Day 1/ Arrival
Meet and greet the tourist at Zvartnots International Airport. Transfer to hotel. Dinner at the Local Restaurant. Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.
Day 2/ Yerevan - Garni Temple – Geghard Monastery – Stone Simphony – Zvartnots Temple - Yerevan City Sightseeing tour
After breakfast at the hotel (10:00), We will drive to Garni Temple, the only surviving pagan temple in the territory of Caucasus. Lunch tasting traditional Armenian dishes at a local house-garden. Master class of “lavash”baking and barbeque making in the underground oven “tonir”(optional*). Enjoying a traditional refreshing healthy drink of “tan” (a sour milk drink prepared by diluting the Arme nian yogurt with cold water) will be much more pleasant in the hot weather. Proceed to the magnificent monastic complex of Geghard, which is inscribed in UNESCO World Heritage Sites). We will drive to Zvartnots Cathedral is the Armenian Medieval Architectural monument which was built in 643-652 by Nerses Tayetsi Catholicos and was added to UNESCO's World heritage. Drive back to Yerevan, here we will get acquainted with the ancient city of Yerevan. This ancient city is 29 years older than Rome. The city has witnessed fo ur settlement phases from the end of the 4th millennium BC to the beginning of the 2nd millennium BC. Lying on the main trade routes between East and West, Yerevan was constantly fought back and forth during the course of the time. You will enjoy your time in the fascinating fall weather of the sunny Yerevan while walking around Cascade Monument. If you walk up the “huge staircase” of 500 meters’ height and 50 meters’ width, you can enjoy the wonderful panorama of the city with the spectacular Opera House, Mount Ararat as well as the view to the whole city. After we will head to the Park of Freedom, with nice attractions and the view of the city. Pay a visit to Tsitsernakaberd Monument, situated on a hill. The monument is devoted to the victims of the Armenian Genocide in 1915 by the Ottoman Empire. More than 1.5 million Armenians were killed during those massacres and many more spread around the world, forming a huge Diaspora. Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.
Day 3/ Yerevan – Lake Sevan – Dilijan – Goshavank – Lake Gosh – Dilijan
After breakfast at the hotel we will drive to Lake Sevan, here we will have a short walk along the azure Lake Sevan. It has a unique combination of great size, high mountain location, and comparatively “soft water”. Lake Sevan is one of the greatest freshwater high-mountain lakes of Eurasia. It is located at about 2000 meters above the sea level. (Optional* lunch tasting barbeque from Sevan trout). We will then explore the summer residence of the Favorite Armenian King Ashot the Iron (Ashot Erkat) – Sevanavank Monastery (9th century). Here we will have a boat ride to explore the beauty of Lake Sevan. Continue our drive to Dilijan to enjoy the 19th century appearance of the town. This wonderfully forested region is rich in mineral waters. Some of them are compared with Wichi in France and Davos in Switzerland. Dilijan is “the Switzerland of Armenia.” We will continue our way to Gosh Lake, located on the South-west outskirts of Gosh village (2.2km), Gosh Lake with its marvelous scenery is one of the most interesting destinations for hiking, camping and jeeping tours. Here we will take an off-road car to drive to Gosh Lake. After visit Goshavank Monastery is one of the most prominent monasteries of the Aghstev river valley. Getik monastery was in its place in the 12th century, which was completely destroyed by the earthquake. The foundation of Goshavank’s monastery is related to the medieval thinker, lawmaker, author of the fables and the law book “Datastanagirq”, Mkhitar Gosh. Overnight at the hotel in Dilijan.
Day 4/ Dilijan – Yenokavan – Lastiver Caves – Lastiver Waterfalls – Dilijan
After breakfast at the hotel (09: 30) we will head to Khachakhbyur gorge to a fairy place called Lastiver in Armenia. We will see small houses constructed on the trees, a waterfall, caves, where the hermits used to live. This place looks wonderful in every season. At the beginning of our trail, there is a zipline and if you want you can try it before starting the hike. Zipline has 5 different lines: 135 m, 268 m, 20 0 m, 375 m and 750 m. The height is approximately 200-300 m above the ground. The average duration of the trip is 1.5 h. Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan. To reach the caves, people once built a long ladder of logs. In form, it is more like a dam than a ladder. Therefore, people used to call it Lastiver, which means “up the dam”. At the end, the path will lead us to a beautiful waterfall, which is formed at the lowest point of the gorge. In good weather, we will have an opportunity to swim in the cool water streams of the river Khachaghbyur. Hiking distance is 6km, so you will need to take with you the following gear list (hiking boots, spare shoes, warm clothes, fleece hat). Overnight at the hotel in Dilijan.
Day 5/ Dilijan – Haghpat – Yerevan
After breakfast at the hotel, we will head to Lori region, Haghpat Monastery (10th century, UNESCO). The monastery of Haghpat has found its place in the charming setting of the wonderful nature. It is the jewel of the Lori region, and Armenia in general. After drive to Sanahin Monastery which is surrounded with beautiful nature. Drive back to Yerevan. Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.
Day 6/ Departure
Breakfast at the hotel. Check out from the hotel, transfer to Vernisage Souvenir Market. Transfer to Zvartnots international airport. Departure.
