(En) Exploration of Armenia

(En) Arrival at the Yerevan airport. Meeting with guide and driver.
Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation. Free time.
Overnight in the hotel in Yerevan.

(En) Yerevan. Breakfast in the hotel.
The excursion starts with a visit to Matenadaran – the rarest manuscript museum. Here about 18,000 manuscripts are kept, which are included in UNESCO World Heritage list.

(En) Start overall city tour in Yerevan. Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia, and one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities. Yerevan is older than Rome for 29 years. Situated on the left-bank (along the river Araks) part of the Ararat valley Yerevan offers breathtaking views of holy mountain Ararat. The history of Yerevan dates back to the 8th century BC. In 2018 Yerevan celebrated its 2800th anniversary.

(En) It is then followed by the visit to the Genocide Memorial and Museum (Tsitsernakaberd). The Armenian Genocide Museum & Institute (AGMI), located on the hills of the Tsitsernakaberd Park, makes up part of the Armenian Genocide Victims’ Memorial Complex. This sacred site embraces and reflects the memories and values for Armenians worldwide. The Memorial and the Museum function as a source of understanding and acknowledgement of this monumental tragedy in the history of Armenia.

Overnight in Yerevan.

(En) Yerevan. Breakfast in the hotel.
The climb to Geghama Mountains starts from the Village Sevaberd of Kotayk region. After crossing about 12km road, participants reach Lake Akna, where the first camp for overnight stay will be installed. Camp and other items will be transported by off-road vehicles.

Route length – 12km
Height variation:
Sevaberd village- 2100m. Akna Lake – 3030m

(En) Breakfast in a camp.

Crossing about 8 km length route from the Lake Akna, participants will overcome the highest pick of Geghama Mountains: Mount Azhdahak. Mt. Azhdahak has a beautiful crater, where the Lake Azhdahak of 8m depth is situated. The Lake is distinguished by astonishing purity of its water. From Azhdahak the route is continued to a nearby pond, where participants will spend an overnight stay. (As per wish of participants, it is possible to reach the pick of Mount Tar by 30 minutes long hike from Azhdahak and see Crater Lake of the Mount as well).
Overnight in a camp.

Route length – 10km
Height variation:
Lake Akna- 3030m, Azhdahak- 3597m, Azhdahak Camp 3100m

(En) Breakfast in a camp.

The route will continue from Azhdahak to Vanki Lake, or “Vishap” Lake. The route is popular with thousands of 7000-8000 years old rock-carvings. Vanki Lake is known for its vishapakars, which are giant stones installed more than 6-7000 years ago.
The route continues to the Plateau located up from the Village Geghard, which has a magnificent view of surrounding mountains, Azat Gorge, Mount Ararat and etc. An overnight stay will be held in Geghard Plateau.
Overnight in a camp.

Route length – 15km
Height variation:
Azhdahak Camp 3100m, Vanki Lake -2800m., Geghard platou-2200

(En) Yerevan. Breakfast in the hotel.
From Geghard Plateau the route leads us to medieval Monastery of Havuts Tar located in the territory of Khosrov State Reserve. After tour there, participants will go down to the Gorge of Azat River.
Garni temple is situated on a high hill (height above sea level is 1413 m) and behind the hill you can find an unforgettable view of the canyon of the Azat river. So you are going to hike along the canyon to see cliff walls of well-preserved basalt columns. These wonderful basalt rocks seem to be artificial – so much beautiful they are. For their beauty rocks are called «Symphony of the stones».

(En) The Havuts Tar monastery complex is located to the east of Garni on the left bank of the Azat River and was one of the major religious and cultural centres of medieval Armenia. This formidable 11th century walled monastery stands half ruined on an outcrop across the Garni River gorge from the village of Goght.

(En) Visit to open-air museum of Garni pagan temple. It is the only surviving monument of the Hellenistic period in Armenia. The temple is dedicated to the God of the sun Mithra and was built in the 2nd half of the 1st c AD during the reign of king Tiridates I. The temple was completely destroyed during the earthquake of 1679. It was restored in the 1970s, using the surviving fragments and carving the missing ones renewed. The territory of the fortress that was used as a summer residence of Armenian royalty included the palace, the royal bath – house, the garrison barracks and other structures that did not survive. Garni pagan temple has unique design and is the only type of temple across the Caucasus and the former Soviet Union.

(En) Drive to Kotayk region. Today you are going to visit Geghard Monastery, which is cut into the rock (13th c); and Garni – the only type of pagan temple across the Caucasus and the former Soviet Union (2nd half of 1st c AD). Geghard is one of the most famous medieval monasteries in Armenia. The complex of medieval buildings is set into a landscape of great natural beauty, surrounded by towering cliffs at the entrance to the Azat river valley. According to the legend, the monastery housed the spear which had wounded Christ on the Cross and from which comes its present name, Geghardavank (the Monastery of the Spear). Allegedly it was brought there by the Apostle Thaddeus, first recorded in a document of 1250. The church with its surrounding structures is included in the UNESCO World Cultural heritage List.
Drive back to Yerevan. Overnight in the hotel.

Route length – 10km:
Height variation:
Geghard platou-2200, Garni gorge-1330, Garni tample-1400

(En) Yerevan. Breakfast in the hotel.

Early in the morning the group will reach Lake Sevan, the “blue-eyed beauty” of Armenia. Being one of the biggest highland freshwater lakes in the world it is 1900 m above sea level. The tour will continue along the coast of Lake Sevan to the peninsula. After rising to the peninsula, you will see the monastery of Sevanavank (IX cent.). An amazing view to the lake and surrounding beauties opens from the hill. The monastery of Sevan (Sevanavank), which stands on what was once an island of the same name, can be dated to the 9th-10th centuries. For several hundred years, as an important spiritual centre, housing many monks, it has been visited by thousands of pilgrims from all parts of Armenia.

Lunch to be arranged during the tour.

(En) Visit to Goshavank – 12th or 13th century Armenian monastery located in the village of Gosh in Tavush region. Goshavank was erected in the place of an older monastery once known as Nor Getik, which had been destroyed by an earthquake in 1188. Mkhitar Gosh, a statesman, scientist and author of numerous fables and parables as well as the first criminal code, took part in the rebuilding of the monastery. The impressive monastery which has remained in relatively good condition also houses one of the world’s finest examples of a khachkar.
Drive back to Yerevan. Overnight in the hotel.

(En) Yerevan. Breakfast in the hotel.
Visit to Echmiadzin – the spiritual centre of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the residence of the Catholicos of All Armenians. Visit the Mother Cathedral of Holy Echmiadzin – one of the most ancient and most beautiful examples of Christian architecture. It was founded to commemorate the proclamation of Christianity as the national religion of Armenia. The original building was completed in 303 AD. The Echmiadzin Cathedral is the seat of the throne of the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians. Since 2000, it is a UNESCO world heritage site.

Exclude Lunch
After lunch participants will be transported to Kari Lake (3207m) by vehicle. Dinner and overnight in camp.
Kari Lake camp – 3207m or 3100m
Overnight in a camp.

(En) Breakfast in a camp.
Early in the morning get ready for hiking to the southern summit of the highest mountain of Armenia and South Caucasus. Mt. Aragats with its unique nature has sub-alpine and alpine zones as well as four peaks and one of the biggest craters in the world, created by a volcano eruption in the distant past. The highest northern peak is 4090m. We are ascending the southern one (3880m). Descend from the mountain and return to the capital Yerevan.

Upon participants’ wish and depending on weather conditions, it may be possible to climb up to Western Peak as well.
Hiking length – 15 km (in case of Southern Pick only);
Height variation:
Kari Lake – 3207m., Southern peak – 3879m

(En) Yerevan. Breakfast in the hotel (depending on the time of departure). Transfer to the Yerevan Airport. Departure.