“We shall come and erect here, A well of purest light!”

These are the lines to begin both the quatrain of one of the Armenian Catholicos Sahak Dzoroporetsi (677-703) and our tour to this unique complex, consisting of several churches of the residence of the Catholicos and the ruins of the Zvartnots temple. Ejmiatsin is a small spiritual capital filled with silence and history. The first stone was laid in 303 and since then the cathedral has undergone significant changes, redevelopments and restorations, yet remained the main sacred place for all the Armenians and an important point of visit for Christians. Relics such as the right hand of Saint John the Baptist, the Holy Lance and the three particles of the cross upon which Jesus Christ was crucified are kept here.

The name translates literally as “The Descent of the Only Begotten”. According to legend, the first patriarch Grigor the Illuminator had a dream of Christ descending from heaven with a fiery hammer in his hand and indicating the place for the cathedral to be built. Everything from the bell ringing to rose bushes and quiet alleys of gardens with dense trees through which the tops of the churches are visible, is saturated with harmony and tranquility. The Ejmiatsin complex comprises three more churches built in memory of the holy martyrs, namely Saint Gayane, Saint Hripsime and Saint Shoghakat.

On our way to Yerevan after the excursion to Ejmiatsin, we offer our guests another destination point. Zvartnots - “Temple of the Vigil Angels” (translated literally), is included in the UNESCO heritage list and is unique with its architecture and preserved details. Until the beginning of the 20th century, the ruins of the temple were known only from written sources; shortly afterwards, however, the temple was excavated from under clay layers and restored. It is a vivid example of Armenian architecture of antiquity today. We guarantee unique photos and a wonderful completion of the tour.

One of the most unusual places in Armenia, the village of Garni that bears the same name as the ancient pagan temple, is situated on 37 km from the center of Yerevan. Before the adoption of Christianity, the architecture in Armenia was interrelated with the Hellenistic style. This is evidenced by Garni, executed in this elegant manner with a characteristic colonnade on all sides and located on the top of a hill divided from the mountain range by a deep gorge. The temple was restored in 1976 and welcomes a multitude of tourists daily to this day. Since 2011, it has been awarded the UNESCO heritage award. The picturesque mountains, steep gorge and endless echo to be heard again and again, fascinate and ask to return.

Once approaching Geghard, the tops of the crosses and the church itself will not be the first thing to notice, as that place will belong to music. The musicians are right the ascent to the church, always playing, welcoming guests with joy and loud national music. The air is filled with the aroma of national delicacies, such as dried fruit, sweet sujukh and honey, yet once you climb up the hill, you will be shocked by what you see. You will appear in front of the gates, leading to the temple of Geghard, completely carved out of the mountain.

This masterpiece of Armenian medieval architecture amazes with its detail and antiquity. Geghard is a complex consisting of the main chapel, two cave halls, and tombs. There is a cold spring in the first cave hall, which to this day captures the attention of the visitors. It is believed that its holy water heals diseases, rejuvenates and gifts beauty. Literally translated, Geghard means “holy spear” in memory of the spear kept in it, which had wounded Jesus Christ at the Crucifixion. It is also included in the UNESCO list of heritage since 2000. The nearby flowing Azat River hypnotizes with its murmur, pigeons hover over the church, and the coolness from the gorge gives strength to continue the path to new discoveries and impressions.

Where does Yerevan start from 

Yerevan is one of the most ancient cities in the world. Despite its history of centuries, the present and the past coexist in harmony inside its walls. This is evidenced by the spirit the city is filled with. New buildings, monuments, fountains, memorials and parks appear side-by-side with the architecture of centuries and complement the image of Yerevan together. Being a reminiscent of “sun rays”, the city itself disposes to long, yet never tiring walks. The weather will delight you with its lack of rains, hot summers, clear blue sky and multitudes of sun and color.

The city is literally saturated with bright light. You can see a magnificent panorama overlooking Mount Ararat from any height or elevation. This is the breathtaking view our capital begins with, always happy to host any newcomers with great love. Our tour offers you to get to know Yerevan from the side that the residents of the city themselves know.

Our tour will introduce you to such famous places as:

St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral, Republic Square, Marshal Baghramyan Avenue. A visit to the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex dedicated to the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide with a stop in Victory Park with an overview of the Mother Armenia monument and the famous panoramic view of the city center. Mandatory walk along the Northern Avenue and the open-air museum of the Cascade complex.

After this rich program, we offer our guests to relax in a unique place, namely, to visit the Ararat Brandy Factory - perennial barrels, an old cellar and a history of 120 years of brandy making. The key component of the tour is the tasting of such famous types of brandy as “THREE STARS” and “NAIRI” in the course of which you will learn about the famous medals decorating the cellar and about other secrets of the factory hidden from others.

We also suggest visiting another place that personifies Armenian culture, namely, the Megerian family carpet museum, where you will witness the creation of authentic Armenian carpets in real time, which are made according to the old technologies with special weaving machines just like hundred years ago. You will explore the secrets of masterpiece creations such as thread-dyeing with vegetable dyes, trimming, and furnishing. The factory also includes a museum where elegant antique carpets are exhibited, as well as carpets from the personal collection of the Megerian family itself.

Lake Sevan is one of the first associations that comes to mind after mentioning Armenia. It is the largest source of fresh water for the country and the also the biggest in the whole Caucasus. Surrounded by mountain ranges at an altitude of about 1900 meters above sea level, Sevan is striking in its beauty and azure-blue water surface. The lake has a small peninsula, at the top of which is located the monastery of Sevanavank. In a complex with several buildings, the monastery has been preserved since the 18th century and is still in effect. From a height, it seems that the mountains and the water merge together and there is not a single border between them. Watching the endless play of the waves shimmering under the sun makes one mistake it for a sea. This association is truthful indeed. In the ancient Armenian sources, Sevan was called “the Geghama Sea”, or was simply referred to as “the sea”. Amazing nature combines rocky landscape and pine mini forests located alongside the coast. Once here for the first time, you begin to feel the infinite harmony and inner peace. We invite you to immerse yourself in this feeling and relax both mentally and physically.

Dilijan – a city of unique nature

Dilijan is a city of forests. Surrounded by them on almost all sides, it resembles a fairy tale that was made to be written about, painted and have songs dedicated to its beauty. So it is, Dilijan is an intellectual city, which is home to many cultural figures of Armenia. There are colleges, specialized schools and a sports complex, and two branches of state institutions. The valley charges with a youth spirit, floating in the air. It disposes to create and relax. The nature makes you stop for a moment and just listen. You hear the wind and strive to remember everything that is there: Lake Parz, forests, an amphitheater, museums and eternally beautiful monasteries.  You can experience all this beauty with us.