Southern Armenia

Day  1. Arrival in Yerevan, meeting at the airport, transfer to the accommodation, sightseeing tour of the city (optional),greeting dinner

  • Yerevan is one of the ancient cities in the world, founded in 782 B.C. by Argishti II. During the excursion you’ll attend the Republic Square, which had been building for 50 years by different architects, nevertheless a perfect architectural ensemble has been made; Opera and Ballet National Academic Theatre is a unique architectural complex in the center of Yerevan; Ring boulevard, where you’ll see monuments to Andranik Zoravar, Griboedov, Zoravar Vartan Mamikonyan, Michael Nalbandyan, Ivan Aivazovsky; St. Grigor Lusavorich Cathedral; Cinema ‘’Russia’’, Komitas Chamber Music House, Cascade hills, Yerevan train station of Sasuntsi David, which has become the symbol of Yerevan.
  • Visiting "Erebuni" Historical and Archaeological Museum
  • Greeting dinner

Day  2. Etchmiadzin, Hripsime, Shoghakat, Gayane, Sardarapat, National Museum of Armenian Ethnography, Zvartnots

  • Etchmiadzin is 15 km from Yerevan. This place is worshiped by Armenians all over the world, because here is the center of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Etchmiadzin, the former name of which is Vagharshapat, was founded in the first half of the II century on the site of ancient colony Vardgesavan. Since 163, after the destruction of Artashat by the Romans, the town has become the political, cultural, and later the religious and enlightening center of the country.
  • St. Hripsime Church before the entrance to Etchmiadzin stands a magnificent St. Hripsime Temple. Hripsime is the name of a martyr, whose grave is located in the tomb, under the altar. On the site of her death in the fourth century A.C. was built a chapel, and in the seventh century Catholicos Komitas erected a temple.
  • St. Shoghakat Church. Shoghakat is the name of one of the 40 martyrs, whose grave is also under the altar. It is located not far from the St. Hripsime Church. According to a blindly accepted belief, the temple got its name from the name of a virgin, who perished there. However, the name of the martyr, according to а legend, is Marine. The name ‘’Shoghakat’’ is connected with the vision of Grigor Lusavorich and means ‘’descending ray’’. The church was built in the XVII century.
  • St. Gayane Church is south from the temple of Etchmiadzin. It was built in 630 by the designation of Catholicos Ezra, on the site of a chapel, erected in the place, where, according to the same legend, was buried Gayane, the abbess of virgin-christians and the governess of Hripsime, who also accepted martyrdom and, like Hripsime, was convicted to a rank of saints. In the southern aisle, near the altar apse, the relics of Hripsime are at rest.
  • St. Etchmiadzin Cathedral in 301 Christianity became the state religion in Armenia. According to a legend, the first patriarch Grigor Lusavorich had a vision as the only begotten, Jesus Christ, came down from heaven with a flaming hammer in his hands and indicated the place for building the Cathedral. There, where was an ancient pagan temple, in 303 was built the church, named Etchmiadzin, which in Armenian means “Descent of the Only Begotten Son".
  • Sardarapat is a sculptural and architectural complex, 45 km west from Yerevan. It was founded in 1968, in honor of the triumph of the Armenians over Turkish Invaders in 1918, when the Turkish troops intruded into Ararat valley and occupied Sardarapat village. The decisive battle for the Armenians took place in May of 1918 and was crowned with victory. This memorial complex doesn’t have any analogs in Armenian Architecture, it harmoniously combines the sculpture and architecture from red tuff.
  • National Museum of Armenian Ethnography is a scientific and cultural, educational complex, where the historical exhibits, referring to the cultural heritage of the Armenians from ancient times till our days, are kept, studied and exhibited since ancient times. It was founded in 1968 as a part of Memorial Complex of Sardarapat. The architect of the whole complex and museum is Rafael Israelyan.
  • Zvartnots Temple is 10 km from Yerevan. The construction of the Temple of Watching Forces began in 641-643 and had been conducting for 20 years. The initiator of the construction was Catholicos Nerses III the Builder (Shinarar), who engaged masters from ancient Armenian town Dvin, a city which was famous for its beauty. Extant to our days remains of Zvartnots are witnessing the glory of the building.

Day  3. Garni, Geghard

  • The temple of Garni is 28 km south-west from Yerevan, over the gorge of the River Azat is located a fortress of the same name. On the hill, surrounded by vineyards, rise the remains of the pagan temple (the I century). The pagan temple Garni is the only monument to the epoch of Hellenism in Armenia. The temple, dedicated to the sun goddess Mythra, was built in the second half of the first century, in the days of Tiridates I.
  • Geghard Monastery is 7 km north-west from Garni, above the gorge of the River Azat. There was founded a cloister named Ayrivank (Cave-Monastery) because of its location in natural and artificial caves. The later name of the Monastery – Geghard, church legends connect with the spear, once kept there, the one, with which Jesus Christ was pierced by one of the Romanian legionaries, guarding him.
    The diamond-shaped tip plate of that spear nowadays is kept in the Museum of Armenian Church in Etchmiadzin.

Day  4. Khor Virap, Areni, Noravank, Jermuk, Yeghegnadzor /overnight stay/

  • Khor Virap, an architectural monument of the XVII century, monastery-fortress, is located on the hill, near the village of Pokr Verdi. In ancient times here used to be a historical city Artashat, one of ancient capitals of Armenia. The Monastery is one of the saints of the Armenian Apostolic Church, the place of pilgrimage. On the site of the monastery-fortress there used to be czar’s prison ‘’Virap’’, a deep pit, filed with poisonous snakes and insects, where condemned prisoners were thrown. Here bore his anguishes Saint Grigor Lusavorich, the initiator of acceptance of Christianity in Armenia (301). According to a legend, he was imprisoned in the dungeon by the order of King Tiridates III and spent there 13 years.
  • Village Areni is one of the oldest villages of historical Syunik. The significance of the village was explained, first of all, by its geographical location on exit from a gorge, connecting Vayots Dzor with the valley of Sharur. Thereby, the village was not only a resting-place, but also an important military point. On the surrounding heights military fortifications were built. In the XIII century King Orbelyan Tarsaich built a palace here. By his order Bishop Sarkis (1265-1287) of Noravank built a three-arch bridge near Areni on the river, the foundation of which remained till our days. In 1321 by the order of Bishop Hovhannes of Syunik the architect Momik built St. Astvatsatsin Church in Areni.
  • Noravank Monastery is located among fancy sheer red cliffs at the mouth of a meandering gorge. The Monastery was founded in the XII century on the site of ancient buildings. In the days of King Orbelyan it became a major religious center, and in the XIV century – the residence of the Bishops of Syunik. The gorge is famous for sheer red cliffs, rising behind the Monatery, on the territory of which is located a two-story St. Astvatsatsin Church with narrow cantilevered staircases. This Church, the construction of which was finished in 1339, is considered the last masterpiece of a talented Armenian sculptor and miniaturist Momik.
  • Jermuk here is located Jermuk Waterfall. Near the town are medieval cave complexes. The town is located at the height of 2100 meters in a picturesque place, where are Alpine meadows, mountain forests, rocks, and, of course, a lot of mineral thermal springs with different temperatures from 20 to 65 degree. The name ‘’Jermuk’’ itself is translated as warm. It’s rather interesting to visit the Drinking Gallery of Jermuk, where you can taste various types of mineral waters, which by their substance are belonged to hydrocarbonate-sulphate-sodium-silicic waters. By their chemical properties they are similar to the mineral waters of Zheleznovodsk and Karlovy Vary. Mineral water "Jermuk" is recommended for diseases - the gastrointestinal tract, urinary tract, nervous and immune systems.
  • Overnight stay in Yeghegnadzor

Day  5. "Wings of Tatev" cableway, Tatev Monastery, Tatev Hydroelectric Power Plant, Kapan /overnight stay/

  • "Wings of Tatev" cableway is the longest reversible aerial tramway, connecting villages Halidzor and Tatev through Vorotan gorge, stretches 5,7 km. The maximum height above the gorge is 320 km. The cabin, holding 25 passengers, moves with the maximal speed of 37 km/h, passing the way from the point of departure to the destination in 11 minutes 25 seconds.
  • Tatev Monastery is located in the middle of Syunik Province in South Armenia, 30 km from the town of Goris near the village of the same name – Tatev, on the right bank of the River Vorotan. It was founded in 895-906. The Monastery is one of the intellectual centers of medieval Armenia. Its strategically beneficial location on a foreland, created by the deep, rocky slopes of the river, prospered to the creation of a powerful defensive complex. Gavazan (the pendulous column), built in 904 in the courtyard, near the living quarters of the Monastery, refers to the number of unique works of architectural-engineering art of Armenia. It is octahedral, folded out of shallow stones, column with the height of 8 meters. Under the impact of seismic soil fluctuations and even from a simple touch of a human arm, the column, due to articulation, bent and returned to its initial position.
  • Tatev Hydroelectric Power Plant is located on the River Vorotan. It is one the most powerful hydroelectric power plants in Armenia and provides a significant share of power generation of the Republic. Tatev Hydroelectric Power Plant is a part of Vorotan cascade Hydroelectric Power Plant. The construction of it has 3 vertical bucket turbines, working under the water pressure of 565 meters.
  • Kapan is located in a picturesque valley of the River Voghji between the ridges of the Zangezur Mountain Range - the Bargushat and Meghri. It is an executive center of Syunik Province in Armenia. Kapan is the largest town of South Armenia, the symbol of the city is a wonderful Mount Khustup, the height of which is about 3200 meters. Two rivers leak though the town –Voghji and Vachagan, which was first mentioned in the V century. In the X century the possessor of Syunik, King Smbat II, proclaiming himself the Lord in 970, moved here his own residence from Vayk and founded Syunik Kingdom.
  • Overnight stay in Кapan

Day  6.  Baghaberd Fortress, Vahanavank Monastery, Halidzor Fortress, Khndzorek /overnight stay in Goris/

  • Baghaberd Fortress is not far from the town of Kapan and has been famous since the IV century. The significance of the fortress especially grew in the IX-XI centuries, when the storage for manuscripts of Tatev Monastery was built. The remains of the fortress have remained till our days. Once it used to be a huge fortress, where in the underground labyrinth were rooms and channels.
  • Vahanavank Monastery was built in 911 by Vahan, the junior son of King Dzagik, and the Monastery is named after him – Vahanavank. It used to be the religious center of Syunik Kingdom. The oldest building of the complex is St. George Lusavorich Church. Surrounded by wonderful nature of the mountains of Syunik, the Monastery complex is the shrine of the kings and princes of Syunik.
  • Halidzor Fortress is approximately 5 km from the center of Kapan. Initially Halidzor was a monastery, founded in the X century. In 1723 it was converted into a fortress by David-Bek. The fortress played a significant role during David-Bek’s insurrection. Deceased during this battle, David-Bek is buried in the monastery cemetery of this fortress.
  • Relocation to Goris
  • Khndzoresk Village is 8 km east from Goris. The main sight is the ‘’cave city’’, Old Khndzoresk, a village, spread out over 3 km on the slope of a deep gorge, which for a long time used to be one of the populous villages of Syunik.
  • Overnight stay in Goris

Day  7. Devil’s Bridge, Karahunj, Agitu Memorial, Vorotnavank Monastery, Shaki Waterfall

  • Devil’s Bridge below Tatev Monastery, in the 500-meter gorge of the River Vorotan, is located of the wonders of nature of Armenia – ‘’Devil’s Bridge’’. For millenniums water and wind had been creating this wonder of nature, grinding and slotting the frozen lava. The width of this natural bridge, by which is passing the automobile road to Tatev Monastery, is 60 meters, the length is 30 meters. Not far from the bridge you can plunge into warm healing springs, surrounded by stalactites of bizarre shadows.
  • Karahunj or Zorac-Karer is an ancient megalithic complex, located on a mountain plateau at the height of 1770 meters above sea level. The complex consists of many huge standing stones, part of which have round holes in their upper part. The construction itself consists of 223 (only numbered) basalt (andesite) stones with the height of 1,5-2,8 meters, and the weight up to 8,5 tons.
  • Agitu Memorial in the early Middle Ages, Agitu was one of the first settlements in Syunik for political, religious, military and economic purposes. Agitu is famous for its famed memorial, which was built in the VI-VII centuries. The sculptures of the memorial are very similar to the sculptures of Zvartnots Temple. Stone inscriptions can also be seen on them. Agitu Memorial is one of the rare preserved tombstone obelisks in Armenia. It is noteworthy that the obelisk of Agitu served as an example for the construction of the arch of the bell tower of Memorial Complex of Sardarapat. According to one version, this memorial is the burial place of the victims in the name of the Christian faith.
  • Vorotnavank Monastery is located near Vagatin village. Vorotnavank was founded in 1000 by Queen Shaandukht of Syunik. In the early Middle Ages, the church was an educational center, and also a famous place of pilgrimage with the miraculous power of healing from snake bites. According to historian Stepanos Orbelyan, the monastery complex was one of the largest in Armenia. According to him, the most ancient church of the complex - St. George Church (now ruined) – was built by Grigor Lusavorich.
  • Shaki Waterfall according to a legend, the Waterfall got its name in honor of beautiful Shake, who, unwilling to submit to violence from one of the conquerors, threw herself off the cliff. During the fall, the girl's long dress opened from the wind and turned into a waterfall, which was later called Shaki waterfall. The waterfall is 3 km north-west of the city of Sisian, in the gorge of the River Vorotan, the height is 18 meters.

Day  8. Matenadaran, Tsitsernakaberd, "ARARAT" Brandy Factory or "NOY" Wine and Brandy Factory

  • Matenadaran is located in the center of Yerevan, the modern building, built by the project of an architect M. Grigoryan in 1959, is a storage of ancient unique manuscripts and has about 20000 storage units.
  • Tsitsernakaberd is located on the hill of the same name, on the right bank of the River Hrazdan in Yerevan, built by the project of architects A. Tarkhanyan and S. Kalashyan in 1967. The Memorial Complex and the Museum are devoted to the victims of Armenian Genocide of 1915.
  • "ARARAT" Brandy Factory is located on the right bank of the River Hrazdan, the building was built by the project of an architect O. Margaryan in 1953. The beginning of the production of cognac in Armenia was in 1887 in Iravani by a merchant and philanthropist Nerses Tairyan, which subsequently was obtained by Nikolay Shustov in 1898. In 1948 due to the reorganization of the Yerevan Wine and Brandy Factory (this was the previous name of Shustov’s factory in late 1940s) into the Yerevan Winery, the manufactory of alcohol distillation and cognac manufactory were merged into the separate Yerevan Cognac Factory. In 1953, after the finishing of construction and moving in a new building, the independent history of Yerevan Cognac Factory began.
  • "NOY" Wine and Brandy Factory is located on the territory of the Fortress of Iravani, built in the XVI century by Persian Farad Pasha. In 1853 the Fortress was almost ruined by a severe earthquake and its territory was bought by Nerses Tairyan. In 1887 Tairyan began the production of Armenian cognac, which in 1989 continued Nikolay Shustov. The modern construction was built by an architect R. Israelyan in 1938. During the excursion you can get accustomed to the unique productions of cognac and wine, degustate them and purchase.

Day  9. Check out, Transfer to the airport

 

 

 

Information

  • Tour duration: 9 days
  • Language: English
  • Contakts: +374 10 51 81 71
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    +374 77 57 41 71
    +374 77 57 41 71

Contacts

Address:
Yerevan 0002, Armenia

33-4 Pushkin str.

(+37410) 51 81 71

(+37410) 53 41 71

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