Exploring Winter Armenia
10 days/ 9 nights
Day 1: Arrival
Day 2: Yerevan city tour/History museum/ Tsitsernakaberd Memorial and Genocide musuem
Day 3: Yerevan/ Echmiadzin/ Zvartnots/ Fruit market
Day 4: Yerevan/Khor Virap/ Ararat Barndy Factory/ Parajanov Museum
Day 5: Yerevan/ Ashtarak / Saghmosavank/ Oshakan/ Yerevan
Day 6: Yerevan/ Sevan/ Kecharis/ Tsakhkadzor
Day 7: Tsakhkadzor (winter activities)
Day 8: Tsakhkadzor/ Haghpat/ Sanahin/ Yerevan
Day 9: Yerevan/ Matenadaran/ Garni/ Geghard/ Yerevan
Day 10: Departure
Day ½: Arrival/ Yerevan City Tour
Arrival in Zvartnots airport. Meet and greet transfer to the hotel, early check in, rest. Breakfast at the hotel. City tour around Yerevan. The history of Yerevan dates back to the 8th century BC. A little part of the capital city's 3,000-year history has survived. Among the old buildings of the capital you can see many modern-style buildings. While your tour you will see the most important and interesting sights of the city: Republic Square with its buildings which is designed in the traditional Armenian architectural style and includes the Government House Republic square, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Central Post Office, the National Art Gallery. You will also see Opera house, Victory Park with the statue Mother Armenia, the Sports and Concert complex, Kievyan Bridge, Baghramyan Avenue, the Presidential Palace, Academy of Science, etc. Lunch in a local restaurant. Then visit Armenian History Museum, here are the most important archaeological collections from Stone Age through Medieval periods are dark and almost unlabeled, but should not be missed. Visit to the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial park and museum of the victims of Genocide. Welcome dinner in a national restaurant and overnight at Yerevan.
Day 3: Yerevan/ Echmiadzin/ Zvartnots/ Fruit market
After breakfast at the hotel departure to Echmiadzin which is mere 20 km from Yerevan. On the way visit to St Hripsime church which is considered to be one of the 7 wonders of Armenia. Etchmiadzin Cathedral is known as the center of the Armenian - Gregorian Church and appears to be one of the world's first Christian churches. Legend has it that it was here that Jesus Christ descended from heaven to show were he wanted a church built. So Echmiadzin means “The only-begotten descended”. The Church was built between the years 301 - 303 AD under the Armenian king Tiridates III and the first Armenian Catholicos, St. Gregory the Illuminator. Return to Yerevan with stop at the ruins of Zvartnots temple - the pearl of the 7th c. architecture which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage. Lunch in a national restaurant in Yerevan city. Visit to the famous fruit market for shopping of dry fruits including Armenian apricot. Dinner in a national restaurant. Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.
Day 4: Yerevan/Khor Virap/ Ararat Barndy Factory/ Parajanov Museum
Sightseeing tour to Khor-Virap monastery 4- 17th cc. 45 km. from Yerevan the monastery of Khor-Virap has a very rich history, both religious and secular. Khor Virap was built in Artashat during the reign of the Arshakids dynasty. It is situated in the Ararat valley against the biblical Ararat Mountain, were Noah's arch cast anchor. The importance of it is connected with Gregory the Illuminator, who introduced Christianity to Armenia and is considered to be the first Armenian catholicos. Today you'll visit Sergey Prajanov's house-museum. Parajanov was a Soviet Armenian film director and artist, widely regarded as one of the 20th century's greatest masters of cinema. He invented his own unparalleled cinematic style. In this museum you can see his best works and collages as well. Lunch in Armenian national restaurant. Continue to the famous Yerevan Brandy Factory founded in 1887. During the 
International Exhibition in Paris in 1900, the brandy received the Grand-Prix and the legal right to be called ‘cognac’, not ‘brandy’. While the tours the visitors are offered to visit the museum of the factory. The bar offers tasting of various old and chateau sort of cognacs, which have mellow-velvety flavor endowed with a rich bouquet of chocolaty-vanilla accents. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 5: Yerevan/ Ashtarak / Karmravor church/ Saghmosavank/ Oshakan/ Yerevan
Start tour by Ashtarak town – one of the most ancient Armenian cities, to visit the church of Karmravour. It’s one of the smallest pan-Armenian churches but in spite of its size you can still feel authentic Christianity. It’s also one of those rare churches where some traces of frescos are still seen. Continue to Saghmossavank medieval monastery, situated in the breathtaking site, at the deep canyon of Ashtarak. Sgmossamvank is translated as “monastery of psalms”. According to the tradition when the first church of the monastery was built the priests kept reading psalms 40 days long so the monastery was called monastery of psalms. . Lunch in a local house tasting homemade dishes. Oshakan village you’ll have an opportunity to participate in Armenian traditional feast. Drive to Yerevan. Dinner and overnight in Yerevan.
Day 6: Yerevan/ Sevan/ Kecharis/ Tsaghkadzor
Early departure from Yerevan to Lake Sevan. About 70 miles north of Yerevan sits Lake Sevan the largest alpine in the world. This huge mountain lake which takes up to 5% of Armenia's surface area is about 2,000 meters above sea level and is the second highest freshwater lake in the world. The monastery peninsula is the most popular spot, and is the closest place to visit as well. The monasteries Soon you'll reach Tsaghkadzor, that means valley of flowers. Visit Kecharis architectural and artistic complex that is situated next to Tsaghkadzor Kecharis was a major religious center of Armenia which had a higher school. There is an opportunity to have lunch in a restaurant situated on the mount Teghenis. One can reach there taking rope-way. Overnight in Tsaghkadzor.
Day 7: Tsakhkadzor (winter activities)
The city is located 50 kilometers North from Yerevan, on the southeastern slope of Teghenis Mountains, 1750 meters above sea level, surrounded with alpine meadows. Tsaghkadzor is a city and a popular health and sport resort in Armenia. Your whole day will pass in Tsaghkadzor ski resort. It is fully equipped with snow blowing and snow-compacting machines, ensuring skiing of skiers and snowboarders in any weather conditions. Well equipped 
and attended snow tracks are crucial for safe skiing. Cafés and bars are available between the rope-way stations 1/2 and 2/3, where one can relax during having an active sport day. There is also operating rescue team, paramedical and medical services. There are also rent services available for renting skies and snowboards.Overnight in Tsaghkadzor.
Day 8: Tsakhkadzor/ Haghpat/ Sanahin/ Yerevan
Early drive to monasteries Sanahin and Haghpat, which are listed as a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO. En route lunch. The architectural complexes of Sanahin and Haghpat are among the outstanding works of medieval Armenian architecture. The monasteries are situated in the north of Armenia. Sanahin was an important literary and educational centre in medieval times. It was founded in 966. One of the most beautiful monasteries Haghpat was founded later in around 976. Haghpat was also a major literary center in the middle ages. One can never describe these monasteries by words, one should see them. Return to Yerevan. Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.
Day 9: Yerevan/ Matenadaran/ Garni/ Geghard/ Yerevan
Start tour to the Matenadaran which contains historical documents from all over Europe and Asia throughout many 
centuries. There is also the first copy of the Bible in Armenian and the Gospels that fascinate with their beautiful miniatures. Continue to Garni Temple. The citadel and pagan temple of Garni is a picturesque monument of the Hellenistic period and an impressive piece of ancient Armenian architecture. It was built in the first century A.D. by the Armenian King Tiridates and it is dedicated to a heathen god, probably to Mithra, the god of the sun. Lunch at a local house in Garni where you will have opportunity to watch Armenian national bread “lavash” baking and barbeque making process in the underground stove called “tonir”. Northeast of Garni, higher up the gorge of the Azat river, there is a magnificent monument of medieval Armenian architecture - Geghard monastery inscribed in UNESCO World Heritage list (inscribed in UNESCO World Heritage list). The meaning "the Monastery of the Spear", originates from the spear which had wounded Jesus during his crucifixion, allegedly brought to Armenia by Apostle Thaddeus, and stored amongst many other relics. Now the historical spear is displayed in the Etchmiadzin treasury. Return back to Yerevan. Farewell dinner in national restaurant. Overnight in Yerevan.
Day 10: Departure home!
Transfer to the airport and departure.
