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ARMENIA - ARTSAKH
Duration: 10 days/ 9 nights
Start and finish in Yerevan
Overnight in hotels & B&B
Day 1: Arrival to
Zvartnots airport and transfer to hotel in Yerevan. A little later you'll
undertake a tour around Yerevan. You have been to Yerevan before? Then get
ready to surprising changes in its appearance, as Yerevan met the 21st century
with new hotels, restaurants, theaters and museums, attractions and shopping
centers.
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Day 2: Matenadaran,
one of the world's largest depositories of ancient manuscripts (more, than
17,000 documents) and the Institute for manuscript study. Visit of Garni with
the Temple of Sun (I c. AD), the only preserved pagan temple, presented by
Tiridates III to his sister. The temple suspended between earth and sky, on the
top of huge granite rocks and ageless monastery of Geghard (IV c. AD), carved
in stone, settled under the wing of a grand rock. Back to Yerevan.
Day 3: Visiting to North
region of Armenia, Odzoun basilica (VI c.), famous for its large memorial
monuments of V-VII centuries, representing some degree of approximation to the
antique triumphal arch and Haghpat monastery (Xc), rising sharply against a
background of steep forested slopes. You'll have an overnight stop at
Guesthouse in Dilijan.
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Day 4: Next site will
be Dilijan, "a small Armenian paradise". You'll see Goshavank
(XII-XIII), a monastery complex situated in the place of an older monastery,
Ghetik, destroyed by an earthquake. Next point will be Haghartsin (X-XIII), an
architectural ensemble the building of which took about 300 years. Here you can
see numerous memorial khachkars, among which unique and highly artistic ones
can be found. Visiting lake Sevan, one of the most idyllic beauty spots. You'll
visit its peninsula, with two churches on its top, providing a panoramic view.
Back and overnight in Yerevan.
Day 5: you'll visit the
monastery complex of Khor Virap, located just at the slope of Ararat. Here the
establisher of Christianity in Armenia Grigor the Enlightener had been in
confinement for 13-14 years. Then the tour will bring you to attractive
monastic complex of Noravank (XIII-XIV), standing gracefully on a flat surface
of a hill. Among other monuments you'll see the main church of St. Karapet
(1221-1227) and two-storeyed memorial church of Astvatsatsin (1339), the last
work of famous Armenian architect Momik. At last you'll reach Sissian, and have
overnight stop at Guesthouse in Sissian.
Day 6: The next visit to
Nagorno Karabagh - the historical name “Artsakh”. The first evidences
of the ancient history of the land dates back to the asykh cave of early
palaeolith (500 - 100 thousand years ago). Tsitsernavank (V) monastery. Askeran
Mayraberd (IX-X). Overnight in Stepanakert.
Day 7: Gandzasar
monastery - founded in 1216 and became an important center of the Armenian
political and cultural life. During the centuries, it was residence of
Catolicos of the eastern land of Armenia. Mardakert region and river Tartar,
Stepanakert. Overnight in Stepanakert.
Day 8: Shushi the
long-time cultural capital of the area was founded in 1752. It has a large and
beautiful white stone Holy Ghazanchetsots Chatedral, built in 1868 - 1887.
Tatev, one of the most celebrated and majestic of Armenian monasteries and
universities, is a mighty defense complex founded in IX century on the site of
an ancient tabernacle. Back to Yerevan.
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Day 9: is given to
visitting the Fortress Town of Erebuni, the ancient forerunner of Yerevan,
located at Arin-Berd hilltop. At present Erebuni is partially restored and made
into an open-air museum. Next site will be the Echmiatsin, one of the ancient
capitals of Armenia, with the Mother Church, The Cathedral of Holly Echmiatsin,
a masterpiece of classical Armenian architecture, founded in 301 AD. Your
second stop will be at ruins of Zvartnots temple (built in 7-th c., destroyed
by an earthquake in 10-th c.), a magnificent massive complex of temple, palace,
wine cellars and food storage. Overnight in Yerevan.
Day 10:
Departure:
ARMENIA - GEORGIA
Duration: 10 days/ 9 nights
Start in Yerevan, finish at Tbilisi
Overnight in hotels & B&B
The 1st Day you'll be
met at the airport Zvartnots and roomed in a hotel in Yerevan. A little later
you'll undertake a tour around Yerevan, unbelievably beautiful pink capital of
Armenia a sweet blend of ancient and modern. Visitting Yerevan for the first
time, prepare yourself for fresh and unknown emotions, for that's what you are
sure to have seeing sites of Yerevan by the daylight, and then view how the
city changes its pink dress to many-coloured bright one by the night. Bending
before a drinking-fountain for a gulp of water, you'll have special feeling, as
each of the fountains is built in honour of someone, and drinking water, you at
the same time bend in respect to this person. You have been to Yerevan before?
Then get ready to surprising changes in its appearance, as Yerevan met the 21st
century with new hotels, restaurants, theaters, attractions and shopping
centers.
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The 2nd Day you'll
spare on visitting of Garni with the Temple of Sun (I c. AD), the only
preserved pagan temple, presented by Tiridates III to his sister. The temple
suspended between earth and sky, on the top of huge granite rocks and ageless
monastery of Geghard (IV c. AD), carved in stone, settled under the wing of a
grand rock.Then you'll have a stop at Echmiadzin, one of several ancient
capitals of Armenia, significant for the Mother Church, The Cathedral of Holly
Echmiatsin, a masterpiece of classical Armenian architecture, founded in 301 AD
by Grigor the Enlightener, inspired by the vision of the Only Begotten Son,
Christ, descending to the town of Vagharshapat with a golden hammer in hand and
showing the site of the church. The last sight of this day will be the ruins of
Zvartnots temple (built in 7-th c., destroyed by an earthquake in 10-th c.), a
magnificent massive complex, perfectly fitting into the surroundings with Mount
Ararat at the background.
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The 3rd Day you'll see
the monastery complex of Khor-Virap, located at the slope of Ararat Mount. Here
Grigor the Enlightener had been in confinement in a deep pit for 13-14 years
for spreading Christianity in Armenia. From here you'll forward your steps to
Noravank monastic complex (XIII-XIV) where besides all the beauties you'll the
main church of St. Karapet (1221-1227) and two-storeyed memorial church of
Astvatsatsin (1339), the last work of famous Armenian architect Momik will
catch your sight. Then you'll get back to Yerevan. Then you'll get back to
Yerevan.
The 4th Day you'll start
for lake Sevan, one of the most idyllic beauty spots. You'll visit its
peninsula, with two churches on its top, providing a panoramic view. The
exciting story, told by the guide will take you to the reigning times of the
king Ashot Erkat (Ashot the Iron X c.). Next site will be Dilijan, "a
small Armenian paradise". You'll see Goshavank (XII-XIII), a monastery
complex situated in dense oak wood, in the gorge of a small but turbulent
river, in the place of an older monastery, Ghetik, destroyed by an earthquake.
Next point will be Haghartsin (X-XIII), an architectural ensemble the building
of which took about 300 years. Here you can see numerous memorial khachkars,
among which unique and highly artistic ones can be found. You'll have an
overnight stop at Guesthouse in Dilijan.
The 5th Day is given to
visitting Odzoun basilica (VI c.), famous for its large memorial monuments of
V-VII centuries, representing some degree of approximation to the antique
triumphal arch and Haghpatmonastery (Xc), rising sharply against a background
of steep forested slopes. You'll explore this tremendous work of architecture.
From here you'll start for Georgia via Border (Sadahlo) and have a city tour in
Tbilisi.
The 6th Day you'll
drive to Kutaisi, western part of Georgia. On the way to Kutaisi you'll visit
Mtskheta, the ancient capital of Georgia, near Tbilisi. You'll also see
Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (11th c.) and Jvari Monastery (6th c.), Uplistsikhe
cave town (6th century BC - 1400AD). A visit to J. Stalin's museum is also
possible. You'll arrive in Kutaisi, which, dating back to the Argonauts times
(13th -12th centuries BC), was the capital of ancient Colchida and later of
Western Georgia. Overnight in Kutaisi.
The 7th Day you'll visit
Bagrati (11th c.), and Gelati (12th c.) temples. Gelati Monastery and Academy
was founded by King David in 1106. Drive from Kutaisi to Tbilisi. On the road
you'll visit Samtavisi Church (11th c.). Arrive Tbilisi.
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The 8th Day you'll have
a half-day trip to Gareji semi-desert, to David Gareji Monastery, one of the
highlights of Georgia. You'll admire the cave architecture and frescos of the
8-13th c. Return to Tbilisi.
The 9th Day you'll drive
to town Kazbegi, (1700m), in the heart of the Caucasian Mountains, via Gudauri
ski resort and the Jvari Pass (2380m). On the road you'll have a stop at the
fortified Church of Ananuri (15th-16th c.). Then you'll walk to Gergeti Church
at 2100m is possible. You'll enjoy panoramic views of Mount Kazbek, 5047m and
return to Tbilisi.
The 10th Day:
Departure.
For more information or for composing your private tour, please write to us:
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