Day 1: Arrival ( / / )
Arrival at Zvartnots International Airport. After proceeding through customs and collecting your luggage you will be met by your driver and taken to the hotel (transfer excluded). Check in from 14:00. Overnight in the Yerevan hotel.
Day 2: Yerevan City Tour (B/ / )
Depart for the Yerevan full day city tour that includes all the major sights of the capital. Yerevan is on the list as one of the world’s “Oldest continuously inhabited cities“, dating back to 8th century BC. It's very lively with open cafes, eateries and local markets. Enjoy a panoramic view of Opera House, the magnificent scenery of the two ice-capped biblical Mount Ararat, Swan Lake, Northern Avenue and Republic Square which is considered one of the most amazing and famous place of the capital.
.Visit “Matenadaran” a home to the world’s largest collection of Armenian Illuminated manuscripts. In the funds of the Matenadaran there are preserved thousands of ancient manuscripts vintage archival documents. Here you will have a chance to see the biggest book weighing 28 kilograms, and the smallest one weighing only 19 grams.
Head to the Genocide museum which displays unprecedented international documents on Armenian Genocide, carried out by Ottoman Turkey in 1915. After the museum tour, we will explore the memorial complex of Tsitsernakaberd dedicated to 1.5 million victims of Armenian Genocide.
Evening at leisure. You can have an evening walk through Northern Avenue towards the Republic Square, where you will admire the Dancing Fountains (start from 9 pm). Overnight in Yerevan.
Day 3: Yerevan – Khor Virap – Wine Degustation In Areni – Noravank (B/ / )
Depart to Khor Virap Monastery (“deep pit”), at the base of Mount Ararat. The monastery location gives the opportunity to enjoy a beautiful view to biblical Ararat Mountain, where Noah’s arch cast an anchor.
*Please note that the visibility may be difficult depending on weather conditions.
Head to Areni, which is best known for its wine production and with assortment of unmatched wine. Here you will have the chance to enjoy degustation of local wines produced from endemic variety of grapes called Areni.
Depart to Noravank Monastery, an architectural gemstone nestled among brick-red cliffs, just above a deep gorge. Built in the 13th century, the monastery is a lovely example of the ornate architecture of the period.
Drive back to Yerevan and overnight.
Day 4: Yerevan – Zvartnots – Etchmiadzin – St. Hripsime Church – " Gumi Shuka" (B/ / )
Head to Etchmiadzin city, the center of Armenian Christianity, which is considered to be the "Vatican" city of Armenia with the Holy See of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Stop near the 7th century Zvartnots Cathedral (UNESCO World Heritage). Continue to the Catherdral of Etchmiadzin/301-303 AD (UNESCO World Heritage), the first church of Armenia.
NOTE: In the Etchmiadzin Cathedral there have been cosmetic reconstruction processes lately and a new layer of frescos was discovered and by the announcement of the government the cathedral is blocked, as they are doing researches and new excavations too. This means that the guests might not see the inside of the church.
On your way to Yerevan visit Saint Hripsime Church (UNESCO World Heritage), one of the oldest surviving churches in Armenia.
Visit ‘Gumi Shuka’’, an Armenian indoor market, where you can have especially handpicked selection of local homemade products: dried fruit, pickles, spices…
Evening at leisure.
Overnight in Yerevan.
Day 5: Yerevan – Geghard Monastery – Garni Temple – Symphony Of Stones (B/L/ )
Depart to Garni village, famous for its Hellenistic pagan temple of the first century, the only pagan temple that survived after the Christianization of Armenia.
Experience lavash baking (Armenian traditional bread; UNESCO Cultural Heritage) demonstration. Get familiar with the technique of the preparation. After that enjoy “brduj” (stuffed bread roll) and taste the freshly baked bread stuffed with young cheese and local herbs. Lunch at a local restaurant/ house.
Descend the Azat River Gorge, where the “Symphony of Stones” or “Basalt Organ” seats. Those basalt columns were formed millions of years ago as a result of slow-moving lava.
Drive to Geghard Monastery (UNESCO World Heritage) - a monastery which is hewn out from a cave. Not only the rock sculpted structures are fantastically spiritual, the cliffs surrounding it are shrouded with mystery. Right at the entrance local women sell candies, dried fruit, sweet sujukh, Geghard gata. Driving back to Yerevan. Evening at leisure. Overnight in Yerevan.
Day 6: Yerevan – Sevanavank Monastery – Dilijan Visit – Haghartsin Monastery Border Crossing (Georgia) – Tbilisi (B/ / )
Scenic drive along the pearl of Armenia, Lake Sevan.. Your next stop is the 9th century monastery complex on Sevan peninsula named Sevanavank. The peninsula can be named the very point from where the whole beauty of the Lake Sevan is seen.
Head to Dilijan to enjoy its natural and architectural monuments of antiquity, the mountains and the forests that surround you at any point in the city. In the "Old Town" you will see unique balconies and terraces typical of 19th century Dilijan that display the region’s historical love for fine woodwork. Visit Haghartsin Monastery (13th c. A.D) hidden among dense oak woods
Arrive to Armenian-Georgian border at Sadakhlo ~ 17:00. Pass border formalities and proceed to Tbilisi. Check in the hotel in Tbilisi. Free evening. Overnight in Tbilisi.
Day 7: Tbilisi City Tour (B/ / )
Today we will discover one of the oldest and most remarkable cities in the world, Tbilisi, which is situated at the crossroads of East and West and comprises the colorfulness of the East and refinement of the West. Today we will navigate through the Old Town on foot and see the main sites, historic buildings with the most beautiful facades and districts with terraces, typical houses with carved balconies, narrow and beautiful streets and amazing examples of modern architecture. On the way up the cable car towards Narikala Fortress, the entire city will unfold before our eyes and we will enjoy an amazing view. Overnight in Tbilisi.
Day 8: Tbilisi – Sighanghi – Tsinandali – Telavi (B/L/ )
Today we will travel to the region of Kakheti, which is renowned for its remarkable hospitality, fertile fields, huge vineyards and excellent wine. And of course, we will taste the wines here and will hear about the traditional methods for preparing them, which have been around for more than 8,000 years. The Georgian Method of wine making is a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. We will first visit the small town of Sighnaghi, which enchants visitors with its special charm. Here you can see old houses with typical Georgian carved balconies. Sighnaghi with an amazing position perched on a lofty hilltop faces the snowcapped Caucasus looming in the distance across the vast Alazani valley. Delicious lunch and wine tasting at the local wine cellar. Visit the house-museum of Alexander Chavchavadze, famous Georgian poet (19th century) with its beautiful garden. Overnight in Telavi.
Day 9: Telavi – Alaverdi – Gombori Pass – Ananuri – Gudauri (B/ /D)
In the morning we will visit farmers market of Telavi, where everyday fresh fruit, vegetables, cheese and fish are sold by locals. Visiting this vibrant place provides one with a truly authentic experience. Visit the impressive Alaverdi Cathedral (11th c.). Scenic drive via gombori Pass (1620 m.). Afterwards we’ll pass over the historic military road as we make our way to the Greater Caucasus Mountains. The Georgian Military Road was described by the Roman geographer Strabo (1st century) in his works, and he characterized it as a path with the most beautiful landscapes. The combination of green fields, alpine meadows, sparkling rivers, high mountains and peaks truly creates a mystical atmosphere, which won’t leave anyone feeling indifferent. On the way we will go sightseeing at the Ananuri Complex (17th c.), which overlooks Zhinvali Reservoir, and view the carved facades of its main church, upon which we can find special works of craftsmanship: carved crosses, archangels, fictitious creatures and trees of life. It is a unique example of Georgian ecclesial architecture. In the evening we will end up in the ski resort Gudauri. Dinner and overnight in Gudauri.
Day 10: Gudauri – Stepantsminda – Gudauri (B/ /D)
In the morning a serpentine path will lead us down to Stepantsminda via Jvari Pass (2,395 m.). From Stepantsminda we will climb a steep forest trail, which will take us up to one of the most beautiful cathedrals, Gergeti Trinity (2,170 m.). From there amazing views will unfold before our eyes and in good weather you have a feeling, as if you can touch the gigantic mountain Kazbegi (5,047 m.), with its eternally white snowcap, with your hands. If we are lucky, we will be able to spot birds of prey. Scenic drive to the Darjali Gorge for Photo-stop. Dinner and Overnight in Gudauri.
up and down: 400 m, walking time: 3.5 hrs.
Day 11: Gudauri – Gori – Uplistsikhe – Tbilisi (B/ / )
Drive to the region Kartli. The ancient silk road leads us to Uplistsikhe – the ancient rock-hewn cave town (6th c. B.C), which was an important point of the famous silk road and one of the most important pagan religious centers of pre-Christian Georgia. Here we’ll find well preserved, impressive ancient caves. In Gori, in the birth town of Stalin, Photo-stop at his Museum. Drive to Tbilisi. Overnight in Tbilisi.
Day 12: Departure (B/ / )
Transfer to the airport and Departure (transfer excluded).
