Armenia and Georgia (for Arabian market)
8 days /7 nights
Arrival in Yerevan. City tour - Yerevan sightseeing including City center, Republic square, State University, City panorama, Mother Armenia Monument, Parliament, President’s Palace, Opera, Sports & Concert Complex. Visit to Matenadaran - one of the world's largest depositories of ancient manuscripts, pride of Armenian culture. Depository’s collection holds about 17,000 manuscripts and includes almost all the areas of ancient and medieval Armenian culture and sciences, as well as manuscripts in Arabic, Persian, Greek, Syrian, Latin, Ethiopian, Indian, Japanese and others.
Visit to Cascade complex, which is considered to be the modern art center of Yerevan, with art pieces displayed throughout the whole area: the boulevard and up the stairs, from top of which you can enjoy the panoramic view on the city and Mountain Ararat. Cascade is a home to Cafesjan modern art museum. This place becomes even more charming in the evenings, when it is full of people, both locals and tourists from all over the world, enjoying the magic and the warmth of the capital. You will enjoy spending time in one of the cosy open-air cafes surrounded by beautiful sculptures, redolent flowers shining brightly with magic colors. It is also a popular place for open air concerts at summer season.
Visit to one of the biggest and oldest mosque in Caucasus “Blue mosque” which is situated in the heart of Yerevan city. O/N in Yerevan.
Breakfast at the hotel. Visit Vernissage (an open-air exhibition-market, where you can find unique examples of art and craft work, traditional carpets, jewellery, old collections of coins and medallions, musical instruments, electronics).
Drive to the only remaining pagan temple in Armenia devoted to the God of Sun – Myrth, in Garni, built in 77 AD by King Trdat (Arshakid Dynasty). Photo stop at Charentc Arc. The temple is Greco-Roman style with characteristic pillars. It stands proudly on a rocky ridge with a deep canyon presenting a beautiful view. The temple was a summer residence for Arshakid dynasty. Visit to the ruins of Royal Palace and Royal bath-house nearby. Canyon of Garni - magnificent and outstanding scene which creates the image of falling crags. It obtained the name "Symphony of Stones" due to its view. The fantastic landscape of Garni canyon can simply shake the human imagination. Drive to the uniquely caved temple St. Geghard (12th -13th cc.), the name of which means “holy spear” in the honor of the long-preserved spear, the same spear that pierced the body of crucified Christ. It is now exhibited in the museum of Etchmiadzin Cathedral. Geghard Monastery is included in the UNESCO World Heritage list (2000). Drop to Dalma Garden or Yerevan Mall for shopping.
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Optional: family hosted lunch in village private house, watching preparation of “Lavash” (Armenian traditional flat bread baked in stone-make oven) by countryside Armenian ladies using the same ancient technology as hundreds of years before. O/N in Yerevan.
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Breakfast at the hotel.
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Optional: Yerevan - Ararat valley - Silk road way/ Noravank - Yerevan
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Drive to the Ararat valley, visit to Khor Virap Church – the place of imprisonment of St. Gregory the Illuminator, who stayed here in the small dungeon for 13 years without any food, accused by the Armenian King of preaching Christianity. It is one of the holy places for the Christian world. It is also the best point to enjoy the most spectacular view of the gorgeous biblical mountain Ararat shining with its two white peaks. The hills adjoining Khor Virap were the site of the early Armenian capital - ancient Artashat built by King Artashes I, founder of the Artashesid dynasty, around 180 B.C. It is one of the few ancient towns, built by the special design of the famous Carthaginian general Hannibal. After the defeat in a war against Rome, he found shelter in Armenia…
After visiting Khor Virap drive through the spectacular canyon between the red rocks toward Noravank Monastery (13th c.).
Drive back to Yerevan. O/N in Yerevan
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Tsakhkadzor town the magical place of forested mountains (means “gorge of flowers”), short walking tour around the small town. Opportunity to go up to the mountain peaks by rope way, where you will catch a gorgeous panoramic view of Tsakhkadzor (optional, at extra charge 5$ per ticket for going up the first level and back). In winter Tsakhkadzor is a well-known ski resort with several levels of ropeways leading up the mountains. In summer it’s a pleasant place to spend the afternoon in nature and enjoy the sun.
Visit Kecharis monastery.
Drive back to Yerevan. O/N in Yerevan
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Sevan, one of the greatest high mountainous freshwater lakes of Eurasia, climb on Akhtamar peninsula from where the fascinating view on the Lake is open. Visit Sevanavank monastery, which stands in its greatness on the peninsula overlooking the lake for centuries.
Drive to mountainous resort Dilijan, or so called “Armenian Switzerland”, which is well-known for its forests as well as for its mysterious flora and fauna. During the drive one can enjoy the unbelievable change of the surrounding environment and land shaft from the mountainous lake to the green and rich forest mountains. Small walking city tour in Dilijan: visit to handicrafts’ street, where one can watch the preparation of different national souvenirs from wood, stone and ceramics. Visit to Haghartsin Monastery which is located in a secluded place of the forest. Haghartsin dates back to 11-13th century and represents a magnificent piece of history, culture and architecture. Besides the place is so unique and the scenery with the nature surrounding it is so breathtaking that most of visitors simply stand in awe. After a visit to the monastery in 2005 His Royal Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi made a generous donation for certain renovation works and preservation of this monastery representing the rich history of the human kind. Appearing unexpectedly, out of the dense forests, in front of the visitors, the Monastery creates a magical impression of the lost world.
Drive to Armenian - Georgian border. Pass the border.
Drive to Tbilisi. O/N in Tbilisi.
Breakfast at the hotel. Tbilisi (literally "Warm Spring") is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River, founded in the 5th century by Vakhtang Gorgasali. Tbilisi is a significant industrial, social and cultural centre of Georgia. Located strategically at the crossroads between Europe and Asia and lying along the historic Silk Road routes, Tbilisi has often been a point of contention between various rival powers and empires. The history of the city can be vividly seen by its architecture. Tbilisi sightseeing tour includes: Old town: Metechi church and the statue of king Vakhtang Gorgasali (founder of Tbilisi -5th century); Abanotubani, the ancient district of Tbilisi, known for its sulfuric baths; Narikala fortress; Sharden street.
Drive to the Mtatsminda park - is a family amusement facility, offers carrousels, water slides, a roller-coaster, and a big Ferris Wheel at the edge of the mountain, offering a splendid view over the city. Free time at the park. Drive to the main avenue of Tbilisi - Shota Rustaveli avenue. Free time at the avenue. Visit Shopping Center - Tbilisi Mall. Free time for Shopping. O/N in Tbilisi.
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Ananuri. Visit Ananuri (17th century) is a castle complex on the Aragvi River.
Drive to Gudauri. Tour along hiostorical Georgian Military Road. Gudauri - is a ski resort (2000 meters above the sea level) located on the southern slopes of The Greater Caucasus Mountain Range in Georgia.
Drive to Kazbegi by crossing the “Jvari Pass” (2385 m. above the sea level) . Explore the area – beautifully situated on the hill. Hire 4X4 vehicles to get to Gergeti Holy Trinity Church, remarkable monument of Georgian architecture, near the village of Gergeti, situated at an elevation of 2170 meters, on the foothill of Mount Kazbegi (elevation 5033).
Drive back to Tbilisi. O/N in Tbilisi.
Transfer to the Tbilisi airport.