Winter Holidays
11 DAY EXCURSION PROGRAM in ARMENIA
(December 26 - 2009 – January 7 - 2010)

ARE YOU IN THE MOOD FOR ANOTHER KIND EXPERIENCE
TO BRING IN THE NEW YEAR? OR ARE YOU READY FOR A LITTLE BIT
OF A CHANGE THIS NEW YEAR?
IF SO... JUST JOIN US OUR ARMENIA NEW YEAR SPECIAL TOUR.
ON THIS TOUR YOU WILL MARVEL AT THIS EXTRAORDINARY TYPE OF  CELEBRATIONS FOR THE NEW YEAR as well as CHRISTMAS!!!

DAY 1 – DECEMBER 26 - SATURDAY - On arrival at Zvartnots International Airport in the evening, you are met by your Tour Guide and immediately begin your unique journey
Transfer to the hotel; Welcome Wine at the Hotel; Check-in; Rest Time

DAY 2 – DECEMBER 27 -SUNDAY - Breakfast served
Yerevan.... rose-colored capital even during winter time.... most of its buildings use a pink shade of "tuf" stone which is quarried in Armenia. This is one very prominent feature of Yerevan being referred to as "Pink Yerevan..."
Let’s start by getting acquainted with the city of Yerevan by walking through the history of Armenia in the History Museum of Armenia; we continue our day with a visit to everybody's favorite museum in Yerevan - Sergei Parajanov Museum, which has surprisingly little related to his great films, but rather is filled with his hand crafted arts. He had a talent for turning a few usual things into fascinating works. Lunch in Yerevan
Let's just walk around and be involved with the preparation of New Year and Christmas!!! We will have an opportunity to see how Armenians decorate the Christmas Trees in the town with a combination of tradition and creativity.

DAY 3 – DECEMBER 28 - MONDAY - Breakfast served
Ashtarak – where you can find numerous churches and various ancient buildings at ever step; Artashavan – New Complex of Armenian Letters: “It is difficult to express the deep feeling Armenians have for their language, which many regard as the lifeblood of their culture”;  Saghmosavank Monastery perched on the edge of the precipitous gorge of the Kasakh river; Oshakan –most famous as the last resting place of  Mesrop Mashtots; Lunch and hospitality  in the Armenian Traditional Family: “Eat thy bread with joy”.

DAY 4 - DECEMBER 29 - TUESDAY - Breakfast served
THE DAY IN YEREVAN
OPTIONAL:
Aquatek sporting-health and entertainment center with WATER WORLD - as they refer to it as the gem of the water pleasure of the center;  FITNESS CLUB - if sport is an inseparable part of your life, if you want to be healthy, it's just for you; SPA CENTER "APHRODITE" - which offers you a whole set of services; HAMMAM (EASTERN BATH) - they say that in famous Hammam you can not only bathe but also you can become a part of spiritual and transformation ritual held within its wet steam and also in the center you can make use of not only highly professional services but also spend your time, have a rest in a bar where you will be surrounded with caring attention. You will be offered various fito-coctails, a cup of good coffee or aromatic tea.
Enjoy your free time in this center

DAY 5 – DECEMBER 30 - WEDNESDAY - Breakfast Served
The day will be unforgettable... so we depart from Yerevan to the Ararat Region where the Holy Biblical Mount Ararat rises from a flat plain and dominates the skyline of Armenia's capital, Yerevan. Our journey is spiced with the amazing view of snow-capped Mt. Ararat: “The blessed Mountain for Armenians”; Khor Virap - the monastery is the site where St. Gregory the Illuminator was incarcerated and is a place of pilgrimage. Lunch

DAY 6 – DECEMBER 31 - THURSDAY Breakfast Served
New Year's Eve - the day is a preparation day to welcome the NEW YEAR!!!
We invite you to a day of shopping in Yerevan, in preparation for the
NEW YEAR, as well as, an opportunity for the ladies to beautify themselves at one of the many beauty salons. Lunch
Are you ready to celebrate the Armenian New Year?
The color and spell of the ARMENIAN NEW YEAR quite ideally emotes the verve of the country. Armenians celebrate the onset of a year to complement with the midnight of last day of December and very beginning of the first day of January; which ideally signified new life with new hopes. Joy and ecstasy laced with food, drink, flush and colors epitomized for this day... And New Year’s celebrations offer a popular spectacle for the eyes in the form of fireworks; it has recently become a tradition in Yerevan... Let’s feel this grand celebration in the NEW YEAR PARTY!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

DAY 7– JANUARY 1 - FRIDAY - – Breakfast Served
FREE and REST TIME
Evening Cultural Event (If you have come with the children we have a special surprise for them!)

           
DAY 8– JANUARY 2 - SATURDAY – Breakfast Served - CHECK OUT
TRIP TO TZAKHATZOR - “Valley of Flowers”
You will spend three unforgettable days in the relaxing Wintery Wonderland in the town of Tsaghkadzor.
Tsaghkadzor is surrounded by forests on the eastern slope of Mt. Tsaghkuniats. Located in one of the most beautiful areas of the country, the town exists as a resort, its once pristine hunting grounds for the rulers of Armenia now important with modern tourists' areas, its ski runs and lounging for winter rest within a number of resthouses, hotels, motels and camps. Lunch
CHECK IN; Dinner; Overnight in one of the rest houses in Tsaghkadzor

DAY 9–  JANUARY 3 - SUNDAY – Breakfast Served -
TZAKHATZOR - In the winter, all eyes are on Tsaghkadzor, which is still today Armenia’s largest ski resort. There are excellent conditions for cross country skiing and snowboarding especially on the Teghenis mountain for which you can use Chair Lift. So just prepare your skis, skate and snowboard clothing: goggles, gloves, warm hats and etc. to enjoy your winter holiday here. By the way you can find all ski, skate and snowboard equipments in the town for rent. Lunch; In the evening you can visit a host of entrapment places, such as discos; pools & saunas; billiard & table tennis; bowling, etc.
Dinner; Overnight in one of the rest houses in Tsaghkadzor

DAY 10–JANUARY 4 - MONDAY – Breakfast Served  - CHECK OUT
TZAKHATZOR - This day you can stroll in town and visit Orbelian Brothers House-Museum and Kecharis Monastery - the 11th-13th cc monastery which was a major learning center in medieval Armenia. Lunch;
In the evening, we will be ready to depart for Yerevan. Don't forget to take one last glance at this snow covered forest paridise, which surround the town.  
RETURN TO YEREVAN; CHECK IN

DAY 11 – JANUARY 5 - TUESDAY– Breakfast Served
A Unique experience: Master Levon, through a Godly vision, transformed rock into an underground sanctuary that will undoubtedly impact both the eyes and the spirit of all who walk through.
Lunch
EVE OF the FEAST OF THE HOLY EPIPHANY AND THEOPHANY OF
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
Candlelight (Lucernarium) Divine Liturgy in the Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral - devoted to 1700th anniversary of the proclamation of Christianity as a state religion in Armenia.
In the conclusion of the Liturgy, the assembled faithful take lit candles and lamps home symbolizing the divine light and the blessing of the Church.

DAY 12 – JANUARY 6 - WEDNESDAY - Breakfast Served
FEAST OF THE HOLY EPIPHANY AND THEOPHANY OF OUR
LORD JESUS CHRIST
Today we embark on our journey to the land of ancient treasures of Christian history. Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, you will also participate in the DIVINE LITURGY of the Feast of the Holy Epiphany and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ, which is the commemoration of the Birth and Baptism of Jesus Christ.  It's the "religious capital" of the country and the seat of the Supreme Patriarch-Catholics of all Armenians. It has 4 main churches, including the Cathedral. Built in 303AD, the cathedral is a masterpiece of Armenian classical architecture and considered to be one of the world’s earliest Christian churches. Admire Hripsime and Gayane Churches (7th c) named after faithful virgins of the 3rd c. Lunch

DAY 13 – JANUARY 7 - THURSDAY
TRANSFER TO AIRPORT

 **Itinerary is subject to change according to your wishes

Price includes per person:
Full transportation and transfers in Armenia as specified in itinerary
Hotel accommodation in Tsakhadzor
Meals as indicated - Breakfast, Lunch
Entrance fee to all sightseeing destinations
Bi-lingual tour guide

Price does NOT include:
New Year Gala Dinner with Surprise Shows
Airplane Ticket
Visa for Armenia
Travel Insurance

Alcoholic drinks
Additional tours and transfers not included in itinerary.

NOTES:
Other hotels are available upon request.
Discounted Tour Packages for groups of 20 or more people.
Discounts for children under 11 years old.  

For individual and family arrangements or details,
please refer your enquiry to: info@simatours.com

BOOKING FORM

^ UP ^