Armenia and Georgia classic tour

Arrival in Yerevan. Transfer to the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Sightseeing tour in Yerevan, ancient and at the same time a modern city (29 years older than Rome) with a unique coloring with the majestic biblical mountain Ararat on the background. Visit to the fortress ruins of Erebuni, founded during the Urartian Kingdom by the King Argishti in 782 BC and the Erebuni museum (1968) with the Urartian period exhibits. The fortress has played a significant role for the Armenian Statehood. Erebuni has been renamed Yerevan since at least the 7th century A.D., when it was the capital of Armenia. Yerevan is currently 2797 years old and still counting.

Visit to local market. Visit to Armenian hand made carpet factory with possibility to watch the production of the rugs which involve dyeing of the yarns by using vegetable dyes, weaving, shearing, finishing, etc. The factory has showroom where purchases are offered (shipping of rugs to your country is possible). Yerevan sightseeing including City center, Republic square, State University, City panorama, Mother Armenia Monument, Parliament, President’s Palace, Opera, Sports & Concert Complex. 

Visit to Cascade complex, which is considered the modern art center of Yerevan, with art pieces displayed throughout the whole area: the boulevard and up the stairs, from top of which you can enjoy the panoramic view on the city and Mountain Ararat. Cascade is home to Cafesjan modern art museum. This place becomes even more charming in the evenings, when it is full of people, both locals and tourists from all over the world, enjoying the magic and the warmth of the capital. You will enjoy spending time in one of the cozy open-air cafes surrounded by beautiful sculptures, redolent flowers shining brightly with magic colors. It is also a popular place for open air concerts at summer season. Very interesting one hour tour around Armenian brandy factory offers tourists familiarization with the history of the plant, process of brandy preparation, showrooms and halls of storages.

Visitors will also have degustation of 2 types of brandy of different age in degustation hall. Brandy shop at the factory territory will be available for purchasing of this famous Armenian brandy directly from the factory. 

O/N in Yerevan.

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit  Matenadaran, a depository for ancient manuscripts, the collection of which is one of the biggest in the world. Drive to Etchmiadzin City, which is used to be the ancient capital of Armenia. Since 4th century, it is the largest religious center, the residency of Catholicos of All Armenians. Etchmiadzin cathedral is one of the ancient churches in the Christian world, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List (2000), it is the center of Armenian Apostolic Church. It was founded in 301 A.D. by St. Gregory the Illuminator. Later, it was rebuilt and currently it stands as a complex including the Cathedral, Spiritual Academy, residency of the Catholicos of all Armenians, Synod of Armenian Church and a library.

The museum of the Cathedral, located behind the Altar, has collection of religious artifacts about Holy Mass, subjects made of gold, silver, precious stones, decorations, colossal silver boiler for making the myrrh and legendary Holy spear. Before entering in the town of Echmiadzin visit the majestic St. Gayane Church and St. Hripsime Church. The legend of Hripsime dates from the early days of Christianity. Hripsime fled to Armenia to escape persecution by the Roman Emperor Diocletian. A beautiful but totally devoted follower of Christ, Hripsime refused to marry the pagan Armenian King Tirdat III when ordered, and chose the death of a martyr. A small chapel was erected over the spot where she was murdered. In the 7th century a wondrous church - a masterpiece of Armenian architecture - was built in its place by order of Catholicos Komitas.

A trip to one of the architectural wonders of Armenia: Zvartnots temple (641-661 BC) the temple of "Vigil Forces", which got its name from the word "Zwart", which translated from Armenian means "joyful and beautiful." The remaining ruins give an idea of the rare beauty of this temple. The temple is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (2000). Drive back to Yerevan.

 O/N in Yerevan.

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Ararat valley, visit to Khor Virap Church – the place of imprisonment of St. Gregory the Illuminator, who stayed here in the small dungeon for 13 years without any food, accused by the Armenian King of preaching Christianity. Khor Virap Church was built on the dungeon and now people have a chance to go down into the dark pit themselves. It is one of the holy places for the Christian world. It is also the best point to enjoy the most spectacular view of the gorgeous biblical mountain Ararat shining with its two white peaks. The hills adjoining Khor Virap were the site of the early Armenian capital - ancient Artashat built by King Artashes I, founder of the Artashesid dynasty, around 180 B.C. It is one of the few ancient towns, built by the special design of the famous Carthaginian general Hannibal. After the defeat in a war against Rome, he found shelter in Armenia…

Drive through the spectacular canyon between the red rocks toward Noravank Monastery (13th c.). On the way visit local winery in Areni village - wine testing. Areni used to be one of the centers of wine production in Armenia. Recent archeological findings makes place worldwide famous. In September 2010, archaeologists discovered a 6,100-year-old 5 winery and wine cellar in Areni (Vayots Dzor province) in Armenia. Within the underground wine cellar, a wine press for stomping grapes, fermentation and storage containers, drinking cups, grape vines, skins, and seeds were found. This is the earliest winery and wine cellar found to date. The findings indicated large scale wine production, quite possibly the earliest retail winery. Drive back to Yerevan.

O/n in Yerevan.

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for Lake Sevan at 1900 meters above sea level, which certainly represents one of the most beautiful and scenic spots in Armenia. Visit the Sevanavank monastery (IX century) on the peninsula, with two monastery churches that dominate it and offering a remarkable panoramic view.

Cruise on Lake Sevan. Departure for the Tavush region. Arrival at Dilijan, a famous holiday area covered by green forests and hills that extend over the terraced highlands surrounded by the mountain ranges of Bazum and Pambak, with a renowned mineral water and a nature reserve.

The huge monuments of this area include the magnificent 11th-century monastic complex of Haghartsin with its three churches: St. Gregory the Illuminator, Saint Stephen and the Virgin Mary, which is one of the most important sites in the area. Departure for the border, arrival and customs clearance. Departure for Tbilisi. Overnight in Tbilisi.
 

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for the Kakheti region, renowned for its vineyards. Departure for Signagi - an ancient city, also known as the "City of Love", built on a hill overlooking the valley of Alazani is surrounded by the city walls. For over 200 years the city has managed to preserve its original appearance and offers visitors the beautiful views of the mountains of the Great Caucasus.

Visit to the museum of Niko Pirosmani. Continuing towards Bodbe monastery - with an original 9th ​​century building that was significantly altered in the 17th century. The monastery is today a convent of nuns and a pilgrimage site in Georgia. Return to Tbilisi. Overnight in Tbilisi.