Armenia - Nagorno Karabakh / 8 Days

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival

Stop At: Zvartnots International Airport, Yerevan, Armenia
Arrival at Zvartnoc International Airport and transfer to hotel.

Duration: 30 minutes

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight at 4* Hotel

Day 2: Yerevan – Ejmiatsin – Zvartnoc – Yerevan / 70 km, 1 hour 10min. drive /

Stop At: The Churches of Echmiatsin and the Archaeological Site of Zvartnots, Manushyan St, Vagharshapat Armenia
Breakfast. Excursion to the city of Yerevan. Vist State Museum of History and Armenian Cognac factory. Departure for Echmiadzin, which Echmiadzin is the Holy See of the Catholicos, the spiritual heart of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Then going ahead visit the ruins of the Zvartnots Cathedral. Return to Yerevan. (B)
Duration: 5 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at 4* Hotel

Day 3: Yerevan – Garni – Geghard - Dilijan / 280 km, 5 hour 20 min. drive /

Stop At: Garni, Garni, Kotayk Province
Breakfast. Take trip to Garni. This Pagan Temple was built in the 1st century AD. It is the only temple that has been preserves from the Pagan times in Armenia. It was devoted to the god Mihr, who was the god of cleanness. In 1679 it was destroyed by earthquake. In the 1975 the Temple was restored. Then we will continue our trip to Geghard Monastery. Its name came from the legendary lance that was used to pierce the body of Christ. It has been kept here for centuries. Though the exact foundation of the monastery is unknown, the present complex was built in the mid – 13th century. Afterwards we will a local house where you will have the chance to see and participate in the preparation of Armenian national bread: lavash. It is a very thin, usually sold in very large forms. It is usually cooked in a ground oven: “tonir''. In 2015 it has been inscribed in UNESCO intangible heritage list. Here we will enjoy the “Armenian fast food” with lavash and cheese. Drive to Dilijan. Overnight. (B)
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at 4* Hotel

Day 4: Dilijan - Sevan – Noraduz - Dadivank – Stepanakert / 305 km, 5.5 hour drive /

Stop At: Monastery Sevanavank, next the Holy Mother of God Church, Sevan Armenia
Breakfast. We will drive to Lake Sevan which is one of the largest lakes in the world. It stands out with its sweet and astonishingly blue water. Here we can enjoy the breathtaking scenery of the beautiful lake. Then we will visit Sevanavank Monastery which is situated on Sevan Peninsula. There are 2 monasteries actually; one of them is destroyed but the other stands still. They have been built in the Middle Ages, around 10th century. Visit Noraduz, the largest Armenian medieval cemetery, where you can find ancient examples of "khachkars". Departure for Stepanakert, and stop to visit the Dadivank monastery on the way. Overnight in Stepanakert. (B)
Duration: 9 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at 4* Hotel

Day 5: Stepanakert – Gandzasar – Tigranakert - Stepanakert / 130 km, 2.5 hour drive /

Stop At: Stepanakert Shuka, Sasuntsi Tavit St., Khankendi Azerbaijan
Breakfast. We will start our trip having the first stop at the statue of Grandmother and Grandfather, which has become the symbol of Nagorno Kharabagh. We will continue the tour visiting the monastery of Gandzasar. Ganzasar Monastery is one of the most important architectural monument of Artsakh and the entire historical Eastern Side of Armenia. It is said that the head of John the Baptist id buried here. Visit the bazar in Stepanakert for tasting Jingjalov hac, the national meal of Artsakh. We will make a visit to the historical museum of Artsakh. After all we will visit The Archeological Museum of Tigranakert. Get back to Stepanakert. Overnight at the hotel. (B)
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at 4* Hotel

Day 6: Stepanakert - Shushi – Khndzoresk – Tatev – Goris / 170 km, 4 hour drive /

Stop At: Khndzoresk Swinging Bridge, M12, Yerevan 0032 Armenia
Breakfast. We will continue our tour driving to Shushi. It’s a small old city where we can observe the oldest streets which will transfer us to 18th century. After Shushi we will drive to cave village Khndzoresk. It’s an old village which has been inhabited until the late 1980s. Now what remains is the old cave spread on the slope of the mountain. Drive to monastery of Tatev. It is amedival monastic compex built between the ages 9-13. Formerly it was a university where very famous scientists, writers and priests have been educated. At that time this university was very famous in abroud as well. After all we will drive to Goris. Overnight in Goris. (B)
Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at 4* Hotel

Day 7: Goris – Noravank – Areni - Khor Virap - Yerevan / 280 km, 4 hour 40min. drive /

Stop At: Noravank Monastery, NoravankMonastery Road Amaghu Valley, Areni 3604 Armenia
Breakfast. Take trip to Noravank - a monastery of XII century situated among amazing sheer rocks on the bench of a twisty gorge. This is the only monastery where we may find a unique sculpture of Father God. On our way back we will visit village Areni which is considered to be an important center of wine production industry You are welcome to taste its excellent wine. We will continue our tour to Khor Virap Monastery (4-18th cc.). This monastery is very prominent because of its history; Gregory the Illuminator, who introduced Christianity to Armenia, has been imprisoned there about 13 years as at that time there was a prison in the place of the monastery. Here we can enjoy the spectacular view of the sacred Ararat Mountain - an immortal symbol of Armenia. After all drive to Yerevan. Overnight in Yerevan. (B)
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at 4* Hotel

Day 8: Departure

Stop At: Yerevan, Yerevan
Breakfast and transfer to the airport.
Duration: 30 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.