 ARMENIA AND KARABAKH ARMENIA AND KARABAKH
13 days/12 nights
Start and finish of the tour: in Yerevan
Accommodation: hotels in Yerevan, Gyumri, Tumanyan, Sevan or Tsaghkadzor, Jermuk, Stepanakert, Goris or guesthouse in Sissian
Days 1-2: Arrival at Zvartnots airport, transfer to the hotel. Time at leisure. City tour. Visit Erebuny fortress (782 B.C.) and Archaeological Museum. Lunch at local restaurant. Visit the memorial complex of Genocide in Tsitsernakaberd. Visit State History Museum. Overnight at the hotel.
 Day 3: Yerevan. Drive to Armavir region. Etchmiadzin, Cathedral (303AD), St.Hripsime (618AD) and St Gayane (630AD) churches. Lunch at local restaurant. Visit Sardarapat ethnographic museum and memorial. Visit Zvartnots Temple (7th cc.). Return to Yerevan. Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.
Day 4: Drive to Aragatsotn region. Visit Saghmosavank monastery (13th c.), located at the edge of the gorgeous canyon of the river Kasakh. Hamberd medieval fortress and church (10-13th cc.). Lunch. Monastic complex of Harichavank (7-13th cc.). Drive to Gyumri town. Dinner, overnight at the hotel in Gyumri. 
Day 5: Gyumri. Short hike in the village towards Kobayr monastery. Alaverdi town, visit Sanahin monastic complex (10-13 cc.), included in UNESCO World Heritage List. Lunch at local restaurant. Haghpat monastic complex (10-13th cc.), included in  UNESCO World Heritage List. Drive to Tumanyan village. Dinner and overnight at the new national-style hotel in Tumanyan.
Day 6: Tumanyan. Drive to Dilijan resort town. Visit Goshavank (12-13th cc.) monastic complex. Dilijan resort town. Old Dilijan district and visit the ethnographic area where you’ll see many studios of local craftsmen and get acquainted with the techniques of Armenian hand-made items. Lunch at local restaurant. Continue towards Lake Sevan, visit Sevan monastery (9th c.) on the peninsula. Dinner and overnight at the hotel on the shore of Lake Sevan or Tsaghkadzor town. 
Day 7: Sevan or Tsaghkadzor town. Visit Noradouz medieval khachkars field (9 -17th cc.). Selim pass and caravan-saray (10-15th cc.), lunch. Yeghegis village. Short hike in the village to visit Zorats church (14th c.). Jermuk spa town. Mineral water gallery and cascade. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Jermuk.
 Day 8: Jermuk. Drive to Syunik region. Visit Old Khndzoresk village in caves (I Mil B.C.). Departure to Mountainous Karabakh. Lunch. Visit Shushi - the ancient capital of Mountainous Karabakh. Stepanakert. City tour. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Stepanakert.
Day 9: Stepanakert. Visit Askeran fortress and Mayraberd. Lunch. Drive to Vank village, visit Gandzasar monastery (13th. c.). Stepanakert. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Stepanakert.
Day 10: Stepanakert. Return to Armenia. Drive to Syunik region. Visit Tatev monastery complex (9-13th cc.). Lunch. Goris town. City tour. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Goris or guesthouse in Sissian.
Note: Due to bad road conditions take a local car.
 Day 11: Sissian or Goris. Visit Karahunge ancient observatory (5-3 Mil. B.C.). Drive to Vayots Dzor. Visit Noravank monastery (13-14th cc.). Lunch. Visit Areni wine factory, tasting of local wine. Ararat region. Visit Khor-Virap monastery (4-17th cc.), where Gregory Illuminator spent 13 years of imprisonment. Drive to Yerevan. Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan. 
Day 12: Yerevan. Visit Matenadaran – institute and museum of medieval manuscripts. Museum of S.Paradjanov – Armenian filmmaker famous for his art and collages. Lunch. Drive to Kotayk region. Visit Garni pagan temple (1st c. AD). Geghard cave monastery (4-13th cc.). Return to Yerevan. Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.
Day 13: Transfer to the airport. Departure. |
