Day 1։ During this tour you will visit “The Jewel of Armenia” or the “Geghama Sea” - Lake Sevan. In the northwest part of Sevan Lakethere is one of the most prominent examples of medieval Armenian architecture – Sevanavank Monastery. It was founded in 874 AD by princess Mariam. The church buildings were constructed from black tuff, which probably gave the monastery its name Sevanavank - “the Black Monastery”. The next destination of our tour is “Armenian Switzerland” - Dilijan. In 13 km northeast of Dilijan in a cozy place one can find Monastery complex Haghartsin ('Dance of the Eagles’). It was built between the 10th and 13th centuries and has three churches. Our last stop will be the Monastery Goshavank which became one of the most famous religious and scholarly centers in medieval Armenia in the 12th-13th centuries. The monastery was built between 1188 and the late 13th century. From here we will leave for Tbilisi.
Day 2: After the breakfast we will have an observing city tour in Tbilisi and leave for Mtskheta and Jvari. The city of Mtskheta was founded in the 5th century BC. The old city lies at the confluence of the rivers Mtkvari and Aragvi. It is home to Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (11th century) and Jvari Monastery (6th century), which are amongst the most significant monuments of Georgian Christian architecture, and are historically significant in the development of medieval architecture throughout the Caucasus. Mtskheta, as well as Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and Jvari are listed as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. After paying visits to these beautiful places we will come back to Armenia and have our overnight in Alaverdi.
Day 3: After the breakfast we will leave for monasteries of Haghpat, Sanahin dating back to the 10th to 13th centuries, Dendropark and Armenian alphabet monument.
The monastery of Haghpat, founded by Queen Khosrovanush (wife of the Armenian King Ashot III) in AD 976, consists of one narthex, two corridor-sepulchers, a refectory, a scriptorium, the Chapel of Hamazasp, a belfry, several chapel-tombs and cross-stones (khachkars)․
Sanahin used to be the administrative centre and family burial place of the Kyurikyan Bagratids (10th and 11th centuries), as well as the Episcopal residence for the diocese (until the 11th century). These monasteries are placed on UNESCO's World Heritage List.
The botanic garden of Stepanavan was established by Polish engineer-forester Edmon Leonovich in 1933. There are more than 500 plants. Next destination of our trip will be the Monument of Armenian alphabet. Armenian alphabet was created by Mesrop Mashtots in 405 in order to make the Bible accessible to Armenians and spread Christianity.
