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Tour «Armenia - Georgia - Armenia»
Yerevan – Garni temple – Geghard monastery – Lake Sevan – Dilijan – Tbilisi – Mtskheta – Bodbe – Sighnaghi – Manavi – Kazbegi/ Gudauri – Tbilisi – Echmiadzin – Zvartnots – Yerevan, 8 days/ 7 nights
Day 1: Yerevan
Arrival to Yerevan. Meeting with the representatives of the agency. Hotel accommodation.
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. You will see Republic Square, Abovyan Street with old merchant houses, Northern Avenue, Opera house, Cascade complex and Gafeschyan Art Center.
Optional welcome dinner in local restaurant. Overnight.
     Day 2: Yerevan – Garni temple – Geghard monastery – Yerevan
After breakfast, we will go to the picturesque mountainous area to the east of Yerevan to fortress complex of Garni (1st century AD). We will visit the only well kept pagan temple in Armenia. Garni - is a unique monument of the Hellenistic period in Armenia. The temple is dedicated to the sun god Mithra, was built in the second half of the I century AD under King Tiridates I, and has remained after the country adopted Christianity, because of the IV century BC to the III century BC castle was the residence of Armenian kings. The fortress is located on a high rocky cliff and is surrounded by deep gorges.
Unique, carved out the rock monastery Gegard (UNESCO World Heritage Site). Gegard - is an ancient monastery, the first buildings of which were built back in the IV. BC The name "Gegard" means "spear." According to legend, the monastery kept spear that crucified Christ was pierced by one of the Roman guards. Spearhead is kept in the museum of St. Etchmiadzin. Return to Yerevan. Free time. Overnight. Optional tasting of Armenian cognacs.     
Day 3: Yerevan – Lake Sevan – Dilijan – 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 Sevan, with a magnificent view of the lake. Visit of the monastery. Moving 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.
Departure to the territory of Georgia. The intersection of the Georgian-Armenian border in Bagratashen. Crossing the border (about 30 minutes - 1 hour). Change of buses and guides. Arrival to Tbilisi. Meeting with the representatives of the agency. Hotel accommodation. Optional folklore welcome dinner with Georgian songs and dances (for extra charge). Overnight in the hotel.     
Day 4: Tbilisi – Mtskheta – Tbilisi
Breakfast. Excursion in Tbilisi. 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 here are 2-3 storeyed houses, built of brick and stone, that have a 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 Metechian Church (V 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. The rise by the cable car (tickets for extra charge) to the Narikala fortress (IV c.). Then, excursion in Mtskheta. 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. The official adoption of Christianity in Georgia in 324 is associated with the name of St. Nino, with the assistance and participation of the King St. Miriam and Queen St. Nana. It was St. Nino who persuaded the king Miriam and queen Nana to adopt Christianity in Georgia. Woderworking icon of Iberian Mother of God, wonderworking icon of St. Nino, grave of St. Tsar Merian and Tsarina Nani, hallows of St. Abibos Nekresky, St. Shio Mhvimskoho are inside. Visit of temple- monastery Jvari ( VI c.). At the top of the mountain, where the temple is located, opens a fantastic view on the place of confluence of two rivers – Kura and Aragvi. There also opens a beautiful view on the ancient capital of Georgia – Mtskheta. Return to Tbilisi. Overnight.
     Day 5: Tbilisi – Ananuri – Gudauri – Kazbegi – Tbilisi
Breakfast. Free day. Overnight. Optional tour to Kazbegi (for extra charge). In the morning, departure from Tbilisi in the direction of Stepantsminda (Kazbegi).On the way to it, we will 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 Holy Gergeti Trinity Church (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.
    
Day 6: Tbilisi — Bodbe — Sighnaghi — Manavi – Yerevan
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. Return to Tbilisi. Transfer to the railway station and departure to Yerevan by a night train.      Day 7: Yerevan – Echmiadzin – Zvartnots – Yerevan
Breakfast. Free day. Overnight. Optional tour to Echmiadzin and Zvartnots (for extra charge). Visit Subr Echmiadzin Cathedral (Holy Echmiadzin founded in 303 AD). The name is translated as “the descent of the Only-begotten", i.e. “place of the descent of Christ". Cathedral was founded at the beginning of the IV c., right after the adoption of Christianity by Armenians. According to the legend, a place to build the temple was noted to Gregory the Illuminator by Christ. Visit the museum – Treasure of Echmiadzin. The spearhead wounding Jesus Christ is kept in the museum with many other unique relics and artifacts. Visit the ruins of Zvartnots temple, Holy Echmiadzin and the Temple of Heaven Vigil Forces – Zvartnots that are included into the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Return to Yerevan.
     Day 8: Yerevan Breakfast. Free time. Souvenir purchase. Transfer to the airport for your flight to back home.
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