Day 1: Arrival

Arrival in Land of NOAH. At Zvartnots International airport you will be welcomed and assisted through immigration and customs by Santa Maria Tours representative, then escorted to your hotel.
Overnight: Hotel in Yerevan.

Day 2: City Tour in Yerevan (Matenadaran – Museum of History – Ararat Brandy Factory)

After breakfast at the hotel, your guide meets you at the lobby to start your trip with a city tour in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia and the largest city in the country. As one of the oldest capitals in the world, Yerevan was founded in the 8th-century BC and was known as Erebuni.

Visit some of the main streets of Yerevan such as Baghramyan and Mashtots Avenues, as well as Abovyan Street which still showcases century-old houses and historical buildings. Then, head to the Victory Park, from where a panoramic view of the city and the majestic Mt. Ararat opens. From the park, continue your walk through the Cascade, an architectural complex of a massive staircase with fountain terraces to the Opera and Ballet Theater.

The Cascade also houses the Cafesjian Center for the Arts, which offers a rich collection of Armenian and international contemporary art, including a selection of artwork from the personal collection of its founder Gerard L. Cafesjian. The program also includes a visit to Matenadaran, an outstanding repository of Armenian manuscripts. Located on the Mashtots Ave., the museum is named after Mesrop Mashtots, the creator of the Armenian Alphabet, and houses over 23000 treasured pieces of manuscripts and scrolls.

After lunch, visit the Museum of History of Armenia located on Republic Square. Founded in 1919 by the National Assembly of Armenia, the museum has a national collection of 400,000 rare objects and artefacts representing the culture and history of Armenia from prehistoric eras to modern times. Conclude the day by a visit to the legendary Armenian Brandy Factory that started its production in 1887 in Yerevan.
Overnight: Hotel in Yerevan
Meals: Breakfast

Day 3: Etchmiatsin – Zvartnots – Genocide Memorial – Vernissage

In the morning, your first stop is Etchmiatsin, the centre of the Armenian Apostolic Church and Mother See of Holy Etchmiatsin. The Cathedral of Etchmiatsin was built in the early 4th century by St. Gregory the Illuminator and King Tiridates, following the adoption of Christianity as the state religion of Armenia.

In Etchmiadzin, the tour continues to St. Gayane and St. Hripsime Churches of the 7th-century, both listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. On the way back to Yerevan, the tour will stop by the ruins of Zvartnots, which in archaic Armenian means “dedicated to the angels”. Built in the 7th-century, Zvartnots is the oldest and largest aisled tetraconch church in historical Armenia. The Cathedral was completely ruined in an earthquake in the 10th century but was reconstructed in the 1940s.

In Yerevan, you will visit the Armenian Genocide Memorial and Museum in Tsitsernakaberd, dedicated to the memory of 1.5 million Armenians perished during the first genocide of the 21st-century. The tour continues with a visit to Vernissage, which is one of the largest craft markets in the region.

Here we can find some of the best traditional arts and crafts, souvenirs, and antique objects, such as traditional dolls, paintings, woodwork and ceramic, carpets, old photo cameras, and other equipment, as well as Armenian brand new and antique jewellery made of silver and bronze.
Overnight: Hotel in Yerevan
Meals: Breakfast

Day 4: Khor Virap – Noravank – Areni – Yerevan

Start this day by visiting Khor Virap Monastery, right on the foot of the biblical Mt. Ararat. The legend of this monastery is associated with St. Gregory the Illuminator, who was imprisoned here for 13 years. The trip will continue to Yeghegnadzor, where you can have lunch and then visit the Noravank Monastery located in a narrow gorge of Armagu River.

A gem of the Armenian medieval architecture, the 13th-century monastery is the masterpiece of Master Momik. On the way back to Yerevan, you will have a stop in Areni village, where you will enjoy some wine-tasting at the Areni winery.
Overnight: Hotel in Yerevan
Meals: Breakfast

Day 5: Sevan – Dilijan – Haghartsin – Goshavank – Yerevan

Start the day by visiting Lake Sevan, the Blue Pearl of Armenia. At an altitude of 1900 m above sea level, it is the largest sweet water lake in Armenia and the Caucasus region. Located up on the cliffs of a small peninsula, stands the Monastery of Sevanavank.

After lunch in Sevan, continue the trip to Dilijan, where you will be visiting the 13th-century Haghartsin monastery, recently restored by a Muslim Sheikh from the United Arab Emirates. The monastery is easily accessible through paved roads and has a large parking area, a gift shop, bakery, and other facilities.
Overnight: Hotel in Yerevan
Meals: Breakfast

Day 6: Geghard – Garni – Erebuni Museum – Megerian Carpet Factory

A trip to the pagan Temple of Garni, one of the most visited historical sites of Armenia. Built in the 1st-century AD, the Temple of Garni managed to survive the destruction of all pagan temples following Armenia’s adoption of Christianity in 301. Following to sever damage by earthquakes, the temple was reconstructed. Situated on a cliff, the temple overlooks a spectacular view of the Geghama mountains and the gorge of Azat River.

After lunch in Garni village and an opportunity to participate in the preparation of the traditional Armenian bread, called lavash, the trip continues to the medieval Geghard Monastery, located deep within Azat Valley and founded by Saint Gregory the Illuminator. It’s worth to mention that Geghard is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000.

Back in Yerevan, the program includes a visit to Urartian Erebuni Fortress, an archaeological site opened to the public in 1968 on the occasion of the 2750th anniversary of the city of Yerevan. As one of the oldest capitals in the world, Yerevan was founded in the 8th century BC and was known as Erebuni. Built in 782 BC, Erebuni Fortress is turned into a historical site with outdoor and indoor museums, with a massive collection of artefacts, jars, glass, agate beads, bronze bracelets, and many other objects.

The journey continues with a tour around the Megerian Carpet factory, established in 1917 in New York, as well as the museum to view the intricate process of carpet weaving and enjoy a display of antique rugs and carpets. End the day with a stroll in the historical streets in Yerevan.
Overnight: Hotel in Yerevan
Meals: Breakfast

Day 7: Departure

After Breakfast, time to bid farewell to your Tour director and newfound friends as you transferred to Zvartnots International airport for your return flight.
Meals: Breakfast