Price range: € 1,050.00 through € 1,600.00
Armenia, the oldest Christian country in the world and a millennia-old cultural landscape in the Caucasus with its own alphabet and language that you will fall in love with.
| Tour Dates | Sep 21 2025, Sep 28 2025, Oct 5 2025, Oct 12 2025, Oct 19 2025, Oct 26 2025, Nov 2 2025, Nov 9 2025, Nov 16 2025, Nov 23 2025, Nov 30 2025 |
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Pick up by the tour guide and transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Yerevan.
One of the oldest cities in the world celebrating its 2800th anniversary in 2020. In the morning visit of Matenadaran – the central archive for old manuscripts, which is part of the UNESCO World Document Heritage.
During the tour you will see Republic Square with traditional Armenian architecture and Yerevan main ministry buildings, Central Post Office, National Art Gallery, Parliament House, Presidential Residence, Opera House, Universities, some brandy factories, Genocide Monument on the hill the Swallow Fortress (Tsitsernakaberd). Short walk in the city center and visit to the Cascade Stairs Monument with interesting exhibitions of modern art. From the highest point of Caskad you can enjoy panoramic views of the city and of the biblical Mount Ararat. Overnight in Yerevan.
After breakfast drive to Echmiadzin, known as the Armenian Vatican and as the residence of the Catholicos of all Armenians. The churches (UNESCO World Heritage Site) of the city of Etchmiadzin are masterpieces of classic Armenian sacred architecture. Visit to the Main Cathedral – the first official Christian church in the world (founded in 303). Here you have the unique opportunity to attend the Sunday service and, with a bit of luck, to experience the entry of the Catholicos. A little further is the Hripsime Church (7th century), which dates back to one of the first martyrs of Armenia. The journey then continues past the village of Mussa Ler, where the survivors of Mussa Dagh, made famous by Franz Werfel, were settled, and on to the imposing 7th-century Zvartnots Cathedral (UNESCO World Heritage Site), known as the “Place of the heavenly angels”. Arrival in Yerevan. Visit to a vernissage – open-air art and flea market where Armenian artists and craftsmen sell various handmade arts. Overnight in Yerevan.
The first stop on today’s excursion is the viewpoint from the Charents Archway. From this place one has an excellent view over the Ararat Plain and Mount Ararat. Continue to Geghard Monastery, where the Holy Lance was kept for several centuries. Neighboring is the village of Garni, where the baking process of the traditional Armenian bread – lavash in an earthen oven (Armenian: tonir) is demonstrated to us. Hot and freshly baked lavash smells fantastic and must be tasted immediately with cheese and herbs. Then visit of the only pagan temple Garni, which after the acceptance of Christianity served as summer residence of the Armenian kings. Looking down into the gorge is truly mystical with its volcanic basalt columns (popularly known as the “Symphony of Stones”). Return to Yerevan around 14:30 and free time. Overnight in Yerevan.
Drive past orchards and vineyards of the Ararat region to Armenia’s most important pilgrimage site, the Khor Virap Monastery, where St. Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned for 13 years in a deep dungeon together with snakes. With the over 5000m high Mount Ararat in the background, the monastery is the most photographed object in the country. From the monastery you can see the border fences and watchtowers of the Armenian-Turkish border. The landscape will change completely as you continue and the reddish volcanic deposits will appear from the horizon. At the end of the narrow Amaghu gorge, visit the Noravank monastery (13th century) – the seat of the Syunik bishops. Drive south along the Zangezur mountain range to the once most powerful monastery of Tatev, where around 500 monks lived and worked. From the village of Halidzor, take the longest cable car in the world (5752m) across the stunning gorge to the monastery. Built in the 9th century, Tatev Monastery was also a recognized university in the Middle Ages. Overnight follows in the town of Goris, which is surrounded by high sandstone mountains with caves.
In the morning take a short hike (15 min.) to the ancient Karahuj Observatory, which is also a gathering place of megalithic monuments (menhirs, kromleche, dolmens). Before reaching the highest point of the Selim mountain pass, stop at the Orbelyan caravanserai (14th c.) which provided safe shelter for caravans on the Silk Road. Soon the view of the azure lake SevanseeSevan opens – the second highest high mountain lake in the world. Climb the stairs to the Sevanavank Monastery (9th century), which for many years served as a place of exile for the Armenian nobility. As you climb up, you can get a glimpse of the seminary and the volcanic mountains all around. Continue to the climatic health resort of Dilijan, also known as Armenian Switzerland. Overnight in Dilijan or at Lake Sevan.
Due to rockfalls on the route, a visit to Haghpat Monastery and driving on this route is not possible until further notice for safety reasons. An alternative program for that day and a different route will be chosen at short notice.
Dilijan is a well-known climatic health resort and also known as little Armenian Switzerland. In the morning take a short walk in the Old Quarter with wooden balconies and small souvenir shops. Drive to the northern region of Armenia, to Lori, directly on the Georgian border, where the large river Debed has cut its rugged gorges deep into the more than 2,000m high mountain ranges. Visit of the UNESCO monastery Haghpat (10th-13th century), which is architecturally very impressive. Here you will find the special Allerloser Kreuzstein. Over the Spitak pass (2378 m) the trail leads through Yazidi villages (national minority in Armenia) to the small town of Aparan, where you will have a break at a large bakery. The extinct volcanoes Aragats (4090 m) and Mount Ara (2755 m) accompany you during the drive to the Psalm Monastery Saghmosavank (13th century). Before entering the monastery, take a look at the Kassakh Gorge. On the slopes of the gorge there are many caves that were used as secret classrooms and churches during the conquests in the Middle Ages. Continue to Yerevan. Overnight in Yerevan.
In the evening the folklore evening awaits us (optional).
Day 8: Return journey Depending on the departure time, transfer to the airport
