Armenia Travel

Types: Cultural-Historical Regional

Period: Weekend

Hotel: Ani Plaza

Guaranteed: Yes

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Day 1
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Departure (-/-/-)

Day 2
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Arrival. Natural wonders of Azad canyon: Symphony of Stones (B/L/D)

Early arrival to Armenia. After arrival you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. After rest depart Yerevan. Today we will visit Garni temple – a unique monument of Hellenistic period in Armenia and the only pagan temple in Armenia surviving to our days. From here we will descend to the canyon of Garni which is famous for its unique rock formations – gigantic basalt pillars often called “the symphony of stones”.We will then be transferred to the Goght village to visit a fantastic sample of medieval Armenian architecture, the Geghard Cave Monastery. This rock-carved monastery of 13th century is a UNESCO site. Some enclosures of the monastery have amazing acoustic and is a perfect place for singling spiritual songs. Lunch will be arranged in Garni at a village house – people can enjoy a nice home-made meal sitting in the garden, in the shadow of fruit trees. Dinner and overnight at a hotel in Yerevan.

Duration of hike: 1.5 hr

Distance: 5 km

*Possibility of arranging a choir performance in the cave enclosures of Geghard monastery (Armenian church music) - EUR 120 per concert.

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Day 3
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In the shadow of Mt. Ararat – The Rugged South of Armenia (B/L/D)

In the morning we will leave Yerevan. We will drive via plains of Ararat. Early in the morning we can have beautiful views of biblical Mt. Ararat – the resting place of Noah’s Ark. The winding road will bring us to the village of Amaghu, from which we will start our hiking towards Noravank monastery with intricate carvings. The path we will walk is known as the old path of monks. The trek lies through the colorful freakish plumb rosy cliffs. The gorge of Noravank is a place of natural beauty, rich with caves populated by people since at least Bronze Age. Upon completion of our hike, we will stop by in Areni village, the wine capital of Armenia. We will visit a family-owned winery and get the taste of local wine. Lunch will be arranged at a café inside a cave. Serpentine road will bring us to Tatev village. To get there we will drive through Vorotan canyon - the deepest canyon in Armenia reaching to almost 1 km depth. At the bottom the of the canyon we will see the Devil’s Bridge – an amazing geological monument located on Vorotan river. Dinner at a local small restaurant overlooking Tatev monastery. Overnight in tents in Tatev village.

**Depending on the season and availability we may see how local people make at their homes fruit vodka famous in this region.

Duration of hike: 1 hr

Distance: 4 km

Day 4
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Tatev monastery and the deepest canyon in Armenia (B/L/D)

Today we will start the day with the visit to Tatev Monastery, a UNESCO site, which was one of the most prominent religious, cultural and educational centers of medieval Armenia, which also had a university. At some point the monastic community reached up to 1000 people. From Tatev village we will start our “passage” through mountains and villages. We will hike through Alpine layer, where we will see different wild flowers, as well some virgin forests. We will behold beautiful views of Zangezur mountains range, one of the longest, dramatic and rugged in Armenia. You will also have views of 4th and 6th highest mountains in Armenia – Mt. Mets Ishkhanasar (3550m) and Aramazd (3395m). Lunch-picnic en route. Dinner at a local restaurant in Sisian. Overnight at a 2* hotel in Sisian city.

Duration of hike: 6 hrs

Distance: 17 km

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Day 5
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Stone Henge of Armenia and the ancient rock carvings of Mt. Ukhtasar (3200 m above sea level) (B/L/D)

The morning will start with the visit to Karahunge – local Stone Henge, believed to be an ancient observatory (around 7.500 yrs old) and a worship site for ancient people. We will then take 4X4 vehicles to Mt. Ukhtasar to see ancient petroglyphs (rock carvings of more than 5000 yrs old) located at the alititude of about 3200m near a small mountain lake. In this area we will have our hiking. (Period: June – September/beginning of October. If this visit is not possible, we will offer alternative excursion). Lunch-picnic en route.Dinner with a family in Yeghegnadzor (the group will have dinner together in one place). Overnight in Yeghegnadzor at private houses.

Duration of hike: 4 hrs

Distance: 15 km

Day 6
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Armenia on the Silk Route (B/L/D)

Our trip is full of interesting sites picturesque scenery. We will hike up to a 10th century monastic complex Tsakhats Kar, located in a hidden place, on top of a rock, which also overlooks Smbataberd medieval fortress of Armenian princes of Syunik. Our road follows the ancient trade route Silk Road. One of its branches passed through Selim pass. We will stop near a 13th century caravanserai, which served as a shelter for merchants. Today this is the best preserved caravanserai in Armenia, overlooking Vayots Dzor mountains from the altitude of 2400 m. Lunch-picnic en route.For dinner we will have local speciality “khashlama”, which will be prepared by the local villager that will join us for this evening. After dinner we will gather around the bonfire and under open sky sprinkled with stars we will enjoy the melancholic sound of Armenian pipe duduk, made from apricot wood, played by the local villager. Overnight in tents in Selim pass.

Duration of hike: 5 hrs

Distance: 10 km

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Day 7
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The Pearl of Armenia and Dilijan National Park (B/L/D)

On this day we will see two National Parks of Armenia – Lake Sevan and Dilijan. Lake Sevan is the biggest lake in Armenia, occupying 5% of the territory of the Republic. It is also one of the biggest high-altitude lakes in the world and one of the biggest basins of fresh water in the world. This place is of great importance to bird-watchers. If we are lucky we will see the ever-changing colors of the lake. The area of the lake is protected by the state. We will have a short stop at Sevan peninsula. We will ascend to the top of the rock to take a beautiful picture of the lake. If we are lucky we will also witness the changing colors of Sevan. We will then be transferred to Lake Parz, the starting point of our hike, located on the territory of Dilijan National Park. This part of Armenia is often referred to as “the little Switzerland” due to its lush forests decorating steep mountain slopes. The hiking path will finish in Gosh village, which boast one of the most beautiful khach-kars (cross-stones) in Armenia! Lunch-picnic en route. Dinner with family in Dilijan town. Overnight at private houses in Dilijan town.

Duration of hike: 4 hrs

Distance: 8 km

Day 8
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Ijevan and its environs – Kirants (B/L/D)

In the morning we will explore the cozy town of Dilijan. We will stop by at the museum-street which still has houses preserved since 19th century, with their unique style. We will also visit small studios of local craftsmen, woodcarvers, ceramicists, etc. We will then leave Dilijan and head towards Ijevan town, the administrative center of Tavush province. A stop at the central market will give us an idea about the everyday life of the citizens. We will shop for meat and vegetables for our dinner. Today we will start our hike from Acharkut village. We will pass through deep forests and will be rewarded by a suddenly appearing monastery of Kirants. Once an important religious center, it is carefully hidden in the forests and combines the architectural traditions of Armenia, Georgia and Iran. Lunch-picnic en route. At the end of the hiking day will make our own dinner – we will learn how to make traditional Armenian khorovats (barbeque)! Overnight in tents.

Duration of hike: 6 hrs

Distance: 15 km

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Day 9
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Haghpat and Sanahin (B/L/D)

In the morning we will be transferred to Sanahin village. This village is the birthplace of Mikoyan brothers: Anastas - a prominent Soviet politician; and Artem – one of the engineers of MIG jets. Today’s hiking route lies between Sanahin and Haghbat villages – both boasting medieval monasteries included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The hike will be finished in Haghbat village from where we will be transferred to Odzun village. Lunch-picnic en route. Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at a small guest house in the peaceful Odzun village.

Duration of hike: 3 hrs

Distance: 8 km

Day 10
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Mysteries of Debed canyon (B/L/D)

Today’s route is very beautiful and mysterious. We will walk via the old path connecting the 3 main churches in the area – Odzun (a 6th century basilica), Horomayr and Kobayr (the latter is notable for its beautiful frescoes!!!). These churches are believed to be once connected with a complicated network of hidden passages. Throughout the hike, we will have wonderful views of Debed river canyon, which is in the list of most beautiful canyons in Armenia. Unlike other canyons we pass in Armenia, this one is greener and richer with vegetation. Lunch-picnic en route. Dinner and overnight at a hotel in Yerevan.

Duration: 6 hrs

Distance: 15 km

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Day 11
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Yerevan City Tour (B/L/D)

Optional on this day instead of city tour: Kari Lake (3200m) – Southern peak of Mt. Aragats (3890m)

This day will be dedicated to the exploration of the area of Mt. Aragats (4090), the highest mountain in Armenia. This mountain is an extinct volcano and is sometimes referred to as “sea of stones”. It is also the biggest mining place of tuff stone, a volcanic stone of various colors. Tuff is a major building material in the areas around the mountain and Yerevan. We will stop near Lake Kari (3200 m). Near this lake we will see a unique monument of pre-historic time, called “Vishapaqar” (dragon stone). These are big ancient stones, which were put near sources of water, as part of the worship of the water. From Lake Kari we will start our hiking to the Southern peak of Mt. Aragats (3890m). Lunch-picnic en route. Farewell dinner at a traditional Armenian restaurant with live folk music. Overnight in Yerevan.

Duration: 5hrs

Altitude change: 700

Day 12
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Departure (B/-/-)

Transfer to airport. Departure.

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