Apricot Blossom Tour in Armenia

Welcome to Armenia! We will organize a private transfer (from Zvartnots Airport) to take you to your hotel in Yerevan. Rest at the hotel and be ready to start your exciting tour tomorrow.

Overnight in Yerevan

We start off our Armenia Apricot Blossom tour with a visit to Goom Bazaar, a real museum of food with pyramids of fresh and dried fruits stuffed with different kinds of nuts, honey, cinnamon and other spices, colorful strings of “sweet sujukh”, orange beads of dried peaches(“alani”) stuffed with walnuts, piles of “lavash” traditional Armenian bread, different types of local cheeses – some of them aged in clay pots, pickles, beans and other organic products offered by local farmers.
We visit the stunning Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral, the largest Armenian cathedral ever built.
Then we are off to Yerevan downtown to explore the trendy Abovyan Street, The Opera Square and Northern Avenue. The area is filled with both old and modern buildings, interesting sculptures, cute shops, delicious crepes, high end stores, and beautiful cafés and restaurants.
We will then make our way to the enormous “Mother Armenia” monument offering a “bird’s-eye” view of the city with the fantastic view of the majestic snow-capped Mount Ararat (5165m) dominating the skyline. Continue to the colossal monument of Cascade and Cafesjian Center for the Arts which includes a world-class sculpture garden and indoor modern art museum with works from Botero, Chihuly, Arshile Gorky and many others. 
For lunch, enjoy a delicious traditional Armenian meal at Aguleltsi Museum. Enjoy dolma with grape leaves, sorrel & pomegranate salad with a glass of Armenian wine. You will have a tour at the house museum to get acquainted with old Armenian traditions, jewelry, costumes, etc. The tour will then head to Vernissage open air arts & crafts bazaar where you can purchase traditional Armenian souvenirs.
Overnight in Yerevan
Breakfast, Lunch

This morning we visit the world-class museum of Matenadaran, a real treasury of ancient knowledge of the mankind, one of the world’s largest and oldest repositories of manuscripts. Marvel at the illuminated pages of some of those manuscripts within their glass cases. 
Afterwards we drive to Garni Castle, the most beloved summer residence of the Armenian royal dynasties. Travel 2000 years back in time as your guide is showing you around the impressive 1^st century Hellenistic Temple (the only one in the former USSR), the royal Roman Baths with a colorful mosaic, the palace ruins.
We visit a local villager’s house for a traditional Armenian meal. Our table is set amid the blooming apricot orchard. Roll your sleeves up and join our hosts who will bake the traditional Armenian bread “lavash” in “tonir” oven. Freshly baked lavash has to be the most delicious bread on earth!
After a hearty lunch continue to Geghard (UNESCO site), a surreal monastery carved inside a huge rock in a magical setting surrounded by incredible rock formations. Your guide will reveal all the secrets and stories behind the marvelous site.
The highlight of your trip will be a walk in the Azat River Gorge to marvel at one of the most beautiful geological wonders of our planet called “Symphony of Stones” – giant hexagonal basalt columns stretching along the river for several kilometers. Your guide will show you how to take the most creative photos of the place.
Overnight in Yerevan
Breakfast, Lunch

Our Apricot Blossom tour of Armenia will begin today with a fascinating journey to the homeland of the apricot – the Ararat Plain offering an amazing panorama of endlessly stretching apricot orchards and vineyards guarded by the remote majesty of the mysterious twin peaks of Mount Ararat.
Free time to get lost in an apricot orchard and become a part of the fairy-tale.
Our next stop is at Khor Virap, a 4^th century castle-like monastery, the most iconic site in Armenia and one of the most important Christian sites in the world. Its location, near the closest point to biblical Mount Ararat within Armenian borders, offers a spectacular view of the mountain, the national symbol of Armenia.
We continue driving to the south marveling at the untamed beauty of Southern Armenia – surreal red rocks providing an eerie echo, honey-colored villages sandwiched between them.
Visit Areni, the village of winemakers. We will visit the world-class archaeological site, the cave complex Areni-1 to see the oldest winery in the world (6100 years old).
Enjoy a home-cooked lunch in a boutique winery at the house of a local winemaker in Areni.
We drive to the best local winery in the region to taste their blow-your-socks off Areni (a deep, full-bodied red) wines made according to traditional wine making techniques used in Armenia thousands of years ago, including the fermentation in terracotta vessels, called “karas” in Armenian.
Dinner and overnight in Jermuk spa town nestled in an alpine forested mountain area.
Overnight in Jermuk
Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner

This morning we start exploring Jermuk by visiting Mermaid’s Hair Waterfall, mineral water drinking gallery with five types of mineral water with different temperature from 30 to 53 degrees by Celsius.
Next, we drive to the southernmost region of Armenia to see a real marvel of nature and medieval architecture.
We have a relaxing ride on the “Wings of Tatev” aerial tramway which holds the World Guinness Record as the longest reversable cable-car (5,7km/3.5mi). The ropeway provides a scenic view of the Vorotan River Canyon with skyscraping snow-capped mountains, waterfalls, green forest glades as well as the 9^th century castle-monastery of Tatev perched on the edge of a giant cliff. We get off the tram to explore the miraculous monastic complex which boasts having one of the oldest universities in medieval Europe. Marvel at the gorgeous architecture of the elegant churches, exquisitely carved stone-crosses and enjoy the ascetic atmosphere of the site.
Later we will taste dishes typical to this southern Armenian region in the house of an amazing ceramist. He will teach you the secrets of the ancient ways of pottery making.
Late afternoon we will visit Noravank, the jewel of the crown among all the medieval sites in South Caucasus. The monastery is nestled among giant red rocks and mountains, just above a deep gorge.
Back to Yerevan.
Overnight in Yerevan
Breakfast – Lunch

Marvel at stunning turquoise waters of the Lake Sevan and dramatic snowy mountain scenery after climbing up the peninsula hill where we visit the 9th century Sevanavank Monastery (optional, over 240 steps to get there).
If you like hiking we can start the tour earlier in the morning to have a lovely nature walk to the most secluded and beautiful white-sand beaches to meditate and relax or do bird-watching.
Afterwards we drive to Dilijan spa town in Dilijan National Park, a protected area renowned for its serene lakes, picturesque hill trails and peaceful villages often called “Armenia’s Switzerland”. Take a stroll in Old Dilijan town with its craftsmen’s workshops and stores.
Lunch in an authentic restaurant where we sample Armenian dishes prepared by 450 year-old recipes. Next, we drive to the depth of the forest and tour the fairy-tale Haghartsin medieval Monastery tucked away on a hidden remote glade. 
We continue revealing the hidden sites in the forests as we drive to a beautiful lake named Parz, where you can relax or take a peddle-boat, or if you feel adventurous you can try the zipline over the lake. We also visit the breeding center of the Caucasian red deer. You can feed them!
Back to Yerevan.
Overnight in Yerevan
Breakfast – Lunch

Your pleasant and memorable Armenia tour ends today. Fly home with cherished memories or enjoy your extended stay in Armenia.