Arabian Armenia

Day 1: Arrival in Yerevan -transfer to the selected hotel-Yerevan City tour

Breakfast at the hotel. City tour- Yerevan sightseeing including City center, Republic square, State University, City panorama, Mother Armenia Monument, Parliament, President’s Palace, Opera, Sports & Concert Complex. Visit to Matenadaran – one of the world’s largest depositories of ancient manuscripts, pride of Armenian culture. Depository’s collection holds about 17,000 manuscripts and includes almost all the areas of ancient and medieval Armenian culture and sciences, as well as manuscripts in Arabic, Persian, Greek, Syrian, Latin, Ethiopian, Indian, Japanese and others. Visit to Cascade complex, which is considered the modern art center of Yerevan, with art pieces displayed throughout the whole area: the boulevard and up the stairs, from top of which you can enjoy the panoramic view on the city and Mountain Ararat. Cascade is home to Cafesjan modern art museum.

This place becomes even more charming in the evenings, when it is full of people, both locals and tourists from all over the world, enjoying the magic and the warmth of the capital. You will enjoy spending time in one of the cosy open-air cafes surrounded by beautiful sculptures, redolent flowers shining brightly with magic colors. It is also a popular place for open air concerts at summer season. Visit to one of the biggest and oldest mosque in Caucasus “Blue mosque” which is situated in the heart of Yerevan city. O/N in Yerevan.

Day 2: Yerevan- Sevan lake– Armenian Switzerland Dilijan -Tsakhadzor

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Sevan, one of the greatest high mountainous freshwater lakes of Eurasia, climb on Akhtamar peninsula from where the fascinating view on the Lake is open. Visit Sevanavank monastery, which stands in its greatness on the peninsula overlooking the lake for centuries. Drive to mountainous resort Dilijan, or so called “Armenian Switzerland”, which is well known for its forests as well as for its mysterious flora and fauna. During the drive one can enjoy the unbelievable change of the surrounding environment and land shaft from the mountainous lake to the green and rich forest mountains.

Small walking city tour in Dilijan: visit to handicrafts’ street, where one can watch the preparation of different national souvenirs from wood, stone and ceramics. Visit to Haghartsin Monastery which is located in the secluded place of the forest. Haghartsin dates back to 11-13th century and represents a magnificent piece of history, culture and architecture. Besides the place is so unique and the scenery with the nature surrounding it is so breathtaking that most of visitors are in awe. After a visit to the monastery in 2005 His Royal Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi made a generous donation for certain renovation works and preservation of this monastery representing the rich history of the human kind. Appearing unexpectedly, out of the dense forests, in front of the visitors, the Monastery creates a magical impression of the lost world.

Drive to Tsakhkadzor town the magical place of forested mountains (means “gorge of flowers”), short walking tou r around the small town. Opportunity to go up to the mountain peaks by rope way, where you will catch an unforgettable gorgeous panoramic view of this part of the world (optional, at extra charge 5$ per ticket for going up the first level and back). In winter Tsakhkadzor is a well-known ski resort with several levels of ropeways leading up the mountains. In summer it’s a pleasant place to spend the afternoon in nature and enjoy the sun. Visit Kecharis monastery. Drive back to Yerevan. O/N in Yerevan.

Day 3: Vernissage handicraft market-Garni –Geghard (UNESCO)- shopping in Mall in Yerevan

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit Vernissage (an open-air exhibition-market, where you can find unique examples of art and craft work, traditional carpets, jewellery, old collections of coins and medallions, musical instruments, electronics).. Drive to the only remaining pagan temple in Armenia devoted to the God of Sun – Myrth, in Garni, built in 77 AD by King Trdat (Arshakid Dynasty). Photo stop at Charentc Arc.

The temple is Greco-Roman style with characteristic pillars. It stands proudly on a rocky ridge with a deep canyon presenting a beautiful view. The temple was a summer residence for Arshakid dynasty. Visit to the ruins of Royal Palace and Royal bath-house nearby. Canyon of Garni -magnificent and outstanding scene which creates the image of falling crags. It obtained the name “Symphony of Stones” due to its view. The fantastic landscape of Garni canyon shakes the human imagination.

Drive to the unique caved temple St. Geghard (12th -13th cc.), the name of which means “holy spear” in the honor of the longpreserved spear, the same spear that pierced the body of crucified Christ. It is now exhibited in the museum of Etchmiadzin Cathedral. Geghard Monastery is included in the UNESCO World Heritage list (2000). Drop to Dalma Garden or Yerevan Mall for shopping.

Optional: family hosted lunch in village private house, watching preparation of “Lavash” (Armenian traditional flat bread baked in stone-make oven) by countryside Armenian ladies using the same ancient technology as hundreds of years before. O/N in Yerevan.

Day 4: Transfer to the airport

Prices are given in USD Per pax in DBL room, FITs

Prices are given in USD Per pax in DBL room, GROUPs

The rates include:

• Accommodation
• BB (breakfasts)
• Transportation service per program
• Guide service per program
• All entry tickets (excepts Tsakhadzor ropeway)

The rates do not include:

• Air flight ticket
• Insurance
• Tsakhadzor ropeway-5 USD PP
• Visa