program ARMENIA TOUR 2010
Thursday
 16.40
 Departure from Amsterdam with Austrian Airlines via Vienna (arrival 18.35, departure 22.30)
  
April 29th 2010 04.45
 Arrival in Yerevan (local time)
Visa can be obtained at Yerevan airport for 15,000 dram (about 30 euros).
There is a bank at the airport to change money (open 24 hrs).
Transfer to the Guesthouse in Yerevan, check in
 
Friday
April 30th 2010
Breakfast (every day between 8.00-10.00 a.m.)
After breakfast meeting with co-operator Satik van Geenhuizen
Walk around Yerevan and opportunity to change money
 
  18.00 Walk from the hotel to the restaurant  
Saturday
May 1st 2010		 9.30-12.30
 Dance class with Ashot
Free afternoon: an excellent occasion to visit the Vernissage, the weekend market in the city center, where many craftspeople sell their wares.
The best place to find nice souvenirs to take home If you don't care for shopping, a visit to the Historical Museum or Ancient
Manuscripts Museum (Matenadaran) or Historic Museum is a good alternative.
 
19.30 Walk from the hotel to the restaurant  
Sunday
May 2nd 2010		 10.00
 We will visit the ruins of Zvartnots, where the remnants of richly ornamented arches laying on the ground bear witness to its reputation as a masterpiece of medieval architecture.
Many Armenians visit Edsmiadzin on Sunday, and we will be able to observe part of Sunday mass at the handsome cathedral while listening to soaring, moving songs from the church choir.
Inside the beautifully decorated cathedral we can admire the work of the famous painter Hovnathan, dating from 1720.
Lunch in Edsmiadzin (included)		  
  15.30-17.30 Dance class with Liudvig  
  19.00 Walk from the hotel to the restaurant
  

Monday
May 3rd 2010

 9.30-12.30
 Dance class with Ashot
Excursion to Amberd
Amberd is a fortress complex with a church built in the 11th-13th centuries on the slopes of Mt. Aragats, 2300 meters above sea level.
It is surrounded by steep gorges, and the road leading up to it is lined with many wild flowers and affords great views, making it a perfect spot to relax and go back in time.
The bus will drop us off at the restaurant. We will walk back to the hotel. 		 
Tuesday
May 4th 2010		 9.30-12.30
 Dance class with Liudvig
Tour to Sasnashen village
A good opportunity to observe the change in landscape.
This guided tour will lead us northwest of Yerevan.
Many immigrants from the former West Armenian region of Sasoun
(nowadays in Anatolia) settled around the city of Talin.
We will meet and dance with a local dance group in the village of Sasnashen, which has managed to keep its dance heritage alive for almost a century.
Bread (lavash) is baked in a pit in the floor, according to ancient tradition.
Life here is very different from Yerevan.
Back in Yerevan, free night.
  
    No dinner provided  
Wednesday
 9.30-12.30 Dance class with Ashot: review and videotaping
  
May 5th 2010 14.00 Check out
Excursion to Lake Sewan.
Following the lakeshore in a southward direction, we will visit Noraduz, an ancient cemetery famous for its impressive number of old Khatchkars (carved stone crosses) from the 9th and 10th centuries.
We drive on and visit a house in a village that dates back to the 19th century. This primitive type of house is unique in Armenia.
We drive back along the shore and check in at Hotel Harsnaqar, at the edge of Lake Sewan, where we will stay in apartments.		  
  20.00 Dinner at the hotel  
Thursday
 8.30 Breakfast
  
May 6th 2010 9.30 Excursion to Aghtamar Peninsula
On the peninsula you have a splendid view over Lake Sewan.
This is one of the largest freshwater alpine lakes in the world. 		 
  11.15
 We continue our tour to Dilidjan and will see the landscape change into a lush forested region.
  
  12.00 Part of the centre of Dilidjan has recently been restored, and we will visit craftspeople's ateliers and a small museum.
  
  13.30 Lunch at the restaurant of the Tufenkian Heritage Hotel (included) in Dilidjan.
  
  14.45 We will drive back to Yerevan via Spitak. On our way home we will make a stop at an old cemetery featuring tombstones shaped like horses.
This cemetery belongs to a Yezidi village, an ethnic minority living in Armenia.
  
    No dinner will be provided.  
Friday
 9.30-12.30
 Dance class with Liudvig: review and videotaping.
  
May 7th 2010 13.50
 Walk to Sayat Nova Academy of Dance to watch a class
 
14.30 Visit to Garni temple and Geghard monastery, famous sightseeing spots.
Impressive nature surrounds these ancient constructions.
The bus will drop us off at the restaurant for dinner.		  
20.15 Visit to a folk dance school in Yerevan, where the Folk Ensemble Malatya will perform for us.  
Saturday   Free day  
May 8th 2010   Last opportunity to stroll through the center of Yerevan or just relax to have all the impressions sink in
  
19.00 Farewell dinner.  
Sunday 05.40 Departure from Yerevan via Vienna (arrival 6.40, departure 7.25)  
May 9th 2010 09.20
 Arrival in Amsterdam  
There might be minor changes in the program. Flexibility is our motto, because that is what a cultural experience is all about!
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All our excursions will be accompagnied by an English speaking professional guide.

   
included
  • Flight Amsterdam-Yerevan (departure from other cities upon request)
  • Lodging and breakfast
  • Local guide
  • Excursions that are part of the program
  • Entrance fees
  • Transportation in a comfortable air-conditioned bus
  • Dinners
  In the program dinner is replaced occasionally by lunch for practical reasons. This will be clearly marked in the program and indicated as 'included'.
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excluded
  • Single room surcharge of € 150
  • Lunches. For a smoother travel schedule some lunches will be ordered beforehand.
  • The cost will be around 3000 Dram and can be paid locally in Dram.
  • The program will indicate these lunches as 'not included'.
  • Drinks
  • Travel insurance
  • Optional cancellation insurance
  • Visa will cost 15.000 Dram, around € 30
  • Tips for bus driver and guide
  • Personal expenses