Arrival – Yerevan walking City Tour

Arrival in the Land of NOAH. At Zvartnots International Airport, you will be welcomed by the representative of Santa Maria Tours, and then escorted to your hotel. Shortly after, your guide will meet you at the lobby to start the city tour in Yerevan.

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. Next, visit the History Museum of Armenia, where you will learn about the origins of Armenia. After that 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 the 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.

Overnight: Hotel in Yerevan
Meals: None
Duration: 3-4 hours
KM: 30 km

Echmiadzin – Zvartnots Cathedral

Today you’ll start the trip by visiting the 4th largest city in Armenia, Echmiadzin. Before 1945 officially it was admitted as Vagharshapat. Nowadays the city is best known as the center of the Armenian Apostolic Church “Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin” and as the location of its Cathedral. The Cathedral of Etchmiadzin was built in Ancient Armenia, in the early 4th century and was following the adoption of Christianity as a state religion by King Tiridates. On the way back to Yerevan you’ll stop at the Zvartnots Cathedral. The latter was built in the 7th century and this is the oldest and largest aisled tetraconch church in historical Armenia. The Cathedral was destroyed in an earthquake in the 10th century, but in spite of this it was reconstructed in the 1940s. Thanks to this restoration, Zvartnotss’ ruins are a touristic place to visit.

Overnight: Hotel in Yerevan
Meals: Breakfast
Duration: 4-5 hours
KM: 33 km

Sevanavank – Tsakhkadzor – Kecharis Monastery

After breakfast in the hotel, take the road to the Blue Pearl of Armenia – Sevan, is the largest lake of the Caucasus and Armenia at an altitude of 1900 m above sea level. At the shore of a small island is located the Monastery complex of Sevanavank. After admiring the looks of Sevan we keep our way to Tsakhkadzor – a cozy town in the mountains, which is the center of skiing sports in Armenia. There we have the Kecharis Monastery to visit. The monastery heavily suffered from the earthquake in 1927 and conserved during the USSR times in Armenia. Nowadays the monastery is rebuilt and stands still again

Overnight: Hotel in Yerevan
Meals: Breakfast
Duration: 7-8 hours
KM: 270 km

Matenadaran Museum – Departure

The 4rd and last day of our program includes a visit, Matenadaran, an outstanding repository of Armenian manuscripts. Located on 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. Besides, we will have a walking tour in Vernissage and in Victory Park, where the statue of Mother of Armenia stands. 

Transfer to the airport and departure (Hotel check-out at 12:00 PM).

Overnight: None
Meals: Breakfast
Duration: 3-4 hours
KM: 13 km