Amazing Armenia

Arrival at the Yerevan airport. Meeting with guide and driver.
Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation.
Overnight in the hotel in Yerevan.

Yerevan. Breakfast in the hotel.

Drive to village Areni. Here the most ancient winery in the world Areni-1 is located. This winery had been discovered as a result of excavations done in 2007-2008.

Noravank (meaning “New Monastery” in Armenian) is a 13th century Armenian monastery, spiritual centre of Orbelyan princes’ dynasty. The monastery is best known for its two-storey Surp Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God, Burtelashen) church, which grants access to the second floor by way of a narrow stone-made staircase jutting out from the face of building.

Drive to Artabuynk village and start the hike. Trail leads to Smbataberd Fortress, founded during 5th century but reestablished and heavily fortified during the 9th to 10th centuiries.The fortress received water from an underground clay pipe, leading from the monastery of Tsaghats Kar.

Continue the tour by visiting Tsaghats Kar Monastery (10th century) decorated with splendid khachkars (a fascinating symbol of Armenia’s cultural and religious heritage in the form of a decorative cross-stone on the flank of the mountain. Continue the hike toward Yeghegis village which is the final destination of the day. Overnight stay in Yeghegis.

Hiking route: Artabuyn – Smbataberd – Tsaghats Kar – Yeghegis
Hiking distance: 12 km / 4 hours
Elevation: Artabuynk 1680m – Smbataberd 1970m – Tsaghats Kar 2100m – Yeghegis 1600m

Yeghegis. Breakfast in the hotel.

Transfer to Syunik, the southern province of Armenia. Drive to Ltsen village and start hiking towards the village of Tatev. The road passes through the oak and hornbeam forests, singing forest birds accompanying you along the entire route. Start your day ascending, and after walking for about 8 kilometers, we will start descending to the Tatev village, where the 9th- century Tatev Monastic Complex is located. After sightseeing the monastery take Tatever cableway (included in the Guinness World records as the world’s “longest non-stop double track cable car”) and admire a wonderful and unique view of mountains, gorges and the beautiful landscape of Syunik region. Drive to Goris town for overnight stay.

Hiking Route: Ltsen – Tatev
Hiking distance: 16 km/5-6 hours
Elevation: Ltsen 1550m – Tatev village 1550m Ascent: 600 m, Descent: 600 m

Goris. Breakfast in the hotel.

Drive 30 minutes and appear in a fantastic cave village with a picturesque view to the ruins of an old village, churches, tombs, springs, and a new bridge that spans the gorge. Khndzoresk is an ideal place for hiking and for enjoying your trip to Armenia. At the end of the 19th century, Old Khndzoresk was the largest village in Eastern Armenia. Explore every corner of these man-made dwellings.

Visit to Karahunj (also called Zorats Karer) – a prehistoric archaeological site near the city of Sisian in the Syunik province of Armenia. It is alike famous Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England and Carnac Stones in Carnac, France. The phrase Zorats Karer is translated from Armenian as “Worrier Stones or Stone Army”. The stones make whistling sounds on a windy day, presumably because of multiple reach-through holes bored under different angles into the stones in prehistoric times.

Shaki Waterfall is situated in Armenia, above Lake Shaki. The altitude is 18 m. The waterfall is located 3 km North-West of Sisian city, in gorge of the River Vorotan. According to the legend, enemies kidnapped 93 beauties from the Gegharkuni village for their commander, who had stopped in Mughan with his army. When the caravan of captives was on the spot, ladies turned to the invader with request: “The road was long and exhausting. We got dusty and dirty. Let us have a bath in the river and then only show up to your majors.” The invaders agreed. The ladies undressed and jumped into the River Vorotan. They sank and disappeared. Only blue-eyed lady, named Shake, swam across the river, trying to escape. The invaders managed to catch up with her, but on that very moment a rock appeared under her and the water, flowing above the rock, hid her under its foams. After that story, the waterfall and the village, where it is located were called Shaki.

Drive to the spa town of Jermuk. Jermuk is famous for its hot springs and mineral water brands bottled in the town. It is attractive for its fresh air, waterfall, artificial lakes, walking trails, the surrounding forests and mineral water pools. After having a short rest, we will walk down to the gorge of the Arpa river to enjoy the beuty of Jermuk waterfall.

Hiking Route: Old Khndzoresk village, Jermuk waterfall
Hiking distance: 3 km / 1.5 hours
Elevation: Old Khndzoresk 1200m-1400m

Jermuk. Breakfast in the hotel.

Start the day with a hike to the natural hot springs 6 km from Jermuk. Here you have chance to relax in bath in the warm springs. Continue to the Kechut reservoir and drive through the Vardenyats Pass (2410 m) and visit Orbelyan’s Caravanserai, built in 1332 by Prince Chesar Orbelian. It used to be an important trade point on the famous Silk Road accommodating weary travelers and their animals as they crossed from or into the Vayots Dzor Mountains.

Drive across Lake Sevan and visit Noratus Cemetry a medieval cemetery with a large number of early kachkars (cross-stones) dating back to the 10th century. Finally, we reach Lake Sevan, the largest lake in Armenia and Caucasus region. It is also the second largest fresh-water high-altitude lake in the world. This huge mountain lake is situated at an altitude of about 1900 meters above sea level. Overnight in Sevan.

Hiking route: Jermuk – Hot springs – Kechut Reservoir
Hiking distance: 10 km / 5 hours
Elevation: Jermuk 2100 m – Hot springs 2055 m – Kechut reservoir 1960 m

Sevan. Breakfast in the hotel.

In the morning drive to the Tavush province and visit Dilijan town. It is known as the “Armenian Switzerland” by locals. Not far from Dilijan there is a small beautiful lake called Lake Parz (Crystal lake) which is located in the Dilijan National Park at 1330 m above sea level.

Begin this leg of your hiking from Parz lake to Gosh village. The trail goes through the forests and alpine fields. At the end of hike you will reach to the impressive monastic comples of Goshavank (12-13th century) which has remained in relatively good condition and also houses one of the world’s finest examples of a khachkar. It is optional to continue the hike from gosh village to the Gosh lake and back to the village. Drive to the capital city Yerevan. Overnight in the hotel.

Hiking route: Parz lake – Gosh village – Gosh lake (optional)
Hiking distance: 7 km / 2.5 hours + 5 km / 2 hours (gosh lake)
Elevation: Parz lake 1330 m – Gosh village 1190 m – Gosh lake 1410 m

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