Things to do in

Armavir Province

Explore the fascinating sights of Yerevan, the heart of Armenia. Learn about the spread of Christianity in Armenia as you visit the St. Hripsime and St. Gayane churches. Finally, admire medieval Armenian architecture at the Zvartnots Temple which was built in the 7th century. Meet your guide at 10 AM at the meeting point. Enjoy interesting stories from the 1000-year history of the capital. Marvel at the main architectural monuments and vintage central streets. Catch a panoramic view of the whole city from the height of a special viewpoint. Next up, visit Echmiadzin and its churches, listed among UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Sites. The first stops are the churches of St. Hripsime and St. Gayane, dedicated to the Christian women-martyrs who escaped from Rome with their abbess Gayane. Afterward visit the Echmiadzin Mother Cathedral, the main cathedral of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the very first Christian cathedral in the world. Currently, Mother Cathedral is under reconstruction and can only be seen from the outside. Continue to the Treasures of Echmiadzin museum with a final stop near Zvartnots, the medieval temple of St. Gregory.

Discover the best of the Aragatsotn Province on this half-day trip. After getting picked up from the lobby of your hotel, travel to your first destination, Byurakan Observatory, which is considered the scientific pearl of Armenia. Enjoy a guided tour of the observatory and discover what was once the largest telescope in the USSR. Next, head to the 10th-century Amberd Fortress and get an overview of traditional Armenian fortress construction. Later, continue to the village of Oshakan, where you can see the resting place of the inventor of the Armenian alphabet, Mesrop Mashtots. After his death, a small chapel was built over his tomb, which you can visit. Finally, experience Armenian hospitality at a local family home. Sample traditional specialties around the dinner table, washed down with homemade wine. You can also enjoy a demonstration of how to make traditional lavash. After your meal, get dropped off back at your hotel in Yerevan.

At the beginning of the day, your guide will pick you up from your hotel from where you will head to the religious center of Armenia, Etchmiadzin. Due to its rich history and symbolic importance, it is a sacred spot for all Armenian Christians. Together with a few ancient churches situated nearby, its cathedral was included as the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. After getting acquainted with the history of the oldest church in the world, you will head in the direction of the “Khachkar Master School” in the village of Arshaluys. There, you will observe the tradition of Armenian stone carving up close, and will potentially spark some inspiration for your own project. Learning under the master Ruben's guidance and supervision, you'll soon be able to carve traditional Armenian patterns on a small piece of volcanic stone. It is worth to mention that because of its unique craftsmanship, the symbolism of khachkars (cross-stones) has been added into the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. As you finish your workshop, you will be invited to taste delicious traditional specialties around a hospitable Armenian table. The locals will also demonstrate how to bake traditional Armenian flat-bread lavash, you will also have the opportunity to take part in the process yourself. As your activity comes to a close, it will be time to return to Yerevan with your driver transferring you smoothly back to your hotel.