Winter in Armenia | 5 Days / 4 Nights

Arrive at Zvartnots International Airport and transfer to the hotel. The rest of the day is free to explore the city at your own pace (no vehicle or guide on this day).

Stay: Yerevan

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit the centuries-old monuments of Etchmiadzin and Zvartnots, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Etchmiadzin Cathedral: founded in 303 AD, the residence of the Catholicos of All Armenians and the spiritual heart of the Armenian Apostolic Church. St. Hripsime Church: completed in 618 on a gentle rise at the eastern edge of Vagharshapat, a classic of Armenian central-dome architecture with Mount Ararat behind it. Zvartnots Temple: built in the 7th century by Nerses the Builder. Only ruins remain of its once-magnificent circular structure, still full of history and grandeur. Return to Yerevan for the city tour. Begin with the capital of Armenia, Yerevan. For centuries it has been known as the “pink city” for the colour of the volcanic tuff stone it is built from. Founded in 782 BC, Yerevan is one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, and its streets are full of history, culture and energy. Republic Square – the heart of Yerevan, surrounded by government buildings and the History Museum. At night the square comes alive with its famous dancing fountains. Mashtots Avenue – named after Mesrop Mashtots, the creator of the Armenian alphabet, this central avenue is lined with shops, cafes and cultural institutions. Aram Khachaturian Opera and Ballet Theatre – named after the famous Armenian composer, a cultural hub for opera, ballet and concerts. Cascade Complex – a giant stairway linking downtown with the Monument neighbourhood, with views over the city to Mount Ararat. It is also home to the Cafesjian Center for the Arts, with modern sculptures and exhibitions.

Meals: BreakfastStay: Yerevan

Breakfast at the hotel. Lake Sevan: one of the largest high-altitude lakes in the world, known for its fresh, astonishingly blue water. Visit Sevanavank Monastery on the Sevan Peninsula – two churches built around the 10th century, one in ruins and one still standing. Tsaghkadzor: a resort town on the south-eastern slope of Mount Teghenis in the Kotayk Province. Its name means “Valley of Flowers”, and it is Armenia’s best-known ski resort, with skiing and snowboarding through the snowy months. Ride the Tsaghkadzor cable car (ticket included). Return to Yerevan.

Meals: BreakfastStay: Yerevan

Breakfast at the hotel. Garni Temple: Armenia’s only standing pagan temple, built in the 1st century AD and dedicated to Mihr, the god of light and purity. Destroyed by an earthquake in 1679, it was carefully restored in 1975 in its classical Greco-Roman style. It stands on a rocky hill above the Azat River gorge, a fascinating glimpse of Armenia’s pre-Christian past. Geghard Monastery: named after the legendary lance that pierced the body of Christ, kept here for centuries. The present complex dates from the mid-13th century and is built partly into the cliffs of a spectacular gorge – a masterpiece of medieval Armenian architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Return to Yerevan.

Meals: BreakfastStay: Yerevan

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Zvartnots International Airport for your flight home. Say goodbye to Armenia!

Meals: Breakfast