Widok na Ararat

1. DAY. Meeting of participants at the airport. Departure to Armenia.
2. DAY. YERIVAN - ECZMIADZYN Early morning arrival in Yerevan, the capital and largest city of Armenia, founded in 782 BCE, i.e. 29 years older than Rome. Transfer to the hotel, accommodation, free time to rest. Late breakfast. Visiting Yerevan. Panoramic tour: Republic Square with singing fountains, Opera House, Northern Avenue with the most expensive shops, Cascade - a famous architectural complex, Mother of Armenia monument, Tsitsernakaberd hill, University of Armenia and many more. Transfer to ECZMIADZYN, a religious center known as the Vatican of the Armenians. Sightseeing: Hripsime Church, one of the most beautiful religious monuments in Armenia; cathedral - the oldest Christian temple in Armenia, built by St. Gregory the Illuminator after Armenia adopted Christianity; ruins of the cathedral in Zwartnoc from the 7th century. The cathedral complex in Eczmiadzin and the ruins of the cathedral in Zwartnoc have been entered on the UNESCO list. Dinner at the residents' house and participation in the preparation of baking traditional Armenian "lavash" bread. Return to Yerevan. Optional (for an extra charge on site): guided visit to the Ararat brandy distillery, familiarization with the production process, tasting. Return to the hotel, overnight.
3. DAY. CHOR WIRAP MONASTERY - NORAWANK MONASTERY - TATEW MONASTER Breakfast. Check out from the hotel. Transfer and visit to the CHOR WIRAP MONASTERY, one of the greatest tourist attractions in Armenia. St. Grzegorz the Illuminator. The monastery offers an unforgettable view of the snow-capped slopes of Mount Ararat (5165 m above sea level). Transfer to the Vayots Dzor region, famous for its wine-making and beautiful landscapes. Visiting the NORAWANK MONASTERY from the 13th century, built on a rock ledge in a deep gorge of the Arpa River. Lunch at a restaurant near the river, serving traditional Armenian cuisine. Then a cable car ride, the route of which is over 5.7 km and is the longest in the world! At the highest point, the carriages are located at a height of 320 m above the ground, from which there is a beautiful view of the area. The route passes over the picturesque canyon of the Vorotan River and leads to the TATEW MONASTERY. Visiting the largest monastery in Armenia, an important pilgrimage destination. Transfer to the hotel in the Goris area. Accommodation, overnight.
4. DAY. LAKE SEWAN Breakfast. Checking out. Drive towards Vayots Dzor, to the ruins of the ancient astronomical observatory. Drive through the Selim Pass, photo break at the ruins of the Selim Caravanserai inn from 1332. A stay at the extremely picturesque SEWAN LAKE, located at an altitude of about 1916 m above sea level, one of the largest lakes in the Caucasus. Lunch at a restaurant on the Arpa River. Then a visit to two churches on the Sevan peninsula, dating from the 9th century. Transfer to Dylidjan, the green heart of Armenia. Accommodation, overnight.
5. DAY. DILIDJAN - HAGHPAT MONASTERY - AKHTAL MONASTERY Breakfast. Checking out. Visiting DILIJAN, a spa town. Walk down Sharabeyan Street, home to numerous artist workshops. The route continues through picturesque villages, one of them is Molokans, where exiles from Russia have settled. Barbecue lunch at the tavern in Alaverdi. Visiting the HAGHPAT MONASTERY, which is considered to be one of the most outstanding examples of Armenian medieval architecture and is entered on the UNESCO list. Then the AKHTAL MONASTERY from the 10th-12th centuries, known for its beautiful medieval frescoes. Transfer to the hotel in Dzoraghet / Dilidżan. Accommodation, overnight.
6. DAY. AMBERD FORTRESS - SAGHMOSAWANK MONASTERY Breakfast. Checking out. Transfer to the AMBERD FORTRESS. Visiting the fortifications located on the southern slope of Aragac (4095 m above sea level), the highest mountain in Armenia. The fortress is located at an altitude of 2,300 m above sea level. on the headland between the gorges of the Amberd and Arkashen rivers. Built in the 11th century, it was an important strategic point. Lunch at the house of the villagers. Drive and tour of the 13th century SAGHMOSAWANK MONASTERY, known as the Monastery of Psalms, because manuscripts were copied and decorated here. Transfer to the hotel in Yerevan. Accommodation, night.
7. DAY. YERIVAN - GARNI - GEGHARD MONASTER Breakfast. Visit to Matenadaran, the museum of ancient manuscripts. Transfer to the vicinity of GARNI, a small village in the Kotajk province. From the complex of buildings including the fortress, palace and temple, only the latter has survived to this day. There is a magnificent view of the area, described by Ryszard Kapuściński in "Imperium". Visiting the Temple of the Sun from the 3rd century BC, the only pagan temple in modern Armenia. Then a visit to the GEGHARD MONASTER, the name of which comes from the sacred spear that struck Christ on the cross. The monastery, entered on the UNESCO list, is spectacularly situated in a great valley and partly carved into the rock. It is a sacred place for Armenians and a destination of numerous pilgrimages. A visit to the Vernissage - a market where you can buy everything, including interesting handicrafts and many other souvenirs. Return to the hotel. Farewell dinner at the hotel and a folk concert. Overnight.
8. DAY. Collection of packed lunches. Early check-out, transfer to the airport. Departure to Poland.

BENEFITS: 7 nights in tourist class *** hotels: 4 in Yerevan, 1 in Goris, 1 in Dilidjan, 1 in Dzoraghet or Dilidjan; 2-person rooms with bathrooms • meals: 6 breakfasts, 1 packed lunch, 5 lunches, 1 dinner • flight • journeys on the route • pilot's care • KL and NW insurance

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