According to the Bible, Armenia is the birthplace of viticulture and winemaking. Immerse yourself in Armenia's rich winemaking heritage and follow step by step the stages production, from cultivation of grapes to getting wine. The world's earliest known wine-making facility has been discovered in Armenia according to the recent findings.
INDULGE IN WINE TASTING AND SCENIC VIEWS
DAY 1: ARRIVAL
DAY 2: YEREVAN CITY TOUR – TSITSERNAKABERD – ARARAT BRANDY FACTORY (B/L/-)
DAY 3: YEREVAN – MATENADARAN - ECHMIADZIN – ZVARTNOTS – ALLURIA WINES – VERNISSAGE - YEREVAN (B/L/-)
DAY 4: YEREVAN – SEVAN - GARNI – GEGHARD – YEREVAN NOY WINE BRANDY FACTORY - YEREVAN (B/L/-)
DAY 5: YEREVAN - KHOR VIRAP – BIRDS CAVE – NORAVANK – TUSHPA WINERY – YEREVAN (B/L/-)
DAY 6: YEREVAN – SAGHMOSAVANK – ARMENIAN ALPHABET MONUMENT – KARMRAVOR – VAN ARDI WINERY – FRUIT MARKET - YEREVAN (B/L/-)
DAY 7: DEPARTURE
DAY 1: ARRIVAL
Arrival to Zvartnots International Airport in Yerevan. Transfer & check in into your hotel.
DAY 2: YEREVAN CITY TOUR – TSITSERNAKABERD – ARARAT BRANDY FACTORY
Starting a city tour with your guide. During the city tour, you will see the most beautiful sights in Yerevan.
Republic Square, where you may see the stone carpet right in the middle, hiding history of 3000 years underneath, & the Opera and Ballet Teatre, projected by the architect of Yerevan Aleksander Tamanyan. Also, you will visit the Cascade Monument, one of the most famous landmarks of Yerevan, the Cafesjian Museum of Modern Arts. Drive to Genocide memorial “Tsitsernakaberd” to get closer to one of the saddest pages of the Armenian history.
Lunch in Armenian local restaurant.
After lunch you will visit Ararat Brandy Factory and learn about brandy making, from harvest to the bottle. At the end of the excursion, you will take part in the brandy tasting
Free time on your own. Spend the evening exploring Yerevan.
DAY 3: YEREVAN – MATENADARAN - ECHMIADZIN – ZVARTNOTS – ALLURIA WINES FACTORY – VERNISSAGE - YEREVAN
In the morning visit Matenadaran, the world's largest repository of ancient manuscripts.
Drive to Echmiadzin Cathedral - the religious center for all the Armenian. Armenia was the first country in the world to adopt Christianity as a state religion in 301 (UNESCO).
The ruins of Zvartnots Cathedral one of the medieval Armenian cathedrals built in the 7th century (UNESCO).
Lunch in Armenian local restaurant.
After you will enjoy wine tasting and a tour around Alluria Wines Factory.
Return to Yerevan & visit Vernissage, a large open-air exhibition-market in Yerevan, where you will find anything and everything.
DAY 4: YEREVAN – SEVAN - GARNI – GEGHARD – YEREVAN NOY WINE BRANDY FACTORY - YEREVAN
Depart from Yerevan. Drive to Sevan Lake. Visiting Sevanavank. The monastery is made up of two churches dating back to the 9th century. The monastery is located on the peninsula of Lake Sevan which was an island. From the peninsula, there is a beautiful view of Lake Sevan, which is the jewel of Armenia and the second highest freshwater lake in the world. It is situated at 2000m above sea level and is surrounded by a mountain range. Sevan occupies 5% of the surface area of Armenia.
Drive to Kotayk region. Visit Geghard Monastery. According to tradition Geghard was founded by Saint Gregory in the 4th century on the site of a sacred spring. The current constructions of the monastery, which are partially excavated in the rock, date from the 13th century (UNESCO).
Next stop is Garni Temple. It’s the only preserved pagan temple in the entire territory of the Caucasus. The construction dates back to the second half of the 1st century and was dedicated to the Sun God.
Enjoy a delicious lunch at a local restaurant in the Garni village & participate in the procedure of baking Armenian national bread lavash (UNESCO).
Return to Yerevan and visit Yerevan Now Wine Brandy Factory where you will have an excursion and tasting. We will taste: brandy ranked 5* and 10*, wine made in 1944, chocolate, fruits.
DAY 5: YEREVAN - KHOR VIRAP – BIRDS CAVE – NORAVANK – TUSHPA WINERY – YEREVAN
Depart from Yerevan. Drive to the Khor Virap Monastery, located at the foot of the biblical Mount Ararat, the greatest symbol of Armenia.
Drive to Vayots Dzor Region & visit Noravank Monastery, considered one of the jewels of Armenian architecture, located in an impressive canyon.
Birds’ Cave which was inhabited in different epochs by ancient civilizations. One of the valuable findings was the oldest shoe in the world (5500 years).
Lunch in Armenian local restaurant.
Next visit is Tushpa Winery, one of Armenia’s main attractions for connoisseurs of vintage wines. Here you can enjoy tastes and aromas unique to this part of the world because Armenia is famous for its ancient traditions in wine production. The wine degustation will also be paired with a delicious Armenian lavash and cheese platter, to taste the true flavours of Armenia.
Return to Yerevan.
DAY 6: YEREVAN – SAGHMOSAVANK – ARMENIAN ALPHABET MONUMENT – KARMRAVOR – VAN ARDI WINERY – FRUIT MARKET - YEREVAN
Head to the Aragatsotn Province to visit Saghmosavank. It’s a 13th century monastery located on the right bank of the Kasakh River. Overall, its excellent location provides additional beauty and comeliness to the monastery.
Armenian Alphabet Monument complex which includes sculptures of 39 letters of Armenian alphabet, as well as monuments to the great Armenian thinkers.
Karmravor is 7th century church, which is the only one in Armenia preserved with its original roofing.
After you will have a wine tasting in Van Ardi wine factory, which is famous for its wines.
Lunch in Armenian local restaurant.
Drive back to Yerevan. Afterwards you will visit Yerevan fruit market which is a colorful, fragrant and busy huge indoor market with hundreds of stalls of farmers, bakers etc that actually grow and prepare their own food.
DAY 7: DEPARTURE
According to the flight time, transfer to the airport.
Have a nice flight!
Transfers: airport-hotel-airport
6 x overnights in 4* hotel (Double/Twin rooms) in Yerevan
Comfortable transportation according to the program
Professional Foreign language-speaking guide during the program
Entrance fees
All breakfasts and lunches
Wine and Brandy degustation
Lavash baking master class
One bottle of water per person per day
Our assistance 24/7
Flight tickets and visa fee
Dinners
Alcoholic beverages
Insurance
Services, not mentioned in the inclusions