Discover the homeland of wine
Day 1: Arrival at the Zvartnots International Airport, accommodation in the choosen hotel in Yerevan.
Day 2: Yerevan City tour
Breakfast at the hotel. City tour in Yerevan.Visit to the Republic square,State University,Victory Park, Mother Armenia Monument, Baghramyan Avenue, President’s Palace, Opera, Genocide Memorial, dedicated to the Victims of 1915 and the Genocide Museum. Visit to Matenadaran Museum which is the depository for ancient manuscripts, the collection is one of the biggest in the world. Visit to Cascade complex, which is considered the modern art centre of Yerevan: the boulevard and up the stairs, from top of which you can enjoy the panoramic view on the city and Mountain Ararat. Cascade is home to Cafesjan modern art museum. This place becomes even more charming in the evenings, when it is full of people, both locals and tourists from all over the world, enjoying the magic and the warmth of the capital. After City tour visit to the Armenian brandy factory ,,ARARAT’’ which keeps the tradition of the legendary Cognac since 1887. Degustation of any types of Armenian brandy, tour at the factory . Overnight in Yerevan.
Day 3: Yerevan-Ararat valley-Khor Virap-Areni village & Areni-1cave complex-Noravank ,,Hin Areni’’-Yerevan
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Ararat valley. Visit to Khor Virap Monastery, which is the place of imprisonment of St. Gregory the Illuminator, who stayed here in the small dungeon for 13 years without any food, accused by the Armenian King of preaching Christianity. Khor Virap Monastery is one of the holy places for the Christian world. It is also the best point to enjoy the most spectacular view of the gorgeous biblical mountain Ararat shining with its two white peaks. After visiting Khor Virap drive through the spectacular canyon between the red rocks toward Vayots Dzor province. On the way to Noravank visit the Areni -1 cave complex which is located along the Arpa River, and in 2010 archeologist discovered the earliest known shoe and a 6100 years old 5 winery and cellar at the cave. Then visit to the Noravank Monastery (13th c.).The most ancient monument of Noravank is St. Karapet Church (IX - X cc.). The Church, completed in 1339, is said to be the masterpiece of Momik, a talented sculptor and a miniaturist. The burial site of the Orbelian dynasty (XIII - XIV cc.) is located north to the main temple. On the way back to Yerevan visit Areni village, the homeland of wine for a tour and degustation .Visit "Hin Areni" winery. The wines is produces from different varieties of grapes such as Voskehat, Areni, Tozot, Movuz. Short tour around the wine factory after take quadricycle or village car to reach the winyards and degustation of different types of wine.Drive back to Yerevan. Overnight in Yerevan.
Day 4: Yerevan-Armavir Region-Maran Winery-Zvartnots-Etchmiadzin-Voskeni Winey-Yerevan
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Armavir province to visit,, Maran Winery “.Maran is the first company that produces wine in Republic of Armenia after independence. After wine tasting drive to Zvartnots, a tample of Vigil Forces, built in 641-661 AD. The Zvartnots Archaeological Site is a unique example of Armenian architecture of the early Christian period. The building consisted of three polyhedrons, supported by the massive pillars decorated with eagles, ornamented with grape withes, twigs of pomegranate. Zvartnots is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List (2000). After continuation to Etchmiadzin , the spiritual and administrative center of Armenian Apostolic Church. Visit to Etchmiadzin Cathedral, one of the ancient churches in the Christian world, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Visit,,Gandzer’’ museum of the Cathedral, located behind the Altar, has collection of religious artefacts about Holy Mass, subjects made of gold, silver, precious stones, decorations, colossal silver boiler for making the myrh and legendary Holy spear. Continuing tour to family owned,, Voskeni Winery ’’.The Family moved to Armenia from Boston in the early 1920-e. After degustation drive back to Yerevan. Overnight in Yerevan.
Day 5: Yerevan-Lake Sevan-‘’Armenian Switzerland’’ Dilijan- Haghartsin-Ijevan wine factory-Yerevan
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Sevan, one of the greatest high mountainous lakes of Eurasia, climb to the Sevanavank Monastery on peninsula from where the fascinating view on the Lake is open. Drive to the “Armenian Switzerland” Dilijan which is well-known for its forests as well as for its mysterious flora and fauna. Small walking city tour in resort Dilijan: visit to handicrafts’ street, which is the preparation of different national souvenirs from wood, stone and ceramics. Dilijan is a unique settlement with its natural and climatic conditions. It is a small Armenian”Switzerland” .You can endlessly admire the beauty of a small lake in Dilijan: Parz lake.The name literally means”Clear”. The most famous monastery in Dilijan is Haghartsin , which is one of the best examples of Armenian monasteries with its architectural solutions and fine arts. Visit to Haghartsin Monastery complex which is located in the secluded place of the forest. Haghartsin dates back to 11th-13th century and represent a magnificent piece of history, culture and architecture. The Monastery is so unique and the scenery with the nature surrounding it is so breath taking that most of visitors are in awe. Drive to Ijevan, city in the Tavush province, Ijevan wine factory.Due to the usage of new technologies, semi-sweet wines are produced. Wine degustation. Drive back to Yerevan.Overnight in Yerevan.
Day 6: Yerevan-Gyumri-,, Gyumri Beer,, Factory-Harichavank-Yerevan
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Gyumri, Shirak province. Gyumri is the second largest city in Armenia. Take a tour in two of Gyumri churches, see places that are closed for public, see manuscripts and unique religious art works. Come learn about the art, architecture and history of Gyumri on the museum tour, which features visits to three different museums specializing in everything from traditional woodwork to 19th century fashion of Gyumri. Visit the museums of Gyumri accompanied with short walking tours of the city and discover the aesthetic life of Gyumri-Aleksandrapol. In Gyumri on this tour we will be permitted to see a private collection of rare Soviet glass and to learn about the history surrounding this collection. We will also sample several wines produced by Caucasian Bouquet. These wines are the result of collaboration between Azerbaijan, Gerogia and Armenia and represents the unique and delicious flavors of these three countries. Finally, participants will view a private exhibition of the most provocative, influential and rare propaganda posters of the Soviet times. Visit one of most famous beer factories located in Gyumri. It is a short walking distance from the downtown of the city. Witness how “Gyumri Beer” is brewed and bottled, see inside of the factory and the historic cellars where the raw beer is processed. This is a fantastic experience to taste the beer in its different stages of production. The factory building is historic and is part of Gyumri cultural heritage. On the way back to Yerevan visit to the village Harich to discover the life of one of the oldest villages of the Shirak region, where located the Monastery Harichavank 7thc. Harichavank known as one of the most famous monastic centres in Armenia and it was especially renowned for its school and scriptorium. Archaeological excavations of 1966 indicate that Harich was in existence during the 2nd century BC, and was one of the more well known fortress towns in Armenia.After visiting the monastery drive back to Yerevan.Overnight in Yerevan.
7: Yerevan-,,Proshyan wine’’-Hovhannavank -,,Armenia wine’’-,,Van Ardi ’’-Yerevan
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to the Aragatsotn province.Stop at the Proshyan wine factory.Tour in the factory. After wine and cognac degustation drive to the Hovhnnavank Monastery,located on the edge of the precipitous gorge of the Kasakh river and its territory is adjacent to the village of Ohanavan.Drive to Sasunik village,visit ,,Armenia wine’’ factory, where degustation of several types of wines will be organized.The tour in the factory is very informative, it covers both traditional and innovative winemaking techniques, including visits to wine cellars, aging cellars, brandy innovative distillery, champagne production block, bottling line and degustation hall. The company’s manufactured grape wine assortment includes dry and semisweet types of red, rose and white, and special editions of white and red wines.Visit to ,,Van Ardi’’ winery- the newly established boutique winery,degustation.Drive back to Yerevan.Overnight in Yerevan.
Day 8: Yerevan-Garni- Geghard-Yerevan
Breakfast at the hotel. On the way to the only remaining pagan temple in Armenia Garni photo stop 10 min. at Charent’c Arch.Garni temple is Greco-Roman style with characteristic pillars. It stands proudly on a rocky ridge with a deep canyon presenting a beautiful view and the temple was a summer residence for Arshakid dynasty. The fantastic landscape of Garni canyon shakes the human imagination. Lunch at the local restaurant Garnitun,degustation of homemade wine & vodka, watching of “ Lavash ” (Armenian traditional bread baked in stone-make oven) making process of Drive to the unique caved Monastery St. Geghard (12th-13th cc.), the name of which means “holy spear” in the honor of the long-preserved spear, the same spear that pierced the body of crucified Christ. It is now exhibited in the museum of Etchmiadzin Cathedral. Geghard Monastery is included in the UNESCO World Heritage list.
Day 9: Yerevan-Vernissage-Shopping-Wine & Grape Spa centre
After breakfast at the Hotel visit to the open air market Vernissage,to buy many interesting souvenirs and handmade works from Armenia, Visit to the Yerevan Mall or Dalma Garden Mall for optional shopping . Visit Wine & Grape SPA centre in Yerevan,which will give you an opportunity to feel the magic strength of the Ararat valley sweet grape. After you sink into the wine made of these fruit, you will feel the magic properties of the Armenian drink, feel hale and hearty, strong and young. The wine bathing, steaming, skin peeling with the grape seeds and fresh blend, the massage with the grape oil and too many procedures will take each visitor to another world of Edem. Here you will taste the grape honey juice and wine made of it, which is a Divine drink. In the evening dinner in the one of the best wine houses in Yerevan.
Day 10: Transfer to the Zvartnots International Airport
