Armenia

The first stop today is the Sevanavank Monastery which was originally on an island on Lake Sevan but is now on a peninsula. The site has two churches St Astvatsatsin - Holy Mother of God - and St Arakelots - John the Baptist - with only ruins of the third one.


Noratus is an ancient settlement with numerous bronze and iron age monuments is our next stop. Most famous for its cemetery which has over 800 khachkars (cross stones) and gravestones which were carved between the 9th and 17th centuries.


Next stop is Selim for Orbelian's Caravanserai located in Vartenyats Mountain Pass. Originally built around 1330 it was fortified and restored in the late 50s. The drive down into the gorge for lunch is spectacular.


Change of plan for our our last stop today as the 'Wings of Tatev' aerial cableway is closed on a Monday so we move on to Zortas Karer, a megalithic monument which dates back to the Middle Bronze to Iron Age. It is believed to be 3,500 years older than Stonehenge.