September 23-September 30 Guided Photo Tour in Armenia

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September 23/  Arrival

Transfer from Zvartnots International airport to the hotel.Welcome to Zvartnots International Airport. Your guide and the driver will meet you at the airport and you will drive to your centrally located hotel. You will have a 17 seat Mercedes  Sprinter minibus with a professional driver.  

Altitude: 800-1000 m.s.l.

Overnight in Yerevan 

Overnight

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September 24/-City tour in Yerevan

After breakfast  start the walking tour in Yerevan. Head to Cafestjian center for arts and Cascade and continue to Kond- the oldest and autentic district of Yerevan. The locals call this district the Independent Republic of Kond in the capital of Armenia: old (17th c) houses, narrow streets, Persian mosque (which has been  inhabited since the soviet times). Tea time in a local house in Kond. Continue to the  Fountains Park, Republic Square, Hanrapetutyan and Abovyan streets with their 19th c. buildings. 

Altitude: 800-1000 m.s.l.

Overnight  in Yerevan 

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September 25/ Yerevan/Khor Virap–Noravank monastery– family wine cellar and vineyards-Tatev monastery-Tatever aerial tram (Guinness)

The best pictures of Biblical Mount Ararat are taken from Khor Virap monastery at sunrise. Here is the very place where Noah planted the first vine. By the way, you will probably have the opportunity to harvest  some grapes from Ararat valley.  Continue your way towards Noravank. The whitish monastery , surrounded with reddish rocks, is one of the architectural masterpieces of medieval Armenia. Time to explore Syunik.  Head to Tatev monastery. This is one of the most important monastic complexes of Medieval Armenia. Here there was the biggest University of Medieval Armenia. Don’t miss your chance of taking the aerial tram recorded in Guinness in 2010 as the longest one in the World.                            

Altitude: 800-2344 m.s.l.

Overnight in Goris

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September 26/Goris-Jeeping in abandoned cave city Khndzoresk-Armenian Stonehenge-Shaki Waterfall-Yegheghis   

 After breakfast at the hotel, drive to Khndzoresk abandoned cave city. Experience the longest swinging bridge in Armenia.    Continue to Qarahunge-the Armenian Stonehenge.  Time to drive to Sisian, where you can have lunch, explore the city or visit a ceramist’s workshop. Refreshing time at  Shaki waterfall. Drive to Yegheghis village. 

Altitude: 1500-2500 m.s.l.

Overnight in Yegheghis 

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September 27/Yegheghis-Orbelian caravanserai-Sevan-Dilijan-jeeping to  Dimats Mountain

After breakfast in the hotel, drive towards lake Sevan, the second largest mountain lake in the world. On your way you will be on 2410 m.  mountain pass where you can visit a Medieval caravanserai. Visit Noratus cross-stone field.  At the Lake you can admire the beauty of Sevan from Hayravank monstery. The best end of the day: sunset in the mountains with a glass of wine. In Dilijan you will  start the jeeping to Dimats Mountain.  

Altitude: 1950-2400 m.s.l.

Overnight in Dilijan 

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September 28/Dilijan-Molokans village-Gyumri

After breakfast in the hotel, drive to Molokans’ villages . You will have some free time to roam around the village and take pictures of the Nature and the daily life. Later a visit to  a family will be organized for you. Time to drive to  one of the most authentic cities of Armenia-Gyumri. After lunch roam around the historic center of this photogenic city.

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September 29/Gyumri-Biggest Yazidi temple on the most important Yazidi Holiday-Mother See of Echmiadzin-Yerevan

After breakfast, check out from the hotel.  A super interesting day is awaiting you. September 29 is an important holiday for the Yazidi people. Every year they have special celebrations on that day. This very important day was chosen by them for the inauguration of the biggest Yazidi temple in the World, situated in Armenia. You will have a unique chance of sharing this day with Yazidi People at the biggest Yazidi temple in the World. After the celebration, drive to the Spiritual center of the Armenian People-Holy See of Mother Echmiadzin. 

Altitude: 800-1000 m.s.l.

Overnight in Yerevan 

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September 30

Yerevan-Garni-Geghard-Lavash Baking-Symphony of the stones-Yerevan-carpet factory-cross stone master workshop-Yerevan cognac factory optional)-Yerevan 

You are going to be in Yerevan and its neighborhood on this day.  After breakfast in the hotel drive to the only pagan temple of greco-roman style. Just 15 minutes  drive from there is Geghard cave monastery (UNESCO). After the visit, drive back to Garni village and walk to the gorge of Azat river , where you will find natural rock formations which look like a musical instrument Organ, this is why the locals call them the Symphony of the Stones. After the main visits, participate in the lavash baking ceremony. You can have lunch in the same place. After lunch, drive to Yerevan, where you can visit a cross stone master’s workshop and   Megerian carpet factory. You can finish the day with a visit to the Armenian cognac factory Ararat. Here you will have the opportunity of tasting the legendary Aarat cognac and learn a lot of interesting stories about one of the brands of Armenia.                     

Altitude: 800-1400 m.s.l.

Overnight in Yerevan 

Altitude: 1000-3200m.s.l.

Transfer to the airport 

 

Additional information

Tour payment	Transport Tour Guide service, Lavash baking masterclass and snacks, Garni temple entrance fee, Wine tasting, daily water