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Armenia Classic Tour

08 Days/07 Nights

The classic tours in Armenia are a great starting point for those who have never visited Armenia. Explore ancient monasteries, stunning natural wonders, and picturesque scenery.

DAY 01: FLIGHT TO YEREVAN

The classic tours in Armenia start with its capital city.

Arrival in Yerevan. Transfer to hotel. Hotel accommodation. Use your free time to visit the Vernissage Market in the City Centre. It is an arts and crafts open-air bazaar which opens only at weekends. You will find here different souvenirs, pictures, sculptures, traditional carpets and rugs, and so on. Overnight in Yerevan.

DAY 02: YEREVAN CITY TOUR

Breakfast at the hotel.
Yerevan is one of the most ancient cities in the world founded in 782 B.C.
Now Yerevan is a vibrant and modern European city with much to offer.

Did you know that Yerevan is considered to be the oldest operating capital in the world, older than Rome and Nineveh, and has celebrated its 2800th anniversary in 2018?

Matenadaran

In the morning you visit the Matenadaran (UNESCO World’s Documentary Heritage) – The Matenadaran is one of the oldest and richest book depositories in the world. Its collection of about 17,000 manuscripts includes almost all of the areas of ancient and medieval Armenian culture and sciences – history, geography, grammar, philosophy, law, medicine, mathematics, cosmography, theory of calendar, alchemy, chemistry, translations, literature, chronology, art history, miniature, music and theatre, as well as manuscripts in Arabic, Persian, Greek, Syrian, Latin, Ethiopian, Indian, Japanese and others.

Afterward, you can see the most beautiful panorama of Yerevan City and the biblical Mount Ararat from the top of the huge Cascade Monument. Cascade is just a masterpiece in terms of architecture and is decorated in a very stunning way. Inside this monument, you find the Cafesdjian Art Center. There are a lot of original statues of modern art. Not far from Cascade, you see the Mother Armenia Statue, which symbolizes “peace through strength”. Having its location on a hill overlooking Yerevan City makes her “The Guardian “of the Armenian Capital.

City Tour

During your City tour, you pass through Northern Avenue which connects the two Yerevan Famous Squares – The Republic Square and the France Square (where the Opera House with the original statue of Rodin is located). The Republic Square in Armenia with the governmental buildings is considered to be one of the most beautiful squares in the world. At night, the square is especially beautiful because of the “Dancing Fountains” accompanied by classic music of world-known Armenian components.

Street tour including Yerevan State University and the Island of universities, Victory Bridge, Tsitsernakaberd Hill (The Swallow Castle) with Genocide Museum, Sports & Concerts complex, Kyiv Bridge, Parliament, Residence of President, Academy of Sciences. Overnight in Yerevan.

DAY 03: YEREVAN – ECHMIADZIN – ZVARTNOTS – YEREVAN

Breakfast at the hotel.

The next stop of the classic tours in Armenia is a journey including UNESCO World Heritage Sites which are “must-see” places. Today you visit the religious center of Armenia – Echmiadzin which is the “Vatican” city of Armenia with the Holy See of the Armenian Apostolic Church where the Supreme Patriarch (Catholicos) of All Armenians resides. Armenia is the first Christian country in the world since 301 A.D. and the world’s oldest official Christian church is to be found in Echmiadzin – the Mother Cathedral of Echmiadzin. In the cathedral, you can attend live the liturgy.

Did you know that the Mountains of Ararat is the place named in the Book of Genesis (Bible) where Noah’s Ark came to rest after the great flood

Continue to St. Hripsime church (7th century), a true masterpiece of early medieval Armenian architecture. On the way back to Yerevan visit the Ruins of Zvartnots Cathedral – the place of “celestial angels”. The remnants of Zvartnots, even in ruins, are a majestic sight. his marvelous temple is a result of the skillfulness and brave creativity of Armenian architects of the 7th century. Having been built on several columns it could survive only till the 10th century.

When this site was being excavated at the beginning of the 20th century, many specialists could hardly accept its reconstruction model designed by famous Armenian architect Toros Toramanyan as it was difficult to believe that such a huge and complicated construction could have been built those days, and amazingly at that time one of the bas-relieves of St. Chapelle church in Paris came to prove Toramanyan’s version; the bas-relief depicts Zvartnots temple with Noah’s Ark and it looks like the model represented by the architect. Return to Yerevan. Evening free. Overnight in Yerevan.

DAY 04: YEREVAN – DILIJAN – LAKE SEVAN – TSAKHADZOR – YEREVAN

Breakfast at the hotel.
A tour of the Dilijan SPA town in the Dilijan National Park, a protected area renowned for its serene lakes, picturesque hill trails, and peaceful villages. Many poets used to say, “If there are woods, mountains, streams, and mineral waters in paradise, it must be like Dilijan”. Due to its forested mountains and mild climate, Dilijan is named “Armenia’s Little Switzerland”.
On the most beautiful and oldest streets of the Old Dilijan – Sharambeyanyou will find small art schools and souvenir shops. Continue to Haghartsin Monastery (10.-14. cc.), a fairy-tale monastery set amidst flower-filled.

Lake Sevan

Proceeding to Lake Sevan – the 2nd largest fresh-water high-altitude lake in the world after Titicaca (Los Andes, Bolivia) and the largest lake in Armenia and the Caucasus Region. Lake Sevan, this wonder of nature, is the pearl of incomparable beauty with stunning turquoise waters which is also home to unique bird species.
On the picturesque peninsula, you visit the Sevanavank monastery (9c), which once used to serve as a place of exile for the Armenian nobility. Here you find unique cross-stones (khachqar). The Cross-Stone is a typical manifestation of Armenian culture. To explain, other nations do not have this type of culture and is already a UNESCO World Heritage.

Tsakhadzor

Proceed to Tsakhadzor. Tsakhkadzor is one of the favorite holiday resorts of Armenia both for summer and winter. This district is considered to be Armenian Switzerland. Tsakhkadzor is a place where one can have a good vacation during all seasons of the year. This is a perfect place to admire the beauty of Armenian high mountains and fields with the largest variety of flowers. In winter this is the best place for skiing. Tsakhkadzor is also known for its old churches. The recently renovated Kecharis monastery (11-13th c.) is located here. Return to Yerevan. Overnight in Yerevan.

DAY 05: YEREVAN – KHOR VIRAP – NORAVANK – ARENI WINE VILLAGE – YEREVAN

Breakfast at the hotel.
A fantastic tour dedicated to the exploration of Southern Armenia combining the magic of Armenia’s finest medieval architecture with stunning landscapes by driving through the agricultural heart of Armenia. Our first stop will be at the Khor Virap Monastery – the most important place of pilgrimage in Armenia. St. Gregory the Illuminator – the first Catholic of all Armenians, had been imprisoned in “Khor Virap” (deep dungeon) for 13 years. From here you get a unique view of the holy Armenian mountain Ararat (5165m.), on which (according to the Bible) Noah’s ark landed after the World flood.
As soon as we pass the Ararat Plain we can experience the untamed beauty of Southern Armenia – surreal red rocks providing an eerie echo, and honey-colored villages sandwiched between them. Continue to the previous residence of Syunik’s bishops – Noravank monastery, nestled at the edge of the narrow gorge in the impressive mountainous landscape with peculiar red hanging rocks. The structure is distinguished by a unique harmony of architectural forms and decorations.

Culinary adventures are a part of classic tours in Armenia. This is the reason a visit to a local restaurant and a winery is a must. On the way back to Yerevan, a visit to the winery in the village Areni and wine tasting made from the endemic grapes is planned.

Return to Yerevan. Evening free. Overnight in Yerevan.

DAY 06: YEREVAN – GARNI – GEGHARD – YEREVAN

Breakfast at the hotel.

Just outside of Armenia’s capital, a quiet mountain road leads high above the city, offering a glimpse into Earth’s ancient history. Firstly we stop at Charent’s Arch. Here you will find the breathtaking lookout point of the biblical Mount Ararat (known from the Bible as the landing place of Noah’s Ark). Drive to the Geghard Monastery carved out of a huge monolithic rock. Geghard is an incredible ancient Armenian monastery, partly carved out of a mountain. It is said that the Holy Lance that pierced the body of Christ was kept here.

The architectural forms and the decoration of Geghard’s rock premises show that Armenian builders could not only create superb works of architecture out of stone but also hew them in solid rock. It is on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Continue to the Garni Pagan Temple, the only Hellenistic temple in the Caucasus. Gracing the hillside the temple was dedicated to the God of the Sun, Mithra. It comprises also royal palace ruins and Roman Baths with a well-preserved mosaic.

Master class of traditional Armenian bread “lavash” being baked in tonir (ground oven). The preparation, meaning, and appearance of traditional bread as an expression of culture in Armenia is on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Drive back to Yerevan. Evening free. Overnight in Yerevan.

DAY 07: FREE DAY IN YEREVAN

Breakfast at the hotel.

The evening and nightlife of Yerevan are full of music, plays, performances, and shows. In case you like live jazz this is a unique chance to enjoy it. Yerevan has rather rich Jazz traditions (called also the “New Orleans of the East”). Lots of rock and pop bands, the Opera House with almost daily shows, and numerous concert halls. (You’d better book cultural events with your local guide directly). Overnight in Yerevan.