Tours

Armenia in Centuries

Day 1/2

Arrival. Accomodation in the hotel. Breakfast.
City tour. Visit to the museum of Matenadaran. The Matenadaran is one of the oldest and richest book-depositories in the world. Lunch. Visit to the museum of History. Dinner. Night in the hotel.

Day3

Yerevan – Echmiatsin – Zvartnots – Garni – Geghard – Yerevan
Breakfast.
Departure for Echmiatsin. Echmiatsin, which means the “The Descent of the Only Begotten Son, is an ancient capital of Armenia. According to legend, Jesus Christ descended from heaven and indicated the spot for a church to be built. Holy Echmiatsin Cathedral was erected at that site in the 4th century (301-303), at the dawn of the Christian conversion of the country. The Cathedral was built on top of the pagan temple of Vagharshapat, after it was destroyed by King Trdat. Armenia was the first country in the world to adopt Christianity as its state religion. Echmiatsein is the residence of the Supreme Catholicos of all Armenians and the center of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
Return. In the way visit to the temple of Zvartnots. The architectural masterpiece of Zvartnots was built between the years 641 and 662. It was damaged by an earthquake in the 10th century and unearthed nearly a thousand years later in 1900-1907, in the town of Echmiadzin. Return to Yerevan. Lunch. Garni Temple, the pre-eminent example of Hellenistic culture in Armenia today, acted as a summer resort of Armenian kings over two thousand years ago. The Temple and surrounding ruins are located 28 km northeast of Yerevan in the Kotayk Region.
The Garni Fortress was built in the 3rd century BC on a triangular plateau. The elevated site juts out over a deep canyon and enjoys natural protection on three of four sides by the deep valley and rocky cliffs. A 300 m wide fortress wall was constructed on the fourth side in the 3rd century BC featuring 14 towers and an arched entryway. Virtually impregnable, it was one of the most legendary fortresses of ancient Armenia. The astounding Geghard monastery is situated 6 km from the temple at Garni and is revered throughout Armenia as one of the country's greatest spiritual and cultural centers. First called Ayrivank, or the Monastery of the Caves, the history of Geghard dates back to pre-Christian times.
Dinner. Night in the hotel.

Day 4

Yerevan – Amberd – Saghmosavank – Mughni – Yerevan
Breakfast.
The fortress Amberd was built according to state of the art criteria used for military constructions at that time, taking advantage of Armenian military tradition, local geography, and building material availability. It is an outstanding example of Armenian secular architecture. The church complex was protected by thick walls and placed almost inaccessibly on a crag overlooking deep ravines and mountain rivers of Arkhashyan and Amberd. The main temples of the monasteries erected by Prince Vache Vachutyan — the Church of Zion in Saghmosavank (1215) and the Church of Karapet in Hovhannavank (1216— 1221) belong to the same type of cross-winged domed structure with two-floor annexes in all the corners of the building. Subcupola space predominates in the interiors of both churches, which is reflected in the exterior shapes of these structures.
The book repository of Saghmosavank, built in 1255 under Prince Kurd Vachutyan is among Armenia’s buildings rare in their purpose and original in their composition. Added to three buildings erected earlier it is L-shaped in plan. There is an altar apse on its eastern side, and its southeastern corner has two-floor annexes attached to it — a unique phenomenon in the structures of such purpose. Mughni Monastery-the main church of St. George represents a domed hall dating from 1661-1669, with a three-arch gallery-belfry in the western section. The church was built by the architects Sahak Khizanetzi and Murat.The dome drum is faced with alternating rows of orange and black tufa, and on the exterior surface there are reliefs representing the Evangelists. The portals are generously carved.
Return to Yerevan. Dinner. Night in the hotel.

Day 5

Yerevan – Kecharis – Noraduz – Sevan – Haghardsin – Dilijan
Breakfast.
The Kecharis complex was built in the 11th-13th centuries. The domed hall of St Gregory Church, its most ancient structure, dates back to 1003. It faces a small chapel south of Holy Cross and, farther southward, the cross-domed church Gatoghike (13th century).
Noraduz is among the most famous assemblages of stone-crosses (khach-kars) in Armenia. Dating back to the 13th through 17th centuries, these ornate tombstones and monuments depict intricate craftsmanship and a testimony of Armenia’s enduring faith.
Lake Sevan is situated 60 kilometers northeast of Yerevan in the center of the Gegharkunik region. The lake fills a gigantic depression situated at height of 1897 meters above sea level. . It is impossible to imagine the island of Sevan (currently a peninsula) without the Sevan Monastery, a perfect example of a man-made testimony of faith complementing the surrounding divine nature. According to the historical records, the Monastery was built in 874.
Hagartsin - the monastic group of buildings, near the town of Dilijan includes three churches, two gavits (one in ruins), a refectory, a group of chapels and several khatchkars. The principal church Sourb Astvatsatin was built in 1281 as a cupola structure with a tall drum. The south entrance is crowned with decorative moldings. All the walls, except the west one, have two triangular niches on the outside. The most ancient of the group is the church of Saint Grigor (11th century) with its cupola on an octagonal drum. A second near-by gavit is rectangular in shape and built in the 12th century. The small church of Saint Stepanos (1244), of the cupola type, is an elegant structure with finely worked motifs. The refectory built in 1248 by the architect Minas, is one of the best representatives of medieval Armenian architecture: a structurally daring concept is divided into a pair of communicating square halls, roofed with intersecting arches.
Dinner. Night in the hotel in Dilijan.

Day 6

Dilijan – Akhtala – Hakhpat – Sanahin – Yerevan
Breakfast.
The Fortress and Monastery of Akhtala are located on a high plateau. The fortress was built in the 10 th century during the reign of the Kurikian branch of the Bagratuni dynasty. The main church of the Monastery of Akhtala, St. Astvatsatsin (Mother of God), was built by Amirspasalar Ivan Zakarian Yerkarabazouk early in the 13th century. The church is famous for its first-rate and highly artistic frescos, covering the interior walls, partitions, and bearings. They are characterized by perfect iconography, richness of themes and diversity of colors. Akhpat and the nearby monastery of Sanahin formed important centres of learning and written culture and represent a unique blending between domestic Caucasian architecture and the evolved Byzantine style. Akhpat was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996, and Sanahin in 2000.
Return to Yerevan. Dinner and night in the hotel.

Day 7

Yerevan – Khor-Virap – Noravank – Yerevan
Breakfast.
Khor Virap dates back to 4th–17th centuries and offers the best view of the Sacred Mountain Ararat where Noah's Ark landed.
Khor Virap is one of the most popular destinations in Armenia. It is the place where Grigor Luisavorich (St. Gregory the Illuminator) was imprisoned for 13 years for preaching the word of Christ. He converted King Trdat III in 301 and the King adopted Christianity as the state religion.
Noravank Monastery is situated deep in the Noravank canyon, and from a distance appears to be perched high on the flat surface of a rock, nestled into a majestic mountain. The main church of St. Karapet was built in 1221-1227.
Dinner in Yerevan. Night in the hotel.

Day 8
Departure

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