| Duration: | 10 Day(s) - 9 Night(s) |
| Tour Category: | Cultural Events |
Armenia - Georgia
Day 1: Departure from home country
Day 2: Arrival / Yerevan City Tour / Etchmiatsin / Zvartnots
Arrival at International Zvartnots airport. Meet and greet transfer to the hotel. Accommodation at the hotel. Rest. After breakfast start city tour around Yerevan visiting Memorial Park and Tsiternakaberd Memorial and the museum of victims of Genocide. Departure to Echmiadzin which is mere 20 km from Yerevan. Echmiadzin Cathedral is one of the oldest standing churches in Christendom. Opportunity to have lunch in a local community tasting homemade dishes and communication with the loacls. Drive back to Yerevan with a stop at the ruins of Zvartnots Temple (7th c.) Welcome dinner in a traditional Armenian restuaurant. Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.
Day 3: Yerevan / Ashtarak / Fortress of Amberd / Hovanavank
In the morning after breakfast drive to Aragatsotn region. Visit the smallest pan-Armenian church Karmravour (7th c.) in Ashtarak - one of the most ancient Armenian cities. Drive to the Fortress of Amberd* (9th c.), stands halfway up Mt. Aragats, at the height of 2300m. The fortress stands on a rocky cape. Visit Hovanavank Monastery - built in 12-13th centuries. Drive back to Yerevan. Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.
Day 4: Yerevan / Khor Virap / Noravank / Yerevan
Every Armenian has heard above this unique architectural monument. This fortified monastery is the place of pilgrimage and one of the most worshipped ones in Armenia and the holy site for the Armenian Apostolic Church. The monastery was erected in the 6 th – 17 th centuries above the dungeon where St. Gregory the Illuminator, the Baptist of Armenia, had been kept for the disseminating of Christianity until tsar Trdat decided to adopt this religion. The dungeon where the holy elder was tortured used to be the tsar's dungeon (“Khor Virap” – “deep pit”). The pit swarming with poisonous snakes and scorpions served as a prison. According to the legend St. Gregory the Illuminator stayed I that pit for 13 years. Drive to Vayots Dzor region. Visit to Noravank Monastery. Noravank (????????, meaning "new monastery") is a 13th century monastery, located 122 km from Yerevan in a narrow gorge made by the Darichay river, nearby the city of Yeghegnadzor, Armenia. The gorge is known for its tall, sheer, brick-red cliffs, directly across from the monastery. The monastery is best known for its two-storey S. Astvatsatsin church, which grants access to the second floor by way of narrow stones jutting out from the face of building. In the 13th–14th centuries the monastery became a residence of Syunik's bishops and, consequently. a major religious and, later, cultural center of Armenia closely connected with many of the local seats of learning, especially with Gladzor's famed university and library. Opportunity to have lunch in a local cave cafe tasting local food. Drive back to Yerevan. Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.
Day 5: Matenadaran / Garni / Geghard / Yerevan
After breakfast departure to Geghard temple. The monastery of Geghard is a unique architectural construction in the Kotayk province of Armenia, being partially carved out of the adjacent mountain, surrounded by cliffs.While the main chapel was built in 1215, the monastery complex was founded in the 4th century by Gregory the Illuminator at the site of a sacred spring inside a cave. Drive to Garni Temple. Garni became the last refuge of king Mithridates of Armenia, where he and his family were assassinated by his son in law and nephew Rhadamistus. Several constructions and buildings have been identified within the enclosed area, including a two-storey royal summer palace, a bath complex, a church built in AD 897, a cemetery and the site's most famous and best preserved edifice, a peristyle Greco-roman temple built in the Ionic order. Opportunity to have lunch in a local house and watch the Armenia national bread "lavash" making process. Drive back to Yerevan. Visit Matenadaran depository of manuscripts which contains historical documents from all over the Europe and Asia throughout the many countries. Opportunity to have farewell dinner in an Armenian resturant with folk music. Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.
Day 6: Yerevan / Lake Sevan / Dilijan / Haghpat / Sanahin / Tbilisi
Drive to Lake Sevan. Lake Sevan is the largest lake in Armenia and one of the largest high-altitude lakes in the world. The huge mountain lake takes up 5% of Armenia's surface area and is 2,000 meters above sea level. On a clear and sunny day, the water is a deep turquoise color. Sevan is a freshwater lake. Drive to the resort town of Dilijan - green city located in the northern Armenian province of Tavush, Called by locals the "Little Switzerland" of Armenia, it is a worthwhile place to see, and spend the night. It is one of the most important resorts of Armenia, situated in Dilijan National Park. The Sharambeyan street in the centre, has been preserved and maintained as an "old town," complete with craftsman's workshops, a gallery and a museum. Hiking, mountain biking, and picnicking are popular recreational activities. Visit Haghpat and Sanahin Monasteries. The location of Haghpat and Sanahin Monasteries were chosen so that it overlooks the Debed River in northern Armenia's Lori region. It was built, not on a peak, but halfway up a hillside on a site chosen to afford protection and concealment from prying eyes and also in respon se to a kind of monastic humility. It is built on a verdant promontory located in the middle of a mountain cirque, which is often wreathed in clouds. A peak on the opposite side of the river is over 2,500 meters high. Drive to Sadakhlo border. Change the guide and trasportation. Drive to Tbilisi. Overnight at the hotel in Tbilisi.
Day 7: Tbilisi / Mtskheta / Tbilisi
In the morning Tbilisi sightseeing tour. We will visit Old Tbilisi which offers a great variety of sights, most of them very ancient. All the places of interest in the Old Town are very close to each other, within a few minutes’ walk. We start our visit to Old Tbilisi from Metekhi Church (13th century) then walk to the Synagogue, Sioni Cathedral (6th-7th centuries) and later we drive up to the panoramic view and start to walk down to Narikala Fortress (4th century) – one of the oldest fortifications in the city and to the brick-domed Sulphur Baths. Then we take a stroll along the Rustaveli Avenue – the main street in Tbilisi. Continue to Mtskheta and see its historical places Jvari Monastery (6th century) and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (11th century) – both UNESCO World Heritage sites. Drive back to Tbilisi. Overnight at the hotel in Tbilisi.
Day 8: Tbilisi / Kazbegi / Tbilisi
Today we head up to famous Georgian Military Highway. En-route we visit Ananuri architectural complex (17th century), the two churches and the fortress overlook the Zhinvali water reservoir. Arrive to Kazbegi and from there a leisurely 2 hours walk up through beautiful valleys and woodland leads us to Gergeti Trinity Church located at 2170 m. Weather permitting you may catch a glimpse of one of the highest glaciers in the Caucasus – Mt. Kazbegi (5047 m). Then we take the same way back and drive to Tbilisi. Overnight at a hotel in Tbilisi.
Day 9: Tbilisi / Wine Tour / Tbilisi
In the morning we start exploring Kakheti region well known for its wine producing. We enjoy superb views of Great Caucasus Mountains and valleys of Kakheti, acknowledge traditions and culture of the country and region, taste wines and delicious food. First we visit local Duke’s estate from 19th century in Tsinandali. See his house-museum. Then continue to a local farmer’s house to see century old wine-cellar, taste home-made wines. Lunch with delicious home-made food, wine and ‘Shashlik’. After lunch drive to visit fortified town of Sighnaghi (18th century). The town preserved its original image and now offers visitors stunning views of the surrounding Caucasus Mountains. Afterwards visit Bodbe monastery, that holds the tomb of St. Nino – she converted Georgia to Christianity in 4th century. Return to Tbilisi. Overnight at a hotel in Tbilisi.
Day 10: Departure
Transfer to the airport. Departure home!
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