Arrival in Land of NOAH. At Zvartnots International airport you will be welcomed and assisted through immigration and customs by Santa Maria Tours representative, then escorted to your hotel.
Overnight: Hotel in Yerevan.

After breakfast at the hotel, your guide meets you at the lobby to start off your trip with a city tour in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia and the largest city of the country. As one of the oldest capitals in the world, Yerevan was founded in the 8th century BC and was known as Erebuni. Visit some of the main streets of Yerevan such as Baghramyan and Mashtots Avenues, as well as Abovyan Street which still showcases century-old houses and historical buildings. Then, head to the Victory Park, from where a panoramic view of the city and the majestic Mt. Ararat opens. From the park, continue your walk through the Cascade, an architectural complex of massive staircase with fountain terraces to the Opera and Ballet Theater. The Cascade also houses Cafesjian Center for the Arts, which offers a rich collection of Armenian and international contemporary art, including a selection of artwork from the personal collection of its founder Gerard L. Cafesjian.

The program also includes a visit to Matenadaran, an outstanding repository of Armenian manuscripts. Located on the Mashtots Ave., the museum is named after Mesrop Mashtots, the creator of the Armenian Alphabet, and houses over 23000 treasured pieces of manuscripts and scrolls.

After lunch, visit the Museum of History of Armenia located on Republic Square. Founded in 1919 by National Assembly of Armenia, the museum has a national collection of 400000 rare objects and artifacts representing the culture and history of Armenia from prehistoric eras to modern times.

After the excursion to the historic museums of Yerevan, you’ll have a chance to visit the legendary Armenian Brandy Cognac Ararat, which was established in 1887 in Yerevan. For 25 years, the Armenian Brandy gained worldwide recognition and its production reached a grand scale.

Overnight: Hotel in Yerevan,
Meal: Breakfast/Lunch

The third excursion is toward of the most visiting sites of Armenia – Garni Pagan Temple. Built in the 1st century AD, the Temple of Garni managed to survive the destruction of all pagan temples following Armenia’s adoption of Christianity in 301. Following to sever damage by earthquakes, the temple was reconstructed. Situated on a cliff, the temple overlooks a spectacular view of the Geghama mountains and the gorge of Azat River. After lunch in Garni village and an opportunity to participate in the preparation of the traditional Armenian bread lavash, the trip continues to the medieval Geghard Monastery, located deep within Azat Valley and founded by Saint Gregory the Illuminator. It’s worth to mention that Geghard is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000. Return to Yerevan.

Overnight: Hotel in Yerevan
Meal: Breakfast/Lunch
Hiking trail: 1 hour 30 minutes (3.5 miles)

Start the day by visiting Lake Sevan, the Blue Pearl of Armenia. At an altitude of 1900 m above sea level, it is the largest sweet water lake in Armenia and the Caucasus region. Located up on the cliffs of a small peninsula is the Monastery of Sevanavank. Here in Sevan you will go paragliding for 20-25 minutes.

Continue the road to Apaga Resort, which is one of the beautiful areas of Ijevan. The cozy cottages of the resort combine the traditional style of Armenian houses with all modern amenities. The resort provides an opportunity for relaxation in the mountains, offers horseback riding, ziplining, paragliding and other activities. After your check-in at the hotel, start the Lastiver hiking trail. The biggest part of this region is covered with forests, caves, swift river, small waterfalls. Tourists and local people choose a tour to Lastiver, to see this amazing nature. The extreme lovers love this very attractive road. Here you can see a wonderful waterfall, noising in the bottom of the canyon. Have an overnight in Apaga Resort.

Overnight: Hotel in Ijevan
Meal: Breakfast/Lunch
Horse Riding: 1,5 hours (4.01 miles)
Paragliding: 20 min

After the breakfast in the beautiful nature of Ijevan, set off to the Armenian Switzerland, known as Dilijan. Dilijan is one of the most important resorts in Armenia. You’ll have a little city tour in old town of Dilijan This includes a city tour in the old town of Dilijan, complete with craftsmen’s workshops, galleries, and museums. Then, start hiking toward 12-13th century Monastery of Goshavank located in the village of Gosh. Have an overnight here, in Dilijan.

Overnight: Hotel in Dilijan
Meal: Breakfast/Lunch
Hiking trail: 2 hours 10 minutes (3.85 miles)

After having breakfast in the hotel in Dilijan, the guide and the driver will take you to Tumanyan village, from where you’ll go rafting for 2 hours to Sanahin Village. Next, go an excursion to the medieval monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin, listed as UNESCO Heritage Sites. Haghartsin monastery, recently restored by a Muslim Sheikh from the United Arab Emirates. The monastery is easily accessible through paved roads and has a large parking area, a gift shop, bakery, and other facilities. Monastery of Haghpat has a unique building depicting the high level of development of the medieval Armenian architecture. Have an overnight in Haghpat.

Overnight: Hotel in Haghpat
Meal: Breakfast/Lunch
Rafting trail: 1 hour 20 minutes (7.5 miles)

After the breakfast in Haghpat, you’ll be transferred to the Lake Kari in Aragats Mountain. On the slopes of Mount Aragats, visit the 7th century ancient fortress, Amberd. The name of the fortress means ‘fortress in the clouds’ and refers to its high location (2300 meters above sea level). Amberd was constructed to defend the country against Arab invasions during the 7th and 8th centuries. Return to Yerevan. Have a rest and an overnight in Yerevan.

Overnight: Hotel in Yerevan
Meal: Breakfast/Lunch

After Breakfast, time to bid farewell to your Tour director and new found friends as you transferred to Zvartnots International airport for your return flight.
Meals: Breakfast