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

• 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, Zvartnots, Garni Geghard

• 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".
• 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.
• 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.
• Dinner

Day 3. Ashtarak, Karmravor, St. Marine, Oshakan, Mastara, Talin, Aruch

• Ashtarak is located on the bank of the River Kasakh, 20 km north-east from Yerevan. Ashtarak is one of the oldest towns of Armenia with a variety of monuments of Material culture.
• Karmravor Church. The most famous monument of Ashtarak is well preserved Karmravor Church, built in the VII century. This is the only monument in Armenia, tiled roof of which retained until our days.
• St. Marine Church is located in Ashtarak and was built in 1281. St. Marine Church is devoted to one of the 40 virgin martyrs.
• Village Oshakan is 4 km south from Ashtarak. Here is the burial place of great Armenian Saint Mesrop Mashtots, the creator of the alphabets of very different in language nations – Armenian, Georgian and Albanian Caucasians. Above the grave of Saint Mesrop Mashtots, located in the south-east of the village, in 443 was built a small chapel by Vahagn Amatuni, where in 1875-1879 was built a church by Catholicos George III. On the right side, near the altar, was a tomb, where in the foundation of an ancient chapel, under the marble tombstone, the relics of Mesrop Mashtots are at rest.
• Dinner
• Village Mastara is 75 km north-west from Yerevan, here is located St. John (Surb Hovhannes) Church, founded in the V century. The architectural style of the temple symbolizes the transition of Armenian church from simple compositions to complex church structures, like the church of St. Hripsime in Etchmiadzin.
• Talin is 9 km from the village of Mastara and 66 km from Yerevan. In the V-VII centuries it was the center of Armenian princedom. In the city there is a religious complex of the Cathedral of Talin, consisting of the Small Church of Talin and the Big Temple, which were built by Kamsarakan brothers in the VII century.

Day  4. Khor Virap, Areni, Noravank

• 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.
• Dinner, wine degustation
• 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.

Day  5. Hiking tour through the center of Yerevan

• The excursion begins near the base of Cascade hills; rise to the 4th level of the complex, from where a wonderful panorama of city opens; pedestrian climb-down on the lower level; acquaintance with works of art, which are the extension of the exposition of Cafesjian Museum, located in the complex of Cascade; further the excursion continues to the monument to the main architect Alexandr Tamanian, later you’ll see the monument to M. Saryan, composers Komitas and A. Khachatrian in French Square; crossing Opera square, where are located monument to writer H. Tumanyan and composer A. Spendiaryan, authors of the opera ‘’Anush’’, with the premiere of which Opera and Ballet Natioanl Academic Theatre was opened; later crossing Charles Aznavour Square, where are located ‘’Moscow’’ cinema, the buildings of Russian Dramatic Theatre and hotel ‘’Yerevan’’; further excursion goes to Abovyan street, where an old building of the city, before Republic Square, has survived; acquaintance with the complex of a building area, crossing Metropolitan boulevard with fountains, the number of flushes of which is 2750, this is how old was Yerevan, when they were built; the excursion finishes on Shahumyan Square.

Day 6. Dilijan, Haghartsin, Goshavank, Tbilisi /overnight stay/

• Dilijan is 99 km north from Yerevan. Dilijan is the climatic and balneological mountain resort of Armenia, which is famous abroad for its wonderful beauty.
• Haghartsin Monastery is 18 km west from Dilijan, in a wooded valley of the Ijevan range. It was built in the XI-XIII centuries.
• Goshavank Monasteryis 20 km west from Dilijan, 8 km from Dilijan-Ijevan highway, in Gosh village, on the right bank of the River Getik. The Monastery was constructed in the XII century, on the site of ancient Getik Monastery, ruined in 1188 by an earthquake.

Day  7. Tbilisi – sightseeing tour of the city, Mtskheta

• Sightseeing tour of the city - Narikala Citadel ruins, Anchiskhati Stone Church – 6th century, Metekhi Church – 13th century, Sioni Cathedral – 12th century, Sameba Cathedral, Mount Mtatsminda, Park ‘’Funicular’’, Sulfur Baths in Abanotubani, Peace Bridge, Sharden Street, Leselidze Street.
• Mtskheta is the "spiritual heart" of the country. Today Mtskheta is one of the most visited cities in the Georgian Province. For its antiquity it is listed in UNESCO World Heritage. Mtskheta is more than two and a half thousand years old. This is a religious place for Christians due to the many temples and Christian shrines, including Javari Temple, one of the main venues for Georgian church holidays, and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, another famous monument of Christian culture in Georgia. It was built at the site of the destroyed church of the Twelve Apostles (the IV century).

Day  8. Borjomi, Akhaltsikhe, Vardzia cave complex, Paravani Lake

• Borjomi is located in the gorge of Borjomi, in the south-east of Georgia, at the height of 800-850 meters above sea level. This is a resort surrounded by mountains, which are covered with forests. The name of the city takes its origin from the words “Borj” (“fortress wall”) and “omi” (“war”). First of all it is known as a balneological resort.
• Akhaltsikhe is an ancient and beautiful city in the south of Georgia. It was founded in the first half of the 12th century AD. The main attraction of the city is Rabat fortress.
• Vardzia cave complex is an outstanding monument of medieval Georgian architecture. It is considered to be one of the main attractions of Georgia. The history of the emergence of Vardzia is typical for the Caucasus - under similar circumstances, the Armenian Khndzoresk appeared.
• Paravani Lakeis the largest lake in Gerogia. It is located in the historical region of Samtskhe-Javakheti between the Javakhk and Samara Mountain Ranges in south of Georgia. The height of the lake above sea level exceeds 2000 meters.

Day  9. Check out. Transfer to the airport