture you'll start for Odzoun basilica (VI c.), famous for its large memorial monuments of V-VII centuries, representing some degree of approximation to the antique triumphal arch. And at last you'll your trip, reaching Dilijan.
Overnight: Hotel in Dilijan.

You'll visit Goshavank (XII-XIII), monastery complex in the place of an older monastery, Ghetik, destroyed by an earthquake. Then you'll see Haghartsin (X-XIII), an architectural ensemble the building of which took about 300 years. Here you can see numerous memorial khachkars, among which unique and highly artistic ones can be found. From here you'll start for lake Sevan, one of the most idyllic beauty spots. You'll visit its peninsula, with two churches on its top, providing a panoramic view. The exciting story, told by the guide will take you to the reigning times of the king Ashot Erkat (Ashot the Iron X c.). and by the end of the day you'll return to Yerevan.
Overnight: Hotel in Yerevan.

You'll visit the Harichavank monastery complex which was built in the 6th-7th centuries AD, located on a cape formed by shallow ravines and the rivers that flow through them. Afterwards, you will go on a sightseeing tour of Gyumri. You will see the old, historical part of the city, which is renowned for its unique architecture and buildings dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries. Next, you will visit the Dzitoghtsyan Museum of Public Life and National Architecture. These historic mansion houses collections dedicated to the history and daily life of Gyumri.
Overnight: Hotel in Yerevan.