|
24 Days The Golden Ring - featuring the Cultures of Caucasia Tour Package
Duration: 24 Days / 23 Nights
Priced From: $6,661 (All pricing reflects per-person Land Only expenses)
Dates: September
Our 25-day tour of Russia and The Caucasus begins in St. Petersburg, a city founded as a sea port by Peter the Great in the eighteenth century and which held the title of country capital for over 200 years. To this day, it is considered one of the largest centres of culture, science and industry and its over 300 years of history make it a highly rewarding tour destination for travellers. From here, we visit all the tourist hotspots, like The Kremlin, Red Square and St Isaac's Cathedral, as well as heading away from the crowds to experience a side of Russia seldom seen by travellers. For 12 days, we enjoy the sights, sounds and experiences of the largest country by landmass in the world and end the Russia leg of the tour in the opulent capital, Moscow. Our next stop, Yerevan, is renowned for its art, architecture and fascinating religious history and we take time to explore as many facets of the destination that time allows; from the multitude of Christian buildings and relics, intriguing museums and secular sites, to the Hellenic edifices, picturesque parks and grand mosques. We follow part of the ancient trading route that linked China to Western Europe, the Silk Road, and take in some beautiful fortresses, churches and palaces before flying out of Baku.
Tour Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive in St Petersburg
Arrive in St Petersburg, Russia. St. Petersburg is a relatively new city, founded in 1703. When it was nine years old it became the capital of Russia and retained this status till 1918. Even now it is referred to as the "Northern capital" of Russia. Over almost 300 years of its history St. Petersburg accumulated all the grandeur of the Russian Imperial Court and became one of the largest centers of culture, science and industry. Created by Peter the Great as a sea port on the Baltic it was essentially "a window to the West" for Russia, combining the best of the West and the East. PLEASE ADVISE US AT THE TIME OF BOOKING IF YOU PLAN TO ARRIVE EARLY OR (if applicable to your tour) EXTEND YOUR STAY IN RUSSIA AFTER THE TOUR (DUE TO VISA REGULATIONS). Overnight in St Petersburg. Dinner if required.
Day 2 St Petersburg: The Hermitage & Peter and Paul Fortress
Today we explore one of the world's leading museums, The Hermitage. With over 400 exhibition halls, it is virtually impossible to list all of the treasures. While walking through the many galleries, look out for Madonna by Raphael, Judith by Giorgione, Titian's Saint-Sebastian, and many, many paintings by Rembrandt. Inside this beautiful Winter Palace are some of the finest collections of French impressionist works. In addition, there is a fine collection of ancient and classical works from ancient Egypt, Syria, and Mesopotamia. One could easily spend several days wandering the halls inside the building; for the purposes of our formal guided tour today, we concentrate on the hightlights and provide an orientation to those wishing to explore further on their own during some designated free time. Later this afternoon we will reconvene for a visit to the Peter and Paul Fortress and St Isaac's Cathedral. At the fortress we will see how the fort played an important role in the development of St Petersburg. Inside the stone walls we will visit the Cathedral of Peter and Paul, the final resting place of the Romanovs. At St Isaac's Cathedral we will notice the interior reliefs of exceptional beauty. We will also hear of the many legends that make this church famous throughout Russia. As we travel around from point to point today you will also have a general orientation / panoramic tour of this compact city. Overnight in St Petersburg. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 3 St Petersburg: Russian Museum & Catherine Palace
Today we will spend the morning touring the Russian Museum. The museum opened in 1898 by Alexander III in the beautiful Mikhailovsky Palace--well worth inspecting before you take a look at the collection inside. Works of Russian art abound with over 370,000 pieces in the collection. There are prized paintings, sculptures, iconographic art and several masterpieces. It truly is an encyclopaedia of Russian life, character and soul. This afternoon we travel to Pushkin to see the sumptuous Catherine Palace, created in the eighteenth century by Catherine the Great, the second wife of Peter III. Designed by Rastrelli, this palace is a truly stunning example of classical baroque architecture and interior design. The true glory of the palace is the Amber Room, made of several tons of the golden tree resin--the lightest gem in the world. The room was first installed in the Winter Palace, but in 1755 Empress Elizabeth ordered Francesco Rastrelli to move it to the Catherine Palace. The individual amber panels were carried from St Petersburg to Tsarskoe Selo by 76 guardsmen in six days. They were not large enough to complete the new 100 m decor, so mosaic and mirror insets were added and the upper part of the walls was painted to imitate amber. Overnight in St Petersburg. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 4 St Petersburg: Peterhof Palace - Overnight train to Yaroslavl
This morning we travel to Catherine's Chinese Palace in nearby Lomonosov.* Left virtually undamaged by war, this little-visited gem is a stunning example of the rare Rococo style of architecture, with its original inlaid floors and walls, and superb collection of Ming Dynasty porcelain still intact. We will also visit Peterhof Palace, a remarkable example of 18th and 19th century country estates. Built by Peter I in 1717, the palace was to be "better than the French king's at Versailles." An intricate system of water fountains surrounds the palace in the immaculate gardens. We will have a chance to walk through the palace, as well as take a leisurely stroll through the gardens. We return to the city by hydrofoil (weather/season permitting). The balance of your day is free to explore St Petersburg on your own, or make an last-minute souvenir purchases. Later we board our overnight train to Yaroslavl. This train is very comfortable and most passengers find the experience very enjoyable (single compartments NOT available; single supplements reflect sharing for this one night). * PLEASE NOTE: The palace at Lomonosov will be closed indefinitely for restoration from 16 Sep 2007. Accordingly, should it be closed during your chosen departure, we will substitute a visit to Pavlovsk Palace, one of the most splendid residences of the Russian imperial family and part of the World Heritage Site of Saint Petersburg and related groups of monuments. Overnight train. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 5 Yaroslavl: City Tour
This morning we arrive in Yaroslavl and embark on a tour of this ancient regional capital. Yaroslavl is older than Moscow. Established about 1010 by Prince Yaroslav the Wise at the bank of Volga River. In the 17th century, Yaroslavl was the biggest trade and industrial town of Russia. During this time many new buildings were built there, such that the town now has its own peculiar school of architectural styles and construction. Indeed the successful merchants in the town tried to out-do each other in their contributions to the city's architecture, encouraged by the city's architectural school. The Yaroslavl churches of the 17th century differ by dimension, multiple domes, and picturesque asymmetry created by side-chapels, vestibules and porches. The churches are strongly decorated by tiles and figured carving. On the whole, this is the style called "the Russian style", unique and inimitable. AN Benua, a prominent art historian, called this style "the true Russian style of disappearing magnificent Russian culture". The inner walls of Yaroslavl churches display multiple wall-paintings, very picturesque, symmetrical with a cheerful and bright combination of clean, and open shades: blue, red and golden. There are other interesting monuments related to the 17th century, such as the architectural ensemble in Korovniki, the Church of Nikola Mokry, the Palace of Metropolitan and the Church of Saviour. The former Saviour Ressurection Convent (Cathedral and walls built in the 16th century) is located in place where River Kotorosl flows into the Volga. These days the walls of ancient convent preserve the collection of icons, embroidery, church plates and ancient church books. We visit the Art Museum located on Volga embankment. The museum collection includes icons, including the icon of Saviour dated by the 12th century, the pictorial image of Yaroslavl the Wise, the Tolgskaya icon of the Virgin, the finest collection of icons of the 17th century, which all belong to the Yaroslavl school of icon painting. The display shows provincial portraits and Russian paintings of the 18-19th centuries. Overnight in Yaroslavl. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 6 Yaroslavl - Rostov the Great - Kostroma
This morning we travel to Rostov*, one of the oldest cities on our route, situated by the beautiful Lake Nero. The history of this place begins four thousand years BC when the first tribes stayed next to the lake. Until the 11th century the territory of Rostov was inhabited by the Finn-Ugors, or 'Meryans' people. Slowly they assimilated with the Slavs, who came from the south. On arrival we will have a tour of the enormous cathedral of the XVI century and its "metropoly," considered to be the ancient city center, so called "Rostov Kremlin". Its towers impress by their white-stone architecture. We also visit the "Rostov Finift" Museum for which the town is famous. After lunch and some free time in Rostov*, we reverse our route to Kostroma. * On some departures, depending on scheduling, we may travel to Rostov and later to Kostroma by rail. Our baggage will be in storage for the day. Overnight in Kostroma. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 7 Kostroma - Suzdal
This morning we have a tour including the highlights of Kostroma, established in the 12th century. During the time of Polish-Lithuanian intervention in the beginning of the 18th century, Kostroma played a prominent role in the formation of people's volunteer corps led by Minin and Pozharsky. Another representative of Kostroma, peasant Ivan Susanin took enemies to thick woods and deadly swamps where they all met their deaths. The Central district of Kostroma comprises the buildings and structures built in a classic architectural style during the period between 1770 -1830. It's a fine example of unique, monolithic urban architectural complex. Kostroma is famous for its wonderful architectural monuments: Ipatyevsky Convent (16th-17th century), and the Church of Resurrection on Debra River (1652); Ipatyevsky Convent, located where the Kostroma River flows into the Volga. The St Trinity Cathedral of Convent is a powerful, monumental structure beautifully ornamented and decorated with the wall paintings of Sila Slavin and Guriy Nikitin, who display fantastic artistic flair, expressing the widest range of human emotions the anxious expectation of talking with God. We visit the museum on the territory of the convent with an interesting collection of icons of the 16th-19th centuries, needlework, books, church plates and some exhibits representing the art of provincial painting of the 18th-19th centuries. This afternoon we continue our journey (by private bus) to the next city on the Golden Ring, Suzdal (191 km / 4 h). Overnight Suzdal. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 8 Suzdal: City Tour
Today we have a full day of sightseeing in Suzdal. In full "Suzdal Principality," in Russian "Suzdalskoye Knyazhestvo," this medieval principality occupied the area between the Oka River and the Upper Volga in northeastern Russia. During the 12th to 14th centuries, Suzdal was under the rule of a branch of the Rurik dynasty. As one of the successor regions to Kiev, the principality achieved great political and economic importance, first becoming prominent during the reign of Andrey Bogolyubsky, who conquered Kiev (1169) and transferred the title of "grand prince" from that ancient capital first to Suzdal, then to Vladimir, his new capital on the Klyazma River. He and his brother and successor, Vsevolod III, organized a strong monarchical political system and, as rulers of the Grand Principality of Vladimir, became the most powerful of the Russian princes. They encouraged their subordinate princes to develop the principality and to build churches, palaces, and new cities. We make an excursion to The Kremlin, including the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Mother of God (built 1222-1225), which dominates the Kremlin grounds with its five huge domes; the Archbishop's Palace, which contains the local Museum with exhibits of icons, decorative religious arts and the history of architecture in this area of Russia. On the Kremlin territory are the remnants of Suzdal's first stone church, built in the 12th century. Also located in the Kremlin are the main belfry and the snow-white Archiepiscopal Palace. Suzdal's beauty is not limited just to its Kremlin grounds. The center of the town is decorated with various churches standing side by side one another. These churches vary in size, and have domes and belfries of different shapes and designs, which all add the architectural charm of this small town. Overnight in Suzdal. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 9 Suzdal - Vladimir
Today we travel by road from Suzdal to Vladimir (38 km / 1 h, 10 m). Vladimir was founded by Prince Vladimir Monomakh in 1108. In 1157 Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky moved the capital of Vladimir-Suzdal Principality to Vladimir because of the sacred icon of Our Lady from Constantinople having been moved there. In 1299 the town also became the residence of the Russian Metropolitan. By the middle of the 14th century Vladimir had lost its political importance and Moscow had become the main political centre of the Russian state. The ancient monuments dated by the 12th century remain in town and its suburbs. We will visit the great Cathedral of Dormition, built 1158-1160 by the order of Andrei Bogolyubsky. The interior of the cathedral displays the ornaments and wall paintings that go back to the 12th-13th centuries, and wall-paintings of the 15th century. The Church of St Demetrius stands close to the cathedral. The church was built in 1194-1197 by the order of Prince Vsevolod Big Nest, who was baptized as Demetrius. The facades of the church are ornamented by fine white-stone carving. We see The Golden Gates (1158-1164), located close to the town centre. There is also a white-stoned Arc of Triumph with half-encompassed ceiling and the Church over the gates. Finally we visit the Church of Intercession on Nerly, built in 1165 by the order of Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky. The moderate tracery ornament contributes to the quiet beauty of the church. Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky was one of those who admired the cult of Our Lady and introduced it actively in Russia. Overnight in Vladimir. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 10 Vladimir - Sergeiv Posad (Zagorsk) - Moscow
Today we travel by road from Vladimir to Moscow via Sergeiv Posad. Sergeiv Posad ("Zagorsk" in Soviet times) developed from a settlement around the Troitse-Sergiyeva Lavra, one of Russia's most famous monasteries (founded 1340). The Trinity Sergiev Monastery was one of the largest monasteries founded in Russia in the 14-15th centuries. In 1774, the monastery was given the title Lavra, the monastery of the highest rank, and played an important role in the history of the formation of the centralized Russian state and in the development of the Russian culture. Due to its wealth, the monastery could afford to invite the best architects and icon-painters for the construction and decoration of the buildings. The monastery bought, and was given as gifts, many first class art objects and crafts. The best of these now form the collection of the museum, which is on the grounds of the monastery. The architectural ensemble of the Trinity Sergiev Monastery was accomplished by the end of the 18th century. The oldest structure of the monastery is the Trinity Cathedral built in 1422 to 1423 and painted by the Russian icon painters Andrei Rublev and Daniel Chorny. The Assumption Cathedral (l558-1585), which resembles the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin, is the center of the ensemble of the monastery. We will visit the monastery, which has currently become a place of pilgrimage of the Russian Orthodox Church, including the museum, where one may find the icons of Andrei Rublev and other famous masters of the 15th-18th centuries. After our visit to Sergeiv Posad we will continue to Moscow. Overnight in Moscow. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 11 Moscow: Kremlin & Red Square
Our sightseeing today will include a tour of the Moscow Metro system, in which each station is designed and decorated in a different style, with chandeliers, mosaics, and paintings. Amazingly the underground trains are nearly silent. Some of these stations are so deep that they were used as air raid shelters during WWII. We will also have a walking tour of the Kremlin--the famous triangular-walled citadel of the Soviet Government dating from the end of the 15th century with its many cathedrals and their iconostases, the bell tower of Ivan the Great; and the Czar Bell, which weighing 200 tons, is the largest in the world. Upon leaving the Kremlin, be sure to touch the Kremlin Wall--an omen foretelling your return to this hospitable city. We also include a visit to the Kremlin Armory. In the afternoon we will tour famous Red Square, once the centre of Soviet life. Around the square is the History Museum, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and the Lenin Mausoleum, which was built in 1929. In the 16th century, Ivan the Terrible ordered the construction of one of Moscow's most famous landmarks--Saint Basil's Cathedral. Originally called Pokrovsky Sobor (the Cathedral of the Veil), each of the nine cupolas cover a chapel named after the saint on whose feast-day the Russian armies won their battles. Overnight in Moscow. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 12 Moscow: Tretiakov Gallery
Today's sightseeing in Moscow takes us to Manej Square, the Bolshoi Theatre, Tverskaya Avenue, Novodevichij convent (outside), the buildings of Moscow University, and panoramic view of the whole Moscow from Poklonnaya Hill, with its Victory Monument. This afternoon we visit a unique treasure house of Russian painting, graphs and sculptures--the Tretiakov Gallery. It has 62 exhibition halls representing the works of the XII century artists, sculptors and icon painters. There you'll see works of Brulov, Savrasov, Vasiliev, Kuindgi, Nesterov, Rublyov, and Ushakov. Overnight in Moscow. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 13 Moscow, Russia - Baku, Azerbaijan
Today we fly from Moscow to Baku. Overnight in Baku. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 14 Baku: City Tour
Today we tour the 'City of the Winds' and start with a visit to the Martyr's Cemetery, located on the higher slopes of the city's west-end. This is the best place for viewing the city and the Bay of Baku. We proceed to the Old Town 'Iceri Sehir', which is also a fortress. We see the highlights of Iceri Sehir including the Palace of the Shirvans (the most striking example of the Medieval palace structures in Azerbaijan, dating to the middle of 15th century); the Maiden's Tower (the ancient, eight storey fortress originally built as a fire beacon), and the Carpet Museum (the impressive building located on the seafront -- its collection was enriched with the carpets brought from Shusha Carpet Museum, evacuated before the Armenian advance. We regret that if this day falls on a MONDAY, this museum is closed). This afternoon we visit the Baku Fire Temple, known locally as the Atashgah. This is a castle-like Hindu temple and monastery complex in Surakhani near Baku. The complex is now a museum and is no longer used as a place of worship. Local legend associates the temple at Surakhany with the fire temples of Zoroastrianism, but this is presumably based on a misunderstanding of the term 'Atashgah,' which in Azerbaijani is literally any fire-place, but in Zoroastrianism is synonymous with Middle Persian Atashdan, the technical term for the altar-like repository for a sacred wood-fire. Overnight in Baku. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 15 Baku - Shemakha - Sheki
This morning we leave the capital and travel by road east to Shemakha, for a long time the capital and trade centre for western Azerbaijan and now a small town. We briefly visit the Grand Mosque, a very large and attractive building from the late 19th century; and the Yedi Gumbez 'Seven Tombs', yet only three of these desecrated octagonal royal tombs remain reasonably complete. They are the 18th-19th century mausoleums of the Khans of Shemakha. We continue to Sheki, one of the most ancient settlements and architectural centers of Azerbaijan founded more than 2700 years ago. Even the hotel "Yukhari Caravanserai" where we will stay is an architectural monument. The setting here is stunning -- lying in forested hills with views of the Caucasus. On arrival we visit the mosaic-fronted Khan's Palace, a beautiful piece of Islamic architecture, and the History Museum. We will also have a walk through the busy market of Sheki. Overnight at Sheki Caravanserai. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 16 Sheki, Azerbaijan - Telavi, Georgia
This morning we travel along the foothills of the Greater Caucasus range and arrive at the Azerbaijan border / Lagodekhi check-point. After completing customs and immigration formalities (which can be lengthy!) we continue to Telavi. Throughout this region, snowy peaks can just be made out through the haze, and the towering white poplar tree -- much admired by Russian poets who visited the region a century ago -- becomes an increasingly familiar sight in the surrounding woodland. The emptiness of the road today belies the fact that this is an ancient trade route, a tiny part of the old Silk Road that linked China with Western Europe before an alternative route was discovered by sea. In the Telavi area, we visit some of the highlights of Georgian architectural monuments: Alaverdi Cathedral (11th c) and Ikalto Academy (4th-13th). In Telavi we also visit the Palace of Irakli II, the last King of Georgia. Tonight we will probably overnight at a guest house (shared bathrooms) and have dinner with local wine. Overnight in Telavi. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 17 Telavi - David Gareji Monastery - Tbilisi
Today we drive to David Gareji Monastery Group, situated deep in semi-desert about 75 km (47 mi) south-east of Tbilisi. Founded in the 6th century by the Christian Father St. David, the monasteries are remarkable for their original cave frescoes that date from the 8th to 13th centuries, and the site is considered to be one of the most important landmarks of Georgia. After a picnic lunch, we continue to Kakheti Province in the east part of Georgia. This is Georgia's famous wine district in a land dotted with fine old churches and vineyard after vineyard. En route, we may be able to stop in at a local winery and learn of the rare endemic wines produced for a thousand years. Later in the day we arrive in Tbilisi. Overnight in Tbilisi. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 18 Tbilisi: City Tour
Tbilisi, capital of Georgia from the 5th century AD, has a long and fascinating history. Founded in the 4th century by King Vakhtang Gorgasali on the site of its warm mineral-water springs, it developed into the main city of the Caucasus. By the 12th century Tbilisi was one of the more important political, economic and cultural centres of the Middle East. It stood as a key stop on the famous Silk Road, right on the border between Europe and Asia. Tbilisi's Old Town, the most ancient part of the city, is renowned for its wonderful mix of cultures. The mosque, the synagogue, the Armenian and Roman Catholic churches mingle harmoniously with the splendid Georgian churches and architecture. The balmy sulfur baths have hosted poets, writers, musicians, and kings down through the centuries. The multi-ethnic markets with large variety of produce and languages, give the city an Eastern, cosmopolitan feel. We will explore much of the old town by foot, starting at the Metekhi church (12th C), Abanotubani, the area famous for the sulphur baths with Asian style buildings and 19th C Georgian houses. We will visit the citadel of Narikala, the main fortress of Tbilisi, where we have panoramic views of the city. We visit Georgian State Museum and walk Rustaveli Avenue, the most beautiful street of Tbilisi. Balance of the day for independent exploration. Overnight in Tbilisi. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 19 Tbilisi: Mtskheta & Svetitskhoveli Cathedral
This morning we travel to Mtskheta, the ancient capital of Georgia. Historians date this town back to the 2nd millennium BC. Mtskheta subsequently became the capital of Georgian Kingdom of Iberia between 500 BC-500 AD. Here Georgians adopted Christianity in the beginning of 4th century and Mtskheta still remains the Headquarters of Georgian Orthodox Church. We visit Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (11th C), where the robe of Jesus Christ is said to be buried, and Jvari Monastery (6th C), among the finest architectural monuments in Georgia. Mtskheta is listed as a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO. We then continue along Georgian Military Highway to Ananuri Fortress. The GMH, as a route, has existed since time immemorial, and has always been the main route of invasion of steppe nomads from the Eurasian plains southwards. Return to Tbilisi. Overnight in Tbilisi. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 20 Tbilisi, Georgia - Lake Sevan - Yerevan, Armenia
An early departure today takes south across the border into Armenia. Our first stop in Armenia is Sanahin and Maghpat churches, both UNESCO sites. These are both outstanding examples of Medieval Armenian architecture. We continue to Lake Sevan, a huge mountain lake that takes up 5% of Armenia's surface area and is about 2,000 meters (6,600 ft) above sea level. On a clear and sunny day the water is often a deep turquoise colour. Maxim Gorky once said about the waters that they were like a piece of the sky that had descended to the earth among the mountains. On a peninsula sits the Monastery of Sevanavank, consisting of two rather rough churches which we visit. It is worthwhile to climb up the many stairs for the view and to see the many khatchkars. They were carved from a plentiful local green stone and stood out from the others that are all made of tuff. Late in the day we cross the border into Armenia and arrive in Yerevan, the present-day capital of a nation that was the first in the world to adopt Christianity as a state religion (AD 301). The Yerevan of today is a city of Christian cathedrals, theatres and museums, universities and academies, parks, squares and industrial sites and, finally, an art-loving and sophisticated people. Overnight in Yerevan. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 21 Yerevan: City Tour
Today we tour Yerevan, including the Genocide Memorial and Museum at Tsitsernakaberd ("Swallow Castle"). The memorial sits on the site of a Iron Age fortress, all above-ground traces of which seem to have disappeared. The museum's testimony to the 1915 destruction of the Armenian communities of Eastern Anatolia is moving, and the monument itself is austere but powerful. The spire symbolizes the Eastern and Western branches of the Armenian people. From here the view over the Ararat Valley is striking. Today we will also visit the Matenadaran's Manuscript Collection, of prime importance for the study of the history and culture of Armenia as well as Transcaucasia, Asia Minor and many Middle Eastern countries. Works by some philosophers of antiquity survived only in their Armenian translation. These include Eusebius of Gaesaria's "Chronicle", the ancient Greek philosopher Xenon's treatise "On Nature" and many others. The archives preserve over 100,000 documents of the fourteenth to nineteenth centuries: various deeds, decrees, treaties and letters, which contain vast material on the political and socio-economic history of Armenia and neighbouring countries. We also visit the National History Museum on Republic Square. The square was built in the 1940s in a traditional Armenian architectural style. The arches of the buildings lining the square and the motifs of the bas-reliefs are unique in their conception and resemble the structural shapes of the Armenian architectural and spiritual monuments of the 10th-13th centuries. In Yerevan, most buildings comprise a pink shade of "tuf" stone quarried locally. This is the most prominent feature of Yerevan's otherwise usually utilitarian Soviet architecture and is unique to Armenia. While in Yerevan we will also visit the Echmiadzin Cathedral (AD 301) located outside the city. This is the centre of the Armenian church and their most important Orthodox cathedral. Overnight in Yerevan. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 22 Garni Temple & Geghard Monastery Complex
Not far from Yerevan we will find two places where the people expressed their beliefs: the Hellenistic Mithras Temple of Garni, dating back to the first century, and the Geghard Monastery in the gorge of the River Asat. Garni Temple was destroyed by an earthquake in 1679 and reconstructed in the 1970s. The temple is erected on a basalt base, on top of the gorge of the river Asat, surrounded by the ruins of the Garni Citadel, which also served as the summer residence of the Armenian kings in the third and fourth century. The monastery at Geghard is a unique architectural construction, partially carved out of the adjacent mountain, surrounded by cliffs. While the main chapel was built in 1215, the complex was founded in the 4th century. At some point during our time in Yerevan we will visit a brandy factory for a tour and tasting. Today we include a typical lunch at a private home (dinner on your own). Overnight in Yerevan. Breakfast and lunch.
Day 23 Exploring South of Yerevan
This morning we visit Khor Virap Monastery (AD 4-17 c). Khor Virap has a very long and rich history, both secular and religious. It is situated in the Ararat Valley against the Biblical Mt Ararat (where Noah's Ark cast anchor) on the left bank of the River Araks on one of the high hills. From ancient times Khor Virap was highly esteemed for its geographical and territorial advantages. Weather permitting we will have spectacular views of Mt Ararat from the Yerevan-Artashat motorway. We also visit Noravank Monastery, located in a narrow gorge of brick-red cliffs. Noravank ("New Monastery") was founded by Bishop Hovhannes, Abbot of Vahanavank, who moved there in 1205. During the 13th and 14th centuries a series of princes of the Orbelian clan built churches that served as burial sites for the family. The monastery became the center of the Syunik bishopric. The church, completed in 1339, is said to be the masterpiece of the talented sculptor and miniaturist Momik. We return to Yerevan. Tonight's dinner will be held at a typical Armenian restaurant, possibly with live Armenian music. Overnight in Yerevan. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 24 Departure
Departure from Yerevan. Breakfast. BON VOYAGE!!
Save time, money and stress!
For reservations: Fill out the vacation planner to be contacted by our Russia vacation specialist.
Contact: Travelwizard.com
Phone: 1-415-446-5252 or 1-800-330-8820
9/09
|
