Path to Freedom

Included:

Transportation: comfortable bus with air conditioning from/to Zwartnotz airport

Accommodation: 9x hotel (all rooms with private shower/WC)

Meals: Half board (all days breakfast, 7x lunch, 5x dinner), two bottles (each 0,5 l) of water per day

Transfer: All transfers according to the program, ride on the ropeway

Tour guide: Qualified tour guide, 24 hours availability on site

Visit to a brandy – distillery and brandy – tasting.

Not included:

Flight, insurance, alcoholic beverages, tips.

Travel summary

Armenia is a country of oriental Christianity between Ararat and the Caucasus with mysterious legends and impressive monasteries. Armenia – a country on the
geographical, political and also cultural border between Europe and Asia. In its history, it has always been a crossing and transit area. Although surrounded by Islam, the oldest Christian country has developed at the foot of the biblical Ararat. Its tradition is deeply
Christian, yet it has retained an oriental flair. Impressive monastery castles towering over gorges, tiny stone churches or finely carved stone crosses are testimonies to history. Alpine meadows, mountain lakes, shepherds’ settlements, rock carvings, the ancient Silk Road, ancient monastery complexes (UNESCO World Heritage Site) line our path. A combination of lots of hiking, nature and the great cultural sites of Armenia.

Planned program

Meals: B = breakfast / L = lunch/lunch package / C= coffee break / D = dinner.

Day 1: Arrival

Arrival to Yerevan. Transfer to the hotel.

Day 2: City tour

National Museum, Cascade – a giant stairway made of limestone in Yerevan, cafés, visit to the Brandy distillery and brandy tasting, food market (bazar), dinner.

Overnight stay in a hotel in Yerevan (B/-/D)

Day 3: Rock Monastery Geghard and Temple of Garni

Paganism and Christianity: An exclusive acapella concert (optional) in the rock monastery of Geghard (4th century), hike from the village of Goght to the Sun Temple of Garni (1st century), sounds of the national instrument duduk, taste of the tender bread lavash baked on request.

Hike approx. 3 hours, overnight stay in Yerevan (B/L/D)

Day 4: Wine trails

The oldest Wine Cave (6 th century BC), Monastery Noravank, Khor Virap as a pilgrimage site with the best view of Mount Ararat, Zorats Karer/ Carahunge – prehistoric stone circle.

Overnight stay in Goris (B/L/-)

Day 5: Wings of Tatev

The ancient cave village of Khndzoresk, enchanting landscape of Vorotan Gorge, Wings of Tatev – flight with the world’s longest (5752 m) reversible ropeway to the village of Tatev with its famous monastery complex. Hike from the monastery Tatev via the hermitage to the evil’s Bridge.

Hike approx. 2.5 hours, overnight stay in Goris (B/L/D)

Day 6: Along the Silk Road

Selim (Orbelian’s) Caravanserai – height of 2410 meters above sea level.
Lake Sevan – one of the largest freshwater high-altitude (alpine) lakes in Eurasia.

Overnight stay in Dilijan (B/L/D).

Day 7: Thermal spa Dilijan (approx. 1500 m)
Hike from Parz Lich (lake) to Goshavank Monastery, which houses wonderful stone carvings and probably the most beautiful memorial stone with relief cross (Khachkar) in the country.

Hike approx. 2.5- 3 hours, overnight stay in Yerevan (B/L/-)

Day 8: Armenian Vatican – Echmiadzin
Echmiadzin (4th century) – the first Christian Church in the World (UNESCO World Heritage Site) and the Church of St. Hripsime (built in 618). Ruins of Zwartnotz Cathedral (7 th century) – UNESCO World Heritage Site with the magnificent view of the holy Mount Ararat.
Matenadaran Manuscripts Museum – Institute (UNESCO World Document Heritage) with more than 18,000 ancient manuscripts.

Overnight stay in Yerevan (B/L/-)

Day 9: Kari – Lake

Lake Kari (3,185 m above the sea level) – a glacial lake on the slopes of Mount Aragats, which is an isolated four-peaked volcano massif and its northern summit, at 4,090 m (13,420 ft) above sea level, is the highest point of the Lesser Caucasus. Amberd Fortress (10th century). Return to Yerevan, Farewell Evening.

Overnight stay in Yerevan (B/L/D)

Day 10: Journey home
Early morning flight back from Yerevan.

Program is subject to change!
Year of travel: 2021