Trekking Tour in Armenia
Day 1: Arrival – Transfer to hotel
Arrival in Yerevan at Zvartnots International Airport, our representative will wait at the arrival hall for the transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Yerevan
Day 2: Yerevan city tour – Garni – Geghard – Yerevan
After breakfast, a full day tour will show the city of Yerevan (Republic Square, Opera House, Cascade, Victory Park where you can admire the best view of the city, Matenadaran the museum of ancient manuscripts, Tsitsernakaberd the memorial to the Armenian Genocide). After lunch, departure to Kotayk region to Garni (1401m), to visit Garni temple, a first century Hellenistic Pagan temple and the only one to survive after the christianization of Armenia in the IV century AD. A short drive leads to the Unesco protected Geghard cave monastery probably the most beautiful of Armenia, which lies in a narrow gorge and is partially carved out of the adjacent towering cliff. Return to Yerevan, dinner and overnight
Day 3: Yerevan – Khor Virap – Areni – Noravank – Aghavnadzor
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for the Ararat region where, in a spectacular location just under the imposing mount Ararat, lies the Monastery of Khor Virap: here, from its terrace, everyone can enjoy the fantastic view of the two peaks of this magnificent extinct volcano. In the yard of the monastery there's a deep well: inside it saint Gregory the Illuminator was prisoned by king Trdat because of his predication of Christianism. Trip to the village of Areni, famous for its wines, time for a wine degustation tour at a local wine factory. Lunch and then continue to Noravank Monastery, located in a narrow canyon made by reddish rocks. The unique location and the unique architecture make Noravank one of the most beautiful monasteries of Armenia. Trip to Aghavnadzor village (1662m) and hiking tour to Ulgyur Chapel (2003 m, returning 7 km: ascent 1.5 hours, descent 1 hour). Dinner and overnight in tent near the Monastery of Noravank.
Day 4: Aghavnadzor – Qarahunj – Tatev – Khndzoresk – Goris
After breakfast and after a journey along a road passing through beautiful sceneries, arrival to SisianVisit ofthe ancient astronomic observatory of Qarahunj, which is called "armenian Stonehenge”: some scholars state this ancient site is older than its englishomologue by 3000 years. Drive to Halidzor, from where departs the world longest rope-way (5.7 km, 11 minutes) which reaches another masterpiece of Armenian architecture: the Monastery of Tatev. Lunch near the monastery and then drive to Khndzoresk, an abandoned village which is entirely carved out from rocks. This place was abandoned by its inhabitants about 50 years ago and now trees and a lush vegetation cover the once busy streets and caves. Hike to a suspended bridge above a narrow and deep gorge to reach the old church and the abandoned buildings and caves (2,9 km, 1,5 hrs).Dinner and overnight in Goris.
Day 5: Goris – Smbataberd – Selim – Noratus – Sevan – Dilijan
After breakfast, drive to Yeghegis. Hiking tour to the 10th century fortress of Smbataberd (1930m, 4km, 1.5 – 2 hrs). Descent to the village and lunch in a peasant’s house. Departure towards Gegharquniq region, by crossing Selim pass (2410m). Visit of the Orbelian Caravanserai, an important station along the silk road and little hiking tour (1km, 30 min.). Drive to Noratus, visit the largest collection of Armenian Khachqars (cross-stone). Visit to Sevan Peninsula with its monastery Sevanavank. Departure for Tavush region, the most green area in the country, which creates wonderful autumn landscapes. Dinner and overnight in Dilijan.
Day 6: Dilijan – Lake Parz – Goshavanq – Lastiver – Yenokavan
After breakfast trip to Lake Parz (1300 m) and from there walking through a forest path (5,7 km, 2,5 hours), crossing Areguni range and arriving to the Monastery of Goshavank, (1247 m). Transfer to the village of Yenokavan, lunch and trekking to Lastiver, visiting the caves and the waterfall (6km, 3 -3.5 hours). Dinner and overnight in tents in Yenokavan village.
Day 7: Yenokavan – Noyemberyan – Akhtala – Sanahin – Haghpat
After having breakfast drive to Alaverdi by passing the city of Noyemberyan. Visit to Akhtala, one of the few churches in Armenia painted with frescoes inside. The murals are among the best representations of Byzantine art outside the Empire of Bisantium and were painted between 1205 and 1216. Proceed to the UNESCO protected monastery of Sanahin and, from there, hiking tour to Haghpat visiting the small monastery of Kayanberd, which is located on a hill (6.5km, 2 hours). Lunch and proceed to Haghpat. Visit of the UNESCO protected monastery. Dinner and overnight in Haghpat.
Day 8: Haghpat – Aparan – Amberd – Lake Kari
After breakfast departure for Aragatsotn region. Stop in Aparan to have the unique opportunity to see how the Armenian bread is made. Continuing the journey, drive to Amberd, a 7th century fortress located on the slopes of Mount Aragats. Hiking tour to the fortress (2415m, 3,6 km, 1,5hrs). Lunch and drive to Lake Kari located 3.190 m above the sea level and on a plateau below the peaks. Dinner and overnight in tents.
Day 9: Lake Kari – Mt. Aragats – Saghmosavank – Yerevan
After breakfast, hiking tour to rise the Southern peak of Mt. Aragats (3878m, 4,5 hrs, 8 km). Lunch on the top of the peak. Departure to Saghmosavank Monastery whose construction dates back to the XIII century. Arrival in Yerevan, farewell dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 10: Yerevan – Departure
Trasfer to the airport for departure.
End of services.
Arrival in Yerevan at Zvartnots International Airport, our representative will wait at the arrival hall for the transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Yerevan
Day 2: Yerevan city tour – Garni – Geghard – Yerevan
After breakfast, a full day tour will show the city of Yerevan (Republic Square, Opera House, Cascade, Victory Park where you can admire the best view of the city, Matenadaran the museum of ancient manuscripts, Tsitsernakaberd the memorial to the Armenian Genocide). After lunch, departure to Kotayk region to Garni (1401m), to visit Garni temple, a first century Hellenistic Pagan temple and the only one to survive after the christianization of Armenia in the IV century AD. A short drive leads to the Unesco protected Geghard cave monastery probably the most beautiful of Armenia, which lies in a narrow gorge and is partially carved out of the adjacent towering cliff. Return to Yerevan, dinner and overnight
Day 3: Yerevan – Khor Virap – Areni – Noravank – Aghavnadzor
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for the Ararat region where, in a spectacular location just under the imposing mount Ararat, lies the Monastery of Khor Virap: here, from its terrace, everyone can enjoy the fantastic view of the two peaks of this magnificent extinct volcano. In the yard of the monastery there's a deep well: inside it saint Gregory the Illuminator was prisoned by king Trdat because of his predication of Christianism. Trip to the village of Areni, famous for its wines, time for a wine degustation tour at a local wine factory. Lunch and then continue to Noravank Monastery, located in a narrow canyon made by reddish rocks. The unique location and the unique architecture make Noravank one of the most beautiful monasteries of Armenia. Trip to Aghavnadzor village (1662m) and hiking tour to Ulgyur Chapel (2003 m, returning 7 km: ascent 1.5 hours, descent 1 hour). Dinner and overnight in tent near the Monastery of Noravank.
Day 4: Aghavnadzor – Qarahunj – Tatev – Khndzoresk – Goris
After breakfast and after a journey along a road passing through beautiful sceneries, arrival to SisianVisit ofthe ancient astronomic observatory of Qarahunj, which is called "armenian Stonehenge”: some scholars state this ancient site is older than its englishomologue by 3000 years. Drive to Halidzor, from where departs the world longest rope-way (5.7 km, 11 minutes) which reaches another masterpiece of Armenian architecture: the Monastery of Tatev. Lunch near the monastery and then drive to Khndzoresk, an abandoned village which is entirely carved out from rocks. This place was abandoned by its inhabitants about 50 years ago and now trees and a lush vegetation cover the once busy streets and caves. Hike to a suspended bridge above a narrow and deep gorge to reach the old church and the abandoned buildings and caves (2,9 km, 1,5 hrs).Dinner and overnight in Goris.
Day 5: Goris – Smbataberd – Selim – Noratus – Sevan – Dilijan
After breakfast, drive to Yeghegis. Hiking tour to the 10th century fortress of Smbataberd (1930m, 4km, 1.5 – 2 hrs). Descent to the village and lunch in a peasant’s house. Departure towards Gegharquniq region, by crossing Selim pass (2410m). Visit of the Orbelian Caravanserai, an important station along the silk road and little hiking tour (1km, 30 min.). Drive to Noratus, visit the largest collection of Armenian Khachqars (cross-stone). Visit to Sevan Peninsula with its monastery Sevanavank. Departure for Tavush region, the most green area in the country, which creates wonderful autumn landscapes. Dinner and overnight in Dilijan.
Day 6: Dilijan – Lake Parz – Goshavanq – Lastiver – Yenokavan
After breakfast trip to Lake Parz (1300 m) and from there walking through a forest path (5,7 km, 2,5 hours), crossing Areguni range and arriving to the Monastery of Goshavank, (1247 m). Transfer to the village of Yenokavan, lunch and trekking to Lastiver, visiting the caves and the waterfall (6km, 3 -3.5 hours). Dinner and overnight in tents in Yenokavan village.
Day 7: Yenokavan – Noyemberyan – Akhtala – Sanahin – Haghpat
After having breakfast drive to Alaverdi by passing the city of Noyemberyan. Visit to Akhtala, one of the few churches in Armenia painted with frescoes inside. The murals are among the best representations of Byzantine art outside the Empire of Bisantium and were painted between 1205 and 1216. Proceed to the UNESCO protected monastery of Sanahin and, from there, hiking tour to Haghpat visiting the small monastery of Kayanberd, which is located on a hill (6.5km, 2 hours). Lunch and proceed to Haghpat. Visit of the UNESCO protected monastery. Dinner and overnight in Haghpat.
Day 8: Haghpat – Aparan – Amberd – Lake Kari
After breakfast departure for Aragatsotn region. Stop in Aparan to have the unique opportunity to see how the Armenian bread is made. Continuing the journey, drive to Amberd, a 7th century fortress located on the slopes of Mount Aragats. Hiking tour to the fortress (2415m, 3,6 km, 1,5hrs). Lunch and drive to Lake Kari located 3.190 m above the sea level and on a plateau below the peaks. Dinner and overnight in tents.
Day 9: Lake Kari – Mt. Aragats – Saghmosavank – Yerevan
After breakfast, hiking tour to rise the Southern peak of Mt. Aragats (3878m, 4,5 hrs, 8 km). Lunch on the top of the peak. Departure to Saghmosavank Monastery whose construction dates back to the XIII century. Arrival in Yerevan, farewell dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 10: Yerevan – Departure
Trasfer to the airport for departure.
End of services.