Armenia – Iran

Meeting at Zvartnots International Airport. Transfer to the hotel. Overnight.

Breakfast. We will start the tour in the capital of Armenia: Yerevan. For ages this city has been known as a “pink city” because of the color of the stone it has been built with. So we will visit Republic square, Mashtoc Avenue, the House of Opera and Ballet after Aram Khachatryan, the park “Cascad”. Then we will visit the Manuscript Museum of Armenia, which is called Matenadaran; here all ancient Armenian Manuscripts are kept. Then we should visit Genocide museum and Memorial known as Tsitsernakaberd. We will start the excursion to centuries-old monuments Ejmiatsin and Zvartnots. These sites are listed on UNESCO World Heritage list. Zvartnots Temple was built in 7th century by Nerses Builder Catholicos. Our next step is the spiritual center of Armenia: Ejmiatsin. The Cathedral of Ejmiatsin, founded in 303, is the official residence of the Catholicos of Armenia. We will also visit the museum of Ejmiatsin where a small part of Noah’s ark is kept. Get back to Yerevan. Overnight. (B/-/-)

Breakfast. Take trip to Garni. This Pagan Temple built in the 1st century AD. It is the only temple that has been preserves from the Pagan times in Armenia. It was devoted to the god Mihr, who was the god of cleanness. In 1679 it was destroyed by earthquake. In the 1975 the Temple was restored. Then we will continue our trip to Geghard Monastery. Its name came from the legendary lance that was used to pierce the body of Christ. It has been kept here for centuries. Though the exact foundation of the monastery is unknown, the present complex was built in the mid – 13th century. Afterwards we will visit a local house where you will have the chance to see and participate in the preparation of Armenian national bread: lavash. It is a very thin, usually sold in very large forms. It is usually cooked in a ground oven: “tonir”. In 2015 it has been inscribed in UNESCO intangible heritage list. Here we will enjoy the “Armenian fast food” with lavash and cheese. Lunch here. After here we will drive to Lake Sevan which is one of the largest lakes in the world. It stands out with its sweet and astonishingly blue water. Here we can enjoy the breathtaking scenery of the beautiful lake. Then we will visit Sevanavank Monastery which is situated on Sevan Peninsula. There are 2 monasteries actually; one of them is destroyed but the other stands still. They have been built in the middle Ages, around 10th century. Return to Yerevan. Overnight. (B/-/-)

Breakfast. Take trip to Khor Virap Monastery (4-18th cc.). This monastery is very prominent because of its history; Gregory the Illuminator, who introduced Christianity to Armenia, has been imprisoned there about 13 years as at that time there was a prison in the place of the monastery. Here we can enjoy the spectacular view of the sacred Ararat Mountain – an immortal symbol of Armenia. After Khor Virap we will drive to Armenian Wine Village Areni. This village is very famous with its red wine. Visit the wine factory of the village where we will have wine degustation. Noravank – a monastery of XII century situated among amazing sheer rocks on the bench of a twisty gorge. This is the only monastery where we may find a unique sculpture of Father God. After all drive to Goris. Overnight in Goris. (B/-/-)

Breakfast. We will start our trip visiting the monastic complex of Tatev. The complex was found within the ages of 9-13. Formerly it was a very famous educational center in Armenia and all famous contemporary scientists and philosophers were educated there. It used to accept students from abroad as well. Here we can use the world’s longest rope way, which has length of 5700 m. Visit the cave village of Khndzoresk. Lunch during the visits. After all we will drive to Kapan. Overnight in Kapan. (B/-/-)

Breakfast. Transfer to Border between Armenia and Iran. Meeting with the guide and driver of Iran. Departure to the city of Tehran. During the way stop to visit the Cathedral of St. Stepanous. In the afternoon visit the garden Elgoli. Accommodation in Tabriz. (B/-/-)

Breakfast. City tour in Tabriz. We will visit the museum of Azerbaijan, the Blue Mosque, the house-museum of old market Mashrouteh and Tabriz. Transfer to the airport for the flight from Tabriz to Shiraz. Arrive and transfer to the hotel. (B/-/-)

Breakfast at the hotel. Today we will discovere the city of Shiraz, which was a great center of poetry and Persian culture. Many monuments are incluided on this tour, as the tombs of poets Hafez and Saadi, Nasir ol Molk Mosque, capital of Fars built in 1525 meters above sea level. Shiraz has been sung by poets as an oasis of roses and wine and the nightingale, and not surprisingly gave birth to two of the great Persian poets, Hafez and Saadi. Therefore, Shiraz is a place of pilgrimage, because in the East people always visit their mausoleums, the mystical sanctuary ChahCheragh, Jame-e-ATIG mosque and Friday, Fars small museum housed in the octagonal pavilion built by Karim Khan-e-Zand, the Orangerie and the lively bazar- e-Vakil. Shiraz, also known for its gardens and for its mild climate. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight. (B/-/-)

Breakfast. Drive to Isfahan. On the way visit the site of the tombs of the early emperors to Persepolis and Naqsh-e Rostam, as Darius the largest – Xerxes – Artaxerxes I and Darius II. Below this necropolis seen eight Achaemenid rock reliefs showing the glory of the Sassanian Empire. Following the trip to Isfahan and view the old bridges in Esfahan in 1600. Accommodation in the hotel. (B/-/-)

Breakfast at the hotel. The next two days are dedicated to this beautiful city, capital of the province. Esfahan, in 600 was one of the most brilliant capitals of East and was known by the nickname of “the other half of the world”. We’ll visit the great central square of the city (now Imam Square), which is really impressive with its backdrop of minarets and domes, columns and arches over four centuries come together in a unified framework. In the square stands the mosque of Imam. On another side of the square, however, it overlooks the elegant and slender Loftollah mosque. Opposite this mosque is the palace Ali Qapu (high port) that once represented the monumental access to the royal palaces. The large terrace was once used by the royal box and from this point of view high Shah continued with his guests the shows that took place in the square. The music room inside the palace, impresses with extraordinary decoration of the walls and ceiling with bottles of scale they represent, and musical instruments that had not only ornamental value, but surely should serve to improve the acoustics. With great interest visit the Jolfa district, where Armenian community was transferred to revitalize the economy of Esfahan in 1603: the highlight of the visit, the Savior Cathedral and the adjacent museum. Ovenight in Ispahan. (B/-/-)

Breakfast. In the morning we travel to Tehran. On the way we visit the city of Kashan. The city is probably ancient; according to a local tradition here would leave the three kings for their long search for the cradle of Bethlehem. Today Kashan is famous for its ceramic tiles and glass for its carpets and velvet. In the city there are the hills of Sialk (fifth millennium BC). We will also visit Fin Garden villas of the nineteenth century, as the bioclimatic house. Accommodation in Tehran. (B/-/-)

Breakfast. Excursion in the city of Tehran (altitude 1150 m.). Tehran is a relatively young city compared with an empire of ancient traditions as well. The city, located along the route of the caravan route that crossed the country from north to south, began gaining steadily importance as a place of rest and refreshment for merchants and their retinues until he was chosen as the capital of dynasty state Ghajars enriching avenues, gardens and buildings. Since World War Tehran has experienced rapid growth. We visited the bazaar extraordinary jewelry that belonged to the Safavid dynasty and later, in the Archaeological Museum rich in artifacts that trace the history of the country, the extraordinary collection of handmade ceramics, the Royal Palace of Golestan and treasures bank Central museum known as jewelry. Accommodation. (B/-/-)

Breakfast. Transfer to the airport.