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Armenia

A Pilgrimage Journey through Holy Armenia

Our nine day journey begins and ends in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, situated on the edge of the Hrazdan River. We also stay at Lake Sevan, the largest mountainous lake in the world, along with two nights in Dzoraget in Lori Province.

Highlights of our tour will include Echmiadzin, the spiritual centre of the nation and visiting Sevan, one of the world's largest fresh-water mount mountain lakes. We shall visit monuments from the earliest days of Christianity, together with jewels from the middle ages.

In addition to seeing many living churches and inhabited monasteries, we will enjoy the wonderful and varied landscapes, flora and fauna of the country - especially the bird life, for which Armenia is justly famous.

The itinerary below is our standard programme. For full details of the itinerary on this featured date click download brochure above.

Itinerary

  1. Travel to Yerevan

    Ukrainian Airlines flight from London Heathrow to Yerevan via Athens. Three night stay in Yerevan.

  2. Echmiadzin

    Today we visit the centre of religious life in Armenia: Echmiadzin, meaning "Only Begotten, Descended" because here St Gregory founded a church on the stop where he had a vision of the Holy Ghost descending. After a late breakfast, we visit the Cathedral this morning. Visits will also include the Hripsime Church, the Cathedral Complex and the St Gayane Church.

  3. Yerevan

    We have a city tour of Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, beginning at the Mother Armenia monument, which provides a panoramic view of the city. We spend time at the State History Museum.   In the afternoon we visit the Genocide Memorial Complex, ending the day at the modern cathedral where we hear about the Armenian Church.

  4. Khor Virap

    We drive south to Khor Virab, with wonderful views of Mount Ararat. We see the cave which served as a prison for St Gregory the Illuminator. We drive on south to Norovank, a particularly arid and isolated region with beautiful pink rock. The church we visit is built on two levels, with an outside stone stair case ascending to the upper level. We cross the Selim Pass (Over 7,000 feet) stopping at the Selim caravanseri before continuing onto Dilijan for a two night stay.

  5. Lake Sevan

    Lake Sevan is the largest mountainous lake in the world.  We sail across the lake and then visit the churches on the peninsula. We also visit Hagartsine Monastery complex.  We drive back to the spa town Dilidjan, an inspiration of many famous artists including Benjamin Britten and Mstislav Rostropovich who stayed here at the holiday retreat for musicians.

  6. Haghbat and Sanahin

    Our highlight today will be the visit to two UNESCO sites - Sanahin and Haghbat monasteries located on either side of Debed River Canyon. We then drive to Dzoraget in Lori province to a one night stay.

  7. Khachkars

    Today we drive back to Yerevan, stopping in Vanadzor at a Khachkar maker's studio, where we will learn about this important Armenian tradition. We will also visit the Park of Letters, dedicated to the 1600th anniversary of the creation of the Armenian alphabet.

    We continue onto Yerevan for our final three night stay.

  8. Manuscript Museum

    We spend the day in Yerevan where we visit the Matenadaran which holds a fantastic collection of Armenian manuscripts. We also have the opportunity to meet a craftsman who makes and plays Duduk musical instruments, visit the Cascade Art Open Air Exhibition and the local craft market, Vernissage.

  9. Garni and Geghard

    We drive east and visit Garni's pagan Temple of the Sun, the only site of a Hellenistic monument not to have had a church built over it. It was destroyed in 1679 by an earthquake but restored in the 1970s using original stones. Nearby are the remains of Roman baths. From here we drive on to Geghard Monastery, famous of the tradition that the spear which pierced Christ's side rested here.

  10. Homeward Bound

    The morning is free for last minute shopping. Late morning we transfer to the airport for our return flight via Athens.

Essential Information

The price you pay is inclusive

The only extras you need to budget for are drinks and shopping.

We include gratuities to guide, driver and hotel staff.

Included

Flights, Hotel accommodation, Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Sightseeing programme, Entrance fees & guiding, Gratuities

Not included

Travel Insurance, Single Room supplement

Touring Information

There will be a fair amount of walking involved. This said, we are planning this pilgrimage to be accessible to all reasonably able-bodied travellers. If you are worried about the fitness element, have a word with the McCabe office.

Travel Insurance

We do insist that all travellers take out medical insurance.

Passports, visas and health

Check that your passport is valid beyond the return date of this tour. If you need a new passport apply early as there can be considerable backlogs at the passport offices. There are minimal formalities for British passport holders entering Armenia. A visa is not required by citizens of EU countries, USA and Canada. All other nationalities should check with the Armenian Embassy before travelling.

No inoculations are required. We do, however, advise you to consult your doctor regarding your own personal requirements.

Flights

The flights are via Athens to Yerevan with Aegean Airlines from London Heathrow. Regional  flights to Heathrow from some UK airports and flight seat upgrades, for that extra comfort and ease through the airport, can be arranged at a supplement. An overnight stop at Heathrow may be required which we can assist you with. Please enquire at time of booking.

Outbound

Flight departs Heathrow: 16:35                               Arrives Athens: 22:10

Onward connection departs Athens: 23:50              Arrives Yerevan: 03:20

Inbound

Flight departs Yerevan: 04:30                                   Arrives Athens: 06:25

Onward connection departs Athens: 09:15              Arrives Heathrow: 11:15

Length of flight to Amman: approximately five hours

Flight times are subject to change and confirmed with your final paperwork

 

Hotels

Armenian hotels have improved in recent years and we are happy that standards are now very acceptable. You can expect comfortable, clean accommodation during your stay and all rooms have private facilities.

You can click on the hotel websites below:

Hotel Hrazdan *** Yerevan

Hotel Dilijan Resort **** Dilijan

Dzoraget Hotel *** Dzoraget

 

Cuisine

A buffet breakfast with breads, meat, cheese, eggs, yoghurts, cereals and fruit well as fruit juices and tea and coffee will be served at your hotels. Dinners will generally be at the hotels or in local restaurants and will normally consist of a starter followed by a meat (usually lamb, pork or chicken: more occasionally beef) or fish course with rice or potatoes and vegetables. This will be followed by a pudding or some fruit. Coffee and tea will then be served. Vegetarian meals can be provided. Included lunches in monasteries or religious houses are likely to provide much simpler fare. Bottled water is provided at lunch and dinner.

Local beers together with wines can be ordered to accompany your meal. These are generally very reasonably priced. Usually when paying for drinks you should round up a little … say 5% or to the nearest round figure.

Practical information

Travelling Alone

Many of our passengers travel alone and object to expensive single room supplements. McCabe Pilgrimages will accept individual bookings on a 'guaranteed share' basis. We charge the basic price and accommodate you with a person of the same sex also requesting shared accommodation. If we do not find someone to share with you, you will be accommodated in a single room at only 50% of the usual single room supplement. For single travellers who do require single accommodation this should be requested when booking and, if available, the normal supplement will be payable.

The McCabe Educational Trust

For many, meeting the ‘Living Stones’ of The Land becomes a real highlight of their pilgrimage. The McCabe Educational Trust is an independent registered charity with the aim of helping inspiring people we meet on pilgrimage. On your pilgrimage you will meet some of these people. As ‘the haves’ encounter the ‘have nots’ the Trust has become a practical tool for one to help the other.

McCabe Pilgrimages invite all travellers to become partners in this work. A £20 voluntary donation to the Trust’s work is added to every pilgrim’s invoice and all money raised in this way is given in full to the projects the Trust supports. This scheme is voluntary and confidential with nobody put under any pressure to participate.

Travel insurance

Ensuring that your holidays are appropriately protected is one of our main priorities. That’s why we have specifically chosen Holiday Extras as our *preferred travel insurance provider to ensure that you are protected before and whilst you are travelling. Holiday Extras offer McCabe Travel guests favourable rates for single trip, multi-trip and annual policies.

For more information or to obtain a quote click below for their website

https://www.holidayextras.com/travel-insurance

Or call them on 0800 083 3551 to speak to a friendly advisor.

Please quote AG628 upon calling to receive the best rates

Full Financial Security

All money paid to McCabe is fully secure. Holidays including flights are covered by our ATOL license from the Civil Aviation Authority, and holidays without flights are protected by our membership of the ABTOT bonding scheme. If a pilgrimage is cancelled, for instance through lack of numbers or for political considerations, McCabe will promptly refund all monies paid.

AITO Quality Statement

McCabe Pilgrimages is a member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators. The Association represents Britain’s leading independent tour operators and encourages high standards of quality and service. McCabe abides by the Association’s Code of Conduct and adheres to the AITO Quality Charter.

You can read McCabe reviews on the AITO website HERE

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Dates

Upcoming Pilgrimages

We have no tours scheduled to this destination at present.

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