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Saghmosavank

Pilgrimage tour in Armenia

8 days /7 nights

Open Detailed Descriptions
Day 1

Arrival in Yerevan – transfer to the selected hotel

Day 2

Yerevan City tour

Yerevan sightseeing including City center, Republic square, State University, City panorama, Matenadaran (depository for ancient manuscripts ); visit to the Genocide Memorial, dedicated to the Victims of 1915 and the Genocide Museum. Visit to the ruins of Erebuni fortress, founded during the Urartian Kingdom by King Argishti in 782 BC and the Erebuni museum (1968) with Urartian period exhibits. Erebuni has been renamed into Yerevan since the 7th century A.D., when it was the capital of Armenia. Tour package includes lunch in a local restaurant.

Day 3

Yerevan - Etchmiadzin - Zvartnots - Yerevan

Breakfast at the hotel. Tour to Etchmiadzin, the ancient capital of Armenia. Due to the fact that it is one of the oldest churches in the world, Etchmiadzin is very popular pilgrimage destination. Visit to Etchmiadzin Cathedral (4th c.), participation in Sunday mass in mother Cathidral, visit to the museum, St. Hripsime’s Church (7th c.), ruins of Zvartnots temple (7th c.), (UNESCO World Heritage list 2000). Tour package includes lunch in a local restaurant.

Day 4

Yerevan - Garni - Geghard - Yerevan

Breakfast at the hotel. 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). 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.

Drive to the unique caved temple St. Geghard (12th -13th cc.), the name of which means “holy spear” in the honor of the long-preserved 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). Tour package includes family hosted lunch in village and watching of “Lavash” (Armenian traditional flat bread baked in stone-make oven) making process.

Day 5

Yerevan - Khor Virap - Noravank - Yerevan

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Khor Virap - a place of pilgrimage for Armenians all over the world. According to history annals, Armenian pagan king Trdat imprisoned Saint Gregory the Illuminator in a cave which became known as Khor Virap (Deep Hole). Here you can also see the closest and most spectacular view of the gorgeous biblical mountain Ararat (where Noah's ark has landed according to Bible) shining with its two white peaks. From this area Ararat is so near that one feels he can touch those two peaks of the mountain.

Next stop is Noravank monastery complex - a major religious and cultural center. The magnificent landscape of mountains, surrounding the monastery, displays a beautiful array of colors from the sun's reflection. The monastery is remarkable not only for its position among the red rocks but also for its extreme architectural value. The monastery is rich with the Armenian emblematic frets. Tour to “Areni” Winery/ wine testing. Tour package includes lunch in a local restaurant. 

 

Day 6

Yerevan - Sagmosavank - Tegher monastery - Amberd fortress - 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

Day 7

Yerevan - Lake Sevan – Dilijan (Haghartsin) - Yerevan

Breakfast at the hotel. Tour to mountainous resort Dilijan, visit to Haghartsin Monastery complex (13th c.), including Church St. Stepanos, St. Mary and St. Gregory’s Church. Appearing unexpectedly, out of the thick forests, in front of the visitors, the Monastery creates a magical impression of the lost world. Drive to Sevan, one of the greatest high mountainous freshwater lakes of Eurasia, visit to Sevan Monastery (9th c.). Tour package includes lunch in a local restaurant, tasting the fish freshly caught from the lake.

Day 8

Transfer to the airport