Overview

Spending an amazing week of discovery of the prehistoric heritage of Armenia with PHAROS you will not only have a wonderful time but also discover the best ancient spots of Armenia.

This experience includes exploring culture, discovering heritage, admiring nature, tasting amazing local food and most importantly making unforgettable memories.

This is a private experience, may be customized.

Professional photos with a Canon camera are offered.

Itinerary

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Day 1 :

Experience evening beauty of Yerevan: Transfer to the hotel & Yerevan discovery: Sightseeing, walking and food tasting tour in Yerevan. Overview: This tour has an intense program with the best attractions of Yerevan included as well as offers opportunity to taste local food and wine.

Approximate duration: 4-5 hours.

Typical Itinerary

Transfer to the hotel (provided with an additional fee)

The Armenian National Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet. It is not only a cultural hub, but also an architectural masterpiece that you will admire.

Cafesjian Center for the Arts, The Cascade. We will have a wonderful view of evening Yerevan and discover art masterpieces.

Victory Park and Statue of Mother Armenia. Victory Park is one of the most beloved places of Yerevan residents and tourists. It's one of the best historical places in the city which also attracts nature lovers. You will have the greatest view of evening Yerevan and Biblical mountain Ararat from here. This is an optional experience and may be ordered for an extra fee.

Swan Lake. A tiny amazing lake with wonderful surroundings.

Northern Avenue Pedestrian Street. The biggest recently constructed pedestrian street in Yerevan where you will see newly constructed buildings and lots of locals and tourists having their evening walk.

Republic Square. Here you will discover the amazing buildings from the 20th century as well as stunning Singing Fountains.

Yerevan 2800th Anniversary Park. You will discover the amazing new park which has wonderful fountains, trees, maps of Yerevan and Armenia, beautiful fountains, etc.

Abovyan street and Charles Aznavour Square. You will discover the oldest street of Yerevan with 19th-century buildings as well as the beautiful Square of Charles Aznavour.

Local delicious food and wine tasting in a cosy restaurant at the heart of Yerevan.

Day 2 :

Yerevan discovery: Sightseeing, walking and food tasting tour in Yerevan. Overview: This tour has an intense program with the best spots of Yerevan included as well as offers opportunity to taste delicious food and wine.

Approximate duration: 8-10 hours.

Typical Itinerary

Discovering Erebuni Fortress founded by Urartian King in 782 BC and considered the birthplace of Yerevan.

Delicious local traditional food tasting in a cosy restaurant.

Genocide monument and museum visit. This is an optional experience and may be ordered for an extra fee.

Visit to Museum of History of Armenia.

Day 3 :

From paganism to mountain carved Christian treasure & World's oldest cathedral's secret: Garni Geghard & Echmiadzin (Hripsime, Gayane, Mother Cathedral, Treasury Museum) – Zvartnots experience. Overview: You will discover paganism in ancient with Garni first century temple as well as Geghard monastery. Admiring the beauty of nature and mountains and trying tasty dishes is the other component of this experience. This tour is also designed to present to you the best attractions of Echmiadzin city as well as Zvartnots Temple. You will experience the wonders of Echmiadzin and Zvartnots Temple in the most pleasant ways.

Approximate duration: 8-9 hours.

Typical Itinerary

Gaghard partly mountain-carved monastery.

Garni Pagan Temple, built in the 1st century.

Exploring Echmiadzin Mother Cathedral considered the oldest in the world

Discovery of the church of Saint Gayane

Saint Hripsime Church

Treasury Museum of Echmiadzin

Delicious sun-cooked food tasting. This is an optional experience and may be ordered for an extra fee.

And lastly marvel at the 7th-century Zvartnots Temple. This is an optional experience and may be ordered for an extra fee.

Day 4 :

Experience the beauty of the nature of Armenia: Tsaghkadzor (Kecharis - Ropeway) - Lake Sevan (Sevanavank) - Dilijan (Haghartsin - Parz lake – Old Dilijan complex). Overview: This intense and at the same time relaxing full day experience permits to discover completely the top natural wonders and historic landmarks of northeast Armenia. Admire the beauty of Tsaghkadzor city from ropeway, Sevan lake and Dilijan citiy, discover Kecharis, Sevanavank, Haghartsin monasteries, experience Dilijan National Park's and Parz lake's unforgettable nature, taste the best halal food and discover how Dilijan was at 19th century in Old Dilijan Complex.

Approximate duration: 6-7 hours.

Typical Itinerary

Tsaghkadzor city Discovery

Tsaghkadzor Ropeway ride to mountains

Kecharis monastery

Hiking to Sevan peninsula from Sevan Lake and discovery of Sevanavank monastery

Famous Sevan fish tasting

Haghartsin Monastery (optional experience and may be ordered for an extra fee)

Hiking in Dilijan National Park and Parz Lake, zip lining (optional experience and may be ordered for an extra fee)

Old Dilijan Complex (optional experience and may be ordered for an extra fee)

Dinner (yummy barbecue tasting - optional)

Day 5 :

Mountain adventure: Aragats (Lake Kari) - Armenian Alphabet Monument – Amberd. Overview: Do you love mountains, amazing nature and are you interested to discover 10th century fortress? Then this beautiful experience is awaiting you.

Approximate duration: 7-8 hours.

Typical Itinerary

You will explore the Armenian alphabet invented by Mesrop Mashtotc at the Armenian Alphabet Monument site.

You will discover the magic of antigravity and Aragats mountain, an isolated four-peaked volcano massif in Armenia. Its northern summit, at 4,090 m above sea level, is the highest point of the Lesser Caucasus and Armenia.

The other wonder which awaits you is Lake Kari on top of Aragats most of the time surrounded by snow. Here you can try the traditional Armenian dish, Khash or you can have lunch in mountains. The lunch in mountains is an optional experience and may be ordered for an extra fee.

Discovery of Amberd, a 10th-century fortress on the slopes of Mount Aragats. Near the fortress, you will see Vahramashen Church (the 11th-century).

Day 6 :

Spread your wings towards world's longest ropeway and discover prehistoric Armenia: Tatev (Ropeway*) Karahunj (Zorats Karer), Birds-Cave, wine factory, Khndzoresk Overview Discovering prehistoric Armenia will be unforgettable experience as you will admire world's oldest winery and observatory, amazing nature, take world's longest ropeway, explore architectural treasures, cave village, take swinging bridge over gorge and much more.

Approximate duration: 12-13 hours.

Typical Itinerary

Discover Tatev Monastery which is a 9th-century historical monument. It is one of the oldest and most famous monastery complexes in Armenia.

Admire Vorotan Gorge from the world's longest ropeway, Wings of Tatev (tickets are bought by travelers: roundtrip 7000 AMD).

Explore Karahunj (Zorats Karer), Armenian prehistoric observatory 3500 years older than England’s Stonehenge and 3000 years older than the Egyptian pyramids. This is an optional experience and may be ordered for an extra fee.

Visit the historic cave village, Khndzoresk located on the steep slope of a gorge, comprised of both natural and manmade caves. Take the mysterious swinging bridge connecting Old Khndzoresk and New Khndzoresk for extreme feelings. This is an optional experience and may be ordered for an extra fee.

Visiting Ancient Birds-Cave (Areni-1) is more than an extraordinary experience. The oldest leather shoe in the world was also found here. It is more than 5500 years old. Also, in the same area, the world’s oldest women’s skirt (3900 BC) was found. The winery found here is considered to be the oldest one in the world and it is referred to 4th millennium BC.

Tour and wine tasting in a local winery.

Trying yummy local food will be another, this time delicious experience.

Day 7 :

Discover the rich heritage and amazing nature of Debed Gorge: Haghpat - Zarni Parni – Akhtala - Stone Bridge - Sanahin – Odzun. Overview: Discover UNESCO World Heritage sites Sanahin and Haghpat.

Approximate duration: 12-13 hours.

Typical Itinerary

Discover the 10th-century treasure Haghpat monastery which is an outstanding example of ecclesiastical architecture.

The ‘‘Zarni-Parni‘‘ cave castle complex which is based on a historical monument and has museums that present articles representing the culture and daily life of the local people.

Discover the 10th-century impressing Akhtala monastery within the 10th-century fortress walls. This is an optional experience and may be ordered for an extra fee.

Local traditional lunch in a cosy restaurant.

Admire Stone Bridge on the crazy Debed River, dating back to 1195.

After exploring the amazing 10th-century Sanahin Monastery you will visit the museum about the life of Soviet Armenia's two famous sons.

We will also visit Odzun village from where you will have the best view of Debed Gorge and Odzun Church, which is an amazing basilica constructed around the 5th–7th centuries. This is an optional experience and may be ordered for an extra fee.

Trying local yummy food will be another this time delicious experience.

Day 8 :

Yerevan joyful experiences: Departure day: Leisure and shopping. Overview: Go local during this light tour and enjoy unique attractions and great time.

Approximate duration: 3-4 hours.

Typical Itinerary

Visit to Vernissage local flea open-air market for buying unique national souvenirs.

Lunch with your favourite guide.

Transfer to the airport 2.5 hours prior to your flight (provided with an additional fee). Departure.

Inclusions

Private professional guide service: English, Russian, French, Armenian languages (please precise which language you prefer in notes)
Private transportation: comfortable car with a professional driver
Local sweets and bottled water
All taxes, fees and handling charges
Pick up and drop off at any point you wish in Yerevan
Pick up from the hotel and drop off

Exclusions

Entrance tickets for activities mentioned in the program
Accommodation (provided upon request)
Private transfers in all directions in Armenia & Georgia (provided upon request)
Pick up from the airport and drop off (provided upon request)
Food and drinks: options available for all preferences (provided upon request)
Gratitudes (optional)
Travel insurance (provided upon request)

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Is it possible to be guided by a guide speaking another language then mentioned in Trip Facts?

Yes, of course. Please write which language you prefer and we will come back to you with most probably positive answer.

You will pay when you arrive.

There are discounts available for one-person bookings.

This is a private experience/tour. Only you or your group will participate.

With PHAROS you can get the best deals and discounts with all the hotels. Just let us know your preferences for hotel and room type and we will book the desired hotel rooms for you.

Private transfers in all directions in Armenia & Georgia are provided upon request. Please precise the direction, date, time of the transfer, pick-up and drop-off addresses and the number of people while making the reservation.

Please reserve optional experiences in advance. In case of adding optional experiences to the program, these experiences are provided with an additional discount. The duration of the optional experiences is not included in the program duration.

Any experience may be included and excluded from the program. This should be prior to the reservation.