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The mysteries of ancient people: Georgia and Armenia (for individual tourists)
Tbilisi - Mtskheta - Borjomi - Akhaltsikhe - Vardzija - Armenia: Gyumri - Arich - Yerevan - Echmiadzin - Zvartnots - Garni - Geghard - Matenadaran - Khor Virap - Noravank - Areni - Jermuk - Spandaryan Reservoir - Karahunj - Tatev - Sevan - Dilijan - Sanain - Tbilisi - Kazbegi / Gudauri - Tbilisi - Bodbe - Sighnaghi - Manavi - Tbilisi (12 days, 11 nights)
Day 1: Tbilisi
Arrival to Tbilisi. Meeting with the representatives of the agency. Hotel accommodation. Excursion in the capital of Georgia. The capital of Georgia is unique. It is located on the several mountain hills, on which "creep" the old blocks. Tbilisi - is a beautiful river Kura with its picturesque rocky shores, that flows across the whole city. "Old Town" - is the historic center of Tbilisi, that is located at the root of Mtatsminda (Holy Mount) mountain. Almost all of the buildings of the Old Town are historical and cultural sites, this part of the city is round - the - clock full of life, here walk alone or in groups tourists, meet lovers near the Clock Tower. This amuzing Tower appeared here recently, built by the Puppet Theatre director Rezo Gabriadze. Here artists exhibit their paintings, artisans offer numerous souvenirs. Basically there are 2-3-storey houses, built of brick and stone, and of particular Tbilisi architecture, distinguished by narrow streets, galleries and carved wooden balconies. Tbilisi is one of the rare places in the world, where can peacefully exist in the Old Town orthodox church, catholic cathedra, synagogue and mosque. During the excursion, visit of: Mechetian Church (V c.), Narikala fortress (IV c.), Sioni Cathedral ( VI-VII c.), Anchiskhati Basilica of St Mary, the oldest surviving church, Synaxis of Saint Truinity of the temple complex of Tsminda Sameba - the main Cathedral of Georgian Orthodox Church. Walk at the Shota Rustaveli avenue. Overnight in the hotel in Tbilisi.
     Day 2: Tbilisi - Mtskheta - Tbilisi
Breakfast. Excursion in the ancient capital of Georgia Mtskheta - the town-museum, included to the UNESCO World Heritage Site List. Visit of Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (1010-1029), at the bottom of which is buried one of the major Christian relics Lords chiton, as well as the burial place of many of the Georgian kings. Here is also the part of life-giving pillar. Visit of Samtavro monastery, where year round grow, flower and fruit blackberry bush, near of which in the IV century lived and preached St. Nino- enlightener, the first preacher of Christianity in Georgia. Woderworking icon of Iberian Mother of God, woderworking icon of St. Nino, grave of St. Tsar Merian and Tsarina Nani, hallows of St. Abibos Nekresky, St. Shio Mhvimskoho are placed inside. Visit of the ancient temple - monastery Jvari (VI c.). Return to Tbilisi. Free time. Overnight in the hotel.
     Day 3: Tbilisi - Borjomi - Akhaltsikhe
Breakfast. On the way to Akhaltsikhe we will visit Borjomi. Will taste a world famous Borjomi mineral water from the spring. Arrival to recently reconstructed Akhaltsykhe fortress, the motherland of Charles Aznavur, the ancient center of Catholicism in Georgia. In the complex, together with Orthodox Church of St. Marina, are placed mosque, catholic church and monastery of Benedictine Sisters, synagogue and Armenian church. Hotel accommodation in Akhaltsikhe. Overnight.
     Day 4: Akhaltsikhe - Vardzia - Gyumri - Yerevan
Breakfast. Visit of Vardzia cave monastery complex (XII- XIII c.) - 19 stepped rock town. For 900 m along the left bank of Kura river, in the plumb wall of the mountain, around 600 buildings are cut out - churches, chapels, parrocks, pantries, baths, libraries. There preserved secret passages, remains of plumbing, and irrigation system. Vardzia- is the site of the era of Golden Age. More than thousands of monks lived there, and when being attacked, to 20 thousand of people could shelter there. The complex is included in the UNESCO list. Moving into the territory of Armenia. Crossing the border (about 30 minutes - 1 hour). Change of buses and guides. Hotel accommodation in Yerevan. Overnight.
     Day 5: Yerevan - Echmiadzin - Zvartnots - Yerevan
Breakfast. Excursion in Yerevan. The capital of Armenia Yerevan - is one of the oldest cities in the world. It is of the same age as Babylon and Rome. Year of the foundation of the city is 782 BC - then king Argishti founded the fortress of Erebuni. On a hill of the Tsitsernakaberd park is located the monument to the victims of the 1915 Genocide. Near is located the 40 m obelisk in the form of a pointed forked pyramid. In 2001, in Yerevan to the 1700th anniversary of Christianity in Armenia was built a magnificent temple of Gregory the Illuminator.
A trip to the ancient capital of Armenia Vagharshapat (Echmiadzin). Excursion on the territory of Catholicosats - primacy of the Armenian Apostolic church, visit of the First Cathedral of Saint Echmiadzin (Holy Etchmiadzin - 303g.n.e.), whose name translates as "the only begotten Descent", which means "place of the descent of Christ." Cathedral was founded at the beginning of the IV., immediately after the adoption of Christianity by Armenians. According to legend, a place to build a temple was indicated to Gregory the Illuminator by Christ. Visiting of a museum "Treasury of Echmiadzin", which keep the spear that wounded Jesus Christ, as well as many other unique relics and artifacts. Visit of the unique ruins of Zvartnots temple. Holy Etchmiadzin and the Temple of Heaven Vigil Forces Zvartnots is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Then, excursion in the Armenian genocide museum and Memorial. A visit of the Armenian Catholic Church. Overnight.
     Day 6: Yerevan - Garni - Geghard - Matenadaran - Yerevan
Breakfast. Visit of the unique cave (carved in the rock) monastery Geghard (XII-XIII century). The name of Geghard monastery is related with a lance, by which was pierced Christ by one of the Roman legionaries guarding him. Rhomboid plate-tip of this lance is preserved in the museum at Echmiadzin. Gegard Monastery is included in the UNESCO list. Excursion to the summer residence of Armenian kings - the fortress of Garni (III century BC - XIII century of our era), and the pagan temple of the sun (I century), built by King Trdat to 77. Visit of the Research Institute of ancient manuscripts - Matenadaran, which is a unique museum-library of ancient manuscripts (V-XV centuries.). In 1997, the Collection of Ancient Manuscripts of Matenadaran has been included in the UNESCO international register "Memory of the World". Visit and tasting in Yerevan Brandy Factory "Ararat". Overnight in the hotel.
     Day 7: Yerevan - Khor Virap - Noravank - Areni - Jermuk
Breakfast. Excursion to the fortress-monastery of the XVII century Khor Virap. Here, from the chapel, awaits us an unforgettable view of Mount Ararat - an immortal symbol of Armenia. According to the church legend, St. Gregory the Illuminator - founder of Christianity in Armenia, caught in the professes of "another religion", was imprisoned in a deep dungeon by the order of King Tiridates III for the whole 13 years. Today, this dungeon is open to visitors. Then, excursion in Noravank, a XII century monastery, situated among the quaint steep cliffs on the ledge of a tortuous gorge. Near the Noravank, in the Bird cave you will get acquainted with the latest archaeological discoveries in Armenia. In this cave, archaeologists have unearthed winery. Grape seeds, grape vines, combined with arrangements for the production and storage of wine located in Areni can attest to the fact that in this region was located an ancient complex of the industrial production of wine. In the same cave group of foreign archaeologists also found the most ancient in the world (age 5500 years) leather shoes. Continue of the excursion in Areni. Visit of the church of XIV century. And wine tasting of the excellent wine, which is a small village famous for (optional). Departure to Jermuk. Overnight in the hotel (Jermuk ).
     Day 8: Jermuk - Spandaryan Reservoir - Karahunj - Tatev - Yerevan
Breakfast. Excursion to the Spandaryan Reservoir - the second reservoir for water reserves in Armenia. Spandaryan reservoir is located in the south of Armenia, in the north of the Syunik region, built on the river Vorotan. The volume of the reservoir is 257 million m2. Then visit Zorats Karera (Karahunj) in Syunik marz. In the town of Goris, is one of the most famous megalithic structures of Armenia Zorats Carrere (Karahunj) - a prehistoric monument consisting of hundreds of vertically set large 2-meter high stones with through holes in the top. It is also called "Armenian Stonehenge." It is located on a plateau at 1,770 meters above the sea level and covers an area of more than 7ga on the left bank of the river gorge Dar, a tributary of the river Vorotan. Excursion to the Tatev Monastery that is located in Syunik Marz and is placed on the edge of a huge gorge.
The monastery was founded in the IV century., it had one church and a small number of monks. Since IX-century Tatev monastery was one of the largest centers of scientific and educational ideas of Armenia. By the end of the XI century it already had the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul and two churches,- St. Mary and St. Gregory the Illuminator, a hotel for pilgrims and other buildings. During this time the monastery several times suffered from the invasion of foreigners as well as from earthquakes. Opposite the church was built in honor of the Holy Trinity in 904, "architectural wonder", a swinging-Rod Column - "Gavazan" with the heigth of up to 8 m. According to folk legend, when the celibate priest had to give vardapetsky rod, everyone gathered at the Rod-Column and if the monk was worthy, the column began to swing ... From seismic vibrations, and even the touch of human hand the column can be tilted and independently return to starting position. Oscillations of the pendulum warned the population of the monastery of earthquakes, as well as the approach of enemy troops. Features: Tatev ropeway, or "Wings of Tatev", stretches for 5.7 km and is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest in the world. This ropeway leads to the famous Armenian monastery of Tatev with thousands of years of history. The trip offers a view of the gorge of the river Vorotan, picturesque villages and the beauty of ancient architecture. Return to Yerevan. Dinner. Overnight.
Day 9: Yerevan - Sevan - Dilijan - Sanain - crossing the border to Bagratashen - Tbilisi
Breakfast. A trip to the blue pearl of Armenia and the Caucasus, the largest of the lakes - Lake Sevan (1900m). Climb up the stairs to the observation platform of the monastery of Sevanank, with a magnificent view of the lake. Visit of the Monastery. Drive to Dilijan. In the city recently was opened Museum of Art, with the broad participation of Russian and Armenian (I.Aivazovskiy, Minas Avestyan, etc.) paintings of the XIX-XX centuries., Western European paintings of the XVII-XIX centuries. (Jean-Baptiste Greuze, master of the Correggio range, the Flemish masters of the XVII century. Etc.) and the artifacts of the archaeological cultures, studied in Tavush, ethnographic collection. Excursion around the monastery Sanain. Sanain monastery occupies a small, about 2 ha territory in central part of which, around the main temple Sanain - charges of Blessed Virgin - built Amenaprkich church and chapel of St. Gregory (X c.)the building of the Academy (XI c.), the book depository (1063g.) gallery building (end of X century.), vestibule (1181g.) and bell tower (XIII c.). - the monastery is included in the UNESCO list. The intersection of the Georgian-Armenian border in Bagratashen. Drive to Tbilisi. Crossing the border (about 30 minutes - 1 hour). Change of buses and guides. Hotel accommodation. Overnight.
     Day 10: Tbilisi - Kazbegi/ Gudauri - Tbilisi
Breakfast.In the morning, departure from Tbilisi in the direction of Stepantsminda (Kazbegi).On the way to it, we overlook the picturesque Ananuri fortress (XVI c.), located above Aragvi river, and also the amazing beauty of Zhinvali reservoir. In passing the ski resort Gudauri (2200 m), the stunning trip along Tergi river, through Cross Pass (2400 m), will bring us to Stepantsminda (Kazbegi). Excursion in Kazbegi: church of the Most Holy Gergeti Triunity (2170 m above the sea level). When the weather is fair, the stunning view on the mountain Kazbeg (5147 m), one of the highest tops of Georgia, opens. Return to Tbilisi. Overnight.
Day 11: Tbilisi - Bodbe - Sighnaghi - Manavi - Tbilisi
Breakfast. Drive to the "city of everlasting love" Sighnaghi. On the way, visit in the Bodbe village of the monastery complex of St. George and the grave of St. Nino. Excursion in the ancient city Sighnaghi " city of everlasting love" that is placed at the top of the ridge, overlooking Alazani valley. Visit of the museum - workshop of the handmade carpets and narrow carpets production. Then, passing through, acquaintance with the history of the Manavi Fortress (XI century) and the Manavi Temple (XVIII century). The church was built in 1794 by the abbot of the monastery of John the Baptist from the monastery David Gareji - Ephraim. In the 17th century here was located the royal vineyards and the estate of Heraclius II. Stop in the pearl of Kakheti - a private estate "Chateau Fort de Manavi". In the program of the visit: tasting of wines and chacha, produced according to traditional old Georgian technology directly in the marani "Chateau Fort de Manavi" from grapes grown in the estate's own vineyards. The highlight of the tasting will be "Manavi Green" - a wine made from a special grape variety that grows only in the area of the village of Manavi in Georgia. In the evening there is an opportunity to have dinner in traditional Georgian style (for extra charge). The menu includes only Georgian cuisine from ECO products grown on the "Chateau Fort de Manavi" farm. Return to Tbilisi. Overnight.
     Day 12: Tbilisi
Breakfast. Depending on departure time a free time. Buying souvenirs. Transfer to the airport.
Tour price in EURO p/p (min. 2 pax)
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