AMTRAVEL Armenia | Trusted Tour Operator Since 2000

Day 1

Stop 1.Day 1: Arrive in Tbilisi

Transfer from the Airport and check in at the hotel. Overnight.

Day 2

Stop 1.Day 2: Starting Tbilisi City Tour

Start at Metekhi Church and the monument to Vakhtang Gorgasali, the legendary founder of Tbilisi. Visit Narikala Fortress to enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view of the city by Cable car. Walk past Tbilisi’s only mosque, down to the sulphur bath house district. Enjoy a stroll through the Sharden area, which is full of narrow streets with cozy cafés, wine bars, and souvenir shops, and breathe in the history of Old Tbilisi. Also visit Sioni Cathedral, Anchiskhati Basilica, and the famous Rezo Gabriadze Theatre’s clock tower, before crossing the Bridge of Peace to Rike Park. We shall take the tram way to Funicular and enjoy the view of Tbilisi. Overnight in Tbilisi

Day 3

Stop 1.Day 3: Tbilisi – Jvari – Mtskheta – Jinvali – Ananuri – Gudauri Friedship Monument – Kazbegi

After breakfast we will start our journey with a visit to Jvari Monastery, a true architectural masterpiece of the Early Middle Ages. Built on a hilltop, the views it affords of Mtskheta and the Aragvi and Mtkvari Rivers are breathtaking and great for selfies! We will continue to Mtskheta, one of Georgia’s oldest towns and its current cultural and religious center. Visit Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, one of the most venerated churches in the country which is known as the burial site of Christ's robe. Today Svetitskhoveli Cathedral is the second largest church in Georgia and its principal house of worship. Continue our way to Ananuri complex, a former residence of Argveti Dukes. The complex features churches and towers dating back to the 16-17th centuries, beautifully overlooking the Jinvali reservoir. Continue our drive to see the conjunction of two small mountain rivers fa mous for the fact that being different in color they still keep their own colors even after merge. We will then drive over the Cross Pass and make a short stop at the Soviet-era “People’s Friendship” mountain view point overlooking a deep gorge of Caucasus mountain range. Overnight with dinner in Kazbegi or Gudauri.

Day 4

Stop 1.Day 4: Kazbegi / Guduari – Gergeti – Gori – Uplistsikhe – Tbilisi

Breakfast. Getting the local 4x4 vehicles for visiting Gergety Trinity Church, renowned as one of the world’s most beautiful churches, nestled amid magical landscapes. Built in the 14th century, this cross- cupola church in Khevi province remains unaltered in its architecture and serves as an active establishment of the Georgian Orthodox and Apostolic Church. Drive to Gori City. Visit the Stalin Museum, which houses over 60,000 artifacts, Stalin’s birthplace, and a bulletproof train he used. Next, explore the ancient cave town of Uplistsikhe with its unique rock-cut architecture. Enjoy a local lunch nearby. Drive to Tbilisi. Dinner and overnight

Day 5

Stop 1.Day 5: Tbilisi – Bodbe – Sighnaghi – Khareba Winery – Tbilisi

Breakfast. Meeting with the guide in the lobby of the hotel. Driving to Bodbe - according to the legend is a burial place of St. Nino, who converted Georgia to Christianity in the 4th century. According to Tsar Alexader III of Russia decree, since 1889 Bodbe complex functions as a nunnery. Next visit Sighnaghi - the city of love and the Royal Town, one of the crossroads of the Great Silk Road surrounded by defensive walls with 23 towers.Continue the journey a nd visit Khareba Winery - This winery is famous for its wine tunnel, a manmade tunnel that was built out of rocks. It sits in a massive land area that features other interesting historical attractions depicting the true Georgian heritage. Have a wine tasting. Drive back to Tbilisi. Dinner in Traditional Georgian Restaurant accompanied with Traditional Dancing Show.

Day 6

Stop 1.Day 6: Tbilisi - Bagratashen border - Haghpat Monastery - Dsegh - Dilijan old town

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Bagratashen border. Meet your guide. Changing the bus and guide. Start to explore the hidden gems of Armenia... Excursion to Haghpat – functioning monastery of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Monastery Haghpat is famous whit its scriptorium and school, which founded in Haghpat in the 10th century by the first abbot of the monastery, the famous scribe vardapet Simeon, became widely known in Armenia. Prominent figures of Armenian science and culture. Next enjoy your lunch in a open air with the panoramic view... Transfer to Dilijan - often referred to as the ‘green lungs’ of Armenia and the copious number of trees, lakes, and trails gives visitors plenty of reasons to head there for an escape from city life! This is a traditional spa town with unique architecture and history that is slowly becoming one of Armenia's most desirable places to live. Overnight in Dilijan.

Day 7

Stop 1.Day 7: Dilijan-Sevan Lake - Vardenyats pass - Orbelian Caravanserai - Goris

Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out from the hotel. We will start our trip by excursion to Lake Sevan - one of the high-altitude lakes in the world situated at the altitude of 2000 meters above the sea level. On clear and sunny days it looks like a piece of sky that has descended to the earth among the mountains. A visit to Sevanavank Monastery located on the Northwestern shore of Lake Sevan. According to an inscription in one of the churches, it was founded in 874 by Princess Mariam. Driver from Vardenyats pass to Orbelian's Caravanserai - a caravanserai in the Vayots Dzor Province of Armenia. It was built along the Vardenyats Mountain Pass in 1332, by prince Chesar Orbelian to accommodate weary travelers and their animals as they crossed from, or into, the mountainous Vayots Dzor region. Drive to Goris. Check-in to the hotel and have a rest. Overnight in Goris.

Day 8

Stop 1.Day 8: Goris - Tatever ropeway - Tatev monastery - Areni Village - Cave 1 - Khor Virap - Yerevan

Breakfast at the hotel. Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out. We’ll kick off with a walking tour of this charming city, where you can admire its unique architecture and beautiful surroundings. Next, we’ll head to Tatev Monastery, a stunning historical site perched on a cliff. You’ll have the chance to take the Tatev Ropeway, one of the longest aerial tramways in the world, offering breathtaking views of the landscape below. Next, we’ll visit Areni Village, renowned for its wine production. This charming village is home to the famous Areni Cave, where ancient winemaking tools were discovered, showing that this area has been making wine for thousands of years. Visit to Areni Cave 1 - located at an altitude of about 1080 m above sea level, researchers have discovered several cultural layers, including a complex of the Copper-Stone Age with adobe structures dating back to 4200-3500 BC. From the end of the 5th millennium BC onwards, people used the cave for different purposes as a habitation, for keeping animals and storing plant foods, for the production of wine, as well as for ritual purposes. Visit Areni Wine factories tasting room and wine bank - Excursion and wine tasting. (3 type of wines) Final visit the Khor Virap Monastery. Founded in the 4th century, Khor Virap is renowned as the place where Saint Gregory the Illuminator, was imprisoned for 13 years by King Tiridates III that led to the conversion of Armenia to Christianity in 301 AD, making it the first nation to adopt Christianity as its state religion. The monastery is known for its location at the foot of the biblical Mount Ararat , on which, according to legend, Noah 5,500 years, and the earliest known winery, complete with fermentation vessels and grape seeds dating to around 4,000 BC. Return to Yerevan. Check in to the hotel, Overnight at the hotel.

Day 9

Stop 1.Day 9: Yerevan sightseeing tour - Ararat Brandy Factory

Breakfast at the hotel. Sightseeing tour from Yerevan city – capital of Armenia. This city has a long and rich history, mixing culture, beautiful buildings, and amazing views. On our sightseeing tour, we’ll visit famous spots, try delicious local food, and experience the friendly atmosphere of the Armenian people. From the grand Republic Square to the peaceful Cascade Complex, get ready for an exciting adventure through this historic city. Immerse yourself in the history of ARARAT on a guided tour of the museum, which is also the distillery’s operating aging workshop. At the end, you will have a tasting of ARARAT “Three Stars” 25 ml and seven-year-old ARARAT “Ani” 25 ml, accompanied by sweets and water.

Day 10

Stop 1.Day 10: Yerevan - Garni village - Garni temple - Geghard monastery - Yerevan

Breakfast at the hotel. A short trip to Temple Garni, which is also called “Temple of Sun”. Garni is the only pagan temple in Armenia, where you can admire the unique mosaic baths and ruins of the royal palace. Not far from the village Garni is situated one of the most well-known and beautiful natural monuments of Armenia – Symphony of Stones. It is said that this natural monument is the result of the collapse of the volcanic rocks. Lunch in local Gastro House with local dishes tasting and lavash baking master class. Next, we will head to the Geghard Monastery, a 13th-century cave monastery that is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. The surrounding cliffs are part of the monastery complex, which is carved into the mountain and built using local basalt stones. It was here at Geghard that the Spear of Longinus was kept for many centuries— the spear that pierced the side of Jesus Christ, once stored in a pagan temple in the region. Return to Yerevan. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 11

Stop 1.Day 11: Yerevan - Echmiadzin Cathedral - Zvartnots - Free time in Yerevan - Transfer to the airport

Breakfast at the hotel. Unforgettable trip to Zvartnots is a medieval Armenian cathedral near Echmiadzin, which was built in the seventh century and now lying in ruins. Zvartnots famous with its circular exterior structure and uniqueness. After drive to Echmiadzin – the mother church of the Armenian Apostolic Church, located in the city dually known as Echmiadzin or Vagharshapat, Armenia. It is usually considered the first cathedral built in ancient Armenia, and often regarded the oldest cathedral in the world. Along with several important early medieval churches located nearby, the cathedral was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2000. Return to Yerevan. Free time in City for shopping. Next transfer to the airport.

Discover Caucasus:Georgia and Armenia

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