Ecumenical ARMENIA
TOUR 1 (9 days/8 nights)

Your Itinerary

Day 1:
Arrival day:
Flight from Vienna to Yerevan. Arrive in Zvartnots airport in Yerevan and transfer to the hotel at the center of the city.

Day 2:
Ancient and Modern Capital of Armenia:
Yerevan:
Right after breakfast you’ll be taken to the “Haghtanak” Park, where you have an opportunity to contemplate the panorama of Yerevan with the Biblical mount Ararat in the background.
Then you will absorbed with the Urartian world, which will take you to the Ancient Capital of Armenia – Erebuni, a fortress city constructed by Urartian king Argishti I in 782 BC.  Urartu was a great empire, rivaling the Assyrians, Babylonians and Parthians for power. Already a center for Bronze and Iron, the Urartians developed Armenia to a high level of sophistication.
The Museum of History with its Armenian Cultural Heritage and re-owned collection of artefacts will reveal the story of Armenians and Christianity in Armenia.
After the visit to the Genocide memorial (it was built in honour of the genocide sacrifices of 1915) at Tsitsernakabert you’ll be greeted by the hospitable owners of the unique pottery workshop in Armenia, where they use the ancient Armenian drawing and rock carving motives on pottery. You’ll have a chance to draw on little trays and take those with you as souvenirs.
Overnight stay in Yerevan.

Day 3:
The 3^rd millennium BC astral observatory:
Yerevan – Metsamor –Sardarapat – Yerevan:
This day begins from the visiting of Matenadaran (Museum of Ancient Manuscripts), where are about 4,000 fragments and 100,000 ancient records and documents in Armenian, Arabic, Persian, Greek, Assirian, Turkish, Georgian, Hebrew, etc.
A meeting with the Dean of theological Faculty of Yerevan State University will continue the trip.
Your next visit is to the excavations and astral observatory of Metsamor, dating from 1200 B.C. and to the Museum of Metsamor with its collection.
Sardarapat memorial will finish the program of the day. It was built in honor of Armenians for the battle with Turkish troops of Vehib pasha in 1918. And the Ethnographic Museum, the collection of which includes artifacts and memorabilia of more than 4000-year history of Armenia. A special section of Sardarapat museum is devoted to the history of the battle of Sardarapat and its participants.
Overnight stay in Yerevan.

Day 4:
The Ararat valley – cradle of civilisation and Christianity:
Yerevan – Echmiadzin – Zvartnots – Yerevan:
The actual schedule of the day starts with a visit of the Centre of Armenian Apostolic Church, Echmiadzin. It includes the residence of the Catoghikos of all Armenians, the cathedral, the church, the treasury, and the underground crypt where fire worship rituals were once performed.
Church of St. Hripsimeh (7^th c. AD) is the first one to be visited.
You’ll participate at the holy liturgy at the Echmiadzin Cathedral (4^th – 18^th cc.) afterwards. The Cathedral was built on the ruins of pagan temple and has been serving as a spiritual center for the Armenian Apostolic Church.
The next you’ll visit is the 7^th century church of holy martyr Gayaneh.
Meeting with Catholicos or clergyman.
The next site to be seen are the remains of the 7^th – 10^th cc. Zvartnots Cathedral. It was built at the precise spot where king Trdat the 2^nd met with Gregory the Illuminator (who converted Armenia into Christianity in 301 AD after Gregory’s having been imprisoned for 12 years in a dungeon named Khor Virab.
Overnight stay in Yerevan.

Day 5:
The Medieval Armenian Academy:
Yerevan – Sanahin – Haghpat – Akhtala - Yerevan:
Today’s sightseeing shows that the works of Armenian Medieval architecture transcend the limits of national culture in their artistic merits.
Sanahin and Haghpat (10^th – 13^th cc.), situated in the North of Armenia will astonish you with the sepulchers, bell-towers, book depositories, and refectories. You’ll find out that in the 10^th – 13^th centuries humanitarian sciences, medicine and miniature painting were already studied here. The monastery of Haghpat has been accepted in the list of the UNESCO world heritage in 1996.
Your trip finishes at the Monastery complex Akhtala, situated on the majestic cliff, where nuns had lived until recently. Akhtala is one of the Byzantine style churches, including the characteristics of Armenian, Byzantine and Georgian architecture.
Overnight stay in Yerevan.

Day 6:
The volcanic lake and forested land churches:
Yerevan – Sevan – Dilijan – Haghartsin – Yerevan:
The Cathedral of Gregory the Illuminator in Yerevan is your first visit point.
The day will amaze you with dramatic changes of landscapes.
We will take you to the lake Sevan - a piece of sky dropped into a volcano crater and surrounded by high mountains. You’ll visit the 9^th – 11^th cc. monastery on the semi-island, which was an island just half a century ago.
Meeting with Students of Sevan Seminaries.
After that the breathtaking serpentine of road will bring you to an alpine town of Dilijan, where you’ll enjoy an original Armenian lunch. Here you’ll also enjoy sweet sounds of live Armenian folk music.
The Monastery Haghartsin 10^th – 13^th cc. located in the deep forest high in the mountains, will be your last stop of the day. A small farming near Haghartsin specializing in Golden Trout breeding will make your day.
Overnight stay in Yerevan.

Day 7:
At the feet of Mt. Aragac:
Yerevan – Ashtarak – Oshakan – Byurakan – Amberd – Yerevan:
The 7^th c. church of Karmravor in Ashtarak, one of the acting oldest and smallest churches in Armenia and Oshakan, where is the Grave of Mesrop Mashtots (creator of the Armenian alphabet), is your first visit point.
Continuing your tour towards Armenia’s highest mountain – Mt. Aragats, and passing through Byurakan, famous for its Observatory, you’ll take a stop at the 10^th – 13^th cc. fortress Amberd at the feet of the mount. Like other fortresses Amberd was built as a bulwark against enemy invasions.
Overnight stay in Yerevan.

Day 8:
The Hellenistic temple and the rock-Monastery:
Yerevan – Garni – Geghard – Yerevan:
The last day of your trip is full of surprises. You are going to visit the complex Garni - summer residence of Armenia’s Orontid, Artashesian, Arshakid royal dynasties from the 3^rd c. BC up to the 4^th century AD. The two-layer mosaic (3^rd - 4^th cc. AD) fragments of which survived in several rooms of the complex’s bath-house is of special interest.
Your last sight of interest is another Zoroastrian construction – Airivanq rock monastery, which was renamed Geghard in 12^th – 13^th cc. after the famous Geghard lance was brought here.  In the second part of the 13^th century the Proshyan princes acquired the monastery. The sides of the surrounding canyon are filled with Khachkars (stone crosses).
Meeting with Mkhitarists in Yerevan.
And in the completion of your tour we will organize a farewell party for you in one of the best restaurants of Armenia.
Overnight stay in Yerevan.

Day 9:
Departure day:
Transfer to the Zvartnots airport in Yerevan and fly back to Vienna.

Tour includes:

• All lodging in Armenia in clean, comfortable accommodations. In Yerevan from 3 to 5 stars hotel

• Two meals a day in Armenia (half-board). Lunch or lunch-box can be provided

• Entrance to all Museums and sites

• Full in Country transportation

• A professional tour guide from start to finish

• Airport transfers (from/to hotel)

For prices information, please contact us.