Social Events
On-site cash payment option will also be possible, however to guarantee your booking, we strongly recommend online prepayment.
Sunday, 24.05.2026
Pre-Conference Tours
Yerevan and Garni-Geghard
09:00-13:00 Yerevan City tour (Ararat Brandy (Cognac) Factory, Matenadaran, etc.), 13:00-15:00 lunch break and 15:00-19:00 Excursion to Garni Temple and Geghard Monastery. Matenadaran is a museum of ancient manuscripts, the first in the world in its kind. Garni Temple was founded in the 2nd century B.C. and was dedicated to the god of sun Mithra. Geghard Monastery is a medieval monastery being partially carved out of the adjacent mountain, surrounded by cliffs. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site with enhanced protection status.
Costs per participant: Yerevan City tour – AMD 16000, lunch – AMD 9000, Garni and Geghard – AMD 16000. The participants can choose one, two or all three of these options. The prices include transportation, professional tour guide and entrance fees. For booking all 3 options, a discount will apply (AMD 36000 for all 3).
Yerevan and Ejmiatzin-Zvartnots
09:00-13:00 Yerevan City tour (Ararat Brandy (Cognac) Factory, Matenadaran, etc.), 13:00-15:00 lunch break and 15:00-19:00 Excursion to Ejmiatzin and Zvartnots. This excursion takes you to an old city Ejmiatzin (Vagharshapat), the former capital of the Kingdom of Armenia (in the II-IV centuries). Ejmiatzin is 20 km from Yerevan, in the Ararat Valley – the granary of Armenia. The Cathedral is Ejmiatzin’s main attraction. Legend has it that it was here that Jesus Christ descended from heaven to show where he wanted a church built. It was subsequently named Ejmiatzin. It is the centre of the Armenian Apostolic Church and all the Armenian eparchies. There are also churches of the Holy Virgin of Hripsime (or St. Hripsime, 618 A.D.), St. Gayane (630 A.D.) and the ruins of the church Zvartnots (VII c., about 2 km from Ejmiatzin). Ejmiatzin was the centre for world attention in 2001 during the celebration of the 1700th anniversary of adoption of Christianity in Armenia, first country adopting Christianity as state religion.
Costs per participant: Yerevan City tour – AMD 16000, lunch – AMD 9000, Ejmiatzin and Zvartnots – AMD 16000. The participants can choose one, two or all three of these options. The prices include transportation, professional tour guide and entrance fees. For booking all 3 options, a discount will apply (AMD 36000 for all 3).
Thursday, 27.05.2026
BAO, Voskevaz Winery and Conference Dinner
15:00–17:00 Tour to Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (BAO). Participants will explore Armenia’s flagship astronomical center, including the 2.6m telescope, the 1m Schmidt telescope, the Viktor Ambartsumian House-Museum, and the BAO UNESCO Centre. The visit offers insight into Armenia’s astronomical heritage and its cutting-edge research facilities.
17:30–18:30 Visit to Voskevaz Winery
Founded on centuries-old winemaking traditions, Voskevaz Winery combines authentic Armenian architecture with modern production techniques. Participants will tour the cellars, learn about local grape varieties, and enjoy tastings in a scenic, historic setting.
19:00–22:00 Conference Dinner at Voskevaz Winery
The day concludes with a festive dinner at the winery, featuring Armenian cuisine, local wines, and a relaxed atmosphere ideal for networking and informal discussions.
Cost per participant – AMD 27000 (including dinner). The price also includes transportation, professional tour guide and entrance fees.
Saturday, 30.05.2026
Post-Conference Tours
Zorats Karer and Noravank
09:00-22:00 Zorats Karer (Karahunge) and Noravank Monastery complex, with lunch (approx. at 13:00-14:00) and dinner (approx. at 19:00-20:00). The most fascinating Armenian historical astronomical building is Karahunge (the “Armenian Stonehenge”, the name derives from kar “stone” and may mean “singing stones”; and the other famous name is Zorats Karer). It is a megalithic assemblage, 200 km from Yerevan, and 3 km from the town Sisian; at an altitude of 1770 m. It is an assemblage of many stones put in a circle and a few arms starting from it. As many other such buildings, Karahunge was thought to be a religious assemblage. However, only in the middle of 1980th, Karahunge was first interpreted as an archaeoastronomical monument and was studied by Prof. E.S. Parsamian and Prof. P.M. Herouni. Estimations give at least from 7700 years for the age of Karahunge.
Cost per participant – AMD 45000 (including lunch and dinner). The price also includes transportation, professional tour guide (an archaeoastronomer) and entrance fees.
Lake Sevan
Lake Sevan, the gem of Armenia, is a wonder of nature, located 60 km from Yerevan up a highway which cuts northward through mountains and rocks. Sevan fills a gigantic depression situated at a height of almost 2,000 metres above sea level. The poet once said of its waters that they were like a piece of sky that had descended to the earth among the mountains. The average temperature of Sevan’s water in summer is +20-22°C in the afternoon. The tour also includes a scenic boat trip on Lake Sevan, offering panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and the peninsula. Weather permitting, participants will enjoy a relaxing ride on the water, with opportunities for photos and short stops along the lakeshore. Sevan has always been famous for its fish, especially trout, called Ishkhan («prince-fish»), a fish which graced many great lords’ tables in times of old. There are several sightseeing on the way to Sevan and around the lake, too, including medieval monasteries and the Noratus Cemetery, a place with numerous Armenian khach-kars (cross-stones).
Cost per participant – AMD 36000 (including lunch). The price also includes transportation, professional tour guide and entrance fees.
On-site cash payment option will also be possible, however to guarantee your booking, we strongly recommend online prepayment.
The tours are possible in case at least 20 participants are registered. All pick-ups and drop-offs are being organized from/to hotels booked through LOC. Other participants should take the buses near one of these hotels.
Please note, that the last day for Social events application is 25 April, 2026.
Cancellation policy
- Cancellation before 15 March 2026: 100% refund (minus bank transfer fees)
- Cancellation between 15 March-30 April 2026: 50% refund (minus bank transfer fees)
- Cancellation after 30 April 2026: no refund
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Join us at CAP Conference 2026 for an enriching experience that seeks to transform astronomy communication across the globe.