ARCHAEOLOGY AND ROCK-ART TOUR
9 DAYS
Millennia ago our ancestors carved various images on rocks, that preserve the breath and spirit of prehistoric time until our days. The rock pictures allow us to perceive the ancient world which is our roots. This stone depository contains valuable information on the life, art, scope of knowledge, myths and traditions of ancient Armenians in V - I Millennia BC. Four large rock-art areas are well known in the Republic of Armenia: Aragats, Geghama, Vardenis and Syunik mountains. Almost 20,000 carved rocks are found on their slopes at altitudes between 1,000 and 3,200 meters above sea level.
Almost all aspects of human life are reflected in rock art. Most images depict men in scenes of hunting and fighting, cultivating land, competing and dancing. Different animals, especially goats, deer and panthers are pictured. Geographic elements are also featured: as rivers, lakes, springs etc., followed by astronomical bodies and phenomena - the Sun, the Moon, the stars, stellar constellations, lightning. There are many images of carriages, various structures, maps, water-grids, starry skies, as well as compasses and calendars. Some rock-images reflect the adoration of maternity, the ancestors, heroes, spirits, fertility and time.
Like all rock art monuments elsewhere in the world, the petro-glyphs of Armenia, by their great number, styles and especially diverse content, occupy a unique place in the cultural heritage of the ancient world.
DAY ONE. ARRIVAL IN YEREVAN
Arrival in Yerevan (Zvartnots Airport). Meeting and greeting. Transfer to hotel. Accommodation. Overnight in Yerevan.
DAY TWO. YEREVAN CITY TOUR (around 25 Km, 10 AM – 6 PM)
• National History Museum (stone-dragons (vishaps) and rock-carvings;
• Vishap near the Government House;
• Vishap near Poplavok Lake;
• Rock-carvings near the Yerevan State University;
• Erebuni Museum;
• Vishaps and rock-carvings near the statue of hero Torq Angel.
DAY THREE. ZOVUNI, AGARAK, VOSKEHAT AND OSHAKAN BRONZE AGE SETTLEMENTS (III-II Millennia BC. Around 80 Km, 09 AM – 07 PM)
• Vishap near Yerevan Institute of Physics;
• Zovuni: fortress, cuneiform inscription and rock-carvings;
• Agarak: astronomical complex, tombs, rock-carvings
• Voskehat village rock-carvings;
• Oshakan: Mesrop Mashtots’s tomb, fortress, rock-carvings, vishap;
• Return to Yerevan.
DAY FOUR. GEGHAMA MOUNTAIN RANGE. Rock-carvings from VII-III Millennia BC. High mountain lakes. (Around 80 km, 09 AM – 07 PM)
• Cyclopean fortress near the Sevaberd village;
• Rock-art area;
• Sightseeing tour around the Hatis Mountain;
• Return to Yerevan.
DAY FIVE. SARDARAPAT (ETHNOGRAPHIC MUSEUM), ARMAVIR (HIEROGLYPHS, INSCRIPTIONS, RUINS OF FORTRESS AND TEMPLE), METSAMOR (ANCIENT ASTRONOMY AND METALLURGY, VISHAPS AND PHALLUSES), ECHMIATZIN, ZVARTNOTS TEMPLE (VII C). Around 100 Km, 09 AM – 07 PM)
• Ethnographic Museum of Armenia;
• Armavir;
• Metzamor Museum and site;
• Ejmiatzin Cathedral;
• Zvartnots;
• Return to Yerevan.
DAY SIX. KHOR VIRAP- ARENI CAVE - ZORTS KAR (ANCIENT OBSERVATORY), -SYUNIK (UKHTASAR ROCK-ART AREA), OLD KHNDZORESK (CAVE VILLAGE), (Around 400 km; 08 AM – 09 PM)
• Khor virap monastery and sightseeing of Ararat Mountain;
• Zorats kar Medieval observatory;
• Ukhtasar rock-carvings;
• Khndzoresk;
• Overnight in Goris (South Armenia).
DAY SEVEN. SELIM PASS, SEVSAR ANCIENT OBSERVATORY AND SEVAN LAKE BASIN (NORADOUZ AND LCHASHEN) (Around 350km; 08 AM – 09 PM)
• Selim Pass (Sisakan);
• Vardenis stellar maps;
• Geghhovit Tukhmanuk;
• Noradouz khachqars (cross-stones);
• Hayravank and Berdkunq;
• Lchashen settlement;
• Return to Yerevan.
DAY EIGHT. AGHTSQ (ARSHAKUNIATS MAUSOLEUM), BYURAKAN ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATORY, AMBERD FORTRESS, QARI LAKE, SAGHMOSAVANK. (Around 130 Km, 09 AM – 07 PM)
• Aghtsq;
• Byurakan observatory;
• Amberd Fortress;
• Qari lake and vishaps;
• Armenian Alphabet sculptures (modern);
• Saghmosavank;
• Arriving Yerevan
DAY NINE. DEPARTURE
Transfer to airport. Departure.
SUBJECT TO CHANGES.
OUR PRICE COVERS (PER PERSON):
1. Hotel accommodation;
2. Breakfast, lunch and dinner;
3. Land transportation with AC and WC buses;
4. Tours and transfers (meet and greet at airports);
5. Guide-interpreter;
6. Entrance fee to all sightseeing destinations.
OUR PRICE DOES NOT COVER:
1. Visa for entry;
2. Insurance premiums (optional);
3. Expenses of personal nature;
4. Alcoholic drinks.
DEPOSITS AND REFUNDS
1. A deposit is required upon reservation.
2. Balance due 60 days prior to departure.
3. Penalty applicable for cancellations prior to departure.
4. No refund after departure date.
5. Insurance available upon request
Millennia ago our ancestors carved various images on rocks, that preserve the breath and spirit of prehistoric time until our days. The rock pictures allow us to perceive the ancient world which is our roots. This stone depository contains valuable information on the life, art, scope of knowledge, myths and traditions of ancient Armenians in V - I Millennia BC. Four large rock-art areas are well known in the Republic of Armenia: Aragats, Geghama, Vardenis and Syunik mountains. Almost 20,000 carved rocks are found on their slopes at altitudes between 1,000 and 3,200 meters above sea level.
Almost all aspects of human life are reflected in rock art. Most images depict men in scenes of hunting and fighting, cultivating land, competing and dancing. Different animals, especially goats, deer and panthers are pictured. Geographic elements are also featured: as rivers, lakes, springs etc., followed by astronomical bodies and phenomena - the Sun, the Moon, the stars, stellar constellations, lightning. There are many images of carriages, various structures, maps, water-grids, starry skies, as well as compasses and calendars. Some rock-images reflect the adoration of maternity, the ancestors, heroes, spirits, fertility and time.
Like all rock art monuments elsewhere in the world, the petro-glyphs of Armenia, by their great number, styles and especially diverse content, occupy a unique place in the cultural heritage of the ancient world.
DAY ONE. ARRIVAL IN YEREVAN
Arrival in Yerevan (Zvartnots Airport). Meeting and greeting. Transfer to hotel. Accommodation. Overnight in Yerevan.
DAY TWO. YEREVAN CITY TOUR (around 25 Km, 10 AM – 6 PM)
• National History Museum (stone-dragons (vishaps) and rock-carvings;
• Vishap near the Government House;
• Vishap near Poplavok Lake;
• Rock-carvings near the Yerevan State University;
• Erebuni Museum;
• Vishaps and rock-carvings near the statue of hero Torq Angel.
DAY THREE. ZOVUNI, AGARAK, VOSKEHAT AND OSHAKAN BRONZE AGE SETTLEMENTS (III-II Millennia BC. Around 80 Km, 09 AM – 07 PM)
• Vishap near Yerevan Institute of Physics;
• Zovuni: fortress, cuneiform inscription and rock-carvings;
• Agarak: astronomical complex, tombs, rock-carvings
• Voskehat village rock-carvings;
• Oshakan: Mesrop Mashtots’s tomb, fortress, rock-carvings, vishap;
• Return to Yerevan.
DAY FOUR. GEGHAMA MOUNTAIN RANGE. Rock-carvings from VII-III Millennia BC. High mountain lakes. (Around 80 km, 09 AM – 07 PM)
• Cyclopean fortress near the Sevaberd village;
• Rock-art area;
• Sightseeing tour around the Hatis Mountain;
• Return to Yerevan.
DAY FIVE. SARDARAPAT (ETHNOGRAPHIC MUSEUM), ARMAVIR (HIEROGLYPHS, INSCRIPTIONS, RUINS OF FORTRESS AND TEMPLE), METSAMOR (ANCIENT ASTRONOMY AND METALLURGY, VISHAPS AND PHALLUSES), ECHMIATZIN, ZVARTNOTS TEMPLE (VII C). Around 100 Km, 09 AM – 07 PM)
• Ethnographic Museum of Armenia;
• Armavir;
• Metzamor Museum and site;
• Ejmiatzin Cathedral;
• Zvartnots;
• Return to Yerevan.
DAY SIX. KHOR VIRAP- ARENI CAVE - ZORTS KAR (ANCIENT OBSERVATORY), -SYUNIK (UKHTASAR ROCK-ART AREA), OLD KHNDZORESK (CAVE VILLAGE), (Around 400 km; 08 AM – 09 PM)
• Khor virap monastery and sightseeing of Ararat Mountain;
• Zorats kar Medieval observatory;
• Ukhtasar rock-carvings;
• Khndzoresk;
• Overnight in Goris (South Armenia).
DAY SEVEN. SELIM PASS, SEVSAR ANCIENT OBSERVATORY AND SEVAN LAKE BASIN (NORADOUZ AND LCHASHEN) (Around 350km; 08 AM – 09 PM)
• Selim Pass (Sisakan);
• Vardenis stellar maps;
• Geghhovit Tukhmanuk;
• Noradouz khachqars (cross-stones);
• Hayravank and Berdkunq;
• Lchashen settlement;
• Return to Yerevan.
DAY EIGHT. AGHTSQ (ARSHAKUNIATS MAUSOLEUM), BYURAKAN ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATORY, AMBERD FORTRESS, QARI LAKE, SAGHMOSAVANK. (Around 130 Km, 09 AM – 07 PM)
• Aghtsq;
• Byurakan observatory;
• Amberd Fortress;
• Qari lake and vishaps;
• Armenian Alphabet sculptures (modern);
• Saghmosavank;
• Arriving Yerevan
DAY NINE. DEPARTURE
Transfer to airport. Departure.
SUBJECT TO CHANGES.
OUR PRICE COVERS (PER PERSON):
1. Hotel accommodation;
2. Breakfast, lunch and dinner;
3. Land transportation with AC and WC buses;
4. Tours and transfers (meet and greet at airports);
5. Guide-interpreter;
6. Entrance fee to all sightseeing destinations.
OUR PRICE DOES NOT COVER:
1. Visa for entry;
2. Insurance premiums (optional);
3. Expenses of personal nature;
4. Alcoholic drinks.
DEPOSITS AND REFUNDS
1. A deposit is required upon reservation.
2. Balance due 60 days prior to departure.
3. Penalty applicable for cancellations prior to departure.
4. No refund after departure date.
5. Insurance available upon request