ARMENIA DANCE AND CULTURE TOUR - € 1955 (flight excluded) approx. $ 2175
This tour is suitable for folk dancers and non-dancers alike.
REGISTRATION
August 26 – for travelers who only participate in the ARMENIA TOUR -Arrival, transfer to hotel - drive to Haghpat
Most flights arrive very early in Yerevan early the morning. Ani Grand Hotel is only a short drive from the airport. You can catch some sleep before checking out at 12 o’clock and buy yourself lunch. If necessary luggage can be stored at the hotel. We are coming back to this hotel on August 28, so you might prefer to travel light for the coming 2 days.
At 13.30 our guide Naira will meet you in the lobby to travel to the north of Armenia to stay in Haghpat for the next 2 nights. You can relax and the next day you will meet our fellow travelers arriving from Georgia. Dinner at the hotel will be included.
Wednesday August 27 – travel to Georgian border - Akhtala church and Haghpat monastery
After breakfast the bus will drive to the border with Georgia to meet the new participants. On the way back to Haghpat we will visit Akhtala church with its beautiful frescos and have a guided tour. Before lunch we bake a local pastry called Gata, which will be today's lunch dessert. During lunch (incl) we have the opportunity to get to know each other more closely. Arriving in Haghpat we take the opportunity to visit Haghpat monastery, a UNESCO World heritage site. We will offer you the opportunity to buy yourself a lunch for tomorrow before we are back at the hotel to have dinner (incl). Dancing with Tineke in the evening.
Thursday August 28 – Travel to Yerevan – stop for a hike to Kobayr and at a Yezidi village
On our way to Yerevan there are some nice stops. The art of sculpting Khachkars (Stone Crosses) is unique and still an existing art form in Armenia. It can be seen at our stop at a 'stone master' in Vanadzor. We can stretch our legs for a challenging hike of about 45 minutes (one way) to the ruins of Kobayr church. You need good shoes to have a better grip. Local women sell coffee and cake along the hiking trail. . Our next stop will be near a Yezidi village, one of the two minorities living in Armenia, which we pass on our way to Yerevan. The local sheikh will inform us at the temple about their unique traditions and customs.
Check in at Ani Grand hotel in Yerevan. Our hotel is located in the city center, in a quiet street, but in the middle of the bustling life of Yerevan. At 18.30 we walk from the hotel to the restaurant. Dinner included.
Friday August 29 – Yerevan sightseeing - visit to Geghard and Garni
We will get started at 10.00 and get acquainted with the city on foot. You will have free time to have lunch in one of the many cafes or restaurants or to buy something in the well-equipped supermarkets.
At 13.00 departure to the Geghard medieval Monastery, a Unesco World Heritage site, partially carved out of the adjacent mountain. Our next stop is Garni Temple, the only pagan temple remaining in the entire former Soviet Union . If you have good walking skills, a walk to the ‘Symphony of Stones’ is worth it. It is an impressive basalt formation. For others, there will be an alternative. Dinner in Garni (incl).
Saturday August 30 – dance class – free afternoon to visit the Vernissage, a local art market
Dance class at the hotel with a local teacher from 10.00-12.00.
Free afternoon to browse around the local art market which is more extensive on Saturday. But there are a lot more interesting things to see in Yerevan. We can certainly make some recommendations. There will be no dinner provided tonight. It is not hard to find nice restaurants in Yerevan, because our hotel is situated in the city center.
Sunday August 31 – dance class – lunch at Ashtarak – visit to Amberd fortress
Dance class at the hotel with a local teacher from 10.00-12.00.
Armenia is the cradle of wine making, therefore we depart at 13.00 to visit a local winery in Ashtarak where we will have lunch and wine tasting (incl). Many families were already involved in winemaking, but in recent years Armenia has really stepped up its wine production and improved the quality of the wines. We love supporting these small, often environmentally friendly, wineries.
Our tour continues to Amberd, the ruins of an ancient fortress, situated in the mountains, surrounded by beautiful nature.
If a dance performance of the professional dance group Tatul Altunian is scheduled in Yerevan we will certainly try to fit in a visit to the theatre. No dinner provided.
Monday September 1 – Areni archeological cave – Noravank churches – lunch in Areni - Goris
Check out and departure at 9.30 to travel towards the southeast of Armenia.
Not to miss in Areni is a cave where archaeological excavations have yielded a wealth of finds and which recently has been opened to the public. In the cave the world’s oldest winery was discovered, dating back over six thousand years. The most remarkable find was a 5,500-year-old leather shoe recovered in excellent condition, the world's oldest piece of leather footwear. Lunch (incl) will be in a local eco winery with excellent home made food and wine tasting. We continue our tour by driving into a rugged canyon leading to one of the most impressive monasteries in Armenia, Noravank. Although Armenia has an abundance of religious monuments, Noravank ranks to one of the top locations because of its location, unique decorations and size. Passing a mountain pass we will reach our final destination, the city of Goris, late afternoon. Dinner (incl) at the hotel, where we will stay 2 nights.
Tuesday September 2 – Hike in Khundzoresk – free afternoon or optional hike
Departure at 10.00 to explore the landscape near Khundzoresk, an ancient cave town. Back in Goris you can buy lunch at the supermarket and stroll around in the city.
Optional: a hike to Hien Khot (old Khot). We leave by bus and will hike to this deserted settlement. It is the old road to this village which is in ruins now, therefore good hiking shoes are recommended. The road is uneven because of stones lying around, but the view of the surrounding mountains is very beautiful. Dinner (incl) will be served at the hotel. Dancing with Tineke in the evening.
Wednesday September 3 – visit to Karahountj – Shaki waterfall – Hermon village
Check out and departure at 9.00. We buy our lunch in Goris for the next stretch of our tour. Before reaching our final destination, we will stop near the town of Sisian at Karahountj, the ‘Armenian Stonehenge’, a circular arrangement of 204 stones with holes in them. It is believed to have been an observatory dating back to roughly 1000 BC. although research is still an ongoing process to shed light on these formations.
Today is not only meant to marvel at ancient culture but also to enjoy the outdoors. We make an easy hike to Shaki waterfall. A good time to eat your lunch and enjoy nature. Our final destination is Hermon village, where we will stay in cottages, beautifully situated in the mountains, for the next 3 nights. Dinner (incl) at the hotel.
Thursday September 4 – dance class with Tineke – free afternoon
Dance class from 10.00-12.00. Free afternoon to relax in the garden, hike in nature or enjoy the indoor pool. During lunch time there will be buffet style lunch (incl) and dinner will also be included.
Friday September 5 - free day – optional hike – dance class
A day to swim, hike, or rent a mountain bike. You don’t have to go far to enjoy a nice hike close to home. But there will also be an optional guided hike to Smbataberd Fortress (founded in the 5th century), departure at 9.30 hrs. A buffet style lunch and dinner at our hotel is included.
After dinner there will be a dance performance and party with a local folk dance group and their leader Dadik.
Saturday September 6 – Travel to Lake Sewan – lunch at local village – Noratus - Dilidjan
Check out at 9.30. Today’s journey will offer a variety of landscapes. First we pass the high mountain pass where the Selim caravanserai is the ancient remnant of the Silk Road era. This route was used by merchants centuries ago to reach Lake Sewan. Before we have a view of the lake we will stop at a local family’s house to have lunch (incl). Our next stop is Noratus cemetery, where ancient cross stones are situated. The art of carving these stones is a tradition that is still thriving. It is not that far anymore to our final destination, our hotel in Dilidjan, where we will spend 2 nights. Dinner at the hotel (not included).
Sunday September 7 Haghartsin monastery- Molokan village - Dilidjan
Departure at 10.00 to pay a visit to the fully restored complex of Haghartsin monastery beautifully situated in a dense forest and enjoy the scenery on our walk to a nearby waterfall. On our way back to the hotel you can do some shopping for lunch before getting back to our hotel. Rest of the afternoon free time in Dilidjan. Optional: a hike which begins at Parz Lake and will take us to the charming Gosh village, home to the stunning Goshavank Church. Covering a distance of 7.2 km (approximately 4.5 miles), the trek will take around 2.5 hours. Along the way, we will enjoy views of Dimats Mountain, part of the Ijevan Mountain Range, as well as discover khachkars (cross-stones) and picturesque open meadows. Dinner at our hotel (not incl).
Monday September 8 – travel to Yerevan
Check out at 10.00. We start tour day with an easy hike in the woods to an ancient church ruin. Leaving Dilidjan to the west, we will see villages with Russian names, where Russian speaking Molokans live, the 2nd minority in Armenia besides the Yezidi. They faced persecution in Russia in the 19th century, because their traditions didn't conform to the rules of the Russian Orthodox Church. It is very special to have the chance to visit a private home of this remote religious community, learn more about their traditions and have lunch (incl) with local dishes. On our way to Yerevan we pass Lake Sewan. It is one of the largest freshwater high-altitude (alpine) lakes in Eurasia. On a peninsula you can find 2 small churches. Both the view and churches make it worth to climb the 220 steps leading up the peninsula. Our guide Naira will give a guided tour and show you a unique cross stone in one of the churches. You can have a drink at a lakeshore restaurant or buy a souvenir at one of the many stalls, before we drive to Yerevan, where you will have the rest of the day off. No dinner provided.
Tuesday September 9 – Yerevan dance class - visit Talin
Dance class at the hotel with a local teacher from 10.00-12.00.
At 14.00 we will depart to the northwest to visit Talin, a small town in the northwest part of Armenia. Many immigrants from the former West Armenian region of Sasoun (nowadays in Turkish Anatolia) settled around the city of Talin after the genocide. We will meet with a local dance group, which has managed to keep its dance heritage alive for almost a century. This visit offers us the chance to enjoy the company of the villagers and to meet with Armenian hospitality and toasting habits at first hand. We will certainly join some dancing and have a meal. Back in Yerevan you are free to enjoy a free night.
September 10 – Yerevan -free day and farewell dinner
Today you can do your last sightseeing, shopping or spend a relaxed day on one of the many outdoor cafes.
18.00 short walk to the restaurant for our farewell dinner (incl).
September 11 - departure
Transfer from the hotel to the airport. Schedule according to different departure times.
Included
- Price is based on sharing a double/twin room
- Transfer airport upon arrival and departure
- Local guide
- Dance classes
- Hotel with breakfast
- Meals as mentioned in the program
- Entrance fees
Excluded
- International flight
- Non-European participants: € 20 bank transfer charges
- Surcharge single room € 430
- Meals not mentioned in the program
- Tips for local guide and driver (indication: € 15 p.p.for guide, € 15 p.p. for driver)
- Drinks, laundry, shopping etc.
- Tips for meals - Tour leader collects this from participants
- Order for music or video from dance teachers
Note
Minimum amount of participants: 20. The international flight can be booked after the organizer informs you that the minimum amount of 20 participants has been reached. Full payment due in February 2025, no deposit required. You will receive an invoice.