Armenia Classic 8 days

Day 1: 

Flight to Yerevan. Arrival at Zvartnots airport. Reception and transfer to the hotel.

Day 2: Yerevan - Etchmiatsin - Zvartnots - Yerevan

Breakfast at the hotel. 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 local restaurant. Back to Yerevan. Visit of the Genocide memorial museum located on the Tsitsernakaberd (Swallows Fortress) hill. Night at the hotel. 

Day 4: Yerevan - Sevan - Haghartsin - Dilijan - Noradouze - Yerevan

Breakfast at the hotel. Excursion in the region of Lake Sevan, one of the largest high mountain lakes in the world (1900 m above sea level). Visit of the Sevan monastery, located on the peninsula. Departure to Tavouch region. Arrive in Dilijan, a small spa town surrounded by Bazum and Pambak mountain ranges. Not far from Dilijan, visit the magnificent monastic complex of Haghartsin 10th-13th centuries. Lunch at the local restaurant. Arrival in Noradouze. The cemetery of this village has one of the largest collections of khachkars (stones carved with the cross). The "Khachkar" is also listed in the UNESCO Heritage List. Back to Yerevan. Night at the hotel. 

Day 5: Yerevan - Gyumri - Talin - Yerevan

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit the monument of the "Cascade" - exhibition park of modern art. Departure to Chirak region. Arrival to Gyumri, second a major city in Armenia, which suffered from the earthquake in 1988. Lunch in a trout and sturgeon fish restaurant, a short walk in the old quarter of Gyumri town - 19th century architecture. In Aragatsotn region visit the Talin Cathedral (7th century). Return to Yerevan. Overnight at the hotel. 

Day 6: Yerevan - Khor Virap - Noravank - Yerevan

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit Khor Virap Monastery 4-17th centuries. Here is the underground cell of St. Gregory the Illuminator, the first Armenian Catholicos. Departure to the region of Vayots Dzor. Lunch. At the bottom of a canyon stands the monastic complex of Noravank 10th-14th centuries. The Noravank Monastery and the Amaghou Valley are on the UNESCO Heritage Waiting List. Back to Yerevan. Visit the workshop of a craftsman making different types of Armenian flutes of apricot wood (duduk, zurna etc). We can see at home the process of manufacture, and he will present the instruments with demonstration around a small coffee or tea in the yard of his house. Night at the hotel. 

Day 7: 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 8: Departure

Transfer to the airport and departure.