Vine & Barrel

Breakfast. Tour starts with Yerevan City Tour. Yerevan is the capital of Armenia, one of the ancient cities in the world. For ages this city has been known as a “pink city” because of the color of the stone it has been built with. You will have a city tour in Yerevan and you'll see The Republic Square, Mashtots Avenue, The House of Opera and Ballet after Aram Khachatryan, the park “Cascade”, Armenian Vernissage and more. During the day you will visit the world's oldest manuscript museum and repository of Armenia, which is called Matenadaran: here all the ancient Armenian manuscripts are kept. You will also visit "Cafesjian Center for the Modern Arts" situated in the center of Yerevan in Cascade complex. Excursion to centuries-old monuments Ejmiatsin and Zvartnots listed on UNESCO World Heritage list. Zvartnots (7-10th cc.) - a Temple of Vigil Forces. Its ruins lay buried until the 20th century when they were excavated and the cathedral was partially reconstructed in a polygonal form with plenty of columns supporting carved arches. There are interesting sculptural remnants surrounding the main structure – look out for the carved eagle capital in particular. The Cathedral of Ejmiatsin (303 AD) is an official residence of Armenian Catholicos. In Ejmiatsin you can have a  lunch and have a degustation of Armenian Wine, as well as you have a chance to order a glass of wine by/for your name and keep it bottled there in the center where you can return anytime (even after a few years) and find the bottled wine especially kept for you by the company.  Visit to the  social project “Cross of Armenian Unity” Machanents House. This is a social enterprise and a cultural, educational, art and tourism center. It is located in Ejmiatsin, the spiritual city of Armenia."Machanents House" has a carpet weaving, pottery center, as well as theater, an art school, a national cuisine school, a preschool, an art therapy class and an innovation center, where about 700 students study, including children from vulnerable groups. 

Return and overnight in Yerevan.

Breakfast. This morning we'll drive out to Garni. Stroll through the canyon and over the 9th century bridge to reach this pagan temple. Nearby, you’ll visit the legendary Geghard Monastery. We’ve also arrange a visit to a local house where you will help prepare a typical Armenian flat bread-lavash. Return to Yerevan. Visit to ARARAT Wine and Brandy Factory to taste the legendary Armenian brandies.

Overnight in Yerevan.

Breakfast. Today we'll head to Mount Aragats, the highest mountain in the country (4,096 m). Visit of the medieval fortress Amberd (7th century) with a cross-domed church from 1026, near the Mount Aragats. Here offers a beautiful view of the quiet surroundings. Visit to the winery "ArmMas", tasting the Armenian wines. Lunch with a local family, where we will get acquainted to the production process of the Armenian noodle "Arishta". Drive to the village of Saghmosavan. Visit to the Saghmosavank Monastery (13th century), high above the magnificent canyon Kazakh.

Return and overnight in Yerevan.

Breakfast. Through the Ararat mountain today we'll drive to South Armenia. First visit is the Khor Virap monastery (17th 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 (13th century), which is at the end of a gorge and was 13th to 14th century bishop seat. Before we reach the monastery, we'll make a small detour in a village. Together with a village family we will make the Armenian cheese, grill the traditional Schaschlick (barbeque) in Erdofen. Drive to the village of Hermon. Free time.

Overnight at the hotel in the village of Hermon.

Breakfast. Excursion to Vardenyats Pass (Selim Caravanserai) and visit to the medieval 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 the route to the Ijevan Wine Factory, which is known for its white wine production. Tasting of Armenian white wines. End of the day in "Apaga Resort" in the village of Yenokavan.

Dinner and overnight in "Apaga Resort".

After breakfast we will drive to the second largest industrial city of Armenia -Alaverdi. We'll visit the monasteries of Sanahin and Haghpat (both included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, both 10th-13th centuries). In 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 (10th century) are donated by Queen Khosrovanush, whose sons are depicted in the gable field of the eastern facades of these churches. Architecturally impressive in both monasteries are the library rooms, which experienced a sad fate during the Mongol rule. We can admire the Tutewordu crucifix in Sanahin and the All Savior Cross-stone 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.

Overnight in Yerevan.