Wine & Gourmet Tour

Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast we’ll visit to the Museum of Ancient Armenian Manuscripts -Matenadaran, which houses more than 17,000 manuscripts. Afterwards, you’ll tour the city’s main sights. Lunch and dolma making masterclass in Machanents Family Restaurant.  Later, we’ll make an excursion to the UNESCO-listed Armenian Catholic cathedral at Ejmiatsin and to Zvartnots. Return and overnight in Yerevan.

Breakfast at the hotel. This morning we’ll drive out to Garni. Stroll through the canyon and over the 9^th Century bridge to reach this pagan temple. Nearby, you’ll visit the legendary Geghard Monastery. We’ve also arranged a visit to a local house where you will help prepare a typical Armenian flat bread-lavash. Return to Yerevan. Visit to the Armenian Brandy and Cognac Factory ARARAT with the tasting of the legendary Armenian brandy. Overnight in Yerevan.

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive towards Mount Aragats, the highest mountain in the country. Visit of the medieval Amberd Fortress (7^th Century) with a cross-domed church from 1026, near the Aragats (4,096 m). Here offers a beautiful view of the quiet surroundings. Visit of the winery "ArmMas", tasting of Armenian wines. Lunch with a local family, where we will get acquainted with the production process of the Armenian noodle "Arischta". Drive to the village of Saghmosavan. Visit of the Monastery Saghmosavank (13^th Century) high above the magnificent canyon Kazakh. Return and overnight in Yerevan.

Breakfast. Through the Ararat Mountain we’ll drive today South Armenia. First visit is the Khor Virap Monastery (17^th Century), which is located directly on the Armenian-Turkish border. From here we’ll enjoy a magnificent view of the biblical Mount Ararat. Drive to Noravank Monastery (13^th Century), which is at the end of a gorge and was 13^th to 14^th Centuries bishop seat. Before we reach the monastery, we’ll make a small detour in a village. Together with a village family we’ll make the Armenian cheese, grill the traditional Schaschlick in Erdofen. Drive to the village of Hermon. Free time. Overnight at the hotel in the village of Hermon.

Breakfast at the hotel. Excursion to Vardeniats Pass and visit the medieval Selim Pass or Orbelian’s Caravanserai on the ancient Silk Road that once crossed the pass at 2,410 meters. Descent to Lake Sevan, "the blue pearl of Armenia" (1,900m above sea level). The lake is 78 km long and 56 km wide. Through the spa town of Dilijan we’ll continue to the Ijevan Wine Factory, which is known for its white wine production. Tasting of Armenian white wines. End of the day in the "Apaga Resort" in the village of Yenokavan. Dinner and overnight in "Apaga Resort".

Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast we’ll drive to the second largest industrial city of Armenia -Alaverdi. We’ll visit the Monasteries of Sanahin and Haghpat (both listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site, both 10^th-13^th centuries). In a good weather, Haghpat Monastery offers a magnificent view of the mountain landscape. The Church of the Redeemer in Sanahin and The Church of the Holy Haghpat (10^th century) are donated by Queen Khosrovanush, whose sons are depicted in the gable field of the eastern facade of these churches. Architecturally impressive in both monasteries are the library rooms, which experienced a sad fate during the Mongol rule. We’ll admire the Tutewordu crucifix in Sanahin and the All Savior Crossstone in Haghpat. Uniquely beautiful is the bell tower in Haghpat, which stands on the highest point of the monastery complex. Lunch in the village of Haghpat in a small local restaurant. After lunch drive back to Yerevan. Oavernight in Yerevan.

Check-out from the hotel. Transfer to the Zvartnots International Airport. Departure. Have a safe flight!