6-Day Armenia Discovery Tour from Istanbul

In the evening, we meet our guests at the International Terminal of Sabiha Gökçen Airport. With guidance from our guide, we complete ticket and passport formalities and depart for Yerevan at 23:35 on Pegasus Airlines flight PC650. During the flight, brochures with brief information about Armenia are distributed. Our guests rest during the night. We spend the night on board.

We arrive at Yerevan Zvartnots Airport at 02:40 in the early morning. After customs procedures and baggage collection, we transfer to our hotel by private vehicle and rest briefly. After breakfast at the hotel, we begin our Yerevan city tour. On our panoramic tour, we see the Mother Armenia Monument, a symbol of defence from the Soviet era, Victory Park, which offers panoramic views of the city, and the Opera House, an important part of the city's cultural life. Our tour also includes Freedom Square, surrounded by cafés, theatres and art venues; Republic Square, the city's main central square with its red tuff buildings; and Northern Avenue, a modern avenue known for its boutiques, cafés and street art. At the Cascade Art Complex, we see the large architectural structure with its broad stairways and the modern artworks at the Cafesjian Center for the Arts. From here, we take in views across the entire city. There is free time in the afternoon. Guests can relax in cafés or explore the city's streets. In the evening, local dishes such as khorovats, dolma, lavash and gata can be sampled. Overnight in Yerevan.

After breakfast, we leave the hotel to explore two regions of Armenia. Our first stop is Geghard Monastery, a UNESCO Heritage Site. Known for its chambers carved entirely into the mountain, the monastery has acoustics that allow sacred hymns to be heard clearly. During our visit, we examine the building's historic features. We then visit Garni Pagan Temple, Armenia's only pagan temple built in the Ancient Roman style. Set above a deep valley, the temple overlooks the natural landscape and is an example of Hellenistic architecture in the Caucasus. At Symphony of Stones (Natural Volcanic Columns), we see basalt columns formed by natural processes. We stop here for photos and have an opportunity to take a short walk. In Garni, we visit a local home restaurant to watch traditional Lavash being made in a tandoor oven. For lunch, we eat dishes prepared with local herbs, cheeses and special sauces. We return to Yerevan in the late afternoon. The evening is free time. Overnight in Yerevan.

After breakfast, we begin our full-day tour. Our first stop is Lake Sevan, one of the world's largest high-altitude freshwater lakes. Known as the mirror of the sky, the lake is noted for viewpoints overlooking its blue and turquoise waters. Sevanavank Monastery, located on the peninsula in the lake, consists of two stone churches. From here, we can enjoy panoramic views of the lake. Our tour continues with Dilijan National Park, known as the Switzerland of Armenia. We take nature walks in the park, which is known for its dense forests, rural villages and fresh air. Haghartsin Monastery, set among the forests, is a monastery complex built between the 10th and 13th centuries. Lunch is offered at an extra charge at a fish restaurant near the lake. In the evening, we return to Yerevan. Free time is provided after our return. Overnight in Yerevan.

After breakfast, we will visit Hor Virap Monastery, Etchmiadzin Cathedral, Zvartnots Cathedral and the Ararat Brandy Factory. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant, followed by a return to Yerevan in the late afternoon. There will be free time in the evening. Overnight accommodation will be at the Ani Grand Hotel or similar hotels.

We check out of the hotel very early in the morning and transfer to the airport at 03:00. We depart for Istanbul at 06:00 on Pegasus flight PC651. Our tour ends upon arrival in Istanbul at 07:30.