Arrival in Yerevan – transfer to the selected hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.  Holy mass at Catholic parish of Yerevan.  City tour in Yerevan will start with the panoramic view of the city and acquaintance with the Center of the city, the sightseeing of Opera and Ballet building, the Parliament and Residency of the President of Armenia.

Visit to Tsitsernakaberd - a Monument to the Armenian Genocide Victims, as well as the Genocide Victim’s Museum, commemorating the 1.5 million Armenians who perished during the first Genocide of the 20th century in the Western Armenia and in the territory of Ottoman Empire. 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. 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.Visit to Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral, that is currently the largest cathedral of the Armenian Apostolic Church. The program includes dinner in a local restaurant.

O/N in Yerevan

Breakfast at the hotel. Holy mass at Catholic chapel of Yerevan Mother Teresa Orphanage.

Visit to Vernisaj, national crafts/art market (open only on Saturdays and Sundays). Drive to Etchmiadzin city used to be the ancient capital of Armenia. Since 4th century, it is the largest religious center, the residency of Catholicos of All Armenians. Visit to St.Hripsime Church (618 A.D.) that represents the perfect example of cruciform plan and central cupola. Its dominant feature is the basic harmony of layout and proportions, as well as the simplicity and classical purity of its facades, the outstanding qualities of the Armenian architecture of the high Middle Ages. Visit to Etchmiadzin Cathedral, one of the major Armenian Apostolic churches.. The cathedral is one of the ancient churches in the Christian world, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List (2000). It is the center of Armenian Apostolic Church. It was founded in 301 A.D. by St. Gregory the Illuminator.

Drive to Yerevan, on a way visit Zvartnots, a temple of Vigil Forces, built in 641—661 A.D. as Armenia’s main cathedral by the Catholicos Nerses III. It is considered one of the architectural wonders and unique example of Armenian architecture of early Christian period. It was damaged by an earthquake in the 10th century. Тhe ruins of this cathedral still speak about the rare beauty of it. The Zvartnots Archaeological Site is a unique example of Armenian architecture of the early Christian period. The building consisted of three polyhedrons, supported by the massive pillars decorated with eagles, ornamented with grape withes, twigs of pomegranate. Zvartnots is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List (2000). The program includes dinner in a local restaurant.

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Breakfast at the hotel. This exciting tour will bring you to the holy place of imprisonment of St. Gregory the Illuminator accused by Armenian king of preaching Christianity. He stayed here in the small dungeon for 13 years without any food, neighboured with scorpions and snakes. However the punishment from on high came down and King Trdat turned into swine. After king repented, he came back to human appearance and freed St. Gregory. In that same period, in 301 A.D. the king was christened with the people near the river Aratsan. Christianity was adopted as a state religion throughout Armenia.

Khor Virap Church became one of the holy places for the Christian world. Here you can also see the closest and most spectacular view of the gorgeous biblical mountain Ararat shining with its two white peaks. Feels like you want to stretch your hand and touch the peak of the mountain. It is one of the few ancient towns, built by special design of famous Carthaginian general Hannibal. After the defeat in a war against Rome he found a shelter in Armenia…

Drive to Noravank Monastery complex (XIII- XIV cc.). On a way stop at Areni village that is famous for its wine making. Wine degustation. Recent archaeological excavations found 6000 years winery with 5 wine cellars. There is such an incredibly beautiful scenery along the road to Noravank that the visitors can not resist stepping out of the vehicle and walk all the way to the Monastery with their cameras to enjoy and record the unique bizarre-shaped precipitous red cliffs. Drive back to Yerevan.  Dinner in a local restaurant.

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Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Lake Sevan , one of the wonders in Armenia. This blue lake is one of the greatest high mountainous freshwater lakes of Eurasia. On a clear and sunny day, the water is often of a deep turquoise colour. Total surface of the lake is 940 km2. Akhtamar peninsula is most popular destination to enjoy the breath-taking view on Sevan Lake, make pics for sweet memories and visit with the ancient Sevanavank Monastery (IX century), which stands in its greatness on the peninsula overlooking the lake for centuries. It was built by the daughter of the founder of Bagratuni dynasty King Ashot I, Armenian princess Mariam. Sevanavank Monastery consists of 2 churches, Surb Arakelots (Holy Aposteles) and Surb Astvatsamair (Holy Godmother).

Optional: visit to priest seminary in Sevan.

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 landshaft from the mountainous lake to the green and rich forest mountains. Visit to Haghartsin Monastery complex which is located in the secluded place of the forest. The place is so unique and the scenery with the nature surrounding it is so breathtaking that most of visitors are in awe. Appearing unexpectedly, out of the dense forests, in front of the visitors, the Monastery creates a magical impression of a lost world.  Drive to Northern part of Armenia. Visit to Haghpat Monastery (included in the UNESCO World Heritage List (2000)), one of the most beautiful examples of its kind from the medieval period in Armenia. The program includes lunch in a local restaurant.  Drive back to Yerevan.

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Breakfast at the hotel. Holy mass at Catholic chapel of Yerevan Mother Teresa Orphanage. One of the most interesting places to visit during the trip to Armenia is the Pagan temple devoted to the God of Sun - Myrth in Garni. According to some cuneiform records in Greek language, the temple was built in 77AD by King Trdat (Arshakid Dynasty). The temple is Greco-Roman style with characteristic pillars. It stands proudly on a rocky ridge with the deep canyon presenting a beautiful view.

Family hosted lunch in village house and watching of “Lavash” (Armenian traditional flat bread baked in stone-make oven) making process.

Continue to Geghard monastery, dates back to XII-XIII centuries and presents itself a unique caved temple. The word Geghard means “holy spear” in the honor of the long-preserved spear, the same spear that pierced the body of crucified Christ, which were brought here by Apostle Thaddeus. It is now exhibited in the museum of Etchmiadzin Cathedral. Nestled at the end of a rugged gorge, Geghard was clearly a sacred spot even in antiquity, with a seep of water coming out of the rock. The temple is located in the mountains of picturesque gorge of Azat river. This is a masterpiece of the Armenian medieval architecture with the main church, two caved churches as well as burial-vault. Geghard Monastery is included in the UNESCO World Heritage list (2000).

Optional: Concert of liturgical songs in the monastery Geghard where amazing acoustics allows everyone to enjoy crystal-clear sounds Drive back to Yerevan.

Overnight in Yerevan

Breakfast at the hotel. Holy mass at Catholic chapel of Yerevan Mother Teresa Orphanage. Visit to the monastery complexes of Saghmosavank, situated on the edge of the precipitous gorge of the Kasakh river. The Church of Zion in Saghmosavank (1215 y.), the main temple, was erected by Prince Vache Vachutyan. The book depository of Saghmosavank located on the territory of the Monastery, was built in 1255 A.D. under Prince Kurd Vachutyan. Many richly ornamented stone crosses have been preserved on the territory of the monasteries.

Drive to Tegher Monastery, an early 13th-century Armenian monastery and church . This monastery has unique construction, and the architectural solution of Gavith and dome lead to enjoy the sounds of Scharakans (spiritual song) from four corners in various ways. From the monastery you can enjoy a beautiful landscape. Lunch with organic food in the yard of the monastery.

Drive to Amberd fortress, means a "fortress in the clouds" in Armenian. It is a fortress complex with a church built XI-XIII centuries on the slopes of Mt. Aragats at 2,300 meters above sea level. Amberd stands on a rocky eminence, again one of the impregnable fortresses of medieval Armenia. The fortress was founded in the 7th century A.D. during the rule of the Kamsarakan princes. It was rebuilt 4 centuries later by the architect Vahram Vachutian Pakhlavuni. He added thick stone walls and 3 bastions along the ridge of the Arkhashyan ravine, where there were no natural defences. The Church was built in 1026 A.D. by Vahram Pahlavuni. The baths were constructed outside the palace in the 13th century. The exterior architecture is simple and expressive, crowned by an umbrella shaped cupola. Drive back to Yerevan.   Folk dinner in local restaurant.

Overnight in Yerevan