Land of History

Arrival in Yerevan, pick up at the airport, transfer to the hotel, time to rest.
In the afternoon we will meet at the hotel lobby and go for a walk in the center of Yerevan. We may go to the Republic Square, the central square of Yerevan, admire the Opera Theater and the Cascade architectural complex, have a stroll in the Victory Park, which offers panoramic view of the city. In the evening we will have a welcome dinner in an ethnic restaurant.

After breakfast in the hotel, we have a transfer (about 40 min) to the Garni Village, which is about 30 km east of Yerevan. There we visit the Temple of Garni dating back to the 1st century AD. It is the only remaining pagan temple as well as the only standing Greco-Roman colonnaded building in Armenia. After a short excursion we enjoy an improvised performance of the national duduk music inside the temple.
From the temple we descend to the canyon of the Azat River and have a walk (2-3 hours) through the Garni Gorge. One of its sections, nicknamed "A Symphony of Stones", is known for its amazing basaltic column formations. After the walk we have a lunch in the nice rustic restaurant, where freshly caught trout is served.
Next we drive to the Geghard monastery. This medieval monastery, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is partially carved out of the rock. We learn about its history and listen to the story of the Holy Spear (also called the Spear of Destiny), one of the greatest Christian relics, which is treasured in the monastery.
After we return to Yerevan, we have free time in the evening. It is a good idea to have a walk in the city and to watch the Singing Fountains on the Republic Square. No dinner is included.

This morning we pack our luggage and start our journey to the south of Armenia.
The first stop on the way is Khor Virap, a monastery situated near the Turkish border. It is one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in Armenia. In addition to its immense religious, historic and cultural significance, Khor Virap is situated in a picturesque location. When the weather conditions are good, there is a breathtaking view of Mount Ararat. We spend about an hour there and then continue our journey along the Armenia-Iran border, making short stops for taking pictures. We have a nice lunch on the way in a local guesthouse and in the afternoon arrive in the Areni district.
A nice easy walk (about 1.5 hours, mostly descent) through the alpine fields bring us to Noravank. This monastery was built in the 13th century on a ledge of a cliff above the river and blends beautifully with the terracotta-colored rocks around it.
After a short transfer from Noravank we arrive to Areni, where we visit the archeological sites. Fascinating artifacts recently discovered there by a team
of archaeologists include the earliest known leather shoe and an ancient straw skirt. However, the most stunning discovery was that of the remains of the oldest winery in the world (about 6100 years), complete with fermentation vats, storage jugs and a wine press.
On the way to the village Chiva we make a stop at the local winery to taste some wine. In our guesthouse in the Chiva Village we will be treated to a dinner made by our hostess and a tasting of home wine direct from the producer.
A night in a beautiful guesthouse

Visit to the Magellan cave and the archeological excavation of Areni 1, the oldest winery in the world (6100 year-old). Also the world's earliest known leather shoe and skirt were found here.
Tasting of wine in the Areni winery. Short hike in the mountains
Transfer back to our guesthouse in Chiva.

After breakfast we continue our way to the south of Armenia to the Halidzor Village in the Syunik Province (150 km). Our goal is the Tatev monastery, a gem of medieval Armenian architecture built on a giant basalt plateau (1500 m). One can get there by bus but a far more spectacular way is to take the Wings of Tatev cable car constructed in 2010. It is the longest (5.7 km) non-stop double track cable car in the world, and a ride on it will surely be a highlight of the tour.
After lunch, we have a walk from the Tatev Village to the Tatevi Mets Anapat (Great Hermitage of Tatev), a monastery dating back to the early 17th century. Moving a bit further along the Vorotan Gorge, we reach the Devil's bridge (Satani Kamurdj), a natural formation of sinter deposits from hot springs. Numerous mineral springs, in which one can swim, flow under the bridge. After the hike a transfer takes us to Alidzor village where we stay in the eco-resort Arsnadzor.

We start the day by a visit to Zorats Karer (also called Carahunge or Karahundj).
It is an ancient megalithic complex nicknamed the Armenian Stonehenge. More than 200 basalt megaliths stand at a distance of up to two meters from each other, occupying an area of about seven hectares. The upper part of about 80 stones is pierced with a circular hole 4-5 cm in diameter. Erected about 7,500 years ago (and thus being at least 2,500 years older than the Stonehenge), Zorats Karer is an enduring mystery.
After puzzling over the stones, we drive to the Shaki Village to see the Shaki Waterfall (18 m high). This powerful and spectacularly beautiful waterfall can only be seen from close by: an approach along a narrow path leaves one unprepared for the gorgeous sight that opens round the corner.
We continue to drive to the Artabuynk Village and check in at an Ecohotel. After lunch we go on a hike to the Smbataberd Fortress (elevation gain about 500 m) dating back to the 5th century. Built upon the crest of a hill, it must have had a brilliant strategic position. While little is left inside the fortress, the ramparts and the towers are still impressive and the views of the surrounding hills are superb.

This day is planned as a day of rest. We do not drive anywhere but stay near our hotel. Arevi, the first ecohotel in Armenia, has been built out of freight containers and decorated with wood and stone. The energy is derived from solar panels on the hotel roof, and the restaurant serves dishes made from organic products grown in local villages. Situated in a picturesque gorge, the hotel offers a comfortable retreat from the bustle of city life.
There will be no packing and no hurry. We enjoy the silence and the beauty of the mountains, walk in the vicinity of the hotel, taking pictures and listening to birds, and relax in a hammock. In the evening we may grill a shashlik and enjoy it with local wine on the hotel terrace with a mountain view.

After an early breakfast we leave our hotel and drive northwards to Lake Sevan. The first stop is at a caravanserai near the Selim Pass.
A caravanserai is a public building, usually a kind of a roadside inn, built to shelter people, goods and animals along caravan routes. The Selim caravanserai (2410 m) was built on the Silk Route in 1332. Destroyed in the 15th-16th centuries, it was restored in 1956-1959. The basalt building with a richly ornamented entrance consists of a three-aisled hall where animals could be sheltered and two adjoining rooms for the accommodation of people. An old vaulted chapel partially sunk into the ground has preserved nearby.
Next we cross the Selim Pass and move to the foothills of the extinct Armagan Volcano (2829 m). The climb there takes about 2.5 hours. On the top we can admire a beautiful crater lake, an old church and panoramic views of the Gegharkunik Province.
Lake Sevan, the jewel of Armenia, can also be seen from there in all its splendor. We have a picnic with lunchboxes there. After descent, we drive to the Melnitsa guesthouse in the Martuni Village.

We cover a rather long distance (170 km) this day, finally arriving in a district north of Yerevan.
First we drive along a scenic road with views of Lake Sevan. We make a stop to see the Noratus cemetery, the largest khachkar cemetery in the world. A khachkar is a memorial stele with a carved cross and other images. Also known as Armenian cross-stones, khachkars are very characteristic of medieval Christian Armenian art. There are about a thousand early khachkars at the Noratus cemetery. A local legend has it that when the army of Tamerlane attacked the country, the villagers put shirts on the khachkars and the invaders retreated, thinking that they were outnumbers by soldiers ready for the battle.
Next we drive to Sevanavank Monastery, a unique monument of ancient Armenia architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This monastic complex was founded in the late 8th century by Princess Mariam of the Bagratumi dynasty. At that time the monastery stood upon an island separated from the mainland by almost 3km of water. Later, when the lake was partly drained, the island became a peninsula.
We have lunch in a restaurant on the Sevan shore.
The road then turns west, away from the lake and in the direction of Yerevan. We make another very interesting stop at the obsidian source. After that we approach Yerevan from the north and arrive in Amberd District. In the evening there may still be time for a short walk in the picturesque surroundings.

After breakfast we drive to Mount Aragats (4090 m).
It is still active volcano and the highest point in Armenia. Aragats, a massif with a diameter of about 200 km, used to have a single peak but over centuries earthquakes and eruptions split it to create the four peaks we can see today. A giant crater (400 m deep and 3 km in diameter) of Mount Aragats, now filled with water, is the source of the Gegarot River.
After lunch in a cafe with a view of the crater lake we visit the Amberd Fortress (2300 m), a historic complex on the slope of Mount Aragats (Amberd means "a fortress in the clouds"). The complex, with its simple but impressive architecture, consists of a 7th century castle and an 11th century church.

Nice walk to the Kazakh Gorge (3 hours). We visit a cave with the name the “Red Cave”. The length of the arched entrance of the cave is 12 m, the height is 8 m. The ceiling of the cave is partially collapsed. There are ancient paintings on the walls found in the interior and exterior parts of the cave. Besides these paintings there were also found 2 Arabic inscriptions and some modern graffiti notes .
After the cave visit we go to Van Ardy Winery where we have lunch with wine tasting. It is the time to return and we start our way back to Yerevan. After check in at the hotel and some rest we meet for a farewell dinner at 19:00.

After breakfast, if time permits, we may have a stroll in Yerevan visiting the local market to buy souvenirs, fruit and spices.
Transfer to the airport and departure. You can also stay longer and explore Armenia or Georgia on your own.