Tour Duration	5 Days / 4 Nights
Tour type	May holidays

May holidays (1 – 5 May )

Luckily You! While enjoying May holidays in Armenia you have opportunity to participate in “YereWineDays”  and “Urvakan” festivals as well! Among the Armenian and international festivals dedicated to wine, “Yerevan Wine Days” has its special place. This year Yerevan Wine Days will be held on the 1st and 2nd of May. On Yerevan Wine Days, Wine-lovers, both locals and tourists, have a wide choice to try the best wines made of endemic sorts of grapes, to taste the full spectrum of white, red and rose wines, combining them with their favorite Armenian delicacies, a wide range of cheeses or with the tastiest dishes of world cuisine. Moreover, lively music, friendly atmosphere and cool spring evenings will make the visitors’ days cheerful, unforgettable and at the same time full of cultural entertainment. “Urvakan” Festival 2020 will take place on 5th – 9th May in Yerevan. The purpose of the “URVAKAN” project (“ghost” in Armenian) is to create new experiences in the ghost areas of Soviet and post-Soviet Armenia through contemporary music and art. Performers, musicians, and artists from all over the world will unite to bring hundreds of lost and forgotten places in Armenia, from old factories to abandoned culture houses, back to life. The festival will cover many significant locations of Yerevan. Ambient, industrial, noise, techno, house, bold, and free improvisation will hit the stages while art installations and street art will appear in various parts of the city.

itinerary for May holidays (1 – 5 May )

Meet at the airport. Check in at hotel. Introductory tour of the pink city – Yerevan. Continue visit Yerevan Brandy factory to have a degustation of the best cognacs. The legend says that humanity first get acquainted with the taste of wine and felt its effect when Noah tried this life-giving drink at the foot of Mount Ararat. It is here that the legendary Armenian cognacs ARARAT are produced today. Continue visit “Megerian Carpet”. This is not only a factory, but also a museum, which demonstrates both the process of carpet production and restoration, as well as the carpet weaving itself. The main part of the exposition, which tells about the history of Armenian carpet weaving, consists of carpets from the Megerians’ collection – these are ancient samples of the 16th-17th centuries, the 19th century, as well as modern works of Armenian authors.

Get acquainted with Armenian cuisine, colorful dinner with traditional cuisine, accompanied by Armenian folk instruments and dances.

Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.

Breakfast at the hotel. Trip to Etchmiadzin – the center of Armenian Gregorian Church, the “hear of Armenia” and the residence of the Catholicos of all Armenians, a treasure of Armenian religious architecture. On the territory of the Cathedral there is also a theological seminary, a library, a printing house, a repository of ancient spiritual values, among which a special place is occupied by the Armenian alphabet cast in gold, relics of Noah’s Ark, etc. Visit to the main Cathedral (4th century), museum and treasury. The church complex is summarized by three churches located near the cathedral: St. Hripsime, St. Gayane, St. Shoghakat in memory of the virgin martyrs who died from persecution.  

Traditional lunch at “Machanents House” art center with a master class of making national dishes, during which they tell not only about the process, but also about history of culinary, participants can taste the dish they like and then cook it themselves.

There are a school of national cuisine, the school of crafts, a theater studio and an innovation ethnic sport center, art galleries, a souvenir shop and a museum.

Continue tour to the ruins of Zvartnots (7^th century). Zvartnots is located near to Etchmiadzin and represents itself a big architectural value, being a church complex of the middle of the 7^th century. Being built in 641-661 as the main temple of Armenia, in its size and special architectural design it surpassed the Etchmiadzin Cathedral. This marvelous temple is the result of the big experience and creativity of 7th century Armenian architects.

 Both Echmiadzin and Zvartnots are included in the list of protected world cultural heritage by UNESCO.

Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.  

Breakfast at the hotel. Tour to Khor Virap Monastery. On the territory of the monastery there is a pit-dungeon, where, according to the legend, King Trdat II prisoned St. Gregory the Illuminator for long 13 years. After the release of St. Gregory the Illuminator from prison, King Trdat II confessed and declared Christianity as the state religion of Armenia, thereby making Armenia the first Christian country in the world. The monastery is located on the border with Turkey, and its territory offers a magnificent view of Mount Ararat, which is one of the symbols of Armenia. 

On the way to Garni, a photo stop at the famous and popular among tourists Arch of Charents, from where an incredible view of the biblical Ararat opens. It is here that invited opera singers will perform a cappella for you, because this place has a special magic and acoustics. Next, visit the temple of Garni, the only pagan temple that currently exists in Armenia. The temple, located on the hillside, was dedicated to the sun god Mithra. It was built in 77 AD. by the Armenian king Trdat I. The architectural complex of Garni was the main center of the Hellenistic culture of Armenia and the summer residence of the Armenian kings.

At the exit you will find a souvenir market.

Continue you will have a traditional lunch at one of the cozy restaurants near the temple. During a wonderful meal, you will have opportunity to take part in a master class of Lavash baking – traditional Armenian bread and, of course, you can taste this freshly baked masterpiece. 

Continue tour to Geghard Monastery, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Geghard is an incredible ancient Armenian monastery partly carved into the mountain. Although the monastery dates back to the 4th century, the main cathedral was built in 1215, where the sacred spear that pierced the body of Christ was kept.

Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.

Breakfast at the hotel. Excursion to one of the oldest resorts in Armenia – Tsaghkadzor (Gorge of Flowers), located 50 km from Yerevan in the beautiful Tsaghkunyats canyon at an altitude of 1845 m above sea level, among virgin forests and alpine meadows, which in ancient times were the hunting places of the Armenian kings Arshakids. The climate of Tsaghkadzor is exceptional. The air here is crystal clear. The resort opens both in winter and in summer. In Tsaghkadzor, there is a 4.5 km long ropeway, from where a beautiful view of the Hrazdan Gorge, unique in its beauty, opens. 

Kecharis Monastery is located in the northwestern part of Tsaghkadzor, on the terrace of the slope of the Pambak Range. The monastic complex was built in the 11th-13th centuries. It consists of four churches and two vestibules, in one of which lies a well-known medieval political figure, the founder of the monastery – Gregory Pakhlavuni (Grigor Magistros). In the XII-XIII centuries the monastery was a major spiritual center of Armenia with its own school. Free time for lunch. 

Next visit to Lake Sevan – the “Blue Pearl” of Armenia, which is the largest lake in the Caucasus and one of the largest mountainous freshwater lakes in the world. Beautiful nature and crystal clear water create excellent conditions for relaxation. 

Next stop Dilijan – a resort town surrounded by mountains and forests with many cultural, historical, natural and religious attractions. This town with an alpine climate is a popular destination in Armenia and offers a lot of entertainment. It is famous for its amazing surroundings, which the locals call “Armenian Switzerland”.

Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit Noravank monastery (13th century) – the pearl of Armenian architecture, which is located on the ledge of a deep gorge of the tributary of the Arpa River. The fancy masses of the red rocks surrounding the monastery captivate the eye with their colors.

Continue excursion to Areni – a village with a rich history, which was once the capital of Syunik. At present, the village and its surroundings are known for their wines. Visit to the winery, familiarization with the technology of winemaking. Visit wine cellars, have a degustation and purchase the best Armenian wines. Free time for lunch.

Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.

 

Breakfast at the hotel. Excursion to Tegher Monastery (13th century), which is located in the village of Tegher, on the slope of the highest mountain of Armenia – Aragats, in the Armenian region of Aragatsotn. The monastic complex includes the Church of Surb Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God, 1213) and a narthex attached to it later (1221).

 Also, on the slope of Mount Aragats above the deep gorge of the Arkashan and Amberd rivers, the fortress-castle of Amberd stands out as the former ancestral possession of the Pakhlavuni princes in the 10th-13th centuries. It consists of a castle of the 7th century and a church of the 11th century. The fortress was built on a cape, surrounded on three sides by deep gorges. Fragments of the castle’s water supply system, baths, as well as a secret entrance to the gorge have been preserved. Visit Vahramashen church, built in the 11th century near the fortress.

The next stop is the “Voskevaz” winery (translated from Armenian means “Golden Vine”) located in the village of the same name in the Aragatsotn region. The Voskevaz winery is quite old – it was founded back in 1932. Traditions are carefully treated here, combining innovation and tradition. Currently, construction is underprocess on the territory of the factory to build a unique tourist complex. Voskevaz winery produces wines according to modern technology, using at the same time pots created back in the 19th century. The wines of Rose, Areni, Nran, Katarine and others have been loved and recognized by consumers. The products of the factory have repeatedly won awards at local and international competitions: “Decanter World Wine Awards”, “Mundus Vini”, “Sommelier Wine Awards”, etc. 

Tour and degustation at the winery.

Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.

Breakfast at the hotel and check out. Visit to the open air market “Vernissage” – a small museum where the handicrafts of Armenian artists are presented. Shopping, buying souvenirs. Then visit the most popular central food market in Yerevan – “Gum”, which got its name from the nearest department store. Here you can buy dairy products, organic fruits and vegetables, spices, sweets, etc. GUM Market is one of the unique places in Yerevan where you can not only shop, but also get acquainted with the way of life of the Armenian people. Not a single tourist will be left without treats here.

Transfer airport for departure.

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit Noravank monastery (13th century) – the pearl of Armenian architecture, which is located on the ledge of a deep gorge of the tributary of the Arpa River. The fancy masses of the red rocks surrounding the monastery captivate the eye with their colors.

Continue excursion to Areni – a village with a rich history, which was once the capital of Syunik. At present, the village and its surroundings are known for their wines. Visit to the winery, familiarization with the technology of winemaking. Visit wine cellars, have a degustation and purchase the best Armenian wines. Free time for lunch.

Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.

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