Post-Conference Event 5 Days tour – 790 EUR per person (April 28-May 2, 2019)

Day1:

Yerevan, Geghard, Garni, Sevan, Dilijan, Dzoraget

Breakfast at the hotel

Geghard

Geghard Monastery is 40km south-east from Yerevan. Geghard Monastery

carved out of a huge monolithic rock. Geghard is an incredible ancient

Armenian monastery, partly carved out of a mountain. It is said that the

Holy Lance that pierced the body of Christ was kept here. The architectural

forms and the decoration of Geghard’s rock premises show that Armenian

builders could not only create superb works of architecture out of stone, but

also hew them in solid rock. It is included in the list of UNESCO World

Heritage Sites.

Garni

From Geghard it is 11km to Garni Temple. Garni Pagan Temple, the

only Hellenistic temple in the Caucasus. Gracing the hillside the

temple was dedicated to the God of Sun, Mithra and comprises also

royal palace ruins, Roman Baths with a well preserved mosaic.

Lunch in Garni also Master class of traditional Armenian bread

“lavash” being baked in tonir (ground oven). The preparation,

meaning and appearance of traditional bread as an expression of

culture in Armeniahas been inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative

List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Sevan

Visit to Sevan Lake which is 80 km from Garni temple. Sevan

Lake is the largest lake in Armenia and the Caucasus region. With

an altitude of 1,900 meters above sea level, it’s one of the highest

lakes in the world. The name Sevan is of Urartian origin, and is

derived of Siuna, meaning county of lakes.

The lake is divided into two sections: Big Sevan and Small Sevan.

Big Sevan covers 972 km2 and Small Sevan - 284 km2. The lake is

fed by 28 rivers and streams, and is the source for only one - the

Hrazdan River. In summer, Sevan becomes a tourist magnet and

both local and foreign tourists spend their holidays by the lake. The

most famous cultural monument is the Sevanavank monastery located on the peninsula, which was

until the mid-20th century an island.

Dilijan

Dilijan city tour. Dilijan is 31km from Sevan Lake. Dilijan is a spa

town and urban municipal community in the Tavush

Province of Armenia. Usually called Armenian

Switzerland or Little Switzerland by the locals, it is one of the

most important resorts of Armenia, situated within the Dilijan

National Park. The forests of Dilijan cover an area of more than

34,000 hectares. For the enrichment of the natural life around

Dilijan, the state forest reserve was founded in 1958 to become

known as Dilijan National Park later in 2002. Woods cover 94%

of the park territory and with around 40 types of trees and 18

types of bushes, being mostly oaks, beeches, hornbeams, maples,

elms, willows, etc. Overnight and Dinner.

Day2:

Dzoraget, Sanahin, Haghpat, Akhtala, Gntunik bakery, Alphabet

park, Saghmosavanq, Yerevan

Breakfast at the hotel

Sanahin and Haghpat

Sanahin Monastery is 26km from Dzoraget is an Armenian

monastery founded in the 10th century in the Lori

Province of Armenia.

The name Sanahin literally translates from Armenian as "this

one is older than that one", presumably representing a claim to

having an older monastery than the neighboring Haghpat

Monastery. The two villages and their monasteries are similar

in many ways, and lie in plain view of each other on a dissected

plateau formation, separated by a deep "crack" formed by a small river flowing into the Debed river.

Haghpat

As with Haghpat which is 15km from Sanahin, Sanahin is

frequented by an increasing number of tourists, due to its

recent inclusion on the itineraries of a great number of

Armenian tour agencies, the beauty of its monastery

complex matching that of Haghpat's. The complex belongs

to the Armenian Apostolic Church with

numerous khachkars (stones with elaborate engravings

representing a cross) and bishop gravesites scattered

throughout it. Both Haghpat and Sanahin are under

protection of the UNESCO.

Akhtala (Optional* rafting / master classes)

Akhtala Monastery is 13km from Haghpat one of the unique

monuments of Christian history in the Caucasus. It is in the

very north of Armenia, near the border with Georgia, 3km from

the M6 highway between Yerevan and Tbilisi. It is situated on a

small plateau above a small river, Shamlukh. Once there was a

fortress, the walls of which are still visible at the entrance to the monastery.

Due to its location, Akhtala Monastery is one of Armenia’s less-frequently visited tourist attractions,

despite its rich history, unique architecture, and fascinating collection of

frescoes (such frescoes are quite rare in Armenian churches). Its history

goes back 1,000 years and, while there are some signs of disrepair, a

major restoration project was carried out between 1979 and 1989.

Lunchtime.

Master classes at NURIK Center. The NURIK Center is located near the

historic 10th Century Akhtala Monastery, in the Lori region of northern

Armenia, and arranges guided hikes to the monastery. NURIK Center

promotes the social and economic participation of women

and people from vulnerable groups through tourism

development. The Center offers many master classes in

doll making, candle making, soap making, and carpet

making, and felting. The Center also offers cooking classes

featuring traditional Armenian dishes and local foods

like tolma (stuffed grape leaves),

barbecue, ghapama, harissa, and arishta, as well as lavash

and gata (cake).

Rafting with rafting.am Armenia on mountainous Debed

river of Lori region with the support of professional rafting instructors.

Gntunik Bakery in Aparan is 124km from Akhtala. Gntunik Bakery and Supermarket in Aparan, a

small town in Armenia, well known by travelers for its grand bakery, a tourist attraction in itself.

Armenian Alphabet park

Armenian Alphabet park is 22km from Gntunik bakery.

Armenian Alphabet Monument is located in Artashavan

village of Aragatsotn region, on the Western slope of

Mount Aragats. The complex was built in 2005, on the

1600th anniversary of the creation of Armenian

alphabet.

The complex includes sculptures of 39 letters of

Armenian alphabet, as well as monuments to the great

Armenian thinkers. All the letters and statues are made

of Armenian tufa. Armenian language is an independent

branch in Indo-European language family. Armenian alphabet was

created by Mesrop Mashtots in 405.Have a photo stop

Back to Yerevan. Dinner. Overnight in Yerevan.

Day3:

Yerevan, Areni, Noravanq, Goris

Noravanq.

Noravanq 117km from Yerevan means “New Monastery” in

Armenian. However, today this name does not fit, as the

monastery is already more than seven centuries old. The beautiful

Noravanq Monastery was built in the 13th century on the ledge of

narrow winding gorge above the Amaghu River. The spare lines of

the church contrast beautifully with the sharp red rock cliffs, and

the dramatic scenery is one of the best reasons to visit Noravanq.

For centuries, the caves in this region were thought to be just simple caves. Children would play in

them, but nobody knew much about these caves. But that all changed in 2007, when excavations

began in Areni Cave.

Areni

From Noravanq Monastery it is 10km to Areni. Excavations unearthed large complexes, which

showed that this cave was once used for religious and economic purposes. A wine press was found in

one room of the cave, where there is a hard place that drains into a jug. Traces of seeds, stems, and

the compound that gives red wine its signature color were found, which led a wide array of scientists

to conclude that the area was used as a winery about 6,000 years ago. Areni Cave is now recognized

as the oldest winery in the world. Only in two km from the cave

there is one of the most popular wineries of Armenia, Areni Wine

Factory. Have a lunch with master class of cheese. Finish your lunch

and continue to Goris.

Goris

It is 135km from Areni to Goris. The city of Goris is the oldest

among the cities in the Marz of Syunik. It is situated in the

valley of the Vararak River, in the southern part of Syunik

volcanic highland. The rocks surrounding the city are

known as “The Goris Stone Forest”. They are shaped like

amazing labyrinths of colored columns, pyramids, cones and

towers. These figures combine light and shadow to make an

incredible impression. The hilly Goris landscape is indented

with gorges from which the rocks, like outlandish plants,

reach out towards the sun, opening new and new fantastic

landscapes, sometimes resembling extraterrestrial ones. The

Goris Stone Forest looks like a film set of some extra-atmospheric blockbuster, and is the main sight

of the city. Dinner and Overnight in Goris.

Day4: Goris, Khndzoresk, Tatev, Yerevan

Breakfast at the hotel.

Khndzoresk

Khndzoresk which is 13km from Goris is one of those

places, about which we can precisely say, that people were

able to dominate the nature and take the best of it.

You will never forget the thrill of standing on the middle

of the bridge suspended so high above the river flowing

below. You will feel the ripple-motion of each footstep

rolling across the bridge with you.

Tatev

Tatev Monastery is 45 km from Kndzoresk. The most

interesting part of the tour is still waiting for you - the

majestic Tatev monastery, which we reach with the

longest cable tram in the world (already registered in the

Guinness World Records Book). This used to be wealthiest

medieval monastery in Armenia. Besides being a religious

center, Tatev was also the important strategical center of

Syuniq kingdom, surrounded with deep gorge. In non-stable

political conditions the several secret ways in the territory of

the fortress led the way to the canyon and served as a link between the monastery and external

world. Have a lunch. In order to see the Tatev Monastery, it is a must to take the ropeway. It will be

300km from Tatev to Yerevan

Back to Yerevan. Dinner and overnight in Yerevan.

Day5: Business visits in Yerevan

Optional *Zip-line

The rate includes -Airport /hotel transfer -Accommodation in 4 star hotels -Transportation as mentioned in the program in comfortable A/C vehicle -Professional guide -Lunches, Dinners -1 bottle of mineral water per day per person The rate does not include - Personal expenses -Flights

3 Days tour -690 EUR per person (April 28 -30, 2019)

Day 1: Yerevan, Geghard, Garni, Sevan, Dilijan, Dzoraget

Breakfast at the hotel

Geghard

Geghard Monastery is 40km south-east from Yerevan. Geghard Monastery

carved out of a huge monolithic rock. Geghard is an incredible ancient

Armenian monastery, partly carved out of a mountain. It is said that the Holy

Lance that pierced the body of Christ was kept here. The architectural forms

and the decoration of Geghard’s rock premises show that Armenian builders

could not only create superb works of architecture out of stone, but also hew

them in solid rock. It is included in the list of UNESCO World

Heritage Sites.

Garni

From Geghard it is 11km to Garni Temple. Garni Pagan Temple, the

only Hellenistic temple in the Caucasus. Gracing the hillside the

temple was dedicated to the God of Sun, Mithra and comprises also

royal palace ruins, Roman Baths with a well preserved mosaic.

Lunch also Master class of traditional Armenian bread “lavash” being

baked in tonir (ground oven). The preparation, meaning and

appearance of traditional bread as an expression of culture in

Armenia have been inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of

the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Sevan

Visit to Sevan Lake which is 80 km from Garni temple. Sevan Lake is the largest lake in Armenia and

the Caucasus region. With an altitude of 1,900 meters above sea

level, it’s one of the highest lakes in the world. The name Sevan

is of Urartian origin, and is derived of Siuna, meaning county of

lakes.

The lake is divided into two sections: Big Sevan and Small

Sevan. Big Sevan covers 972 km2 and Small Sevan - 284 km2.

The lake is fed by 28 rivers and streams, and is the source for

only one - the Hrazdan River. In summer, Sevan becomes a

tourist magnet and both local and foreign tourists spend their

holidays by the lake. The most famous cultural monument is

the Sevanavanq monastery located on the peninsula, which was

until the mid-20th century an island.

Dilijan

Dilijan is 31km form Sevan Lake. Dilijan city tour. Dilijan is a spa

town and urban municipal community in the Tavush

Province of Armenia. Usually called Armenian Switzerland or Little

Switzerland by the locals, it is one of the most important resorts of

Armenia, situated within the Dilijan National Park. The forests of

Dilijan cover an area of more than 34,000 hectares. For the enrichment

of the natural life around Dilijan, the state forest reserve was founded

in 1958 to become known as Dilijan National Park later in 2002. Woods

cover 94% of the park territory and with around 40 types of trees and

18 types of bushes, being mostly oaks, beeches, hornbeams, maples,

elms, willows, etc. Dzoraget. Overnight and dinner.

Day2:

Dzoraget, Sanahin, Haghpat, Akhtala, Gntunik bakery, Alphabet park, Saghmosavanq, Yerevan

Breakfast at the hotel

Sanahin Monastery

Sanahin Monastery is 26km from Dzoraget an Armenian

monastery founded in the 10th century in the Lori

Province of Armenia. The name Sanahin literally translates from

Armenian as "this one is older than that one", presumably

representing a claim to having an older monastery than the

neighboring Haghpat Monastery. The two villages and their

monasteries are similar in many ways, and lie in plain view of

each other on a dissected plateau formation, separated by a deep

"crack" formed by a small river flowing into the Debed river.

Haghpat

As with Haghpat which is 15km from Sanahin, is frequented

by an increasing number of tourists, due to its recent

inclusion on the itineraries of a great number of Armenian

tour agencies, the beauty of its monastery complex matching

that of Haghpat's. The complex belongs to the Armenian

Apostolic Church with numerous khachkars (stones with

elaborate engravings representing a cross) and bishop gravesites scattered throughout it. Both

Haghpat and Sanahin are under protection of the UNESCO.

Akhtala (Optional* rafting tour / master classes)

Akhtala Monastery 13km from Haghpat is one of the

unique monuments of Christian history in the Caucasus. It

is in the very north of Armenia, near the border with

Georgia, 3km from the M6 highway between Yerevan and

Tbilisi. It is situated on a small plateau above a small river,

Shamlugh. Once there was a fortress, the walls of which

are still visible at the entrance to the monastery.

Due to its location, Akhtala Monastery is one of Armenia’s less-

frequently visited tourist attractions, despite its rich history,

unique architecture, and fascinating collection of frescoes (such

frescoes are quite rare in Armenian churches). Its history goes back

1,000 years and, while there are some signs of disrepair, a major

restoration project was carried out between 1979 and 1989.

Lunchtime.

Optional Master classes at NURIK Center or rafting with

Rafting.am Armenia. The NURIK Center is located near the

historic 10th Century Akhtala Monastery, in the Lori region

of northern Armenia, and arranges guided hikes to the

monastery. NURIK Center promotes the social and economic

participation of women and people from vulnerable groups

through tourism development. The Center offers many

master classes in doll making, candle making, soap making,

and carpet making, and felting. The Center also offers

cooking classes featuring traditional Armenian dishes and

local foods like tolma (stuffed grape leaves),

barbecue, ghapama, harissa, and arishta, as well as lavash

and gata (cake).

Rafting with rafting.am Armenia on mountainous Debed river of Lori region with the support of

professional rafting instructors.

Gntunik Bakery

Gntunik Bakery in Aparan is 124km from Akhtala. Gntunik Bakery and Supermarket in Aparan, a

small town in Armenia, well known by travelers for its grand bakery, a tourist attraction in itself.

Armenian Alphabet park

Armenian Alphabet park is 22km from Gntunik bakery.

Armenian Alphabet Monument is located in Artashavan

village of Aragatsotn region, on the Western slope of Mount

Aragats. The complex was built in 2005, on the 1600th

anniversary of the creation of Armenian alphabet.

The complex includes sculptures of 39 letters of Armenian

alphabet, as well as monuments to the great Armenian

thinkers. All the letters and statues are made of Armenian

tufa. Armenian language is an independent branch in Indo-

European language family. Armenian alphabet was created by

Mesrop Mashtots in 405. Have a photo stop and return to Yerevan. It will 34km to reach Yerevan.

Back to Yerevan. Dinner at Armenian traditional restaurant in Yerevan.

Overnight in Yerevan.

Day 3: Yerevan ,Noravanq, Areni, Vernissage

Noravanq

Noravanq 117km from Yerevan means “New Monastery” in Armenian.

However, today this name does not fit, as the monastery is already

more than seven centuries old. The beautiful Noravanq Monastery was

built in the 13th century on the ledge of narrow winding gorge above

the Amaghu River. The spare lines of the church contrast beautifully

with the sharp red rock cliffs, and the dramatic scenery is one of the

best reasons to visit Noravanq.

For centuries, the caves in this region were thought to be just simple

caves. Children would play in them, but nobody knew much about

these caves. But that all changed in 2007, when excavations began in

Areni Cave.

Areni

From Noravanq Monastery it is 10km to Areni. Excavations unearthed

large complexes, which showed that this cave was once used for

religious and economic purposes. A wine press was found in one room

of the cave, where there is a hard place that drains into a jug. Traces of

seeds, stems, and the compound that gives red wine its signature color

were found, which led a wide array of scientists to conclude that the

area was used as a winery about 6,000 years ago. Areni Cave is now

recognized as the oldest winery in the world. Only in two km from the

cave there is one of the most popular wineries of Armenia, Areni Wine

Factory. Lunchtime. Finish and back to Yerevan.

Vernissage

Yerevan Vernissage is a large open-air market in Yerevan, Armenia. The

name of the market is the derived from the French word vernissage. It will

110km to reach Vernissage from Areni.

Dinner.

The rate includes -Airport /hotel transfer -Accommodation in 4star hotels -Transportation as mentioned in the program in comfortable A/C vehicle -Professional guide -Lunches, Dinners -1 bottle of mineral water per day per person The rate does not include - Personal expenses -Flights

1 Day tour – 100 EUR per person

Day 1: Yerevan, Gum market, Geghard, Garni, Vernissage, Yerevan

Breakfast at the hotel

Gum market

One of the most vivid places in Yerevan is Gum market near the Tashir

trading center, which opened during former the Soviet Union years. It

operates every day from morning until late evening. Here you can find

fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, spices, many types of dried fruits,

cheeses.

Visit the fruit market where local merchants sell fresh and dried fruits,

vegetables, spices and delicacies.

Geghard

Geghard Monastery is 40km south-east from Yerevan. Geghard

Monastery carved out of a huge monolithic rock. Geghard is an

incredible ancient Armenian monastery, partly carved out of a

mountain. It is said that the Holy Lance that pierced the body of

Christ was kept here. The architectural forms and the decoration

of Geghard’s rock premises show that Armenian builders could

not only create superb works of architecture out of stone, but also

hew them in solid rock. It is included in the list of UNESCO World

Heritage Sites.

Garni

From Geghard it is 11km to Garni Temple, the only Hellenistic temple

in the Caucasus. Gracing the hillside the temple was dedicated to the

God of Sun, Mithra and comprises also royal palace ruins, Roman

Baths with a well preserved mosaic.

Lunch in Garni also Master class of traditional Armenian bread

“lavash” being baked in tonir (ground oven). The preparation,

meaning and appearance of traditional bread as an expression of

culture in Armenia have been inscribed on UNESCO’s

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Optional* Vernissage \Shopping\

Arcolad Armenian chocolate factory

The rate includes -Airport /hotel transfer -Accommodation in 4 star hotels

-Transportation as mentioned in the program in comfortable A/C vehicle -Professional guide

-Lunches, Dinners -1 bottle of mineral water per day per person -Optional activities The rate does not include - Personal expenses -Flights