ARMENIA PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR

Transfer from the airport to the hotel. Walking city tour in Yerevan. During the tour you will visit Matenadaran, repository of ancient manuscripts, research institute and museum in Yerevan. (B, L, -)

Breakfast in the hotel. Tour to the only pagan temple left in the territory of Armenia. It is a blend of Greco-Roman and Armenian styles built by King Trdat I in the first century A.D. and dedicated it to the God of Sun. On the way to Garni we will have a stop near Charents' Arch, from where a very beautiful view opens to Mount Ararat. Then we will see the Symphony of stones in Garni gorge. The Symphony together with Geghard Monastery (our next stop) is included into UNESCO World Heritage List. Back to Yerevan. (B, L, -)

Breakfast in the hotel. Tour to Khor Virap, one of the three holy places in Armenia and the closest point to the mount Ararat. The notability as a monastery and pilgrimage site of the monastery is attributed to the fact that Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned here for 13 years. Then we will drive through Amaghu gorge to Noravank monastery. Noravank monastery (13th-century) is best known for its two-storey Surb Astvatsatsin church (to get to the second floor one need to take the narrow stone-made staircase jutting out from the face of the building) and the breathtaking view to the gorge. We will have a stop in Areni winery, will taste Armenian wines and will drive to Goris for overnight. (B, L, -)

Breakfast in the hotel. Tour to Tatev monastery. When in Tatev monastery ( 9th century) one can enjoy the splendid architecture of the monastic complex, the breathtaking view to the deep gorge, see the oil press facility built in the 17th century. And last but not least, to get to the monastery one will need to take the “Tatever” cable car, which was recorded by Guinness World Records as the longest non-stop double track cable car. Tour to Khndzoresk, cave village where people used to live till the second part of the 20th century. Now some of the artificial caves are currently used as stables and warehouses. Here the 160-meter long swinging bridge connects the two banks of the village, old and new Khndzoresk. Back to Goris.  (B, -, D)

Breakfast in the hotel. We will take our way to Lake Sevan, the largest water body in Armenia and the Caucasus region, and one of the largest freshwater high-altitude lakes in Eurasia. On the way to the lake we will have a stop in Selim caravanserai, which was one of the caravanserais of Silk Road. Once we reach the lake, we will visit the monastery on peninsula, Sevanavank. From here a beautiful view opens on the Sevan. (B, -, D)

Breakfast in the hotel. Tour Armenian Switzerland, or Small Switzerland- Dilijan spa city. We will have city tour in Old Dilijan. Then we will take our way to Odzun, where a beautiful view to dense forests and the gorge. We will take our way to Alaverdi for overnight. (B, -, D)

Breakfast in the hotel. Tour to the masterpiece of religious architecture and a major center of learning in the Middle Ages, Haghpat monastery (10-13th centuries), which is placed in UNESCO World Heritage List. Then we will take ur way to Marmashen. The monastic complex consists of the main and two small churches. Overnight in Gyumri. (B, L, -)

Breakfast in the hotel. City tour in Gyumri, the second largest city in Armenia. It is the city where in 1923, the first Armenian opera theatre was opened and where house-museums of sculptor Sergey Merkurov, poets Avetik Isahakyan and Hovhannes Shiraz, and actor Mher Mkrtchyan are situated and which suffered greatly from the earthquake in 1988. Tour to Talin cathedral. The exact date Talin cathedral was constructed is unknown. Historians suggest that the church was built in the second half of the 7th century. Unlike other churches of the same period, Talin's Cathedral is richly decorated. Tour to Amberd fortress. The fortress, the church Vahramashen, situated not far from the fortress, the surrounding nature promise to be a source for perfect photos. Back to Yerevan. (B, -, D)

Breakfast in the hotel. Today's tour programme may have the following name: UNESCO Heritage in the focus of your camera. We will visit the holly city, Etchmiadzin, where we will visit Mother Cathedral, St. Gayane and St. Hripsime churches. Not far from Etchmiadzin the ruins of Zvartnots Cathedral is situated. All these sites were included into the List of UNESCO World Heritage in 2000. Back to Yerevan. (B, L, -)

Breakfast in the hotel. Check- out from the hotel. Transfer to the airport.