Exza Travel

Day 1: Arrival in Yerevan - Yerevan City tour

Arrival in Yerevan. Transfer to the selected hotel.
City tour in Yerevan will start with the panoramic view of the city and acquaintance with the Center of the city, Republic Square, the sightseeing of Opera and Ballet building, the Parliament and Residency of the President of Armenia, State University, Mother Armenia Monument, Sports & Concert Complex. A visit to Tsitsernakaberd - a Monument to the Armenian Genocide Victims, as well as the Genocide Victims’ Museum, commemorating the 1.5 million Armenians who perished during the first Genocide of the 20th century in the Western Armenia and in the territory of Ottoman Empire. Visit Matenadaran - one of the world's largest depositories of ancient manuscripts, pride of Armenian culture. Visit Cascade complex, which is considered the modern art center of Yerevan. Cascade is home to Cafesjan modern art museum. This place becomes even more charming in the evenings, when it is full of people, both locals and tourists from all over the world, enjoying the magic and the warmth of the capital. You will enjoy spending time in one of the cosy open-air cafes surrounded by beautiful sculptures, redolent flowers shining brightly with magic colours. It is also a popular place for open air concerts in summer season. Overnight in Yerevan.

Day 2: Yerevan - Garni - Geghard - Yerevan

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit the only remaining Pagan temple in Armenia, devoted to the God of Sun – Myrth, in Garni. Photo stop at Charentc Arc. A visit to the ruins of Royal Palace and Royal bath-house nearby.
Optional: Family hosted lunch in a private village house, with watching the preparation of “Lavash” (Armenian traditional flat bread baked in stone-make oven) by countryside Armenian ladies using the same ancient technology as hundreds of years before. Continue the tour to the uniquely caved Geghard monastery, which dates back to 12th-13th centuries, the name of which means “holy spear” in the honour of the long-preserved spear, the same spear that pierced the body of crucified Christ, which were brought here by Apostle Thaddeus. Drive back to Yerevan. Overnight in Yerevan.

Day 3: Free Day In Yerevan

Breakfast at the hotel. Free day in Yerevan. Overnight in Yerevan.
Optional Tour 1: Yerevan - Silk Road - Noravank - Tatev Monastery (ropeway)- Yerevan
Drive to Noravank Monastery complex (13-14th century). There is such an incredibly beautiful scenery along the road to Noravank, that the visitors cannot resist stepping out of the vehicle and walking all the way to the Monastery with their cameras, to enjoy and record the unique bizarre-shaped precipitous red cliffs. Drive to Tatev Monastery, which is one of the most unique and beautiful monasteries in Armenia, located on the steep of deep gorge surrounded with very strong settings. It was built during the 9-13th centuries as an Armenian intellectual center where philosophers, musicians, painters, calligraphers and monks lived.
Ride on the longest ropeway in the world (5,7 km), recorded in Guinness record book, over the canyons to the monastery of Tatev. Drive back to Yerevan.
Optional Tour 2: Yerevan - Ararat valley - Silk Road - Noravank - Yerevan
Drive to Ararat valley, visit Khor Virap Church, which is one of the holy places for the Christian world, from where opens the closest and the most spectacular view of the gorgeous biblical mountain Ararat, shining with its two white peaks. After visiting Khor Virap continue driving to Gnishik canyon, the narrow road of which goes through the beautiful steep rocks which change the color from gray to red. Drive through the spectacular canyon between the red rocks towards Noravank Monastery complex (13-14th century). There is such an incredibly beautiful scenery along the road to Noravank, that the visitors cannot resist stepping out of the vehicle and walking all the way to the Monastery with their cameras, to enjoy and record the unique bizarre-shaped precipitous red cliffs. Drive back to Yerevan.

Day 4: Yerevan - Carpet Factory - Tsaghkadzor – Vernissage - Shopping

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit Armenian carpet factory with possibility to watch the production of the handmade rugs. The factory has a showroom where purchases are offered (shipping of rugs to your country is possible). Drive to Tsaghkadzor (means “gorge of flowers”) town, the magical place of forested mountains. Short walking tour around the small town. Opportunity to go up to the mountain peaks by ropeway, where you will catch an unforgettable gorgeous panoramic view of this part of the world. Visit Kecharis monastery. Drive back to Yerevan. A visit to Vernissage, an open-air exhibition-market. Rare opportunity to do Jewelry and precious stones’ shopping directly from the factories with cheaper than in the market prices. Drop to Dalma Garden or Yerevan Mall for shopping. Overnight in Yerevan.

Day 5: Yerevan - Sevan - “Armenian Switzerland” Dilijan - Tbilisi

Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out. Drive to Lake Sevan, one of the wonders in Armenia. This blue lake is one of the greatest high mountainous freshwater lakes of Eurasia. On a clear and sunny day, the water is often of a deep turquoise colour. Total surface of the lake is 940 km2. Climb on Akhtamar peninsula, from where opens a fascinating and breathtaking view on Sevan Lake. Visit Sevanavank Monastery (9th century), which stands in its greatness on the peninsula, overlooking the lake for centuries.
Drive to mountainous resort Dilijan, or so called “Armenian Switzerland”, which is well- known for its forests, as well as for its mysterious flora and fauna. Small walking city tour in Dilijan with a visit to handicrafts’ street, where one can watch the preparation of different national souvenirs from wood, stone and ceramics. A visit to Haghartsin Monastery complex, located in a secluded place of a forest. Appearing unexpectedly in front of the visitors, out of the dense forests, the Monastery creates a magical impression of a lost world. After a visit to the monastery in 2005, His Royal Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi made a generous donation for certain renovation works and preservation of this monastery, representing the rich history of the human kind. Complex includes Church St. Stepanos, St. Mary and St. Gregory’s Church, as well as a famous refectory. Drive to Armenian-Georgian border. Pass the border formalities. Drive to Tbilisi. Overnight in Tbilisi.

Day 6: Tbilisi city tour

Breakfast at the hotel. Tbilisi (literally "Warm Spring") is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River, founded in the 5th century by Vakhtang Gorgasali. Tbilisi sightseeing tour includes: Old town: Metechi church and the statue of king Vakhtang Gorgasali; Abanotubani, the ancient district of Tbilisi, known for its sulfuric baths; Narikala fortress; Sharden street; Shota Rustaveli avenue; Open Air Museum of Ethnography – it is essentially a historic village populated by buildings moved there from all main territorial subdivisions of Georgia.Visit Shopping Center - Tbilisi Mall. Free time for Shopping. Overnight in Tbilisi.

Day 7: Tbilisi - Kakheti - Sighnaghi - Bodbe - Tbilisi

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to eastern part of Georgia Kakheti region, known almost exclusively for its vineyards and wineries. Visit Signagi, ancient city, also known as the “City of Love”, with stone-paved streets and the balconies in old - Georgian style. Visit Bodbe Monastery originally built in the 9th century, which now functions as a nunnery and is one of the the major pilgrimage sites in Georgia. Drive back to Tbilisi. Overnight in Tbilisi.

Day 08: Farewell!!!

After Breakfast, check out from the Hotel and proceed towards Airport to board a flight back home with wonderful memories!!!