Stonehenge in Armenia
Travel to Armenia - the country of "Speaking Stones" and the country of the oldest civilization. Is it hard to believe that Karahounge is older than Stonehenge in England?
It has been proved that Karahounge astrological observatory was in active use more than 7,500 years– in the 6th millennium B.C. which means 3,000 years before the Egyptian Pyramids and 3,500 years before the famous Stonehenge in England.
"Kar" in Armenian means "stone" and "henge" is a variation of the "hoonch", meaning sound in Armenian from the word "hnchyun", while "henge" in English has no meaning.
Arrival – Yerevan city tour
Arrival in Zvartnots airport. Meet and greet transfer, accommodation at the hotel. Breakfast at the hotel. City tour around Yerevan. During your tour, you will see the Republic Square which includes the Government House, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Central Post Office, the National Art Gallery. You will also see Opera house, Victory Park with Mother Armenia statue, the Sports and Concert complex, Baghramyan Avenue, the Presidential Palace, Academy of Sciences, National Parliament, Writers Union and the fruit market. Lunch in a local restaurant. Visit to the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial park and Museum of The Victims of Genocide. In the second half of the day your main attraction will be Armenian History Museum, here you can see the important archaeological collection from Stone Age through Medieval periods. Welcome dinner and overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.
Yerevan – Khor Virap – Areni village – Noravank – Goris
Sightseeing tour to Khor-Virap monastery (4- 17th cc.) 45 km. from Yerevan. It is situated in the Ararat valley against the biblical Ararat Mountain, were Noah's arch cast anchor. The importance of it is connected with Grigor the Illuminator, who introduced Christianity to Armenia and is considered to be the first Armenian catholicos. On the way, visit Areni wine factory to taste local wine made from special sorts of vines. Noravank (“New Monastery”) is 122 km away from Yerevan. Lunch in a local cave cafe. Drive to Syunik region to the town Goris visiting on the way the famous pre-Christian sites of Zorats Karer (Karahunj) - a 4200 BC astral observatory, and Bronze Age Vishap (dragon) Stones. Arrival in Goris by a stop at the gates of the town to admire the panoramic view of the landscapes. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Goris.
Goris – Khndzoresk – Tatev monastery
Start the tour from Goris to explore the city, visiting the exciting Dig Dig stones – natural monument. Nestled in a bowl of green hills and mountains, with interesting formations and many previously inhabited caves in them, Goris has some of the nicest overall Armenian architecture in Armenia. Excursion tour to Khndzoresk which is a cave village. You will see that many of the caves have been carved out by man and they served as houses for people. Continue to explore a monastic complex of Tatev (Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO) which is an architectural masterpiece dating from the 10th century and is often called a monastery built on the edge of nothing. On the way to this monastery there is a strange natural bridge called the Devil’s Bridge. Dinner and overnight in Goris.
Karahounge – Selim Carvanserai – Noraduz – Lake Sevan
After breakfast start tour to Karahounge (Stonehenge). The monument consists of about 223 basalt slabs. In 2001 in the vicinity of Karahounge many rock – paintings were discovered consisting of drawings that represent themselves a great astronomic interest. Drive to Lake Sevan through Selim Pass visiting the caravanserai (XIV c.). The Selim caravanserai once used to be an important trade point on the famous Silk Road. Also, a visit to Noraduz, ancient cemetery with medieval khachkars (cross-stones). About 70 miles north of Yerevan sits Lake Sevan. This huge mountain lake which takes up to 5% of Armenia's surface area and is about 2,000 meters above sea level is one of the highest freshwater lakes in the world. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Sevan.
Sevan – Dilijan - Goshavank - Haghpat – Sanahin Monasteries-Dzoraget
Start tour from Sevan to the forested region of Dilijan, where you can walk through a museum street. Visit to Goshavank complex (11-13cc) situated in the woodlands of Dilijan. Continue tour to the architectural complexes of Sanahin (966 AD) and Haghpat (976 AD) which are among the outstanding works of medieval Armenian architecture and are inscribed in UNESCO World Heritage list. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Dzoraget.
Dzoraget – Saghmossavank – Amberd fortress - Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory - Yerevan
Leave Dzoraget and set off to visit Saghmossavank 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 halfway up stands Mt. Aragats, at the height of 2300m. Drive to Byurakan village where the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory is situated. Founded in 1946 by Viktor Hambartsumian, it was one of the main astronomical centers of the USSR. The observatory has discovered special star clusters and hundreds of galaxies. Return to Yerevan. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.
Echmiadzin – Zvartnots - Vernisage
After breakfast at the hotel departure to Echmiadzin, 20 km from Yerevan. On the way visit St Hripsime church. Echmiadzin Cathedral appears to be one of the world's first Christian churches. Echmiadzin means “The only-begotten descended”. Return to Yerevan with a stop at the ruins of Zvartnots temple - (inscribed in UNESCO World Heritage list). Lunch in a national restaurant in Yerevan city. Visit open air market Vernisage The market offers woodcarving, antiques, fine lace, and the hand-knotted wool carpets and kilims that are a Caucasus specialty. Optional visit to Yerevan Brandy Factory. Dinner in a national restaurant and overnight at a hotel in Yerevan.
Matenadaran - Garni – Geghard
Visit to the depositary of ancient manuscripts The Matenadaran which contains historical documents from all over Europe and Asia throughout many centuries. There is also the first copy of the Bible in Armenian and the Gospels. Departure to Garni Temple. Lunch at a local house in Garni where you can watch the baking process of Armenian national bread “lavash”. In the Northeast of Garni, higher up the gorge of the Azat River there is Geghard monastery, inscribed in UNESCO World Heritage list. Geghard is partly carved out of a mountain. Though the monastery of Geghard was around before the 4th century, the main cathedral was built in 1215. Outside the monastery complex there are some caves which have a bunch of little cave rooms and are quite interesting. Return to Yerevan. Farewell dinner and overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.
Departure
Transfer to the airport and departure home.
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