Harvest Festival & Winemaking October 1-10, 2024

The event of wine harvest and the national food festival in Armenia!
During this tour, we suggest you be involved in one of the highlights of Armenia's culture, agriculture, and historic treasure.  To be in the center of reviving and celebrating Armenia’s rich harvest,
Customs and traditions.

 The interest to the Areni Wine Festival grows each year involving more and more people, including both winemakers and wine lovers. It is also a great way to discover Armenia, its culture, and traditions. During the festival, you can savor the best variety of Armenian wines that are highly valued by consumers worldwide. The opening starts with a bright and spectacular parade of the best winemakers, accompanied with singing and dancing. In the frame of this colorful festival, there are also games for all ages, traditional music, dance, and theatrical performances.

On arrival at Zvartnots International Airport, our representative will be waiting to welcome you at the meeting point. Transfer to your hotel, check-in, and relax in comfortable rooms with full facilities.
OVERNIGHT IN YEREVAN
 
 

 Our trip through Armenia begins today in Yerevan - the capital, one of the most ancient cities in the world - Erebouni Fortress which was founded in 782 BC. We will start from Erebouni museum located at the top of Arin-Berd hill. You will also have a chance to discover this ancient fortress.
Afterwards, we will stop by the eternal flame and memorial symbolizing the Armenian Genocide in 1915 – Tsitsernakaberd. It is dedicated to preserving the memory of the Armenian Genocide and to honoring 1.5 million innocent Armenian victims who went through the horrors in the beginning of the 20th century. 
While we are driving we see many of the other remarkable landmarks in Yerevan as: Sports and Concert Complex, Kievian Bridge, Bagramyan Avenue, President’s Palace, Academy of Sciences, National Parliament, Opera Theater. 

“MEGERIAN RUGS'' Factory & Showroom which brings together time-honored traditions and a range of exquisite aesthetics to create objects of art for modern living and you will become acquainted with the ancient technology of Armenian carpet making. Today the lunch will be provided in a special restaurant part of Megerian Carpet Factory which is one of the opportunities to taste the Armenian traditional meals with old recipes by "Araratyan Khohanots'', chief Artavazd Sarukhanyan.

Visit to “NOY” ARARAT Brandy, Wine Factory:“…one does not drink brandy, one derives pleasure from it.” We will have a sampling as we conclude our first day.

OVERNIGHT in YEREVAN
Meals: breakfast, lunch
 

Visit to Matenadaran - depository and museum of ancient manuscripts. The Matenadaran’s museum complex which we’ll visit today is located in the institute’s old, original building. What was formerly a single exhibition hall now consists of fifteen halls in which thousands of temporary, changeable and exclusive exhibits are on display. Manuscript, fragments of manuscript, documents, old printed books, precious bindings, individual miniatures, and more are shown from the Matenadaran’s database of roughly 23,000 manuscripts. 
After we will travel to Garni, the location of the rare pre-Christian pagan temple maintained in Armenia. We we’ll walk down to the Garni Canyon, it’s also very known as “Symphony of stones” – some of the most dramatic scenery in Armenia.  Later on, we will reach the Geghard cave monastery (UNESCO) an architectural complex (12-13th c.), carved out of one monolithic rock. A visit to Geghard is truly a spiritual experience.
Lunch and traditional table/lavash making in Geghard.  Lavash is loved and famous all over the country as a traditional Armenian bread. Armenian cuisine without lavash simply does not exist. Until today this thin bread is baked using the traditional Armenian way – in tonirs with dry grapevines - a traditional Armenian hearth. Now it's the time to feel the real taste of fresh lavash.  "Eat thy bread with joy".
Back to Yerevan 

OVERNIGHT IN YEREVAN
Meals: breakfast, lunch
 

Visit Aragatsotn Region - this part of Armenia, especially Mt. Aragats, has always attracted the attention of travelers, tourists and geologists due to a tremendous number of historical monuments and beautiful landscapes. Also in Armenia, Mount Aragats looms overhead as a permanent fixture in the sky, a four-peaked volcano massif that rises from rivers and plains around its base. 
Next stop is Saghmosavank Monastery (Monastery of the Psalms) – is 13th century Armenian monastic complex, situated atop the precipitous gorge carved by the Kasagh river. Their silhouettes dominate the adjacent villages and rise sharp against the background of the mountains crowned by Mount Aragats.
Armenian Alphabet Monument: in 2005, the Armenian alphabet celebrated its 160th birthday. In commemoration, it was given a gift of 39 giant, carved Armenian letters, strategically placed near the final resting place of the man who created the alphabet, Mesrop Mashtots. Visiting the village of Oshakan, you will see the church which is built over the grave of Mesrop Mashtots, who is the founder of the Armenian alphabet, and one of Armenia’s greatest benefactors. 
One of another interesting visits of the day is Golden Grape ArmAs. Here the owners continue to develop ArmAs Estate with a vision to partake in upholding and revitalizing Armenia’s winemaking legacy, in the oldest known area for viticulture and enology. 
Next is visit to Chir’s house which offers a masterclass on making Armenian dried fruits, which is a really interesting and unique process. 

OVERNIGHT IN YEREVAN
Meals: breakfast, lunch
 

Driving through the fertile plains of the Ararat valley, you will reach Khor Virap Monastery – the beginning of the History of the Christian nation in Armenia, magnificently set against the towering slopes 

of the Biblical Mountain of Ararat. You have some quite spectacular photo opportunities before a landscape of unparalleled beauty and majesty. The monastery is the site where St. Gregory the Illuminator was incarcerated and is a pilgrimage destination for all Christian believers, as well as having had a determinate impact on the Armenia people and their history. 
As we continue through ancient wine country we will have a stop in the Areni Village located at the base of a stunning cliff facing scenic, to join the festival. The festival includes a parade of winemakers, competitions, folk music and dances, local vendors selling crafts and foods, and - most importantly - a lot of wine tasting. 
Next, we will take the path through the narrow gorge, revealing Noravank Monastery, nestled inside the deep red landscape of the tuf stone mountains.  
Returning to the main highway we shall start driving South to Goris.

OVERNIGHT IN GORIS
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
 

After breakfast we depart for Tatev Monastery. 
Serpentine road brings us to explore Tatev Monastery (UNSECO), which provides a spectacular view of mountain ranges. 
The Aerial Tramway of Tatev - spanning 5.7 kilometers across the spectacular Vorotan River Gorge, offers a spectacular journey with breathtaking views of the river gorge below. Most importantly, it will link you to one of the jewels of Armenia's medieval legacy - Tatev Monastery as well the Tatev Aerial Tramway - the longest passenger aerial tramway in the world - is poised to be one of southern Armenia's most popular attractions. The picturesque monastery is nestled at the top of an impregnable plateau, crowned by the ramparts walls from the upper part of the territory. Afterwards, you will have time to discover the interior of the monastery which was founded in the 4th cent., becoming an important religious and educational center of medieval Armenia in 9-10th cc.  To close today’s tour, we visit the village of Khndzoresk– Prehistoric era, a cave village and exotic rock formations. This village looks like a vertical multi-storied rocky amphitheater.  

OVERNIGHT IN GORIS
 Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

We’ll depart this morning and travel north, which is passing via one of the principal routes of the “Great Silk Road” – Vardenisyan (Selim) Pass, linking the southern region of Vayots Dzor to the eastern region of Gegharkunik. 
After we have another stop in one of the ancient Orbelian's Caravanserai from 14th century. Continually on the way, you will admire a splendid view of the area. 

Not far from Airivank Monastery on the shore of Lake Sevan is the settlement of Noraduz famous for its big khachkars (crosses-stones) cemetery. There are about 900 khachkars of various styles and epochs there. Noraduz Cemetery became one of the most visited and popular sights of the Gegarkunik region because there is one of the largest collections of Armenian khachkars. The prominent feature of the majority of khachkars is the cross with a solar disk under it.
Our visit of the day is unique in its own right... the Mikayelyan Cheese Cellar, is where we will have a chance to oversee the production of Gourmet cheeses and taste a variety of wonderful flavors complimented by a glass of wine.

Our next stop is Dilijan: “A piece of Switzerland in Armenia” - Earth and sky, woods and fields, rivers, the mountains are excellent schoolmasters, and teach some of us more than we can ever learn otherwise…
The old approach in the new century ... “Old Town Dilijan” complete with craftsmen workshops, small shops with traditional Armenian products and crafts, museums, and ultimately showing typical 19th century living with all its local customs and handmade wood furnishings..... 
We will also visit the 10-13th centuries Haghartsin & Goshavank Monasteries, nestled in the forest and Cross Stones are remarkable due to their special type of handcraft work, called as "needle-made"- the pride of Armenian architecture. 

Our last visit of the day is Lake Sevan – the emerald of Armenia, a blue eyed beauty under the sky. Lake Sevan is one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world, situated at an altitude of 1,897 meters above sea level. The most picturesque view of Lake Sevan is seen from the peninsula atop which Sevan Monastery (9th c.) towers over the lake.  
Back to Yerevan.

OVERNIGHT IN YEREVAN
Meals: breakfast, lunch
 

We embark on our journey to the land of ancient treasures of Christian history (UNESCO). At the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the "religious capital" and the seat of the Supreme Patriarch-Catholics of all Armenians. Then, admire the Monasteries of Sts. Hripsime and Gayane Churches (7th c) dedicated to these faithful nuns, 3rd century followers of Christ who were martyred. 

Next is the ruins of the Zvartnots Cathedral… It's special for its rare construction technique that was not common during the 7th century and the methods used were considered extremely advanced.  

The final visit of the day is “Karas Wines'' Winery - seated in the shadows of sacred Mount Ararat. Today’s wine tour will include a drive through the vineyards, a stop at the panoramic viewpoint for breathtaking views of the Ararat Valley and a tour of the wine-making facilities. The highlight of the tour is of course the wine tasting of white and red wines.  

OVERNIGHT IN YEREVAN
 Meals: breakfast, lunch
 

FREE DAY in Yerevan

Use this time to explore the city on your own!
 EVENING:  Farewell Dinner Party with Armenian traditional cuisine, along with Armenian folklore live music.

OVERNIGHT IN YEREVAN
Meals: breakfast, Dinner
 

TRANSFER TO AIRPORT

HAVE A NICE FLIGHT!