Full Itinerary & Trip Details 8 Days Wine Tour in

Yerevan-Echmiadzin Cathedral-Zvartnots temple-Khor Virap monastery-Hermon- wineries- Carvansaray-Great Silk Road-Garni temple-Geghard monastery-ArmAs winery-

PRICE STARTING FROM DURATION TOUR ID

€ 0 € 0 8 days 1300

ITINERARY

Day 1 : Arrival

Arrival at “Zvartnots” International Airport. The guide will pick you up the airport and will help you to be accommodated at the hotel. Relax day. Overnight in . Day 2 : Day 2 – Yerevan

Breakfast Included City tour by bus. Yerevan is the capital of Armenia and one of the world''s oldest continuously inhabited cities, founded asa fortress of Erebuni in 782 BC. Visit the world-famous Institute of Ancient Manuscripts and books () after Mesrop Mashtots, where one of the richest collections of manuscripts and old books is preserved and studied. Matenadaran is in the list of UNESCO Memory of the World Programme. Lunch at a local restaurant. Tasting of cognac in the storehouse of famous Yerevan Company “ ”. Dinner at a local restaurant. We will gladly show you the one of the favorite places in Yerevan- Cafesjian Centre for the Arts. This place has become favorite not only for the inhabitants of Yerevan but for its guests as well. The popular name of the center is Cascade. Cascade is interesting with its music-hall, various exhibition halls and outdoor demonstration hall-promenades. You''ll walk along the very picturesque capital of Armenia. In the evening you''ll have the possibility to see Yerevan in full colors and see the singing and colorful fountains of the Republic Square. Overnight in Yerevan.

Day 3 : Day 3 – Monuments of Echmiadzin are in UNESCO World Heritage list; Winery Karas

Breakfast Included Trip to centuries-old monuments of Echmiadzin. Visit the ruins of the Temple Zvartnots (meaning “Temple of Angels”, 7th century, UNESCO World Heritage). Church of Saint Hripsimeh (618, UNESCO World Heritage), Saint Gayaneh (630, UNESCO World Heritage). The Cathedral of Echmiadzin (meaning “Descent of the Only Begotten”, 301-303 UNESCO World Heritage) is the official residence of the Catholicos of all Armenians. Lunch at a local garden restaurant: Armenian traditional delicious "Dolma of Echmiadzin". Tour to Karas winery and Vineyards estate, located in Armavir region. Both international and indigenous varietals are planted in the vineyards, including Chardonnay, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, Kangun, Voskehat for whites and Malbec, Tannat, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon for reds. Wine degustation. Return to Yerevan. You can do nice shopping by getting to the souvenir market Vernissage, where you can buy jewelry, rugs, etc. and Tashir – the market of local sweets and dried fruits, herbs,spices and other Armenian traditional home-made eco products. Dinner - Evening in Enoteca EVN, meeting with Avag, who is a wine master and owner of winery. Overnight in Yerevan.

Day 4 : Day 4 –Yerevan- Khor Virap- - Hermon and wineries of Areni

Breakfast Included Ride through the plains of the Ararat valley to the magnificent monastery of Khor Virap set against the backdrop of towering Biblical . The monastery is a place of pilgrimage and is the site of the prison where St. Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned (who brought Christianity to Armenia in 301 AD, thus, Armenia became the first country to adopt Christianity as a state religion). Ride to . Enjoy the view of narrow gorge, made by Amaghu River. The gorge is known for its tall, sheer, brick-red cliffs, directly across from Noravank monastery. Lunch at a local restaurant. Tour to cave Areni-1: 6100-year-old wine press for stomping grapes, fermentation and storage vessels and more... (From August through November you can participate in fascinating grape collection accompanied with the national songs and folk dances in one of grape plantation there and tasting some homemade wine). Walking along the wonderful flowery path over 1 or 2 km. Wine tasting at the wine factory in village Areni. Excursion to the winery distilleries Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in Hermon.

Day 5 : Day 5 – The Great Silk Road and Cilicia sailing ship

Breakfast Included Tour to Vardenyac Pass (Rosebush)- a small route of The Great Silk Road. Walking along the wonderful flowery path through to get to the Caravanserai (14th century). Picnic with some Armenian homemade wine. Tour to Sevan Lake - one of the largest fresh water alpine lake (altitude 1900 meters). Trip (1 hour) by Cilicia sailing ship, which is the wooden replica of 12th century medieval merchant vessel of the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia and has done 2 circumnavigations. Dinner at a local restaurant Ashot Erkat: Fish menu. Back and overnight in Yerevan.

Day 6 : Day 6 – ArmAs Estate and Megerian Carpet Museum

Breakfast Included Tour to Aragatsotn Province. Immerse yourself in the world-class wine, fine dining, enamoring beauty, and ultimately unique Armenian cultural experience that is embodied at ArmAs Estate. As you trek through the vineyards, acknowledge your locality, consider the soil, the vegetation, and the people who nurture it, as your introduction to the path of the Armenian grape to the glass of premium ArmAs wine. You may conclude your sensory tutorial with an educational wine tasting in our Tasting Room or on the balcony surveying ArmAs Estate onto Mount Ararat. We select for you a perfect pairing with breads and cheeses, miniature culinary delights, or an epicurean meal to compliment vintages for lunchtime. Return to Yerevan. Visit Megerian Carpet Museum. The Megerians continue to apply their unparalleled skill in the creation of rugs and tapestries of uncompromising artistry and workmanship. Each signed piece represents a rare combination of Old World craftsmanship and the design aesthetics of today''s most discerning clientele, and every Megerian design is copyrighted to ensure its individuality. After the interesting tour you will have a dinner and master class of Armenian traditional meal by chef-cook here and interesting folk show. Overnight in Yerevan.

Day 7 : Yerevan- Garni- Geghard-Yerevan

Breakfast Included Breakfast. Visit Geghard monastery (4th century), which has a uniqe architectural construction, being partially carved out of the adjacent mountain, surrounded by cliffs. Geghard meaning "the monastery of the Spear". Originates from the spear which had wounded Jesus at the Crucifixion, allegedly brought to Armenia by Apostle Judas Thaddaeus, and stored amongst many other relics in the museum of the Cathedral of Echmiadzin. The monastery is on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Site with valley Azad. Visit Temple of Garni. It is a first century temple in Hellenistic style near the village of Garni and is the only rebuilt pagan temple in Armenia (and in the entire former , as well). Now it is a historical and cultural reserve-museum. We will enjoy the valley of Garni with its “Symphony of stones” - basalt formations, which is one of the wonders of Armenian nature. A very interesting fact is that the crater where the liquid water was found on the planet Mars in September, 2015 was named “Garni Crater” after the very village of Garni we will be visiting. Garni is famous for its delicious natural spring water. Lunch at a fish-restaurant. Lavash (Armenian national bread) baking show in tonir (Armenian traditional bakery or oven). Back to Yerevan. Gala dinner with wine and national folk music and dances in a restaurant in Yerevan. Overnight in Yerevan.

Day 8 : Departure

Breakfast Included Transfer to “Zvartnots” International Airport. Departure.

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Excludes Routes