ETHNO TOUR IN ARMENIA

Transfer from the airport to the hotel. Breakfast in the hotel. City tour in the capital of Armenia, Yerevan. Tour to Etchmiadzin, one of the three saint places in Armenia, the center of Armenian Apostolic church. The Cathedral of Etchmiadzin was founded at the beginning of the 4th century and is one of the oldest churches in the world. The residence of the Catholicos and the Theological Academy are situated near the Cathedral. Along with several important early medieval churches located nearby, the cathedral was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2000. Tour to Sardarapat memorial, which is a memorial complex to the Battle of Sardarapat. Items of Armenian material culture are represented at the Sardarapat National Ethnographic Museum: from tools of bronze century up to Armenian national garments and the 20th century carpets. Back to Yerevan. (B, -, D) Overnight: Yerevan.

Breakfast at the hotel. Tour to Lake Sevan the largest body of water in Armenia and the Caucasus region, and one of the largest freshwater high-altitude lakes in Eurasia. The total surface area of its basin is about 5,000 km2, which makes up  1⁄6 of Armenia’s territory. We will visit the monastery on peninsula, Sevanavank. Tour to Dilijan, a spa town, usually called Armenian Switzerland or Little Switzerland. We will visit village Fioletovo, will have a meeting with the Molokans, cultural and religious minorities in Armenia. We will get acquainted with their daily life, their customs, traditions. Overnight in Dilijan. (B, -, D) Overnight: Dilijan.

Breakfast at the hotel. Tour to Stepanavan, where we will have a meeting with an Armenian family, will learn their everyday life, customs, traditions. Later we will take our way to Odzun, the major and historic village in the Lori Province. It is situated on a plateau above the left bank of the Debed river gorge, a few kilometers south of the town of Alaverdi. It is famous for the 4-8th century Odzun Church, one of the finest Armenian basilicas with a cupola, overlooking the gorge. Overnight in Alaverdi. (B, -, D) Overnight: Alaverdi.

Breakfast at the hotel. Tour to the masterpiece of religious architecture and a major center of learning in the Middle Ages, Haghpat monastery (10-13th centuries), which is placed in UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Then we will take our way to Amberd, a 7th-century fortress located on the slopes of Mount Aragats. Some sources say that Amberd used to be a summer residence for kings. There is the bath house south of the fortress that was built between the 10th and 11th centuries and Vahramashen, 11th-century Armenian church. On the way to Amberd we will have a stop in village Rya Taza, where Yezidis live. We will get acquainted with their traditions and customs. Later we will visit the national theatre “Tonacuyc” in Byurakan, where we will learn more about Armenian culture, traditions and customs. Back to Yerevan. (B, L, -) Overnight: Yerevan.

Breakfast at the hotel. Tour to Geghard monastery (13th century), carved out of the adjacent mountain and initially called Ayrivank (the Monastery of the Cave ) is included in the World Heritage Site. Due to the fact that the famous spear, with which the Roman soldier wounded Jesus, was kept here for 500 years, the monastery was called Geghardavank (the Monastery of the Spear). On the way to Geghard, we will have a stop near Charents Arch- memorial arch made in honor of a prominent Armenian writer Yeghishe Charents can be seen. A magnificent view of Ararat and Armenia opens from the arch. We will keep our way to Garni, the only pagan temple left in Armenia. It is a blend of Greco-Roman and Armenian styles built by King Trdat I in the first century A.D. and dedicated it to the God of Sun. During the tour we will see how Armenian national branch lavash is being baked. Back to Yerevan. (B, L, -) Overnight: Yerevan.

Transfer to the airport early in the morning.