8-Day Religious Pilgrimage Tour

6- Stops

➊ After the arrival to Yerevan and the check-in at the hotel, you will be given time to freshen up and get ready for an amazing week in Armenia.
The tour day begins with the departure to the legendary Mother Armenia statue. The 55-meter-tall statue, which used to be Stalin's statue back in the olden days, is located at a serendipitous location with an amazing view of the city. It symbolizes peace through strength.

➋ The trip will then bring you to the beautiful Cascade Complex, which is a beloved place for evening walks and leisure. The park of modern and creative sculptures will freely captivate your attention and make you fall in love with the place.

➌ The following part of the trip which will happen on foot and will take you to the Saryan Park of Paintings, the Opera House, Abovyan street, the oldest street of the city, and the Republic Square.
The Opera House will leave you amazed with its unique look and astonishing capaciousness. There, you will be told the astonishing history of the building and interesting facts about it. This musical story will be the continuation of the soul-enriching spectacle of beautiful paintings at the Saryan Park.

➍ The enlightening walk will then take you to the Abovyan Street, which is the oldest street of the city. Along the way, you will the see the beautiful Moscow Cinema and some of the oldest surviving city of the old town center. Along the way, you will the see the beautiful Moscow Cinema and some of the oldest surviving city of the old town center. The trip will also include a visit to the Saint Anna church which is one of the oldest churches of the city.

➎ Just a few more minutes and you are at the Republic Square- the heart of the city. It has always been the main square of the city (in different sizes, of course) and will take you to the imaginative world of Soviet architecture. The beautiful fountains and unique buildings will give you a full idea of the perception of time and space in the Soviet. You will then be given free time to enjoy the rest of your time shopping or having something to eat or drink on the Northern Avenue.

➏ The second part of the trip will invite you for a long and insightful rumination at the Yerevan History Museum. The large collection and the amazing animations set up by the museum will present to you the entire history of the city, beginning from the early stages of its existence to the more recent and detrimental pages of its history. As it is adjacent to the Yerevan City Hall, you will also get to see the unique interior of the establishment.

3- Stops

➊ The second day of the tour covers the flat region of Armavir, which is undoubtedly the country's religious inspiration. Located in the Ararat valley, it opens an uninterrupted view the stunning Mount Ararat.The short journey to the region ends with an educational visit to the St. Hripsime Church. Located at the doorstep of the town of Vagharshapat (which is where the Holy See of the Armenian Apostolic Church is located), the church takes you far back to the earliest accounts of Christianity in Armenia.

➋ The informational details are then complemented by the paced journey throughout the Mother See of Holy Ejmiatsin. In site, the full account of the adoption of Christianity as a state religion will be delivered to you and will get the chance to see the oldest cathedral in the world- the Mother Cathedral of Ejmiatsin.

➌ After a session of fine dining at a homey local restaurant, the journey will continue to the ruins of the one-of-a-kind Zvartnots Temple. The unique architecture and residential courtyard of the temple will leave you amazed.

3- Stops

➊ The Western and central parts of the country would perhaps be the most stunning and elegant in terms of their landscape and agricultural traditions. They offer mouth-watering sweetness of fruits and wine.
The day begins with the departure to the ancient Khor Virap Monastery located right beside the Turkish-Armenian border. The serendipitous location of the site allows the visitor to enjoy an unprecedented view of the Biblical Mountain Ararat.
The Region of Kotayk is no exception when it comes to the beauty of landscape and nature. The region has everything to offer, including the assets to take you further back to the pagan past of the country.
Only about 45 mins away from Yerevan, Geghardavank Monastery is truly unprecedented. Carved out of the cliff it is located on, the multi-chambered complex is a unique example of the medieval Armenian Christian architecture.

➋ The lunch with a stunning view of the Geghama mountain range will complete the first half of the day. The visit to the monastery will be concluded by a musical performance of ancient Armenian Sharakans (sacred chants) performed by a professional vocal quartet.

➌ Your walk in the courtyard of the Garni Temple will take you back almost 2000 years to the times when the locals worshipped multiple gods. The architectural style of the pagan past and the laid-back location will leave you recharged and well-traveled. And go figure! Those beautiful vertical column-like rock formations can be seen from very close!

3- Stops

➊ The fourth day takes us further south-east to the beautiful Vayots Dzor region that stands out with its jaw-dropping nature. The intriguing wine-tasting organized in the village of Areni will ensure the elegant start of the gastronomic experience in the region. Areni is famous for its millennia-old wine culture and its astonishing landscape. The wine-tasting will transition into an authentic lunch that allow you to savor the delicious and rich Armenian cuisine. The calm and fulfillment of the preceding gastronomic experience will be complemented by the educational trip to the ancient Areni-1 cave where the history of the rich wine-making culture of the region will be presented to you. The road will then take you to the beautiful 13-th century Noravank Monastery through the astonishing 8-km-long canyon of the Amaghu river.

➋ The journey will then continue to the mystical ruins of Old Khot, a medieval village in the south of Armenia. It is a remarkable settlement demonstrating be beauty of the ancient millennial style of Armenian housing. Mystery and fantasy are waiting for you there.

➌ And in the end, the calmness of the authentic town of Goris is waiting for you for your overnight stay.

3- Stops

➊ The sixth day will allow you to savor the scenic beauty of the south of Armenia. Exceptional landscapes and an inspiring history are waiting for you on this trip.
The first site of this long day is the mysterious ancient cave-village of Khndzoresk, which will entertain you with its adrenaline-boosting hanging metal bridge and the gorgeous setting of the settlement. A fun fact about the cave village: the last family to live in the village left their cave in 1958..

➋ The road will then take you to the historical Tatev Monastery, which boasts a stunning location deep in the skyscraping mountains of Zangezur. The monastery, which was a university back in the 13^th century and used to be one of the most influential religious centers of the country, will be reached on the Wings of Tatev aerial tramway. The latter is the longest in the world and was even the recorded in the Guinness book of records. With a highest point of 320 meters, the soaring cable car promises a fun ride and spectacular views.

➌ After a number of stops at mesmerizing viewpoints for taking photographs and then an authentic lunch, the scenic journey will lead to another stunning place, the Zorats Karer (aka Karahunj) Ancient Astronomical Observatory. With its yet undeciphered story, the mystical site will take you to the depths of the ancient past and bring you back in awe.

➍ The day will be concluded with another delightful night in Goris.

3- Stops

➊ The Eastern and the North-Eastern parts of Armenia are beautiful, just like any other part of the country. They boast different, yet equally stunning landscapes and offer fresh air and velvet-green woodlands.
Following the fun 2.5-hour ride through stunning mountain ranges, the first site of the day is the Orbelian Caravanserai located in the Selim mountain pass way. The stunning medieval structure will take you back in history and allow you to visualize how traders and travelers would spend their time relaxing from their tiresome journey hardened by the scorching sun and the mighty winds.

➋ The second stop, the Sevan Peninsula, has much to offer as well. The peninsula, which was once an island, is located in Lake Sevan, the second biggest high-altitude freshwater lake in the world. The peninsula also holds once of the oldest monasteries in the country, the Sevanavank Monastery. Dating back to the 9^th century, the monastery is one of the oldest in the country, offering also a stunning view to the entirety of the lake.

➌ After a delicious lunch serving the local fish, the trip will proceed to the beautiful Goshavank Monastery. The first is located in the depths of the emerald-green forests of Tavush, surrounded in the distance by tall, beautiful fog-covered mountains "protecting" the monastery and the village as a mighty stronghold.

➍ The culmination of the rewarding day will the soothing sleep in the beautiful town of Dilijan.

3- Stops

➊ The prefinal day of the trip well present to you the beauty of the North. A land of jaw-dropping cliffs, freedom and oxygen, the Region of Lori will set you free and stun with its religious heritage.
After a captivating journey through remarkable mountain ranges, where you will also get to see two of the unique villages inhabited by Russian Molokans, Fioletovo and Lermontovo, and witness the local agricultural and architectural tradition, the stunning Haghpat Monastic Complex will amaze you with its architecture and history. The monastery has been a cradle of literacy and education, catering for the intellectual and spiritual needs of the local population for centuries.

➋ Following the scenic lunch at a local restaurant, the other gem across the gorge, Sanahin Monastery, will submerge you into a similar, but a varyingly authentic atmosphere. The beauty of its courtyard, fascinating chambers and tombstones will leave you speechless. The final site of the trip, the Akhtala Monastery, is a worthwhile and justified culmination. Among other things, the monastery stands out with its most striking feature- its rare frescoes. The abundance of scenes and vividness of color are striking.

➌ The day will end at a lovely rural guesthouse near Alaverdi to experience the true vibe of the Armenian life.

3- Stops

➊ The Region of Aragatsotn located towards the North-West of the country is also worthwhile to visit. The last day of the trip makes sure it is not left out.
The journey will take you to the slopes of Mount Aragats, currently the highest peak in Armenia with its 4090 meters of height. Saghmosavank Monastery, one of the architectural gems of the Armenian Christian history, is almost about to "fall into" the Kasakh river gorge. The south-eastern side of the monastery's courtyard opens up an awesome view to the canyon of the Kasakh river- a freakishly deep gorge with amazing multi-layered rock formations.

➋ The next stop will take you to the fun Armenian Alphabet Park where you will be told about the amazing story of the creation of the Armenian Alphabet in the 5^th century and other linguistic facts about the Armenian language.

➌ After lunch, the mystical walls of the Amberd fortress will open their doors for you. As a unique example of the 11^th-century Armenian municipal architecture and royal living, the fortress will disclose much related to life lived centuries ago in the area. The beautiful hike following the sightseeing will complete the didactic value of the visit and present to you more of the area's history. It will take you through the gorgeous river stream below the hill and take you to the remains of the ancient local cemetery.