Armenian cuisine is considered to be one of the oldest in the world.

Food can tell about the spirit of the people much more than other works of architecture and painting. Fine pieces of art are individualized, but the national cuisine, as the French say, is a “matter of pinch” of numerous and nameless authors.

Day 1: Welcome to Armenia!

Meeting at the airport Zvartnots and transfer to the hotel. After a rest,  the tour around the city with a visit to the Historical Museum of Armenia and the sights of the city.

After the tour you will taste  one of the most famous and delicious dishes of the Armenian cuisine – Tolma.

Tolma is meat minced with rice, wrapped in grape leaves or stuffed in vegetables (eggplants, tomatoes, etc.)

Return to the hotel.

Day 2: Garni - Geghard - Yerevan

Breakfast in the hotel. After breakfast –  the excursion to the Institute of Ancient Manuscripts Matenadaran. Then you will visit the historical places of Armenia – Garni and Geghard. Garni is the former summer residence of Armenian kings.  The inspection of the pagan temple of the Sun (1st century AD) – an architectural monument of the Hellenistic era.

Further – a trip to the monastery complex Geghard (12-13 centuries.), listed in the world cultural heritage of UNESCO. The monastery was founded in the 4th century on the site of a sacred spring, originating in a cave. Therefore, initially it was called Ayrivank, which means “cave monastery”. According to the legend, the founder of the monastery was St. Gregory the Illuminator.  A part of the temples of the monastery complex is completely carved inside the rocks. On the territory of the monastery complex there are numerous carved stone walls and detached khachkars.

Return to Yerevan.

After the tour, you will try another delicious dish – Khashlama, which is prepared from fresh meat. Meat during the preparation becomes tender, and the broth is saturated with the aromas of fresh vegetables and herbs.

If you come to us in the autumn, then you will have an opportunity to try Ghapama in the tourist area “Aya Maria”.

Ghapama is a dish of Armenian cuisine, representing a pumpkin stuffed with rice, raisins, cherry plum, apples and spices. Return to the hotel.

Day 3: Echmiadzin – Erevan

Breakfast in the hotel. After breakfast, a trip to Etchmiadzin ( the spiritual and administrative center of the Armenian Apostolic Church) and a visit to the Cathedral (4th c.). Next, the church of St. Hripsime (7th c.).

On this day you will try the Echmiadzin Kyufta – the pride of the Armenian cuisine. According to the recipe passed from generation to generation, it was prepared this way: the best beef meat, or rather the  veal, was selected, and for a long time it was repulsed on a flat large stone (salakar) with special wooden hammers before turning it into a viscous homogeneous mass. In the process, a little water and salt was added. The beaten meat was shaped into a bowl and boiled.

Return to the hotel.

Day 4: Dilijan – Sevan – Yerevan

Breakfast in the hotel. After breakfast – a trip to the mountain resort of Dilijan, located in the middle of a picturesque area called “Armenian Switzerland”.  The survey of the monastery complex Haghartsin (11-13 centuries), masterfully inscribed in a beautiful landscape. On the way back, you will see Lake Sevan (1900 m) – the “blue pearl of Armenia” and try fresh fish from the lake itself. Optionally, it can be boiled fish or a grill. Return to Yerevan.

Day 5: Departure

Transfer to Zvartnots airport and departure to your homeland.