Yerevan, the capital of the Armenian Republic is a contemporary metropolis with an ancient history. At the foot of Ararat a large Urartian cuneiform inscription unequivocally attests that a few decades before the foundation of Rome, on the Arin-Berd hill in 782 B.C. the city of Erebuni, today's Yerevan, was founded. Yerevan is currently 2803 years old.
Yerevan looks like a bunch of pink stone flowers. The most beautiful "flower" of this bouquet is the center of Yerevan with numerous splendid buildings and constructions. Yerevan is a truly fascinating place, which has a harmonious balance between the frenetic urban lifestyle and a deep sense of its history and ancient roots.
Yerevan is the city of festivals, with a wide range of theatrical performances, operas, concerts and cultural events that take place throughout the year.
The streets of the city are full of small shops selling trendy items, colorful street markets and elegant restaurants offering an assortment of traditional and international cuisine. Normally the city is busy, but one of the pleasures of Yerevan is to be able to sit for hours at a bar to enjoy a cup of coffee and watch the world go by...
INCLUSION
• 6 nights in a hotel in Yerevan• Transfer to and from the airport• Transportation for the whole trip depends on the program• English speaking Driver’s services (2-6 pax), English Speaking Guide’s Services (7-12 pax)• HB (6 breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 2 dinners)• Water in a minibus (1 bottle (½ liter) per person a day)• Drinks (carbonated and still water, tea, coffee) during meals• Wine on the last day at dinner• Entrance fees to museums and sites• Meeting with the master of khatchkar• Participation in the preparation of lavash• Participation in the master-class• Tipping to restaurant waiters and hotel concierges
EXCLUSION
• Extra charges• FB (Full board)• Tips for the guide and for the driver• What is not mentioned in the "The price list includes".
DAY 1:
• Arrival and transfer to the hotel. Relax.
DAY 2:
• Yerevan, the capital of the Republic of Armenia is a lively metropolis with an ancient history dating back to 782 BC.• Yerevan is located in a valley surrounded by hills. In the southwest part, it overlooks the Ararat plain dominated by Mount Ararat covered with perennial snow.• Visit the main monuments of Yerevan, half on foot, the other half by bus: Republic Square, Opera Square, the Northern Avenue, Abovyan street with the “Armenian Belle Epoque” buildings, Cascade square with its Contemporary Art Centre.• Visit the small 13th-century church called Katoghike, in the Soviet period it was saved from destruction due to a miracle.• In the late afternoon, the discovery of the city will continue by subway.• We will take the subway and go to visit the station Davit from Sassun: the main protagonist of the Armenian national epos that tells the story of the heroes who guide the Armenian resistance against the Arab invaders.• In front of the station is the equestrian statue of Davit from Sassun the work of the sculptor Yervand Kochar.• Then we will take the subway again to visit the dried fruit and spices market, a world where you can get intoxicated with the magic of colors and perfumes.• After the market, we will meet the sculptors of khachkar (cross-stone: cross carved into the stone as the main element of this work of art typical only and exclusively to the Armenian culture, the symbol of salvation and eternal life).• In the workshop of khachkar masters, you will live a unique experience, challenging the stone and yourself, sculpting a particular khachkar: the rosette.• In the end, you can take with you the created work.• Before or after the dinner night walk of the city stopping and admiring the musical Fountains, destination of walks, and place of evening shows. The fountain forms water choreography synchronized with the music.• Dinner in an artistic place where you can taste the typical dishes of Yerevan.• Overnight in Yerevan.
DAY 3:
• Matenadaran- Armenian History Museum or the National Gallery of Armenia - Aram Khachaturyan Museum• After breakfast, we will start discovering the museums of Yerevan.• Visit Matenadaran: a museum and research center where about 18,000 ancient manuscripts are kept.• After Matenadaran we will continue our journey towards the Republic Square where are located the History Museum of Armenia with its collection of 400 000 exponents from antiquity to the present and the National Gallery of Armenia which houses important collections of Russian and Western European art, as well as the largest collection of the Armenian art in the world.• Depending on the choice you will visit one of these.• Lunch in a typical Yerevan tavern and• After lunch, we will visit the Aram Khachaturyan House-Museum, the Armenian composer, conductor, founder of Armenian symphonic music, and one of the patriarchs of Armenian classical music. Surely the most famous piece of Khachaturyan is the Saber Dance (or Dance of the swords) taken from the ballet "Gayane".• Overnight in a hotel in Yerevan.
DAY 4:
• After breakfast, we will depart for the Kotayk region where we will visit the pagan temple of Garni, an ionic temple built in the Hellenistic period (77 AD) on a triangular promontory surrounded by deep gorges.• After the visit to Garni, we will visit Geghard, a 13th-century rock-carved monastery. The name indicates the spear that pierced the side of Christ, a relic that was kept for a long time in this monastery, now it is exhibited in the museum of Etchmiatsin.• After the visit to the monastery of Geghard, we will have lunch with the participation in the preparation of the traditional Armenian bread "Lavash".• After lunch, we will continue towards Lake Sevan, the Pearl of Armenia, and also one of the largest high-altitude lakes in the world.• We will visit the 9th-century Sevan monastery from where there is also a beautiful panorama of the lake.• Return to Yerevan.• Overnight in a hotel in Yerevan.
DAY 5:
• After breakfast, depending on your choice we will visit the Parajanov Museum, a surrealist film director censored and persecuted by the Soviet authorities.• In his eccentric and amusing house museum his collages, installations, and sketches from his films are exhibited, or Martiros Saryan Museum, a great Armenian painter, master of landscapes, characteristic portraits, still lifes, decorative paintings, book illustrations, decorative-theatrical painting.• After the artistic part, we will start to discover the technological sciences at the TUMO Center which is a new type of educational experience at the intersection of technology and design.• At the TUMO center, the children learn because they want to learn and are provided with the tools and know-how necessary to reach their maximum potential and they themselves trace their learning path through practical activities, seminars, and projects.• Lunch at a family with the participation in the preparation of the traditional Armenian dessert "Gata" and the traditional Armenian pasta "arishta".• After lunch, the journey will continue with a visit to Etchmiadzin: the Armenian Vatican where the first Armenian Christian church was built in 303. Etchmiadzin: the spiritual center of the Armenian Apostolic Church is located on the Ararat plain. When in 301 Christianity became the state religion in Armenia, the place was called Etchmiadzin: the descent of the Only Begotten. Tradition has it that St. Gregory the Illuminator saw Christ descend to the site of the construction of the Cathedral and with a golden hammer beat on a stone in the place where the mother church of Etchmiatsin was built, hence the name.• In Echmiatsin we will visit the 4th-century Etchmiadzin Cathedral (UNESCO) where there is also the residence of the catholicos of all Armenians.• After Etchmiatsin we will visit the ruins of the 7th-century church of Zvartnots.• Overnight in a hotel in Yerevan.
Option: In the evening there is the possibility to attend a concert in one of the Yerevan concert halls.
DAY 6:
• After breakfast, we will depart towards the Ararat region to visit the monastery of KhorVirap, a place particularly dear to Armenians.• Its name, which means "deep pit", indicates the place where Saint Gregory the Illuminator was held prisoner for many years, hence not only the liberation of the saint but also the Armenian king’s conversion to Christianity and the consequent Christianization of Armenia. Beyond its historical importance, this place is an indispensable destination because from the top of its walls you can enjoy one of the most beautiful views of Ararat, the mountain where biblical tradition tells Noah's Ark stopped after the Great Flood.• After Khor Virap, we will return to Yerevan and visit the Museum and Memorial of the victims of the Armenian genocide.• Afterward, we will continue the discovery of Armenian traditional music with a visit to the Komitas museum dedicated to the famous Armenian musicologist and composer Komitas. It is located adjacent to the pantheon in Komitaspark.• After visiting the exhibitions, a nice surprise awaits you. You will have the opportunity to learn traditional Armenian dance taught by professional choreographers: an unforgettable experience.• Free afternoon with a visit to the Vernissage, a colorful and lively local craft market.• Dinner in a traditional Armenian restaurant with an evening accompanied by songs and dances.• Overnight in a hotel in Yerevan.
DAY 7:
• After breakfast transfer to the airport accompanied by the guide or his/her assistant.• Check-in and departure• End of our services.
If you are traveling to Armenia, you might need a visa for your trip.
Some of the Countries Eligible for E-Visa:
Bahrain, Mexico, China, Kuwait, Colombia, Myanmar, Indonesia, Lebanon
China, Oman, India, South Africa, Maldives, Philippines, Jordan, Thailand
Please contact us at 04 447 3839 / +971 50 247 7593 or email info@southtravels.com if your nationality is not listed above so that our Visa Consultants can advise you accordingly on how to apply your visa to Armenia.
Service Fee: AED 250.00 per person (Including the visa fee processing)
• Processing of the visa will take 3-4 working days.• Approval of the visa is the sole discretion of the Armenia Embassy.• Visa fee is non-refundable, either visa got approved but not used or in case of visa refusal.
Note
• All procedures including requirements and processing may change without prior notice and are always subject to Embassy’s discretion.• Georgia Embassy/Ministry of Foreign Affairs has all the right to get further supporting documents in regards to your travel to the country.• The conditions regarding the issuance of electronic visas can be altered at any time without prior notice.
01 APRIL 2022 - 31 OCTOBER 2022
3 STAR HOTEL
1 person in 1 room, price starts at AED 5, 105.00 per person
2 persons in 1 room, price starts at AED 4, 180.00 per person
4 STAR HOTEL
1 person in 1 room, price starts at AED 5, 450.00 per person
2 persons in 1 room, price starts at AED 4, 410.00 per person
01 NOVEMBER 2022 - 31 MARCH 2023
3 STAR HOTEL
1 person in 1 room, price starts at AED 4, 565.00 per person
2 persons in 1 room, price starts at AED 3, 975.00 per person
4 STAR HOTEL
1 person in 1 room, price starts at AED 4, 685.00 per person
2 persons in 1 room, price starts at AED 4, 100.00 per person