Best Local Experiences In Armenia

Welcome to Armenia! Private transfer (from Zvartnots Airport) to take you to your hotel in Yerevan.
Today you reveal the secrets and hidden gems of Yerevan, the pink “pearl” of Armenia, a beautiful European city mostly built with different shades of local pink stone called “tuf” quarried in Armenia. Founded in 782 B.C. Yerevan is reputedly one of the oldest cities in the world to have been continuously inhabited.
We start the exploration with the “Victory Park” and “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, Barry Flanegan and many others. 
Tour of “Goom” bazaar of Yerevan, 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, many kinds of cheeses some of them aged in clay pots, pickles, beans and other organic products offered by local farmers.
For lunch, enjoy a delicious traditional Armenian meal.
In the afternoon we’ll visit Ararat Brandy Factory and Museum where you are going to explore 120-year history of one of the world’s most renowned brandy factories, producing the best cognac in the world and see the oldest Armenian barrels. The visit includes a cognac tasting.
Later we visit “Soviet Club”. Hayk Bianjyan, its founder, has been collecting various exhibits that characterize the life of Soviet Armenia, and soon began to exhibit them in a one-of-a-kind club. Entering the club, each visitor feels to have been transferred to Soviet times. Here one can taste the famous dishes of Soviet cuisine, look through exclusive archival materials, play Soviet slot machines, ride a Soviet taxi “Volga” and much more. It is noteworthy that many of the presented exhibits have been preserved in a single copy.
Overnight in Yerevan
Tour duration: 7 hours
Meal plan: Breakfast – Lunch

This morning we embark on our journey to the lands of ancient treasures of Christian history…Vatican City of Armenia, Holy Echmiadzin with its world’s earliest Christian churches included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Visit Echmiadzin Mother Cathedral originally built by Saint Gregory the Illuminator in 301-303A.D., when Armenia became the first officially Christian state in the world.
We will visit Treasury Museum to see the most important relics of Holy Echmiadzin.
We stop at St. Hripsime Church, a real masterpiece of the Armenian early medieval architecture. Later we tour the ruins of Zvartnots Cathedral under the gaze of the biblical Mount Ararat.
Cook up traditional Armenian recipes on our master class and lunch in a small Armenian village with our absolutely charming hostess! Cook delicious gata under the trees, next to her herb garden and orchard, stir-up the ingredients, roll out the dough and cook the sweet bread in a tonir, a traditional oven usually buried in the ground.
Later we are going to have premium wine tasting in one of the best wineries in Armenia, Alluria, a family-owned winery with all-natural wine production. Their wines are produced from Armenian grape varieties with wild indigenous yeasts, spontaneous fermentation.
Back to Yerevan.
On your own: you can visit Vernissage Arts & Crafts open air market in Yerevan.
Overnight in Yerevan
Tour duration: 7 hours
Meal plan: Breakfast – Lunch

This morning we drive to the region of Aragatsotsn at the foothills of the highest peak of Armenia, Mount Aragats. We visit the sister monasteries of Ohanavank and Saghmosavank, two medieval gems of Armenian architecture perched dramatically at the edge of the Kasakh River Gorge.
Continue to the quaint and charming town of Ashtarak and visit the 7^th century tiny but elegant church of Karmravor with its well-preserved red tile roof.
Lunch in 19^th century heritage house in a charming village. Enchant your taste buds as Grandma Hripsime is going to cook for us today!
Afterwards we visit the impressive Wine History Museum of Armenia.
The development of viticulture and winemaking in the Armenian Highlands is presented in the museum not only by interpreting facts, but also by interactive and innovative solutions. The exhibits related to viticulture and winemaking give the visitor an opportunity to get a certain idea of ​​the centuries-old Armenian culture in general. The main exhibition hall of the museum is located at the level of 8 meters deep underground basalt rocks, where the chronological stages of wine development in the Armenian Nature, as well as the connection of wine with different spheres of Armenian history and culture are presented in detail.
Afterwards we tour Armenia Winery, perhaps the most beautiful winery in Trans-Caucasus. The winery building reminds of a medieval Armenian fortress the facade of which is coated with polished orange tufa stone and national Armenian ornamental art. It’s considered among the most modern equipped winemaking facilities in the former USSR territory. French and Italian specialists work here to produce a super-premium wine.
Back to Yerevan.
Overnight in Yerevan
Tour duration: 7-8 hours
Meal plan: Breakfast – Lunch

Drive to one of the most beautiful regions of Armenia, “emerald” Lori with sweeping panoramas of its bottomless gorges and the impressive Debed Canyon.
Our first stop is in Vanadzor, the 3^rd largest city in Armenia. We are going to visit an amazing stone-cross carver in his workshop where he continues the centuries-old tradition of khachkar art (cross-stone carving) together with his students in his workshop. You can observe Bogdan’s creativity in the workshop or even try your own hand at stone carving, as well as purchase the works on display.
Later we drive to a lovely local village house to enjoy our fabulous home-cooked Armenian lunch.
Later we visit the gems of the Armenian medieval architecture – Haghpat & Sanahin (UNESCO) large monastic complexes.
Haghpat is a perfect example of medieval Armenian architecture. Being astonishingly well preserved with its elegant buildings, “lace” stone-crosses, inscriptions, frescoes and bas-relieves it became the first Armenian architectural monument to be included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. 
And Sanahin is another marvel famous for its beautiful medieval library and 12^th century “Tutevordi” “embroidered-lace” stone-cross.
Time permitting; we can also visit the Soviet Air Force Museum.
Overnight in Dzoraget or Haghpat
Tour duration: 9-10 hours
Meal plan: Breakfast – Lunch

After breakfast we drive to the second city of Armenia, Gyumri, a vivid town with a distinct urban fabric and friendly locals, famous for their indelible sense of humor and over 100 crafts used to flourish here in the past. It Armenia’s arts & crafts city, the birthplace of many talented poets, artists, musicians and actors.
We walk and explore Old Kumayri historic district with over 1000 old buildings dating back to the 18-19th centuries. Here you can feel the atmosphere of the 19th century Gyumri, the outpost of the Russian Empire in the Southern Caucasus. The buildings are quite interesting with many stories and jokes associated with them.
The city has preserved unique specimens of the culture of Armenian urbanization, marvelous architectural complexes, whole traditional quarters, streets, public and commercial buildings, fortifications. We’ll take a stroll in Kumayri Reserve.
Tour of the stunning mansion of Dzitoghtsonts family which now serves as Gyumri Museum of National Architecture and Urban Life.
In the artistic city of Gyumri, we visit the Irankyuni Forge to learn to create a wrought-iron souvenir with the expert guidance of a master blacksmith. Heat the iron in the hot fire and then hammer, with sparks flying, to gradually bend the metal. Historic blacksmithing tools can be seen in the Dzitoghtsyan Mansion Museum of National Architecture and Urban Life, and ironwork can still be found with the black and red tuff stone architecture around this centuries-old “city of arts and crafts.” We will top off our visit to the forge with a delicious dinner next door at the blacksmiths’ family-owned restaurant. 
Another wonderful experience awaits us today. We visit Aslamazyan sisters’ Gallery to marvel at one thousand and one shades…
Mariam and Eranuhi Aslamazyan sisters have been very prominent artists and painters in Armenia during the Soviet era. The sisters are best known for their colorful and expressive still life and portrait paintings, prints, and drawings, as well as their work in ceramics.  They are also compared greatly with world famous painter Frida Calo, as her works have been their greatest inspirations and their paintings are very much impressed by her.
Back to Yerevan.
Overnight in Yerevan
Tour duration: 10 hours
Meal plan: Breakfast – Lunch

Explore Yerevan on your own.
Overnight in Yerevan
Meal plan: Breakfast

We drive to Garni Fortress, 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 must 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.
Back to Yerevan.
Overnight in Yerevan
Meal Plan: Breakfast – Lunch
Duration: 6 hours

We visit a small family-owned cheese farm in an alpine village near Lake Sevan producing premium cheeses aged in wine, brandy, vine leaves.
Later we visit the 9th century Hayravank Monastery on the shores of Lake Sevan, one of the most beautiful alpine lakes in the world at 1900m above sea level.
It’s a huge mountain lake which takes up 5% of Armenia’s surface area. Marvel at stunning turquoise waters of Lake Sevan and dramatic mountain scenery after climbing up the peninsula hill where we visit the 9th century Sevanavank Monastery.
“If God wishes to visit Armenia one day, I will take him to Dilijan”, Grigor Magistros, a medieval Armenian scholar, prince (990-1058)
We continue north to discover the marvels of Dilijan National Park, a protected area renowned for its serene lakes, picturesque hill trails and peaceful villages often called “Armenia’s Switzerland”. 
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 drive to the depth of the forest and tour the fairy-tale Haghartsin medieval Monastery tucked away on a hidden remote glade. 
We drive to a stunning exotic village out of a fairy-tale with the community of the Old-Believers and enjoy a real Samovar tea, wild raspberry jam, home-made cheese, bread, piroshki with potatoes and cabbage & carrot pickles… so yummy! Learn about the lifestyle and traditions of the Russian Molokans living in the fairy-tale alpine village.
Overnight in Yerevan
Meal Plan: Breakfast – Lunch
Duration: 9-10 hours

This morning we visit Tushpa Wine Cellar, a traditional Armenian winery, both family-owned and managed. The winery is located in the heart of the Ararat Valley, opposite the Biblical Mount Ararat. TUSHPA was founded in 1992 by the winemaker Mihran Manasserian who creates remarkable wines through winemaking traditions that his ancestors had passed down to him. Together with his son Abraham they combine these traditions with modern technologies to create the unforgettable essence of Armenian wines.
We also visit Khor Virap Monastery, a 4^th century castle-like fairy-tale 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 snow-capped mountain, the national symbol of Armenia.
We drive through the agricultural heartland of Armenia, 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.
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.
Our next stop is Areni village, where world’s oldest wine making facility has been found (6100years old) in an incredibly well-preserved condition due to the wonderful microclimate of the Cave Areni-1, the site it was found!
Lunch in Areni village at a local winemaker’s place.
Later we 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.
Later we have winery tour and wine tasting in Trinity Canyon winery led by three wine enthusiasts since 2009, including one who has literally written the book on the history of Armenian wine.
“Trinity’s main focus,” the founders say, “is to reveal the potential of Armenian indigenous grape varieties by drawing on the best organic viticulture practices.”  Using the Areni grape, the winery produces a wine that has been described as “silky, powerful, with refreshing acidity.”  
The Voskehat, another prominent grape endemic to Armenia, is used for their ancestral line of wines made in karases (ancient Armenian terracotta vessels). The resulting varieties range in style – from light and crisp to “bold, skin-macerated orange wines.” Back to Yerevan.
Overnight in Yerevan
Meal Plan: Breakfast – Lunch
Tour duration:10-11 hours

Hotel check-out. Transfer to Zvartnots International Airport. Departure.