Armenia - Silk Road

New York - Yerevan - Echmiadzin - Khor Virap - Noravank - Selim pass - Lake Sevan - Yerevan - New York

Caucasus state: Armenia Silk Road
Duration: 8 days, 7 nights.
Season: Year round.
Description: Trip to Armenia. Tour package consists of combination of historical, architectural and cultural components.

What is included in this tour program?

Departure dates and price.

Day 1 | Day 2 |  Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8

Day 1 - Yerevan

Meeting at the airport in Yerevan.
Transfer to hotel and accomodation.
20.00 - Welcome dinner.
Overnight in Yerevan.
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Day 2 - Yerevan - Matenadaran - History museum 09.00 - Breakfast. 09.30 - Full day tour of the city. Visit the Memorial complex to the Genocide Victims, and the Museum of the Medieval Armenian Culture - Matenadaran having a collection of over 16000 ancient manuscripts. 13.00 - Lunch. 14.00 - Visit the Museum of History of Armenia. 19.00 - Dinner. Folk show program. Overnight in Yerevan. top

Day 3 - Yerevan - Echmiadzin

09.00 - Breakfast.
09.30 - Full day tour of Echmiadzin – the holy seat of the Supreme Patriarch - Catholicos of Armenia. The Cathedral was built in 303 on the site of a pagan temple after the adoption of Christianity as a state religion in 301. Visit St. Hripsime Church (7th century). A few kilometers from Echmiadzin are the ruins of the 7th century AD Temple of Zvartnots.
14.00 Lunch.
15.00 - Visit the Museum of Paradjanov. Tasting of Armenian wine and cognac. Armenian Classic music concert.
19.30 - Dinner.
Overnight in Yerevan.
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Day 4 - Yerevan 09.00 - Breakfast. 10.00 - Excursion through picturesque Avan Canyon, skirting formidable cliffs and passing exotic-looking gorges until a green plateau by the Azat River comes into view. Here, in the harmony of the relief and the nature you will see the pagan Garni architectural complex of the 1st century and feel the spirit of ancient ages. 14.00 - Lunch. 15.00 - Another ten minutes ride through the gorge will take you to the cave monastery of Geghard (12th – 13th centuries). Visit the ruins of the Erebuni fortress and the Erebuni Museum holding the collection of historical items found on the site. 19.00 - Dinner. Overnight in Yerevan. top

Day 5 - Yerevan - Khor Virap - Noravank - Selim pass - Lake Sevan

09.00 - Breakfast.
10.00 - Full day excursion south to Khor Virap, one of the romantically sited monasteries in Armenia with views across plain to Turkey and the twin peaks of Mount Ararat. Here, in the atmosphere of historical environment and vivid imagination you will notice the Noah’s Ark in the snows of Ararat. Humankind was reborn here, and Noah is considered to be the first tourist in the world. Tourists may also (on their own wish) enter the hole where Gregory the Illuminator was contained prisoner for 13 years for dissemination of Christianity in Armenia. Tour of the 12th century monastery complex of Noravank set in a canyon rich with rare flora.
14.00 - Lunch.
15.00 - Proceed to Lake Sevan via the Selim pass with visit of medieval caravanserai on the Great Silk Road.
Arrive to hotel in Sevan and accommodation. 19.00 - Dinner. Overnight in Sevan.
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Day 6 - Lake Sevan - Haghpat - Yerevan 09.00 - Breakfast. 10.00 - Visit to the 9th century Sevan Monastery. The tour will continue on to the beautiful mountainous and forested region of Dilijan and then north to the 10th-13th centuries Haghpat historical and architectural monument set amidst forest-clad hills close to the town of Alaverdi (178 kilometers from Yerevan). The monument is preserved by UNESCO and included in the World Heritage List. 14.00 - Lunch. 15.00 - Return to Yerevan, accommodation. 19.00 - Dinner. Overnight in Yerevan. top

Day 7 - Yerevan - Vernissage - Ashtarak - Amberd

09.00 - Breakfast.
10.00 - Ample time to wander on the enormous and fascinating weekend open-air Vernissage market in the center of Yerevan, where you can show for Armenian souvenirs- wood-carved khachkars (cross stones), obsidian items, antique rugs, handicraft jewellery, paintings of well-known artists, etc. Excursion to Ashtarak - one of the ancient cities of Armenia. Here we visit the church Karmravor (VII-XIX) that preserved its original appearance with red tile roofing, and the church St. Marine (1281).
14.00 - Lunch.
15.00 - Tour to the spectacular and romantic 7th century fortress of Amberd located 2300 meters above sea level beneath the peaks of Aragats Mountain. Here you will have a brilliant view of the snow-covered Aragat Mountains on one side and Ararat Mountain on the other side.
19.00 - Dinner. Folk show program.
Overnight in Yerevan.
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Day 8 - Yerevan 09.00 - Breakfast. Transfer to an International Airport of Yerevan, Armenia. At this point our service ends. Thank you! top

This tour program includes: International Air Tickets for a round trip NY-Yerevan * Double accommodation in 4/3 star hotels Transfers Airport /Hotel/ Airport Entrance fees to monuments and museums Local guide services in cities Transportation Meals on Full Board basis: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Plus snacks on the transfers Mineral water Folk Shows Musical supplements Traditional Musical Programs English Speaking Accompany during whole time of the tour Local Air-ticket * Optional

Armenia - Silk Road - 8 Days Price - 2600 (including international air) Price - 1500 (without international air) Price - 160 (single suppliment) Price - 2000 (private tour w/o international air) Departure Return March 23 2008 March 31 2008 April 20 2008 April 28 2008 May 25 2008 June 2 2008 June 1 2008 June 9 2008 August 17 2008 August 25 2008 September 7 2008 September 15 2008 September 28 2008 October 6 2008