The Discovery of First Traces of Civilization in Armenia

Get ready for an astonishing day of adventures and rustic discoveries. Be as close to nature as our ancestors were, in times when survival was a daily affair. Return to the time when a man had an unshakeable belief in nature and his strengths, explore their hostile character. Take a tour of an old observatory or, even, a funeral site representing the life of the natives. Your day will begin by welcoming your guide at your hotel. The latter will accompany you to the vehicle that will take you to your destination. We will head south and make the first stop in the Vayots Dzor region. This region is the wine center of Armenia. Before arriving at the Vayots Dzor area, we will first make a stop at the Khor Virap Monastery located on a hill outcrop. It rises above the plain of Ararat and is the best observation platform to admire the magnificent Mount Ararat on a clear day. The next destination will be the Areni Cave, also known as the "Cave of the Bird". It is located in the village Areni in the Vayots Dzor region. Following the excavations, the oldest shoe in the world and the first vineyard were discovered here. Then we will head to the wine center of the country, Areni. There we will have a traditional Armenian lunch and try local wine in a family vineyard. Then we will make our next stop at the Carahunge Observatory, "Armenian Stonehenge" where we will discover many secrets as well as a prehistoric burial site. After this stop, we will take the road to the city of Sisian, located in the Syunik region. We will be dazzled by the panoramas that we follow along the way. We will have an opportunity to take part in a pottery master class at Sisian Ceramics, the process will be presented by the master who will uncover all the secrets of pottery and will speak about the history of this trade in Armenia. Towards evening, full of positive emotions, we will head to our comfortable hotel in Sisian.

On the second day, early in the morning, after a traditional lunch, we will head to Mount Ughtasar. The ascent of the mountain cannot be done without all-terrain vehicles, so they will be waiting for us in order to transport us to the lake of Ughtasar. Not far from the summit, the crystal-clear lake and the rocks retaining the petroglyphs will be seen. We will have a picnic on site in the wilderness. You can enjoy a magnificent view of the surrounding wild mountains and the Syunik high plateau. These landscapes offer a breathtaking feeling of freedom due to their size.  In the evening we will reach the capital and you will enjoy your well-deserved rest.