Tasting Ritual Dishes Of Armenia Tour

Tasting Ritual Dishes

The glory of Armenian cuisine extends far beyond the country's borders. There is not a place on the post-Soviet territory (and even farther) where people do not know or love and cultivate Armenian cuisine. Armenian Cuisine is as ancient as its history, as the land, it is standing on. Armenian culinary traditions are more than 2000 years old. Armenian cuisine has been transformed during the years because of the invaders but due to our grandmothers, it has been passed to our generation.

Day 1: Arrival

Arrival in Zvartnots airport. Meet and greet transfer, accommodation at the hotel. Rest.

Day 2: Yerevan city tour / Erebouni

In the morning meet your tour director and start a city tour around Yerevan. The history of Yerevan dates back to the 8th century BC. A little part of the capital city's 3,000-year history has survived: Central Yerevan was once dominated by huge Soviet-style buildings, but now, due to the nowadays active constructions, many modern-style buildings appear. Drive to Erebouni – the historical centre of Yerevan. Welcome dinner in a traditional restaurant with a cooking master class. Overnight in Yerevan.

Ritual Dish Festival

· Exhibition-tasting of ritual dishes

· The member restaurants of the organization and the individual cooks represent the traditional Armenian holidays and ritual cuisine in separate booths. There are also some other representatives from other nations who represent their traditional and ritual dishes.

· 13 church holidays are being represented during the exhibition-tasting, with their peculiar dishes.

Day 3: Yerevan / History Museum / Echmiadzin / Zvartnots / Yerevan

After breakfast at the hotel departure to Echmiadzin which is a mere 20 km from Yerevan. On the way visit to St Hripsime church which is considered to be one of the 7 wonders of Armenia. Etchmiadzin Cathedral is known as the center of the Armenian - Gregorian Church and appears to be one of the world's first Christian churches. Lunch in a local community tasting homemade dishes.

Return to Yerevan with a stop at the ruins of Zvartnots temple - the pearl of the 7th c. architecture which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage. In the second half of the day visit the Armenian History Museum, here the important archaeological collections from Stone Age through Medieval periods are dark and almost unlabeled, but should not be missed.

Visit also the open-air market Vernissage that bustles with hundreds of vendors selling a variety of crafts on weekends. The market offers woodcarving, antiques, fine lace, and hand-knotted wool carpets and kilims that are a Caucasus specialty. Dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight in Yerevan.

Day 4: Yerevan / Khor Virap / Noravank / Yerevan

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Khor-Virap monastery 4- 17th cc. is situated in the Ararat valley against the biblical Ararat Mountain, where Noah's arch cast anchor. The importance of it is connected with Gregory the Illuminator, who introduced Christianity to Armenia and is considered to be the first Armenian catholicos.

Continue the tour to Noravank monastery - a great religious and cultural centre of 12th c. On the way visit the Areni wine factory to taste local wine made from special sorts of vines. Noravank (“New Monastery”) is 122 km away from Yerevan and is located in an inaccessible location throughout the stunning nature.

Lunch in a local cave café tasting local food and apricot vodka. Drive back to the capital city. Dinner in a local restaurant tasting different national dishes. Overnight in Yerevan.

Day 5: Yerevan / Sevan / Dilijan / Goshavank / Yerevan

After breakfast drive to Tsitsernakaberd memorial park and Genocide Museum dedicated to the victims of the Genocide 1915. Drive to Lake Sevan. About 70 miles north of Yerevan sits Lake Sevan the second largest alpine in the world. This huge mountain lake which takes up to 5% of Armenia's surface area is about 2,000 meters above sea level and is the second-highest freshwater lake in the world.

The monastery peninsula is the most popular spot and is the closest place to visit as well. Continue to the North of Armenia through the spectacular forested region of Dilijan, where you can walk through a museum street, with the buildings preserved from 19 c. with the ceramics workshop and woodcarvers’ studio. Lunch in a local house where you will see how the locals prepare mushrooms collected from the woods in the region. Drive to the Goshavank monastery of the 13th century and take the chance to see one of the most beautiful Armenian cross-stones. Drive back to Yerevan. Dinner and overnight in Yerevan.

Day 6: Yerevan / Ashtarak / Sagmosavank / Yerevan

Breakfast at the hotel. to Ashtarak town – one of the most ancient Armenian cities, to visit the church of Karmravour. It’s one of the smallest pan-Armenian churches but in spite of its size, you can still feel authentic Christianity. It’s also one of those rare churches where some traces of frescos are still seen. Drive to Saghmossavank medieval monastery that is situated in the breathtaking site, at the deep canyon of Ashtarak. Sgmossamvank is translated as “monastery of psalms”.

According to the tradition when the first church of the monastery was built the priests kept reading psalms 40 days long so the monastery was called the monastery of psalms. Lunch in a house museum of an Armenian writer where you can enjoy a freshly cooked national dish called “Khashlama”. Participation in a ritual theatre, preparation of a traditional dish of pumpkin in the ground oven. Return back to Yerevan. Abundant dinner in a public restaurant. Overnight in Yerevan.

Day 7: Yerevan / Matenadaran / Garni/ Underground cave / Ghegard / Yerevan

Visit the depositary of ancient manuscripts the Matenadaran which contains historical documents from all over Europe and Asia throughout many centuries. Visit a handmade underground cave in Arinj village. Departure to Garni Temple.

It was built in the first century A.D. by the Armenian King Tiridates and it is dedicated to a heathen god, probably to Mithra, the god of the sun whose figure stood in the depth of the sanctuary. Possibility to have lunch at a local house in Garni where you will have the opportunity to watch Armenian national bread “lavash” baking and barbeque making process in the underground stove called “Tonir”. Northeast of Garni, higher up the gorge of the Azat river, there is a magnificent monument of medieval Armenian architecture - Geghard monastery inscribed in UNESCO World Heritage list (inscribed in UNESCO World Heritage list).

Geghard is another incredible ancient Armenian monastery, partly carved out of a mountain. Return back. Visit the fruit market where local merchants sell fresh and dried fruits and vegetables, spices, and delicacies. Farewell dinner in a national restaurant with Armenian live music. Overnight in Yerevan.

Day 8: Departure

Transfer to airport. Departure!

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