Armenia & Artsakh

Day 1: Arrival at Zvartnots airport. Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation in reserved rooms.  

Day 2: Yerevan - Etchmiatsin - Zvartnots - Yerevan

Breakfast at the hotel. City tour of Yerevan, whose history dates back to the 8th century BC and which nowadays offers a pleasant face, due to the harmonious blend of greenery and water: walk to the monument of the Cascade, exhibition park of modern art. Departure to Echmiadzin, the former capital of the Armenian Kingdom and Patriarchal Seat of the Catholicos, the Patriarch of all Armenians. Visits to the archaeological site of Zvartnots Cathedral (7th century) and Etchmiatsin Cathedral (303) - all 2 listed in the UNESCO Heritage List. Visit of the cultural center of "The Cross of the Armenian Union" (http://cau.am/) - craft workshops, making carpets, miniature, Armenian cuisine. Lunch at the cultural center of CUA. Back to Yerevan. Visit of the History Museum. Night at the hotel. 

Day 3: Yerevan - Saghmossavank - Amberd - Yerevan

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to the region of Aragatsotn. Visit of Saghmossavank monastery (10-13th century). The monastery is located at the edge of the impressive canyon of Kasakhe. Short stop at the monument of the Armenian tuff alphabet, inaugurated in 2005, at the 1400th anniversary of the creation of the alphabet. Fortress of Amberd (8-14th centuries), located at the foot of Mount Aragats (the highest mountain of Armenia - 4095m). Lunch at the restaurant. Back to Yerevan. Visit the monument and the Genocide Memorial Museum on Tsitsernakaberd Hill (Swallows Fortress). Night at the hotel. 

Day 4: Yerevan - Marmashene - Gyumri

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to the Chirak region. Arrival in Gyumri, the second largest city of Armenia, which suffered the earthquake in 1988. Short walk in the old district of the city of Gyumri. Lunch at the restaurant. Departure to the monastery of Marmachene (10-13th centuries), which is located on the left bank of the Akhouryan - the river that forms the border between Armenia and Turkey. Back to Gyumri. Dinner at the restaurant. Night at the hotel.

 Day 5: Gyumri - Ardvi - Odzoune - Haghpat

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to the region of Lori. Village Ardvi. Short hike to the funeral chapel of Catholicos Jean d'Odzoune (7th century), then continuation to the village of Odzoune. Lunch. Visit of the basilica of the 6th century in the village of Odzoune. Departure to the village of Haghpat. Visit of Haghpat Monastery (10th-13th centuries) - it is the largest monastic complex of Armenia, classified in the list of UNESCO heritage. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Haghpat. 

Day 6: Haghpat - Akhtala - Makaravank - Sevan - Tsaghkunq

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit of the monastery of Akhtala (11-13th centuries). Departure to Tavouch region. Change of car for the visit of the monastic complex of Makaravank (10-13th centuries). Lunch at the local restaurant. Departure to the region of Gégharqounique. Lake Sevan, one of the largest high mountain lakes in the world (1900 m above sea level). Lake Sevan, peninsula, monastery of Sevan (9-13th centuries). Dinner and overnight at the guest house in Tsaghkunq. 

Day 7: Tsaghkunq - Dadivank - Gandzasar - Stepanakert

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to Artsakh by the new Karvachar road. Arrival at Dadivank. Visit of Dadivank Monastery. Lunch. Road to Gandzasar (12-13th centuries). Visit of Gandzasar Monastery. Departure to Stepanakert. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Stepanakert. 

Day 8: Stepanakert - Shoushi - Khndzoresk - Tatev - Goris

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit Shushi's St Astvatsatsin (18C) church. Departure to Armenia. In the region of Syunik visit the cave city - Kndzoresk (I millet Av J.-C). Lunch at the local restaurant. Canyon of the Vorotan River. Tatev Monastery (9-13th centuries). Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Goris. 

Day 9: Goris - Carahunge - Areni - Noravank - Yerevan

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit the archaeological site of Carahunge. Region of Vayots Dzor. Visit the Cave of Birds (cave Arenes 1). It is here, that in 2007-2008 during the archaeological excavations was discovered the oldest shoe and evidences of viticultures dating from the 5-4th millennia BC (http://www.armenianheritage.org/en/monument / Noravankbirdscave / 1241). Lunch at the local restaurant. Visit of the Noravank Monastery (13-14th centuries), which stands at the bottom of the Amaghou Canyon The Noravank Monastery and the Amaghou Valley are on the UNESCO heritage waiting list. Back to Yerevan. Night at the hotel.

Day 10: Yerevan - Garni - Geghard - Yerevan

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to the Kotayk region. Visit of the pagan temple of the 1st century and the Roman baths of the 3rd century, located on the territory of the old fortress of Garni. Visit the monastery of Geghard (4-13th centuries), also listed in the list of UNESCO heritage. This rock monastery is located in one of the most picturesque sites of Armenia. Lunch at the restaurant. Back to Yerevan. Institute and Museum of Ancient Manuscripts-Matenadaran. Night at the hotel. 

Day 11: Departure

Transfer to the airport. Departure.