TASTE OF ARMENIA 4 DAYS / 3 NIGHTS

Arrival in Yerevan (Zvartnots International Airport).
Meeting and greeting.
Transfer to the hotel. Check in at 14:00. Rest.
YEREVAN CITY TOUR
The capital of Armenia, founded in 782 BC, is ONE OF THE OLDEST CITIES IN THE WORLD (2798 years old). It is called “The pink city” because of the color of the stone used for building.
Yerevan is acclaimed for its excellent water, for its hospitable people and of course for the breathtaking view of Holy Mount Ararat. The sense of Ararat’s presence in the city and numerous remarkable churches in Yerevan has attracted many pilgrims. Ornamented with inviting squares and splendid museums, galleries and spirited with theaters, universities, restaurants, cafes and parks Yerevan is younger than many Western capitals.

Street tour including Republic Square- one of the ten most beautiful squares of the world, Opera House, National Assembly, National Academy of Sciences, Lovers park, Cascade Complex and “MayrHayastan” (panoramic view of Yerevan), etc.
Transfer to the hotel.

Overnight in Yerevan.

Breakfast at the hotel.
Trip to TSAKHADZOR.
It’s a resort city situated in a gorgeous area. The name Tsakhkadzor means, “gorge of flowers”. It is located on an altitude of 1840m from the sea level, on the eastern slope of Mount Teghenis. Lofty mountains and deep forests surround the city.
Tsakhkadzor is one of the main tourism and leisure centers in Armenia. It’s famous for its numerous hotels, resort houses, camping and sport installations. In the near past, the city was hosting the Main Winter Sports Olympic Center of the Soviet Union. Today Tsakhkadzor is a fast growing resort city, where new hotels, rest houses and leisure centers come up each year.
A marvelous monastery Kecharis, which comprises of two churches and two bell houses, is one of Tsakhkadzor treasures.
The city became even more popular as a mountain ski resort after the construction of the Ropeway on the slope of Mount Teghenis (2900m).

Proceed to the blue pearl of Armenia- LAKE SEVAN. It is the largest lake in the region and one of the highest fresh water lakes in the world (altitude of 1,950 meters above sea level). Almost 28 rivers and streams flow into Lake Sevan but only the river Hrazdan originates from it. Sevan is famous for its different kinds of fishes, particular for ishkhan, which means “princely fish”.

SEVANAVANK MONASTERY is situated on the peninsula of Lake Sevan. The peninsula was originally an island. There are two churches on the peninsula. These two churches were built in 874 AD and together form Sevanavank Monastery.
According to an inscription found in the territory, the monastery was built by Armenian princess Mariam, daughter of Ashot the First, who later became the king of Armenia and the founder of Bagratuni dynasty. Sevanavank is one of the 30 churches that Princess Mariam vowed to build in the memory of her husband.
However, the peninsula was a religious center even centuries before the construction of Sevanavank Monastery. SurbHarutyun Church was built by Gregory the Illuminator, the founder of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
There are benches in front of the churches, where tourists can enjoy a stunning scene to Big and Little Sevan and admire the colors of the lake, which are changeable and depend on the weather and the time of the day.
Transfer to Yerevan.

Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.
Drive to Kotayk region.
Visit to GEGHARD MONASTERY- the miracle of Armenian architecture, built in the 13th century. Hundreds of khachkars and caves are built in the rocks surrounding the monastery. It is a unique complex of cave structures, located in a picturesque valley (UNESCO World Heritage Site).

Visit to GARNI TEMPLE, the only extant temple in Armenia, dating back to the era of Paganism and Hellenism. It was devoted to the pagan god of sun- “Mithra”. The temple was built by Greek slaves in 76 B.C. It was the summer residence of Armenian kings over four centuries.

Transfer to Yerevan.
Visit to VERNISSAGE, a large open-air market in Yerevan, Armenia. The name of the market is the derived from the French word vernissage. The market lies along Aram and Buzand streets at a length of 600 meters. The market mainly features a collection of different types of traditional Armenian art works. In addition to carved wood and art works, traditional carpets, old collections of coins and medallions, books, silver jewelry, musical instruments, electronics and even pets are found in the market.

Overnight in Yerevan.

Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out at 12:00.
Transfer to the airport. Departure.