4 nights in Armenia

ARRIVAL - CHECK IN - YEREVAN CITY TOUR

Arrival in Yerevan. Meet and greet with our English-Speaking Guide and transfer to SAS Food Court for lunch (at your own expense). After lunch transfer to the hotel. Relax. We will start our walking discovery of the Yerevan city. Yerevan, the capital of the Republic of Armenia is a lively metropolis with an ancient history dating back to 782 BC. Yerevan is in a valley surrounded by hills. At the south-west part it overlooks the Ararat plain dominated by Mount Ararat covered with perennial snows. Walking city tour by visiting the main monuments of Yerevan: Republic Square, Opera Square with Swan Lake, the Northern Avenue, Abovyan street with the “Armenian Belle Epoque '' buildings, Cascade complex, a grand staircase with terraced gardens. Enjoy the panoramic views of the city from the top. We continue our walk in the Vernissage, the arts and crafts market where you can not only admire the works of different craftsmen, including stone and wooden crosses, handmade cloth dolls, ceramic plates and glasses and other local handicrafts, but also attend the display of silver and gold jewels, Armenian rugs, embroidery, books, paintings of Armenian painters. In the evening you could stop and admire the musical Fountains, destination of walks and place of evening shows. The fountain forms water choreography synchronized with the music. Overnight in a hotel in Yerevan.

YEREVAN – TSAGHKADZOR – LAKE SEVAN – DILIJAN TOUR

Today after breakfast at the hotel, Transfer to Lake Sevan, the Pearl of Armenia and one of the largest high-altitude lakes in the world. We will visit the peninsula of Sevan from where there is also a beautiful panorama of the lake. Lake Sevan is famous also for its endemic fish type – Sevan trout, Salmo Ishkhan. We will continue our journey towards the town Diligian, the “Armenian Switzerland” and will visit the Sharabeyan street, the street of the craftsmen of the city. This charming town is known for its beautiful nature and traditional architecture. Among the monasteries in various styles that stand out here, built between the 10th and 13th centuries, we will visit Haghartsin monastery. It is hidden in an enchanting valley cloaked in forests. We will continue towards the ski resort of Tsaghkadzor and go up the Teghenis mountain with a cable car from where a beautiful panorama opens over the whole town of Tsaghkadzor. Return to Yerevan. Overnight in a hotel in Yerevan.

GARNI & GEGHARD TOUR / VICTORY PARK WITH THE STATUE OF “MOTHER ARMENIA”

Breakfast at the hotel. On this day we are heading towards the village of Garni. On the way to Garni, there is an unremarkable arch. The arch is dedicated to the famous Armenian poet Yeghishe Charents, who loved and admired the beauty of Mount Ararat. The place was chosen accurately: from the arch, you will have the best view of Mount Ararat. After we continue to discover one of the wonders of the Hellenistic era, the fortress, and the temple of Garni which is situated on the top of a well-protected triangular promontory, erected in 77 AD. We continue to visit the13th century Ghegardavank, the only rock-carved monastery in Armenia. The name derives from the relic of a fragment of the spear with which the side of Christ was pierced on the cross. We will also go to the ancient spiritual songs performed especially for our guests in the monastery. After a full day of exploration, return to Yerevan and stop in the Victory Park with the statue of "Mother Armenia" from the amazing view of all the city of Yerevan. The Park is very large and includes an artificial lake, an amusement park with various merry-go-rounds, outdoor cafes and restaurants, the Mother Armenia Monument, and the Mother Armenia Museum. The rest of the day you could spend exploring the city at your leisure. You can visit museums, enjoy shopping, or try local cuisine. Overnight in a hotel in Yerevan.

DAY AT LEISURE OR OPTIONAL TOUR KHOE VIRAP & NORAVANK WITH BIRD’S CAVE

Today after breakfast at the hotel. After the breakfast departure towards the Plain of Ararat located near the border with Turkey. The first stop will beat the monastery of Khor Virap, magical for its beautiful landscape dominated by the snow-capped Mount Ararat. You also have the occasion to visit the underground chamber where Saint Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned. After two hours on the road, we will arrive in the land of the Armenian wine called "Areni" and in the region of Vayots Dzor famous for its landscapes. In Areni village we will visit the local wine cellar and there will also be a tasting of the Areni wine. After the visit to the winery, we will continue our discovery by visiting the Bird’s Cave where the oldest shoe and the oldest cellar in the world were discovered dating back to the 6th millennium BC. After the Birds Cave next visit is the medieval monastery Noravank located in the Noravank Canyon on the rock, impressive for its colors. The architectural design of the monastery is in harmony with the natural beauty of the surroundings. Return to Yerevan. Overnight in a hotel in Yerevan.

Optional tour: AED 150