ITINERARY

Day 1 Yerevan
Arrival at the Zvartnots International Airport. Transfer to the hotel. Rest time.

Day 2  Yerevan City Tour: Matenadaran - Megerian Carpet Factory - Cooking Master Class
In the morning the local guide will be waiting for you at the hotel. Yerevan - one of the oldest cities in the world welcomes you! We will visit the Matenadaran Museum, the place of preservation of the sacred inheritance, the ancient manuscripts that speak about the tradition and millenary history of Armenia. The building is located at the end of the Mesrop Mashtots Avenue and looks over the entire city center. Later, we will head to Megerian Carpets factory, where we will admire the variety of hand-knotted rugs. Next, we will be invited to a cooking class. With the experienced chef, we will prepare selected specialties and try to discover the secrets of Armenian cuisine.

Day 3 Yerevan - Garni - Geghard - cooking experience - Sevanavank - Sevan
At the beginning of the day, we will drive to Kotayk, the western province of Armenia. We will visit the rock monastery Geghard from the 13th Century. Since 2000, the monastery belongs to the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The trip will continue to Garni. Here, we will admire the Symphony of Stones, an ensemble of magnificent basalt organ pipes. Next, we will ascent to the pagan temple of Garni from the 1st century. After the sightseeing, a pleasurable time awaits us with a nice host family. We will have a real cooking experience together. The main dish will be the "Tolma": grape leaves or cabbage leaves stuffed with minced meat, rice, onions and spicy herbs and then rolled up like little fat cigars. Depending on the season you can prepare tolma with vegetables, like stuffed aubergines, peppers, and tomatoes. In a lovely atmosphere, we will enjoy the homemade dishes and later, drive to the beautiful Lake Sevan, "the blue pearl of Armenia". On the Sevan peninsula, we will explore the Sevanavank monastery with one of the five holy cross-stones. At the end of the day, you will be accompanied to your hotel in Sevan.

Day 4 Sevan - Haghartsin - Goshavank - cooking experience - Dilijan
Today we will depart to the picturesque city of Dilijan, "Armenian Switzerland". Dense forests, untouched landscapes and rolling hills surround the city like a green wall. In the vicinity of Dilijan, in deep forests, we will visit the monasteries Haghartsin (11th century) and Goshavank (12th-13th century), witnesses of the ancient culture and history of Armenia. The old town along the Shamberyan street is very beautiful and colorful. The old town was restored by the Tufenkian Foundation. Here you will find the hotel museum "Old Dilijan", an antique wooden furniture with a very original style and handmade rugs. Here, in the gourmet restaurant, we will experience our next cooking class. Step by step you will learn how to prepare "Ghapama", the popular pumpkin dish: pumpkin, raisins, dried fruits, apples, walnuts, cinnamon and honey - it tastes wonderful!

Day 5 Dilijan - Gyumri: Cooking Experience
Today we will drive to the Shirak plateau. We will stop at the second largest city in Armenia Gyumri - a city of art and culture, tradition, hospitality, humor and unbridled zest for life. Here you can also explore the old town with its beautiful old townhouses, colorful facades, and typical wooden balconies. In an eco-friendly area, we will enjoy our lunch. Here we will prepare fish dishes and experience the fine taste of fresh trout. Later, we will have tea with mint or thyme, the sea buckthorn or walnut jam, which will complete the delicious culinary experience. Rest time.

Day 6 Gyumri - Harichavank - Yerevan
The morning will begin with a beautiful city walk through Gyumri, where we will observe the everyday life and the crafting life of the locals. Later we will continue to the village Haritch. Here, we will explore the homonymous monastery Harichavank from the 7th century. Afterward, we will return to Yerevan. In the evening you will have free time for individual discoveries.

Day 7 Yerevan - Zvartnots - Echmiadzin - Aknashen - Khor Virap - Yerevan
The day starts with an exploration trip to Echmiadzin, the most important religious center of Armenian Christianity. On the way, we will visit the ruins of the "round cathedral of Zvartnots" from the 7th century. We will visit the Cathedral of Echmiadzin. Later, we will head to the village of Aknashen. The interesting encounters and warm hospitality invite you once again to the Armenian table, to nice talks, to laughter and joy. Today's culinary highlights include "Lavash", the traditional Armenian flatbread, "Khorovats" (barbecue) and "Gata", an Armenian butter cake. On the way to Yerevan, we will also explore the monastery and the shrine Khor Virap from the 4th century.

Day 8 Yerevan City Tour: Cooking Experience 
Today we will visit the colorful arts and crafts market, where you can admire beautiful and creative crafts and experience a little bit of Armenian culture and tradition, in a nice atmosphere. Our next culinary experience is "Pakhlava", a pastry made from chopped walnuts, almonds or pistachios. It is poured with honey and then cut diamond-shaped. In the evening we will visit a real gourmet restaurant, taste exquisite dishes and taste a good Armenian wine, and say goodbye hoping to see you again in our hospitable land.

Day 9 Return flight
Transfer to the airport. End of our services.

PRICES / SERVICES

Price per person:

990 €

Extra charge for single room:

160 €

Small group:

4-12 people

Included Services

• Transport
• • All transfers and transportation to the visiting places during the tour

• Accompaniment
• • English-speaking local guide

• Accommodation, meals and drinks
• • 8 nights (comfortable hotels in double rooms)
• • Full board (breakfast and dinner from the 2nd day of the tour to the 8th day (excluding drinks))
• • Mineral water

• Visits
• • All entrance tickets

• Travel preparation
• • Travel documentation
• • Map

Excluded Services

• Flight tickets
• • International flight

DATES

Aren't the dates of this trip suitable for you? Just inform us with your desires and we will answer you within 24 hours.