At the dawn of Christianity

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  Yerevan / Armenia /

  Flight to Yerevan. Welcome at Zvartnots airport, transfer to the hotel.

• day 2

  City tour in Yerevan

  Meeting with the guide at the hotel reception at 9 am. Our day begins with a visit to the Matenadaran, or Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts. There you will discover a rich and exceptional collection of thousands of Armenian manuscripts with timeless charm, covering all fields of ancient Armenian culture and sciences (history, geography, grammar, philosophy, cosmology, music, etc.). Later, a detour to the Megerian carpet factory to discover the mystery of the creation of Armenian carpets. Traditional lunch on site. At the end of the afternoon, city tour in the Armenian capital.

• day 3

  Yerevan – Zvartnots – Etchmiadzin – Aknashen – Yerevan

  Early departure to the Armavir region. On the way, visit the ruins of the 7th-century round cathedral of Zvartnots. Arrival at Etchmiadzin, the Armenian "Vatican", and discovery of the Saint Hripsime church. Continuation of the program to the Etchmiadzin Cathedral: discovery of the oldest Christian place of worship in Armenia (301-303 years) and participation in the mass celebrated by the Catholicos. Journey towards the village of Aknashen. In the evening, dinner with locals in a warm atmosphere. Participation in the preparation of lavash, traditional Armenian bread. Return to Yerevan in the evening, rest.

• day 4

  Yerevan – Geghard – Symphony of Organs – Garni – Yerevan

  The day will be devoted to discovering the Kotayk region. First visit to the 13th-century rock-hewn monastery of Geghard. Later, a hike along the "Symphony of Organs," a set of superb basalt organ pipes. Then, ascent to the pagan temple of Garni, the only pagan temple in all of Armenia. In the evening, return to Yerevan. Meals and rest.

• day 5

  Yerevan – Hovhannavank – Saghmosavank – Amberd – Yerevan

  In the morning: discovery of the monastery of Saint-Jean or Hovhannavank, dating from the 4th-13th centuries, located about twenty kilometers from the capital, in the Aragatsotn region, as well as the Saghmosavank monastery from the 13th century, or "Monastery of the Psalms," built on the edge of the Kasakh river gorges. In the afternoon, stop in front of the Armenian alphabet letters sculpted in the open air at Oshakan, a village that houses the tomb of Mesrop Mashtots. The day will end with a detour to Amberd, the former medieval capital of the country, located at an altitude of 2300 m. Visit its fortress, built on a rocky outcrop, and its church, one of the oldest tuff churches. At the end of the day, arrival at the hotel. Traditional meal and overnight stay.

• day 6

  Yerevan – Khor Virap – Areni – Noravank – Qarahunj – Goris

  In the morning, discovery of the Khor Virap monastery from the 4th century. Then, we will make a well-deserved stop in Areni, where a winemaking family will invite you to taste their famous wine ("Armenian Bordeaux"). In the late afternoon, we will go to the Noravank monastery from the 13th century, one of Armenia's architectural wonders, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Towards the evening, arrival in Sissian and visit of Qarahunj (5000 – 5500 BC) with its numerous tombs and steles, megalithic stones dating from the Bronze Age. In the evening, arrival in Goris, check-in at the hotel, overnight stay.

• day 7

  Goris – Khndzoresk – Tatev – Goris

  Easy hike in the village of Khndzoresk and discovery of its limestone caves. Then, arrival at the Tatev Monastery (9th century), one of the wonders of Armenian architecture, which can be reached by the new Swiss cable car, considered to be the longest in the world. In the evening, return to Goris and stroll through the city. Meals and overnight stay at the hotel.

• day 8

  Goris – Gandzasar – Tigranakert – Stepanakert /Artsakh/

  Departure in the early morning towards the country of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh). Discovery of the sumptuous 13th-century Gandzasar Monastery. In the afternoon, we will visit the Hellenistic site of Tigranakert and its museum, dedicated to the study and preservation of archaeological pieces revealed during the excavations undertaken since 2005. Arrival in Stepanakert, the capital of Artsakh. Check-in at the hotel. Free evening.

• day 9

  Stepanakert – Tnjri – Amaras – Shushi – Stepanakert

  Early morning arrival in the south of Artsakh. Discovery of the oldest tree in the region, the tchinari ("plane tree") dating from the first century BC. Guided tour of the Amaras Monastery, built in the 4th century, famous for having housed the first school opened by Mesrop Mashtots. Continuation of our itinerary towards the city of Shushi, the former historical capital of the country. In the evening, return to Stepanakert, free time.

• day 10

  Stepanakert – Yerevan: Tsitsernakaberd /Armenia/

  In the morning, return to Yerevan. Arrival in the capital in the afternoon and visit to the Genocide Memorial and its museum. Free evening. Departure preparations.

• day 11

  Return flight

  Transfer to the airport. End of our services.