Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God - August 14-23, 2025

Mid-August is the beginning of the harvest time, a time of rebirth and regeneration. This is also the best time to taste grapes, Blessed Grape in the Holy Land - Armenia...

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

OVERNIGHT IN YEREVAN
 

Yerevan – City Tour!
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. 
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
 

Today we will enjoy a tour of the most enigmatic of cities, visiting the remarkable Matenadaran Library and Research Institute of Armenia with close to 22000 rare manuscripts, one of the richest depositories of manuscripts and books in the world.
Next we are off to the “MEGERIAN RUGS'' Factory & Showroom: which brings together time-honored traditions and a range of exquisite aesthetics, from organic materials, to create objects of art for modern living and you will become acquainted with the ancient craft of Armenian carpet making.

Today’s next visit is to the Cascade - Gerard Cafesjian Sculpture Garden. The Cafesjian Center for the Arts is dedicated to bringing the best of contemporary art to Armenia and presenting some of the best of Armenian culture to the world. 

Later in the day we’ll visit Vernissage - Yerevan’s Flea Market is probably one of the interesting open air cultural markets in the world. It is the best place to get a little taste of Armenia and a unique spot to witness the fusion between national traditions and modern art.

OVERNIGHT IN YEREVAN
Meals: breakfast, lunch
 

On the day of the Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God,
 honoring Mary's journey into heaven, the blessing of the grapes 
takes place immediately after the celebration of the Divine Liturgy. 
Led by the presiding clergymen the procession ascends into the open air Holy Altar of St. Mary’s Cathedral in Echmiadzin.
As thanksgiving for the fruitfulness of the year, the church blesses the grapes, 
the queen of fruits and distributes to all people.
The Holy Virgin Mary is considered the "Tree of Life" who bears the "Good Fruit" - Christ, for our salvation. Christ resembled Himself to the Vine (John 15:1) and blessed the cup of wine to be His Blood.

On this glorious day we will visit one of the ancient treasures of Christian history - the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. It is the Vatican of the Armenian Apostolic Church, the place where Surb Grigor Lusavorich (St. Gregory the Illuminator) saw a beam of light in a divine vision, and where he built the first Mother Church of Armenia (303AD).
We will also participate in DIVINE LITURGY.
Continuing our day, we’ll make a short stop at the Churches of St. Hripsime (UNESCO). Both of them are unique for their different types of central-domed churches developed in the Early Middle Ages and became widespread in Armenia during the 7th century. 
 Let’s take a branch of grapes with us, put it on the altar for blessing and
 eat blessed grapes… 
This truly is a different kind of experience…

Today is also a special day in the Armenian winemaking, this is why we will also visit Karas - one of the best wineries in this region. The name means ‘amphora’ in Armenian, it is seated under the eternal gaze of Mount Ararat where tradition and expertise come together. 
OVERNIGHT IN YEREVAN
Meals: breakfast, lunch
 

Today we will visit Garni, which is a rare pre-Christian pagan temple maintained in Armenia, dating back to the 1st century AD. 
It is said that music has a way of speaking without lyrics and can somehow speak directly to a person’s soul. Today’s visit will give us a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to share and feel this language of music expressed through the DUDUK, an Armenian musical instrument which is arguably one of the most powerful instruments in its ability to move someone to their very core.
Next is an enjoyable walk down to the Garni Canyon where one cannot help admiring the volcanic basalt formations and natural beauty. It’s like a “Symphony of stones'' – one of the most dramatic scenes in Armenia. 
Today we’ll have an opportunity to follow the entire process of Lavash ((flat bread) making, one of the finest jewels of Armenian cuisine. It is made in a “tonir” (ground oven).  The preparation, meaning and appearance of traditional flat bread as an expression of culture in Armenia has been inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Then we will reach Geghard (Cave monastery) (UNESCO) architectural complex (12-13th centuries), carved out of one monolithic rock. Due to the extraordinary acoustics, when the local singer begins to sing in this chamber it is hard to believe a large choir isn’t singing… be aware it is only one man…
Back to Yerevan 
OVERNIGHT IN YEREVAN
Meals: breakfast, lunch
 

Today we have an opportunity to discover the 18th-19th century unique and indigenous architecture of the second largest city of Armenia - Gyumri.  Exploring the city by walk, we’ll visit the oldest icon of the city - “Seven Wounds of Virgin Mary”.  This is how the church is called by locals, though it was consecrated as “Mother of God” church. A short walk across the square will take us to the Holy Saviour' Church. This architectural masterpiece was derived from the design of the Cathedral of Ani. Between the churches in the square of Vardanants we’ll stop by the monument dedicated to the Battle of Avarayr. St. Vardan Mamikonyan (commander-in-chief) led the Armenian army against Sassanid Persia.

Afterwards, we are off to visit the “Gyumri Beer'' brewery, and explore the cellars where the raw beer is fermented and produced. We’ll also have an opportunity to taste beer in its different stages of production.

Our final stop of the day is the monastic complex of Marmashen (10th-11th c) which is located on a bluff overlooking the left bank of the Akhurian River.
Back to Yerevan
OVERNIGHT IN YEREVAN
Meals: breakfast, lunch

In the morning we’ll head to 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 Goshavank Monastery, 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. 
Next stop 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.  
On our way back to Yerevan, we will visit 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.
Back to Yerevan
OVERNIGHT IN YEREVAN
Meals: breakfast, lunch
 

We’ll depart Yerevan this morning and travel south, through the plains of Ararat to visit Khor Virab Monastery, magnificently set against the towering slopes of Biblical Mount Ararat, presenting us with some quite spectacular photo opportunities. 
The monastery is the site where St. Gregory the Illuminator was incarcerated and is a place of pilgrimage for many Armenian Christians. 
We also aim to visit the site of Noravank Monastery.. Situated on a hill overlooking a twisted gorge, this is not only a place of breathtaking beauty, but also an architectural delight, that dates from the 13th and 14th centuries. 
Vayots Dzor is famous for its millennial wine making traditions, as the oldest winery dates to 6000 years was discovered in Areni village of the region. 
Areni-1 cave complex multicomponent site and late Chalcolithic/Early Bronze Age ritual site and settlement  is located near the Areni village in southern Armenia along the Arpa River. There were found an earliest lather shoe and the earliest known winery in the world at the site.
Close by is the village of Areni, famed for its wine and surrounded by a landscape of towering peaks and we’ll have time to sample some of the local produce of this delightful mountain community.
OVERNIGHT IN YEREVAN
Meals: breakfast, lunch
 

Today we’ll see one of the most beautiful mountains in Armenia Mt. Aragats. There are four summits. Between South and East summits the crater wall is broken, and a stream flows down to the village of Aragats. A sharp ridge descends south from the South summit.  
After we’ll check out the shores of Lake Kari. Lake Kari a small crystal-clear lake, nestled close to southern peak of Mt. Aragats at a height of 3207 m and is covered mostly by snow and ice. 
We’ll also visit the medieval fortress of Amberd which is a complex structure with a church built on the slopes of Mt. Aragats at 2,300 meters above sea level in the 11-13 c.c. The church is slightly down the hill from the fortress, closer to where the two streams join.
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”.
Next stop is Saghmosavank Monastery (Monastery of the Psalms) – it is a 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.
Today there is an opportunity to visit one of the best wineries in Armenia - ARMENIA WINE which is the icon of modern Armenian winemaking. In constant pursuit of improvement, at the winery they strive to balance ancient traditions with the newest technology.  We will have the opportunity to taste and enjoy a variety of Armenia wines: Armenia White Dry, Armenia Red Dry and Armenia Pomegranate Semisweet served with cheese and meat platers. 
Back to Yerevan and free time
OVERNIGHT IN YEREVAN
MEALS: Breakfast/Lunch
 

 TRANSFER TO AIRPORT 

HAVE A NICE FLIGHT!!!