Armenia and Georgia

Welcome to Armenia

Arrival in Yerevan, at "Zvartnots" International airport. Pickup at the airport and transfer to hotel for check-in. Free day.

Garni Temple and Geghard Monastery.

Tour starts at 10:00am.
Duration: 5 hours.
Distance: 90 km
Requires: Comfortable shoes a jacket, sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat in the summer. Overcoat/raincoat for autumn/winter/spring seasons

Garni -The only surviving pagan temple in Armenia which was made in Hellenistic style. Having been used as a summer house for the Armenian Royal family, the sight has all the power to take your breath away with its picturesque location, architecture and history. On the way, we will stop by at the “Charents’ Arch,” where you can take in the magnificent view of Biblical Ararat and the open valleys.

Geghard – Not far from Garni is Geghard, another marvel of Armenian architecture. Geghard is a UNESCO heritage sight named after the spear with which Longinus pierced the side of Jesus on the cross. The monastery complex dates back to the 13th century BC but the location was considered holy starting AD times. Geghard, being carved out of one solid rock, is also considered to be an outstanding architectural composition by international standards.

Refreshments: You will be provided with a bottle of water and some pastries during the tour.
Lunch: There will be a lunch stop at a local restaurant at noon. Additional payment is required on the spot for lunch.

Return to Yerevan for overnight stay.

Khor Virap Monastery – Noravank Monastery - Areni village (winery).

Breakfast at the hotel: starting from 8:00 am
Tour starts at 09:00 am.
Duration: 9 hours
Distance: 260 km
Requires: Comfortable shoes a jacket, sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat in the summer. Overcoat/raincoat for autumn/winter/spring seasons

Khor Virap - We will visit the monastery of Khor Virap (4-17cc.), one of the most ancient monasteries in Armenia, 200 meters away from the border of Turkey. It is the closest point to the mountain Ararat. When the weather is clear, the legendary Giant is visible like the palm of your hand.

Noravank and Areni village - Nestled in a narrow canyon and taking advantage of nature’s natural defense system, it was the religious center for the region of VayotsDzor for centuries. The unique architectural feats and miniature ornaments composed by the outstanding artist, Momik, still amaze the travelers. Make sure you take a seat next to a window so you can admire the ride through the narrow canyon of Amaghu river.

Vayots Dzor region is famous for its unique nature and wineries. We will visit the Areni winery for wine tasting before heading to Noravank monastery.

Refreshments: You will be provided with a bottle of water and some pastries during the tour.
Lunch: There will be a lunch stop at a local restaurant at noon. Additional payment is required on the spot for lunch.

Return to Yerevan for overnight stay.

Yerevan –Mtskheta- Jvari - City Tour - Tbilisi

Breakfast at the hotel: starting from 8:00 am
Tour starts at 09:00 am.
Duration: 12 hours
Distance: 320 km
Requires: Comfortable shoes a jacket, sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat in the summer. Overcoat/raincoat for autumn/winter/spring seasons

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure from the hotel. A trip to Tbilisi. After crossing the border, a trip to Mtskheta. At the confluence of the Kura and Aragvi rivers, the first capital of Christian Georgia is located - the city of Mtskheta. This oldest city is now on the UNESCO World Heritage List. According to legend, the city was founded by the son of the Georgian ancestor of Kartlos - Mtskhetos. One of the “Hripsimean” martyrs Nune (Nino), miraculously escaping the massacre of the holy virgins, fled to Mtskheta and spread Christianity here. The virgin cured the son of King Mirian, and later Queen Nana. In the 4th century, King Mirian, on the advice of Nune, built the first wooden church, on the site of which in the 5th century Vakhtang 1st Gorgasali built a basilica. At the beginning of the 11th century, the Svetitskhoveli temple was erected on the site of the damaged basilica (which means “life-giving pillar” in Georgian). Another monastery complex Samtavro was also built by Tsar Mirian, however, the modern appearance was obtained during the reign of George the 1st (11th century).

Then visit the monastery of Jvari. Jvari Monastery (Holy Cross) - a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is part of the city of Mtskheta. It was built in the middle of the 7th century where a Christian preacher and the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Nune (Nino) erected a cross. His description is mentioned in Lermontov’s poem "Mtsyri". The monastery is located on top of a rocky massif 150 meters above the surrounding area. A picturesque panorama of the city of Mtskheta - the confluence of the Kura and Aragvi rivers opens from here. Externally, the temple is an elongated cross, the shoulders of which end with apse. The center of the temple is a square over which a dome is mounted on an octagonal drum. Construction was restored in 2007. We return to Tbilisi, a city tour. The highlight of the mountain city is the Kura River, perfectly combined with the urban rhythm. Bright colors and a cheerful mood reign everywhere here. The city is rich in numerous historical and cultural monuments. The tour begins with the narrow streets of the Narikala district, preserved from the early Middle Ages, and ends with the spacious Rustaveli Avenue. The modern look of Tbilisi is a vivid mixture of majestic ancient cathedrals and dilapidated fortresses, old quarters and colorful courtyards with delicate balconies, Soviet buildings and ultra-modern business centers, the contrast of which can best be seen from the bird's-eye view from the cable car. Check in at the hotel, overnight.

Refreshments: You will be provided with a bottle of water and some pastries during the tour.
Lunch: There will be a lunch stop at a local restaurant at noon. Additional payment is required on the spot for lunch.

Overnight in Tbilisi.

Tbilisi - Kakheti region:Bodbe- Sighnaghi - Yerevan

Breakfast at the hotel: starting from 8:00am
Tour starts at 09:00am.
Duration: 12 hours
Distance: 380 km
Requires: Comfortable shoes a jacket, sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat in the summer. Overcoat/raincoat for autumn/winter/spring seasons

After breakfast check out. Trip to to the Kakheti region. Visit Signagi. A small picturesque town in the eastern part of Georgia (Kakheti region), founded in the 17th century. under king Irakli II. This is the only city in Georgia that has completely preserved the walls. The name of the city comes from the Türkic word signal (sign), meaning - “fortified place”, “shelter”. In Sighnaghi, according to local legend, the artist Nico Pirosmani, in love, covered the square in front of the hotel where the beloved woman, French actress Margarita de Sevres, lived with flowers. This is sung in a popular song performed by Alla Pugacheva "Million Scarlet Roses" (1982). The city has a 24-hour Wedding Palace. This is what caused the Signagi to be called the "City of Lovers." 2 km from Sighnaghi is an old Bodbe nunnery, where the relics of the enlightener of Georgia, St. Nino (4th century), rest. The monastery is popular among tourists and pilgrims. Originally built (9-11 centuries) at the burial place of St. Nino, the temple has not been preserved to this day. In its place was built a three-nave cathedral in the name of St. George. The temple is the center of the Signagh diocese. Return to Yerevan. Check in hotel. Overnight.

Refreshments: You will be provided with a bottle of water and some pastries during the tour.

Overnight in Yerevan.

Free day

* Optionally, you can join the tour
(30 $ for one with lunch)
Lake Sevan - Monastery on the peninsula-Dilijan Resort Town-monasteries Haghartsin, Goshavank.

Breakfast at the hotel: starting from 8:00am
Tour starts at 10:00am.
Duration: 9 hours.
Distance: 260 km
Requires: Comfortable shoes a jacket, sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat in the summer. Overcoat/raincoat for autumn/winter/spring seasons

We will take a voyage to Sevan, one of the most beautiful and largest alpine lakes in the world. We’ll explore around the peninsula and the medieval monasteries which served as an isolation establishment for disobeying monks. Some of the churches couldn’t survive the religious purge of Stalinizm and were destroyed. The monastery complex ceased to function in the 1930s.

Within minutes of the treeless Sevan,with rich alpine vegetation you will find yourself in the thick forests of Dilijan. The climate is mild and sunny in Dilijan with over 60% humidity throughout the year making it a  perfect place for summer holidays since even the times of the Russian Empire. Exploring the ethnographic street at Old Dilijan, we will move forward through the Green tunnel road, which  will lead us to Haghartsin Monastery,  a pearl hidden in the woods. Our next stop is Goshavank Monastery, famous for its embroidered cross-stones and wise proverbs.

Refreshments: You will be provided with a bottle of water and some pastries during the tour.
Lunch: There will be a lunch stop at a local restaurant at noon. Additional payment is required on the spot for lunch.

Return to Yerevan for overnight stay.

Transfer to the airport

Breakfast at hotel, check-out, transfer to the airport.