Archaeological Tour in Armenia

It’s always a great joy to discover valuable fragments of the past hidden by time just with your hands. It’s wonderful to “travel” in the story of our ancestors on the traces left in the soil. Armenia is a destination that has a great heritage of prehistorically archaeological sites that are really spread all over its territory.

On this holiday you will experience the human evolution from the Stone Age to present.

Days 1 & 2: Arrival / Yerevan / History Museum / Brandy Factory
Be greeted at Zvartnots airport and transfered to your accommodation. Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy a city tour around Yerevan. You will visit the fascinating Museum of Armenian History, which gives a superb oversight of ancient cultures of Armenian Highland. Visit the Brandy Factory. The bar offers tasting of various old and chateau cognacs. Welcome dinner and overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.
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Day 3: Erebouni archeological site & museum / Matenadaran Manuscript depository
Today we explore the birthplace of modern Yerevan. Erebouni is an Urartian fortress-city of the 8th-7th centuries BC. The fortress was founded in 782 by King Argishti. The name of the capital Yerevan comes from Erebuni. You will visit the depositary of ancient manuscripts the Matenadaran which contains historical documents from all over Europe and Asia throughout many centuries. Overnight in Yerevan.
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Day 4: Genocide Museum / Garni / Geghard
The archeological monument of Garni, is situated on the right bank of the Azat river, including the village of Garni and its environs. It was continuously inhabited from the 3rd millennium BC until the Late Middle Ages. The fortress of Garni is thought to have been founded in the 2nd century BC, and the Temple devoted to Mihr – in the 1st century AD. Drive to Gegard and visit the cave monastery of 4-13 cen. that is inscribed in UNESCO World Heritage List. Return back to Yerevan. Overnight in Yerevan.
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Day 5: Metsmor aecheological site & museum / Echmiadzin / Zvartnots / Yerevan
Drive to Metsamor city where Metsamor Museum is situated. It was also bronze-age settlement. There is a row of phallus stones just outside the front entrance of the museum. Visit Echmiadzin – the centre of Armenian Apostolic church. Then proceed to the archeological site of Zvarnots inscribed in UNESCO World Heritage and see the ruins of the cathedral of 7th century. Drive back to Yerevan. Overnight in Yerevan.
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Day 6: Dvin & Artashat archeological sites / Khor Virap / Yerevan
Today you will visit two of Armenian ancient capitals both located in Aarart region in Ararat Valley. So drive to Dvin - multi-layered monument that occupies a territory of 400 hectares and has been inhabited continuously since the 3rd millennium BC. It was the capital of Armenia from the 330s to 885, and the See of the Armenian Church in 484-931. Dvin was destroyed in the 13th century during the Seljuk and Mongol invasions. Drive to Khor Virap and admire the biblical Ararat Mountain, where Noah’s ark cast anchor. Drive back to Yerevan.
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Day 7: Sevan monasteries / Noradouz / Selim / Goris
Early departure from Yerevan to Lake Sevan. The area of Sevan is very interesting. The site includes monument complexes of the 3rd-1st millennia BC – a Cyclopian fortress, habitations, the cuneiform inscription of King Arguishti I on a lakeside cliff, etc. You can find the excavation results at the History State Museum. Visit also to Noraduz, ancient cemetery with medieval khachkars (cross-stones) dating back to 6th c.. Drive through Selim Pass visiting the caravanserai (XIV c.). Overnight in Goris.
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Day 8: Goris / Ukhtasar graffities & petrogliphes / Goris
Drive to Ukhtasar observing the petrogliphes. Rock-art is considered by many specialists to be the visual expression of the deepest concerns and preoccupations, spirituality and beliefs of our ancestors. On the top of Ughtasar mountain are countless important petroglyphs. There are many petroglyphs which represent different costellations and calendars, which are subdivided into 12 months and according to the archeoastronomists these are lunar calendars. Drive back to Goris. Overnight in Goris.
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Day 9: Goris /Karahunge archeological site / Noravank / Yerevan
Drive to Karahunge archeological site where the first observatory Karahunge (Kar-means stone, hunge-means voice, sound) was created. Continue tour to Noravank monastery - a great religious and cultural centre of 12th c. On the way visit Areni wine factory to taste local wine made from special sorts of vines. Noravank (“New Monasterey”) is 122 km away from Yerevan. Drive back to Yerevan.
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Day 10: Oshakan / Sagmosavank / Amberd /Yerevan
The archeological site of Oshakan, is located on the bank of the Kasagh river, 5 km from the town of Ashtarak. The village is rich in archeological monuments of the 3rd-1st millennia BC. On the hill called “Didi-Kond”, ruins of an Urartian fortress (7th-6th centuries BC) with a citadel, palace and temple complexes were excavated. Visit Saghmosavank medieval monastery, situated in the breathtaking site, at the deep canyon of Ashtarak. Tour to Fortress of Amberd, 9th century, 6 km from the village of Byurakan, stands halfway up Mt. Aragats, at the height of 2300m. Drive back to Yerevan.
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Day 11: Departure
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport

The rates include:

- Accommodation:
- 8 x overnight in Yerevan
- 2 x overnight in hotel in Goris
- Transportation as per program
- English speaking guide
- Entrance fees to the sites as per itinerary
- Catering HB (breakfast at the hotel, 6 x lunch, 3 x dinner)
- 1 bottle of mineral water per day/per person

Please contact our Armenian expert John Chekian on jchekian@conciergetraveller.com.au or 1800 047 047 for more information and prices.

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