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 Number of participants on this event Listed below is not accurate

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 Trip Information

In order to be able to join the Trip you have to fill all personal information and hiking profile information. Please do so before clicking on attending.

Kindly check Baldati Hiking Club "Terms & Conditions" which you have to sign before taking the plain .

Smoking is not allowed with Baldati 

Go and ask for your Optional Medical Insurance ( Insurance 15$ for 8 /Days call 04-980214)

      - Bring your own Medications (Panadole ,Gravol , Supplin ...) 
-  The weather in Armenia is cold bring your jacket .

      - Each person may carry a maximum of 30kg of luggage on board.

      - You will get a printed copy of the program on the airplane with the "Terms & Conditions" copied for you to sign it .

      - You need to bring dollar or euro bills with you cz they don't exchange Lebanese pound in Armenian Dram .

Country:

Armenia - weather / weekend -

Date :

Guide:

 Baldati Team - Mrs Rita Kalindjian

Departure:

Monday July 28 2014 - Timing:18:25 pm Flight ME 275 - Middle East Airlines Arrival at 21:15 pm Duration to arrive 1h:50 mn

Hotel Description: 

Level :

5/10 - Touristic Tour - Hiking - Archaeological tour -Shopping - (Transportaton Mercedes Sprinter 15-seater)

Contribution :

Return time

Monday August 4 2014 - Timing:22:15 pm Flight ME 276 - Middle East Airlines Arrival at 23:10 pm to beirut Duration to arrive 1h:50 mn

Description:

It's Time to Go to Armenia

What better time is there than Fotr Holiday to go to ARMENIA ?

This is a 8 days tour for hikers who seek the cultures of Armenia, both ancient and modern.

• We will be sightseeing in Armenia heading to Zvartnots by airplane (MEA) from Beirut International Airport and touring by bus through many CITIES..

• Visiting its historical and archeological places

• Enjoying each other's company in an unforgettable setting

• And all for an amazing offer ( including: Airplane Ticket , transportation by Bus, accommodation 8 Breakfasts, 7 dinners, 1 lunch ,Touristic Tour ,Hiking bus transportation insurance etc...)

• Check with your Medical Insurance -

Program can be subject to modification without prior notification by baldati.com

• For more detailed information please view the detailed

Itinerary below:

1ST Day Monday July 28 2014:

- Meeting at 3.30 h00' p.m. p.m. p.m

- Departure at 6h15' Airline ticket with MEA Airlines All Taxes inclusive Luggages 30 Kilos

Arrival from Beirut at 21:15 to Zvartnots airport .

Transfer to hotel check in

Overnight in Yerevan.

2d.DAY Tuesday July 29 2014

YEREVAN CITY TOUR + EACHMIADZIN & ZVARTNOTS

Breakfast at hotel. Yerevan City tour:

Mayr-Hayastan” (panoramic view of Yerevan).

Matenadaran (Depository and Museum of Ancient Manuscripts)

Cascade Complex and Museum of contemporary Art and open-air sculptures.

Street tour (on bus) including Republic Square, Yerevan State University, Victory Bridge, Tsitsernakaberd (1915 Genocide Memorial), Sports & Concerts complex, Kiev Bridge, Parliament, Palace of President, Academy of Sciences, Opera house.

Museum of Parajanov.

Tour to Echmiadzain and Zvartnots. 30 mn to arrive

Dinner and overnight in Yerevan.

3rd. day: Wednesday July 30, 2014 :

YEREVAN – KHOR VIRAP(ARARAT Mountain) – NORAVANK – GORIS

Breakfast at hotel. 

Check out Hotel

Drive 1 hr to Khor Virap Monastery. Small hiking (100 meters) on a hill to see Ararat Mountain.

Khor Virap is a place of pilgrimage for Armenians all over the world. Khor Virap is the closest point to Mount Ararat from the territory of Armenia, the most convenient place for observing and taking pictures of the biblical mountain. 

Proceed to Gnishik village not far from Noravank.(from khor virap to Noravank we need 2hrs to arrive)

Walking tour from Amaghu to Noravank (around 4.5 Km, 2 hour, middle).

Altitude: Amaghu village 1530 m Gnishik Canyon 1250 m

Noravank monastery 1500 m 

Noravank Monastery complex.

Noravank monastery is considered to be the pulpit of Syunik bishops. The main church of St. Karapet was built in 1227. The reliefs on the entrance tympanum and the windows on the western facade are very interesting from an architectural point of view. To the south of the complex one can see a two-storied sepulchre church built in 1339. This tomb monument can be traced to the 4th or 5th centuries. To the right of the entrance of the tympanum, one can find recently discovered stalactite caves. The monastery had been completely reconstructed and reopened in 1999. The magnificent landscape of mountains, surrounding the monastery, displays a beautiful array of colours from the sun's reflection.

Proceed to Goris city.(from Noravank to the hotel in Goris 4 hrs to arrive)

Hotel accommodation.Dinner and overnight in Goris.

4th. day: Thursday July 31, 2014 :

GORIS – TATEV – SELIM – NORADOUZ – SEVAN

Breakfast at hotel. Check-out.

Drive to Tatev on tramway (longest in the world – 5.7 Km) from Goris Hotel to Tatev 30 mn.

Tatev monastery complex is located on a plateau surrounded by a precipice from three sides. Tatev monastery includes a number of structures. The main cathedral of St. Poghos and Petros (Paul and Peter) dates back to 885. The 8 meter high giant made of small stones topped by an airy cross rests on a hinge foundation. The cathedral is an example of 7th century monuments with free slanting pylons. To the south of the main cathedral, the church of St. Gregory (1295) is erected on the site of a former sanctuary from the 9th c. The periphery is surrounded by homes and other buildings. Among them are a vaulted fount and fortification walls dating back to the 17th century. In one of the precipices around the monastery, you will see the Vorotan river, one of the miracles of nature, which runs under the Devil’s Bridge. The walls of the canyon (where the river flows) are 250 to 300 meters high. A large number of stalactites hang from the bridge, and numerous springs flow from the walls. The longest tramway in the world (5.7 Km) connects Halidzor village to Tatev.

Proceed to Selim Pass and Caravanserai. From Tatev Village to Selim Carananserai we need 3 hrs to arrive 

Selim (Sulema) pass and Caravanserai. From the days of Marco Polo and the Silk Road (from China to Europe) Medieval Armenia was a major thoroughfare for merchants, traders, and explorers alike. Weary travelers would look forward for a rest at one of many inns or caravansaries along the way. The Selim Caravanserai constructed in 1332 and situated in the Selim (Sulema) mountain pass on the border of Gegharkunik is one of the best preserved. The Caravanserai lies below the road just before the summit on the south side of Selim Pass (2410 m), a splendid relic of the days when an international trade route connected Vayots Dzor to the Sevan Lake and northern points. According to the Armenian inscription inside the entrance, Prince Chesar Orbelian and his brothers built this rest-house in 1332.

From Selim To rich Sevan Lake we need 2 hrs - 2353 m2

Sevan lake, the wonder of nature, is 60 Km from Yerevan on a highway which cuts northward through mountains and rocks. Sevan is so austere and majestic that the gentle turquoise waters are astonishing. They fill the gigantic depression situated at the height of almost 2000 m above sea level. Sevan, with its pure air and sandy beaches, is a popular holiday resort. Sevan has always been famous for its fish "ishkhan" which means "prince-fish" in Armenian. The fish has graced many Lords’ tables in old times. One of the most interesting sites in Sevan is the monastery on the rocky peninsula founded in 874 AD by King Ashot I and his daughter Mariam. On the shores of the Lake archaeological expedition has discovered traces of a highly developed civilization dating back to 2000 BC. Other monuments include Sevan Monastery (874) and Astvatsatsin Church. Do not miss your chance to enjoy Sevan barbecue fish and crystal clear air!

Hotel accommodation in Sevan. Dinner and overnight in Sevan (or Dilijan).

5th. Day: Friday August 1 ,2014:

SEVAN – DILIJAN – TEGHUT – DILIJAN

Breakfast at hotel.

Check out at 12

Drive to Dilijan city (1hr to arrive from Sevan lake). Short tour of old city. Drive to Haghartsin monastery complex.

Haghartsin monastery, not far from Dilijan spa, is hidden from the tumult of the world. The monastery was built by the architect Minas in 1248 with lavish decorations of carved stone. The main church is typical of the churches built between the 10th and 13th centuries. The oldest church in the complex is with the cross-winged dome named after St. Gregory. The refectory of Haghartsin is also very unique in character. There is a number of very interesting khachkars in the complex. The monastery itself is situated within an oak forest, in the gorge of a small river. You can easily forget your worries when you are up there in nature surrounded by trees due to the beautiful setting of the Monastery Complex.

Hiking tour from Haghartsin (passing by Teghut village) to Jukhtak Vank through Dilijan National Reserve. About 13 Km, 6-7 hours, middle.

Optional medium hike for 2 hrs 8 km

Bus takes the group from Jukhtak Vank and goes ahead to Dilijan city.

Dinner and overnight in Dilijan

It's possible change the route from Jukhtak to Haghartsin, which is easier, taking into consideration that the road mainly goes down.

Altitude Haghartsin  1415m Jukhtak Vank on 1500 m The highest point of the road is 1800m

DAY 06 Saturday August 2 2014:

DILIJAN – SANAHIN – HAGHPAT – YEREVAN 

Breakfast at hotel. check out at 9.30 

Drive to Yerevan arrive at 12 .

Open Deck Bus Yerevan : Optional 7$ - 3000 Dram

Passing to Vernissage Bazar

Dinner ( Armenian Restaurant Folklor )

Passind to Yerevan Mall

Hotel accommodation, dinner and overnight in Yerevan.

DAY 07 :Sunday August 3 2014:

YEREVAN – GARNI – GEGHARD – YEREVAN 

Breakfast at hotel .Check out Half-day trip to Garni Pagan Temple and Geghard Monastery.

Proceed to Geghard Monastery (UNESCO World Heritage) 1.30 hr to arrive

Geghard was initially known simply as Ayrivank (Cave Monastery). The present buildings comprising it date back to 10-13th cc., at which time it was renamed as Geghard meaning "lance" (spear) in Armenian. The name refers to the biblical lance used by a Roman soldier to pierce Christ's body to find out if he was alive or not. The lance was kept in Geghard for a long time before being moved to the museum of Echmiadzin Cathedral. The main church, constructed in 1215, is the oldest building in the monastery complex. Avazan church, 1283, is carved right into the solid rock and is an incomparable work of art. It leads to a rectangular portico and then to another church deeper in the rock. Along the southern and eastern walls of the monastery, high above the valley, medieval dwellings appear. The monastery has withstood many assaults during a period of seven hundred years. Its walls have sheltered many scholars and it was revered throughout Armenia as one of the greatest spiritual and cultural centres in the country. Hundreds of khachkars (cross-stones) and caves are built in the rocks surrounding the Monastery.

Hiking in Garni gorge (2 Km, around 1.5 hours).Altitude Garni 1320 m

Garni gorge 1250 m Altitude Garni 1320 m Garni gorge 1250 m 

This pagan temple of Garni was built in 1st. c. AC and was devoted to one of the Armenian Pagan Gods - Mitra. After Armenia converted to Christianity in the 4th c., the rulers of the country used the temple as their summer residence. King Khosrov stayed there often as the area was his favourite hunting ground. Garni was destroyed when the Arabs conquered Armenia but was rebuilt in the beginning of the 10th c. Its final destruction came in 1638 during the Turkish invasion. A violent earthquake buried what remained from it in 1679. The complete restoration of the temple began in 1970 and was over in 1978. The temple consists of dwellings and bath quarters built in the 3rd century in the Roman style. The fantastic landscape of Garni canyon shakes the human imagination.

Lunch in a restaurant near Garni

Return to Yerevan. 

Passing to Dalma Mall

DAY 08 Monday August 4 2014 :

YEREVAN – ASHTARAK – AMBERD – YEREVAN

Breakfast at hotel. Tour to Ashtarak and Amberd fortress on Aragats mountain.

Hamberd (Amberd) fortress stands at an elevation of 2300 meters above sea level on the high cape, in the canyon of two rivers high upon the southern slope of Mount Aragats. It is considered to be the only preserved monument of secular type on the territory of Armenia. The fortress, founded in the 7th century by Pahlavouni princes, had its own water-supply pipe which channels springs from the Aragats mountain. The church inside the fortress was built in 1026 as shown by the date inscribed on the door. The church itself, the palace bathhouse with two domes, a floor heating system and a secret passage to the gorge are considered to be the most well-preserved monuments of Hamberd. In the 13th century Hamberd fortress was destroyed and set on fire by Mongolian invaders.

Small walking around Amberd Fortress.

Drive to a medieval Armenian church Saghmosavank.

Saghmosavank is one of the remarkable cultural centres of medieval Armenia. It is in the north of the town of Ashtarak on the precipice of the Kasakh river gorge. The main church of St. Lion was erected in 1215. A four-column gate (1235) is placed to the west of the monastery. To the south of the church there is a book depository (1235) with a very original roof on top of criss-cross arches.

Lunch in the village at traditional Armenian countryside house.

Return to Yerevan.

Passing to Blue Mosque

Time for shopping, etc.

20:00 – transfer to airport for departure to Beirut.

General Info:

Price Covers : 

• Air tickets Beirut/Yerevan/Beirut by direct flights MEA Airlines with Taxes
• Hotel accommodation with  breakfast in Yerevan (4 nights);
• Hotel accommodation with  breakfast in Goris (1 night);
• Hotel accommodation with  breakfast in Sevan (1 night);
• Hotel accommodation with  breakfast in Dilijan (1 night);
• Full transportation and transfers as specified in itinerary;
• Regular guide-interpreter;
• Hiking/trekking guides (2);
• Half Board meal plan;
• Tatev tramway riding;
• Entrance fee to all sightseeing destinations;
• Water (1 Litre per person daily).
• Price includes double & triple bedrooms.

 Price Does Not Covers :

• Visa: Lebanese passport holders require a visa to enter to Armenia entry visa cost 7 dollars you can apply online for the e-visas (or available upon arrival at AMD 3.000);
• Third meal daily;
• Expenses of personal nature;
•   Drinks;
• Additional tours and transfers not included in itinerary.
• Travel insurance 
• Driver Tips 

For a *Single room $230 extra.

• Your passport must be valid for 6 months

• Currency: 100 $ = 41200 Dram / 150000 Lbp = 41200 Dram

1 $ = 412 Armenian Dram

N.B. Your reservation won't be official until full payment is made

Have a safe and Enjoyable trip with Baldati!!!!

Type:

This is an "Open Event", hikers are allowed to bring friends and invite others to join after informing them of all the details of the trip.

Please note that our journey conditions requires that you bring with you:

• Clothing: Swim Suit ,Towel ,Comfortable Shirt/Pants, Warm jacket, Hat/cap,
• HIKING BOOTS: water proof suit will be needed in case of rainy day
• Food and Water ( you can buy from Turkish Market)  :  High-calorie quick-burn energy food Bars , dried fruit, Black chocolates , fruitcake, nuts, ....
• Small Pillow: For your comfort in the Bus
• Bring your own Medications (Panadole ,Gravol , Supplin ...)
• Bring your own shampoo and soaps since those miniature sized bottles of shampoo, conditioner, lotion and soaps...are not enough specially for your long hair ladiesss.  
• When you first start to plan for your trip, check the expiration date of your passport and, if necessary, send it in for renewal.
• Just a Little Research Goes a Long Way
• Before going abroad, it' s worth doing some research on what to do once there. Each city you visit will have a lot of options and there is nothing worse than spending most of your time deciding on how to spend your days. The Internet provides us with so much information, that it would be a crime not to use it.  once there .
• Be Organized with the Paperwork
• Hole-punch all of your information for your trip (and make copies of anything you'll need), organize it by what you'll need chronologically, and place it in a slim, bright, lightweight soft-side plastic binder.
• Be Prepared for Conversations
• Take a dictionary and notes phrase book. It can be useful
• Bring Dollar Bills
• Bring lots of single dollar bills for tips.
• Carry Change
• Always carry lots of quarters and dimes. A used film canister works very well. You never know when you will need to catch the bus or train or make a pay phone phone call. 
• Check with your Medical Insurance 
• Confirm Your Reservation
• Be sure your reservation is confirmed, otherwise you may not have a reservation at all.
• Duplicate Important Documents and Cards 

For more: