The colors of Armenia

Descripción del viaje

Alojamiento

Programa del viaje

• día 1

  Departure / Arrival

  

  Departure from your country of origin. Arrival at Zvartnots International Airport. Personalized welcome and transfer to your hotel in Yerevan.

• día 2

  Yerevan / Etchmiadzin / Zvartnots / Yerevan

  

  

  

  Arrival in Yerevan. Welcome at Zvartnots airport and transfer to your hotel. Breakfast at the hotel. Visit of the Saint Gayane Church, a jewel of Armenian Apostolic architecture with a classic and refined style, erected on the very site of her martyrdom. Departure for Etchmiadzin, only 20 km from Yerevan. On the way, stop at the Saint Hripsime Church, considered one of the seven wonders of Armenia. You will then discover the Etchmiadzin Cathedral, the spiritual heart of the Armenian Apostolic Church and one of the oldest Christian churches in the world. Legend has it that Jesus Christ descended from heaven there to indicate the place where to build the church, built between 301 and 303 under the reign of King Tiridates III, by Saint Gregory the Illuminator, first Catholicos of Armenia. On the way, we will make a stop in the village of Musaler for an authentic lunch. Our host, Mrs. Zara, former TV presenter, will welcome you warmly. You will have the opportunity to take part in a masterclass to learn how to prepare “gata”, a delicious Armenian pastry. Return to Yerevan, with a stop at the ruins of the Zvartnots temple. This pearl of 7th-century architecture is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its construction, initiated in 642 by Catholicos Nerses III, commemorates the historic meeting between King Trdat III and Gregory the Illuminator. Return to Yerevan. Overnight at the hotel.

• día 3

  Yerevan city tour / History Museum / Genocide Memorial / Vernissage

  

  

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. City tour of Yerevan. Visit of the Tsitsernakaberd memorial park and its moving memorial dedicated to the victims of the Armenian genocide. Every April 24, thousands of people gather there to honor the memory of the victims of 1915. A museum, opened in 1995, traces the key events of this dark period. You will also visit the History Museum of Armenia before strolling at the Vernissage, an open-air market. It is the ideal place to soak up the Armenian soul and admire the fascinating fusion between national traditions and contemporary creativity. Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.

• día 4

  Yerevan / Khor Virap / Noravank / Karahunj / Goris

  

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Excursion to the monastery of Khor-Virap (4th-17th centuries), located 45 km from Yerevan. This monastery has an exceptionally rich history. It stands in the Ararat plain, offering a breathtaking view of the biblical mountain where Noah's Ark is said to have run aground. Its importance is linked to Saint Gregory the Illuminator, who was imprisoned there before converting the country to Christianity. Continuation to the monastery of Noravank, a major religious and cultural center of the 12th century. « Noravank » (New Monastery), 122 km from Yerevan, is nestled in a spectacular canyon, in the heart of breathtaking nature. The main church, Saint-Karapet, was erected in the 13th century, and its narthex, the work of the famous architect and sculptor Momik, is adorned with magnificent bas-reliefs. On the way, we will visit the megalithic site of Karahunj, an ancient observatory more than 6,000 years old BC, located at an altitude of 1770 m. The monument is composed of 223 basalt stones, 84 of which are pierced with mysterious openings. Drive to Goris. Night at the hotel in Goris.

• día 5

  Goris / Khndzoresk / Tatev monastery / Yeghegnadzor or Goris

  

  

  Breakfast Visit of Goris, a charming small town of about 20,000 inhabitants, beautifully framed by high mountains. Nestled in a setting of green hills, dotted with singular rock formations and troglodyte caves, Goris captivates with its unique architecture. Excursion to Khndzoresk, a village with centuries-old caves that are just waiting for you to be explored. You will discover how these cavities, carved by man, once served as dwellings. Departure for the Tatev monastery (UNESCO World Heritage), an architectural masterpiece of the 10th century, often nicknamed « the monastery built on the edge of nothingness ». The cable car ride to get there is a unique and immersive experience. Road to Yeghegnadzor Night at the hotel in Yeghegnadzor or Goris

• día 6

  Goris or Yeghegnadzor / Selim Caravanserai / Noratus / Sevan / Dilijan

  

  

  

  After breakfast, departure for Lake Sevan via the Selim Pass. There you will visit a 14th-century caravanserai, built in 1332 by Prince César Orbélian. It was a crucial stop on the famous Silk Road. Also visit the Noratus cemetery, famous for its unique collection of medieval khatchkars (stone crosses) dating from the 6th century. You will then reach Lake Sevan, one of the largest high-altitude lakes in the world. Located at 2,000 meters above sea level, this immense mountain lake covers 5% of Armenia's surface area. The monastery on the peninsula is its most iconic site. Drive to Dilijan. Overnight at the hotel in Dilijan.

• día 7

  Dilijan / Molokan House / Haghpat and Sanahin Monasteries / Gyumri

  

  

  After breakfast, excursion to the north of Armenia through the forested region of Dilijan, one of the most renowned climatic resorts in the country. A local saying goes: « If Paradise had mountains, forests and mineral water springs, it would be called Dilijan ». It is also nicknamed the « Little Armenian Switzerland ». We will visit a Molokan house, a national minority originally from Russia that rejected Orthodoxy, where we will share a tea prepared in a samovar. Departure for the monastic complexes of Sanahin (966 AD) and Haghpat (976 AD), two masterpieces of medieval Armenian architecture listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Their architectural similarities suggest that they were the work of the same school of craftsmen. Drive to Gyumri, the second largest city in Armenia. Marked by the terrible earthquake of 1988, the city has managed to rise from its ashes, and you will be able to admire its old and new buildings, which bear witness to its resilience. Overnight at the hotel in Gyumri

• día 8

  Gyumri / Dzitoghtsyan / Armenia Wine / Yerevan

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Visit to the Dzitoghtsyan Museum in Gyumri. Departure from Gyumri towards Yerevan. We will stop at the Armenia Wine winery, where you will discover the rich traditions of Armenian winemaking within the brand-new Museum of the History of Wine. How did the ancestors cultivate the vine, raise and serve the wine? This museum brings to life the millennia-old heritage of Armenian culture. Visit followed by a wine tasting in the estate's cellars. Return to Yerevan. Night at the hotel.

• día 9

  Garni / Geghard / Matenadaran

  Breakfast. Departure for the temple of Garni, a picturesque monument from the Hellenistic period and a remarkable work of ancient architecture. Built in the 1st century AD by King Tiridates, it was dedicated to a pagan deity, probably Mithra, the god of the sun. You will attend a duduk concert (traditional musical instrument) in Garni. Lunch with a local family in Garni, where you will have the opportunity to watch the baking of the national bread, “lavash”, and to taste a barbecue prepared in the “tonir”, a traditional underground oven. Continue to the monastery of Geghard, a magnificent monument of medieval architecture listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, nestled in the gorge of the Azat River. Geghard is an incredible monastery, partially carved into the rock. Its name, “monastery of the Lance”, refers to the Holy Lance that is said to have pierced Jesus’ side during the crucifixion, and which is said to have been brought to Armenia by the apostle Thaddeus. Today, this relic is kept in the treasury of Etchmiadzin. Return to Yerevan. Visit to the Matenadaran, the Institute of Ancient Manuscripts, which houses historical documents from all over Europe and Asia. There you will see in particular the first copy of the Bible in Armenian and Gospels with dazzling miniatures. Farewell dinner in a restaurant. Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan. (B/L/D)