AMAZING ARMENIA

AMAZING ARMENIA

SEPTEMBER 9th 2025 – September 16th 2025

Join us on an adventure to a land of amazing monasteries, temples, canyons and caves. A land of stunning natural beauty, delicious food & wine and a fascinating history.

TUESDAY SEPT 9th

Departure from London with Austrian Airlines to Vienna and then to Yerevan. Early morning flight 08.05 am or Late afternoon flight 17.30 pm

WEDNESDAY SEPT 10th

YEREVAN CITY TOUR

Arrival in Yerevan in the early morning. Check in at the hotel. Late breakfast.

A walk through the Cascades (a large park in the form of stairs located on the slope of a hill in the centre of Yerevan). The Cascades are also a place where there are phenomenal works of contemporary art.

Walk through the centre of Yerevan to the area of Republic Square. Free time in the centre of Yerevan, including at the Vernissage (souvenir bazaar, full of handicrafts, silver jewellery). Visit the National Museum, where we’ll get acquainted with the turbulent history of the country or Matanadaran - a museum of manuscripts. Then to the centre of Yerevan along the representative Northern Avenue.

For those interested, a visit to Tsitsernakaberd - the Armenian Genocide Mausoleum. Regional dinner in a restaurant. Return to the hotel for the night.

INTERESTING FACTS

Armenia, officially the Republic of Armenia, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of West Asia. It is a part of the Caucasus region and is bordered by Turkey to the west, Georgia to the north and Azerbaijan to the east, and Iran and the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan to the south. Yerevan is the capital, largest city and financial center. Armenia is a unitary, multi-party, democratic nation-state with an ancient cultural heritage. The first Armenian state of Urartu was established in 860 BC, and by the 6th century BC it was replaced by the Satrapy of Armenia. The Kingdom of Armenia reached its height under Tigranes the Great in the 1st century BC and in the year 301 became the first state in the world to adopt Christianity as its official religion Armenia still recognises the Armenian Apostolic Church, the world's oldest national church, as the country's primary religious establishment

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 11th

ARENI VALLEY MONASTERY WINE TASTING ANCIENT CAVES

Drive to the Khor Virap monastery near Mount Ararat. In good weather, we’ll see a magnificent panorama of the biblical mountain. Drive to the Areni Valley , the centre of Armenian winemaking. Wine tasting & lunch with a local family.

Visit the Noravank monastery in a rocky canyon, then an ancient cave, with the oldest wine cellar in the world. The clay jars (karases), are over 6,000 years old. The mysteriousness atmosphere is further amplified by the bats living here.

Drive to the town of Yeghegnadzor for dinner with a local winemaker, combined with a tasting of his products. Transfer to the south of Armenia for an overnight stay at a hotel in the city of Vayk.

INTERESTING FACTS

The founding of Armenia predates the founding of Rome by 29 years. Armenia built the world’s first state church in 303 AD after adopting Christianity in 301 AD. 68% of the world’s Armenians live outside their ancestral homeland and Armenia’s unique 36-letter alphabet preserves its national identity. UNESCO recognizes seven items of Armenian culture and three locations as World Heritage Sites. Armenia became the first nation to require chess in schools, producing 44 grandmasters.

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 12th

AERIAL ROPEWAY “STONEHENGE” TATEV MINERAL SPRINGS

Transfer to the south of the country to the Tatev Monastery . "Flight" on one of the longest cable cars in the world - over 5 km on one rope.

Visit the stone circle of KARAHUNJ (or Zorats Karer) - "Armenian Stonehenge", which was most likely a prehistoric astronomical observatory.

Visit the town of JERMUK s famous mineral water resort. Return to the hotel in Vaik. Dinner at a local restaurant, overnight stay at the hotel.

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 13th

VOLCANO FORTRESS LAKE SEVAN STONE CROSSES

Subject to weather conditions: A 4 x 4 expedition in the surrounding mountains to the top of an extinct VOLCANO OR visit MEDIEVAL FORTRESS

Drive through the Selim Pass, along the way visit a 14th-century caravanserai

Then a drive to the shores of Lake Sevan.

Visit Noratus (a large collection of khachkarscarved stone-crosses), unique to Armenian culture & the largest collection of this type of crosses in the world. Dinner at a restaurant on the shores of the high-mountain Lake Sevan.

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 14th

GARNI TEMPLE GEGHARD MONASTERY SEVANAVANK

Visit the Sevanavank monasteries picturesquely spread out over the lake.

Drive to Garni temple (2000 years old) built in honor of the ancient deity Mithra. Visit the Geghard monastery, partially carved in the rocks. Dinner in a picturesque canyon near the monastery. Drive to Yerevan, overnight in Yerevan.

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 15th

BRANDY FOODSTUFFS CATHEDRAL

Visit the production plant of a legendary brandy producer and tastings.

Visit the food market called Shuka, where you can buy original sweets, pickles and other traditional products and a jewellery market.

Visit Zvartnots (picturesque ruins of a large cathedral from the 7th century). In good weather you can see the peak of the biblical Mount Ararat from here. Drive to Echmiadzin - the "Armenian Vatican", i.e. the seat of the Armenian Apostolic Church, then visit one of the archaic temples (6th century) and the museum, where there are relics precious to Armenians and the whole of Christianity. Farewell dinner at a local restaurant, which is also a centre for learning traditional handicrafts, cuisine, etc. In the evening return to Yerevan. Overnight stay at a hotel in Yerevan.

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 16th

Flight at 04.35 am back to London via Vienna

COST:

£995 For payment upto April 10th 2025 (Special early bird rate)
£1095 For payment upto May 10th 2025
£1195 Upto June 10th 2025

Single room supplement available £250

Kats Adventures Limited
40 09 25
41764527
Ref: name / Armenia

INCLUDES

• Expert English-speaking guide throughout the trip
• ALL Breakfasts and Dinners with Wine and drinks
• Entry fees to ALL museums and other places
• Transport across Armenia by minibus
• All hotel accommodation throughout
• Airport transfers for designated flights

NOT INCLUDE

• Lunches
• Flights / Insurance
• Any other costs not mentioned in the above includes list

REFUND POLICY

Full refund if for any reason the trip is cancelled by organisers