“TRAVEL TO TWO COUNTRIES” 9-DAY TOUR

Pick up and transfer to the hotel. Welcome dinner at traditional Armenian restaurant with folk program (Armenian national songs and dances). Evening walk from the Northern Avenue to Republic Square. Participation in Dancing fountains show.

Breakfast in the hotel. Yerevan sightseeing including Republic Square, Opera House, State University, Parliament House, President’s Palace and Cascade complex. Tour to Matenadaran, a repository of ancient manuscripts, research institute and museum. Depart for Etchmiadzin, the spiritual and administrative headquarter of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Visit the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin (302-303 AD), the seat of the Catholicos. Visit St. Gayane and St. Hripsime Churches (7th c.). Return to Yerevan and stop over for Zvartnots temple, 7th century architectural masterpiece, listed among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Evening dinner in a traditional restaurant.

Breakfast in the hotel. Tour to Geghard medieval monastery: a fantastic example of medieval Armenian architecture of XII century. It is listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site. Participation in Armenian bread “Lavash” baking. Tour to the only preserved pagan temple Garni. Return to Yerevan. Visit Vernisage. 

Breakfast in the Hotel. Tour to Khor Virap Monastery. The monastery is famous for its location, especially for the view of the Biblical Mount Ararat, on the top of which Noah’s ark came to rest according to legend. Visit Noravank. Visit Tatev Monastery, founded in the 9th century: one of the most wonderful places of Armenia. Located on a large basalt plateau on the edge of a deep gorge of the River Vorotan, Tatev Monastery forms an incredible harmony with the picturesque landscape. Dinner in Goris.

Breakfast in the Hotel. Tour to Khndzoresk, which is very famous for its canyon with picturesque rock formations and ancient cave settlement. The artificial caves used to be inhabited till the 1950s. On our way to Sevan we will visit Selim Caravanserai (1332): one of the many overnight spots for caravans, going to Europe and the East through Armenia. Lake Sevan is one of the greatest high mountainous freshwater lakes of Eurasia. It’s a fascinating collage of turquoise waves playing with wind and mountains reflected on the water. Visit Noratus cemetery of khachkars: the unique phenomenon of Armenian culture. 

Breakfast in the hotel. Visit Haghartsin Monastery (X- XIV centuries). Nestled in forested mountains. The monastery creates a magical impression of the lost world. A trip to Haghpat Monastery (10th c.) and Sanahin monastic complex (10th c.), both were religious, cultural and educational centers in the X-XIII centuries and are included in the UNESCO's World Heritage List. Lunch in Haghpat.Drive to Tbilisi.

Breakfast in the hotel. Tbilisi sightseeing including Old Tbilisi, Shota Rustaveli avenue, Sharden’s street, the Bridge of Peace, Metekhi Church (13th c.), Narikala fortress (4th c.), monument "Kartlis Mother" ("Mother Georgia"), monument to Vakhtang Gorgosali, founder of Tbilisi. Tbilisi Funicular at Mount Mtatsminda, where you can enjoy panoramic view of the city. Good-bye dinner with national music and dances. Return to the hotel.  

Breakfast in the hotel. Visit Jvari temple, which is fascinating for the fact that, after adoption of Christianity in Georgia St. Nino erected the first cross on this exact spot. Visit Mtskheta city, which is the first capital of Georgia. The main three sites in this city are Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, Samtavro Temple, Bebris Tsikhe Fortress. Uplistsikhe Cave town, which was founded in 1000 BC and was a sacred temple spot during Pre-Christian period. Dinner in a Georgian restaurant. Return to Tbilisi.

Breakfast in the hotel. Check out and transfer to the airport.