Armenia Trekking – Cultural

Arrival at Zvartnoc International Airport and transfer to the hotel.

Breakfast. 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. Then we will continue our excursion to centuries-old monuments Ejmiatsin and Zvartnots. These sites are listed on UNESCO World Heritage list. The Cathedral of Ejmiatsin, founded in 303, is the official residence of the Catholicos of Armenia. We’ll continue the trip to Zvartnots Temple, which was built on 7th century by Nerses Builder Catholicos. Get back to Yerevan. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast. Departure towards Lori region. Visit to Lori fortress. Drive to Haghpat monastery (UNESCO World Heritage) one of the largest religious, cultural and educational centers of medieval Armenia. Visit to the Haghpat Monastery. Then visit Odzun monastery. After all drive to Yenokavan and overnight there.

Breakfast. Today’s route is called ”the sense of antiquity” and will cover the way from Lastiver to Ocon. Today we are going to have a riding tour. In the morning we will take the horses and will start the route. Then we go through the woods, we climb to a height of 1324m. First the trail passes through the dense forests with open spaces up to the Parvidzor gorge (height 1305m), then descents and climbs between the secular forest up to the river at a height of 1275m. Crossing the river we go up to the beautiful little chapel which is located at a height of 1321m. The last point of this day is Ocon (1405m). The length of the journey is 9km. We stop at a local farm to communicate with the inhabitants. Overnight at Yenokavan

Breakfast. We will drive to Dilijan. We visit an ancient street of Sharambeyan with crafts shops and museums. Then we continue our tour to lake Parz from where we will start our trekking. Our nice route through the magnificent forests will lead us to the monastery of Goshavank, a striking example of the harmony of nature with architecture. There are a number of very interesting khachkars (huge carved stone crosses) in the monastery. Overnight in Dilijan.

Breakfast. Departure towards Lake Sevan, one of the greatest lakes of the world. Here we can enjoy the splendid panorama of the lake. Afterwards we visit the Sevan peninsula, where we visit two monasteries of 10th century. Visit Noraduz, the biggist cross-stones cemetry in the world. Today we pass through the paths that have been used by the travellers of the Great Silk Road. We stop near the Selim caravanserai, which was an important trade center on the Silk Road and was also the place for overnight stays. Here we can see the immortal traces of world history. Trekking towards the fortress of Smbataberd. Overnight at Hermon village at a local hotel.

Breakfast. Departure to the famous spa city of Armenia: Jermuk where there are many natural springs of 0-53 ° C. We can also see one of the beautiful cascades of Armenia. Visit to Karahunj. Karahundj or Zorackarer is an ancient astrological observatory which is 3,500 years older than Stonehenge in England and 3,000 years older than the Egyptian pyramids. According to many archaeologists who visited Karahunj have stated that the site had been “a temple with a large, highly developed observatory”.Departure to the city of Sisian, from where we take 4×4 Soviet cars to go up to the Ukhtasar mountain to see the petroglyphs. Arrive at Goris in the end. Overnight in Goris.

Breakfast at the hotel. Tour starts from Goris. Visit to the village Khndzoresk (cave town). It is an ancient cave town which has been inhabited till 19th century. The caves are still keeping the evident traces of being inhabited. After this we will drive to Tatev where the longest cable car of the world will bring us to the most beautiful monastery throughout Armenia, to the monastery of Tatev (IX-XIIIcc). Formerly it was an educational center for sciences and arts, where centuries ago lived and worked many famous Armenian writes, scientists and outstanding politicians. The complex of Tatev consists of three churches, a refectory and a library. Trekking to the ” Devil’s bridge”, where there are beautiful small natural warm pools located in the gorge. Overnight in Goris.

Breakfast. Departure for the region of Vayots Dzor to visit the wonderful monastic complex of Novarank (12th / 13th century) located in a spectacular position on the edge of a rock. Departure for the region of Ararat to visit the Monastery of Khor Virap, a famous place of pilgrimage, also visited by Pope John Paul II. The Monastery stands on the place of imprisonment of St. Gregory the Illuminator who introduced Christianity to Armenia and became the first Catholicos of Armenia. Khor Virap means “deep hole”. The monastery is also the nearest point to biblical Mount Ararat and has fantastic view to it. After all drive to Yerevan. Overnight in Yerevan.

Breakfast. Take trip to Garni. This Pagan Temple was built in the 1st century AD. It is the only temple that has been preserved 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. We will take 4×4 cars to visit the Garni gorge to see one of the wonders of nature that is called “Symphony of Stones”. 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 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. Drive back to Yerevan and overnight there.

Breakfast Transfer to the airport.