Travel to Armenia

Archaeological trip

ItineraryDay 1

Arrival

Arrival at Zvartnots International Airport

A representative from Hi Armenia will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel

We'll meet at our hotel and get to know each other

Evening free

Overnight in Yerevan

ItineraryDay 2

City tour of Yerevan

The capital which is as old as Rome

Breakfast at the hotel

State History Museum which is located in the heart of Yerevan. The museum presents thevaluable and unique examples of jewelry, coins, household items, tools, weapons, carpets andclothing from ancient times till nowadays.

Archaeological Museum of Erebuni has a hug collection (11295) of artifacts including objectsfrom pre Urartian, Urartian, Achaemenian, Hellenistic and early Armenian times. Among them arestone irrigation and water pipes, jars, wine vessels, weaponry (helmets, spears, small swords andarrows) ceramic figures, jewelry and etc. These findings have been discovered from severalarcheological sites such as Arin Berd, Karmir Blur, Shengavit sites and also in various regions ofArmenia.

Then we will continue our tour to the ruins of Erebuni Fortress which was founded by the Urartian king Argishti the First in 782 B.C.

Evening free

Overnight in Yerevan

Itinerary

Day 3

Khor Virap –Areni–Noravank-Goris

Breakfast at the hotel

Proceed to Khor Virap, which is one of the most iconic places in Armenia. The monastic complex islocated near the mountain Ararat. Therefore here one can enjoy wonderful and fascinating view ofthe Biblical mountain Ararat where Noah's Ark is landed. This place is also famous for the fact thatSt. Gregory the Illuminator, first official head of the Armenian church was imprisoned here for 14years by Armenian king Trdat III.

Areni Cave is famous archeological site where the earliest known shoe in the world was found (5500years old). Moreover, recently Irish and Armenian archeologists discovered the oldest winery whichis 6,100-year-old. It consists of storage jars, potteries and wine-press.

Drive to Noravank which is a medieval Armenian monastery and is famous not only with itsappearance but also with the surrounding marvelous scenery. Among the decorations over one ofthe entrances one can find exclusive and rare sculpture with the image of Father God.

Overnight in Goris

Itinerary

Day 4

Shaki Waterfall – Khndzoresk - Karahunj

Breakfast at the hotel

Drive to Shaki Waterfall located on the road to Sisian, between Sisian and the village of Shaki, isArmenia’s second largest waterfall after the Trchkan Falls near Gyumri. Falling from 18 meters,the water forms a refreshing diversion and majestic combination with Vorotan Gorge.

Proceed to Khndzoresk which is widely known for it’s canyon with outstanding rock formationsand ancient cave settlement. These manmade caves are used as warehouses and have beeninhabited till the 1950s. Nearby there are also old churches, a village and tombs. The manmadebridge which is 160 meters connects the old and new villages.

Continue to Karahunj or a stone circle located high in the highlands of Southern Armenia whichmay in fact be the oldest stone observatory in the world, predating England's Stonehenge. Thecomplex consists of approximately 220 large megalithic structures, tombs and menhirs. ThisPrehistoric archaeological site covers 7 hectares and belongs to Bronze Age. Accordingexcavations, the Armenian Stonehenge (Karahunj) has a history of 7500 years(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBh9qOFOIf0&t=15 ).

Overnight in Yerevan

ItineraryDay 5

Matenadaran - Zvartnots- Metsamor

Breakfast at the hotel

Visit to Matenadaran, the largest deposit of ancient manuscripts which contains 17,000manuscripts. The largest Armenian manuscript Msho Charantir (Homilies of Mush) is among themuseum's treasures weighting 28kg.

Drive to the ruins of Zvartnots Temple which makes a great impression with its artistic ornaments.The building of Catholicos Nerses is a rare example of international architecture and the symbol ofArmenian’s creative talent as it was built at the time when a part of Armenian lands wereunder Byzantine control.

Large urban settlement Metsamor (7,000 BC) is one of the most important prehistoric monumentsin Armenia and consists of citadel, observatory, cyclopean walls and cemetery. Nearby is also amuseum with a wide collection of objects that was found during the excavations.

Dinner at Afrikyan Restaurant

Overnight in Yerevan

ItineraryDay 6

Agarak-Amberd-Saghmosavank

Breakfast at the hotel

Agarak: the large area of this ancient settlement is covered with huge stones. During theexcavations different artifacts from III millennium BC to the Late Middle Ages were found. Amongthem are bronze weapons, stone tools, ceramic statues, rings and coins of Emperor August andAlexander of Macedonia.

Drive to Amberd Fortress that includes the castle, bath and the church.The fortress stands 2300 meters above sea level. The walls of fortress were founded in the 7thcentury and had its own water-supply pipe which brings water from the springs of AragatsMountain.

Proceed to Saghmosavank Monastery which is looking down from the edge of the gorge.

Overnight in Yerevan

Itinerary

Day 7

Departure

Early breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport 2 hours prior to the flight. Departure.

The package includes following:

Airport transfer

Transportation during the entire program

Accommodation (centrally located hotels with breakfast)

Sightseeing and entrance fees

Note

The price does not include dinner at Afrikyan Restaurant