|
|
Hiking trips on remote trails of Armenia, watching wildlife, nature and historic places is an adventure vacation you'll remember the rest of your life. You’ll explore the fascinating beauty of the Armenian landscapes, its colorful mountains and deep gorges, wild flowers and alpine lakes, forested mountains and medieval monasteries dotting the highlands of Armenia. Explore the exotic beauty of Armenia…
Itinerary in brief: Day 1: Arrival - Yerevan city tour Day 2: Yerevan - Garni - Geghard -Yerevan
Day 3: Yerevan - Tsakhkadzor - Sevan - Dilijan
Day 4: Dilijan - Parz lich - Haghartsin - Jukhtakvank - Dilijan
Day 5: Dilijan - Sanahin - Haghpat - Kobayr - Yerevan
Day 6: Yerevan - Khor Virap - Noravank - Yerevan
Day 7: Departure
Itinerary in details Day 1
 Arrival at Zvartnots International Airport. Meet & greet. Transfer to the hotel in Yerevan. Hotel check-in. RestYEREVAN WALKING TOUR - Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, is a modern, colorful city. At the same time it is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world the history of which goes back to 782 B.C.
Overnight in Yerevan.Yerevan skyline with biblical Mount Ararat on the background is very impressive. We start our exploration with the Republic Square with it magnificent buildings enhanced by singing fountains. Walking down the Abovyan Street, one of the oldest streets in Yerevan which was on the Great Silk Road, we continue to Northern Avenue, Opera House, Cascade, a colossal white stairwell built on a Yerevan hillside in the 1970’s, with water fountains running down the sides, all reminiscent of a natural river or stream cascading. Day 2
 This morning we visit the Garni Fortress, the summer residence of the Armenian kings until 5th century. It is famous for its Hellenistic Temple of the Sun dating back to 77A.D., Royal Palace ruins, Roman Baths with an amazingly well preserved mosaic, 7th century church ruins and incredible view of the Azat River Canyon (UNESCO World Heritage Site) located in Khosrov Nature Reserve.We start our hike from Garni Fortress descending down the gorge to marvel at amazing rock formations known as "Stone Symphony of Armenia". You walk in the forest listening to the chirping of birds and admiring the beauty of the fascinating Azat River Canyon while walking towards the Havoots Tar monastic complex (9th century) after crossing the medieval bridge. Later we'll visit Geghard, an incredible ancient Armenian monastery, partly carved out of a mountain (4th century). It is said that the "Holy Lance" that pierced the body of Christ was kept here. Visiting a local house in Garni village. Traditional Armenian bread-lavash making in tonir. Overnight in Yerevan.
Day 3
 Visit the town of “Valley of flowers” (Tsaghkadzor in Armenian), known for being a ski resort, with forests and an ancient monastery named Kecharis (11-13th cc.). In the summer, people go there to get away from the city life of Yerevan, and the heat, for the fresh air in the mountains. In the winter, the town is completely overtaken by skiers and people who just want to relax and enjoy the snow and scenery. The modern rope-way will take you to the top of Teghenis Mountain, where the greens of land and the blue of the sky get in fusion. Then you can hike on the slopes of Teghenis Mountain admiring the view of the Lake Sevan from afar.Continue to the Lake Sevan. The Lake Sevan is a huge mountainous lake which takes up 5% of Armenia's surface area. It’s one of the most beautiful alpine lakes in the world situated at 1900m above sea level. On a clear and sunny day, the water is often deep turquoise color. It has white-sand beaches. The Sevan basin has a unique combination of mountainous air, the big fresh water lake and woods. Visit Sevanavank Monastery (9th century) which is located on Sevan peninsula. Continue to Dilijan spa town. Overnight in Dilijan.
Day 4  Discover the majestic beauty of Tavush region. Words alone can't describe the natural beauty of Dilijan. Many poets used to say, "If there are woods, mountains, streams and mineral waters in paradise, it must be like Dilijan." As a climatic balneal health centre of medium-mountain zone, Dilijan is characterized by mild, moderate warm summer, sunny warm winter and dry warm weather during the whole year. Due to its forested mountains and mild climate, Dilijan is named "Armenia's little Switzerland."Visit Parz Lake. The Parz Lich (Clear Lake) is situated 9km South-East from the town of Dilijan on the altitude of 1350m. It is fed by mountainous springs. Also visit Haghartsin Monastery.
Continue to the most beautiful part of the town, Old Dilijan. Then you’ll be taken to the outskirt of Dilijan from where you'll start your hiking to Jukhtakvank and Matosavank Monasteries which are very close to each other. It will take at least 2 hours to get there.
The Monastery of Jukhtakvank (Twins' Monastery, 13th century) was constructed on a picturesque glade surrounded with woody slopes from all parts. Right opposite Jukhtakvank, on the other slope of the gorge, there is one more architectural complex - Matosavank. However to find Matosavank, despite simple orientation, it is rather difficult, as the high grass at the full height of the person. The church was constructed in 1205 from rough hewed stones. Enjoy the beautiful nature... Overnight in Dilijan.
Day 5  Taking the road Dilijan – Vanadzor (which is extremely beautiful with small Russian villages) drive to the north-west of Armenia, Lori region, the most beautiful forested area of Armenia with its miraculous mountainous woodlands and bottomless gorges.Visit the masterpieces of medieval Armenian architecture, Sanahin and Haghpat Monasteries. Haghpat and Sanahin Monasteries are huge complexes in the North of Armenia founded in 10-13th centuries. The both monasteries are outstanding masterpieces of Armenian architecture in which artistic merits transcended the limits of the national culture. They are included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Continue to Kobayr Monastery. You need to climb up and hike a hillside. A flight of steps leads up and back, finally climbing up steeply up the side of the gorge. The reward for the strenuous 10-minute scramble is one of the most beautiful places in Armenia, Kobayr Monastery. Perched on a shelf of the gorge, in an ancient and sacred place where springs seep out of the rock, trees and vines twine among the intricately carved blocks of the monastery. Kobayr is a 12th century. The monastery was later into a Chalcedonian monastery. The majority of the inscriptions in the monastery are written in Georgian. Overnight in Yerevan.
Day 6 Drive to Khor Virap Monastery. It was in Khor Virap Monastery where St. Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned for 13 years before curing King Trdat III of a disease. This caused the conversion of the king and Armenia into the first officially Christian nation in the world in the year 301. To this day you can visit the underground chamber he was imprisoned. Its location, near the closest point to Mount Ararat within Armenian borders, offers a spectacular view of the mountain, the national symbol of Armenia.
 Hiking to Noravank Monastery, an architectural gemstone nestled among brick-red cliffs, just above a deep gorge. You’ll walk among huge canyons admiring the natural beauty of the red landscape with trees and a turbulent stream running along your path. It’s only here where you can see a bas-relief with the representation of Father God with almond-shaped eyes which look far ahead. No where else in medieval Armenian art God is represented as a man. He was usually depicted in the form of a descending right hand. But Noravank Monastery is an exception! It’s a majestic sight to visit which will remain in your memories forever. Overnight in Yerevan. Transfer to airport. Departure. *Itinerary is subject to change at any time upon your request. Rates in EURO per person in DBL room occupancy:
The rates include: Accommodation ( 3* hotel in Yerevan, Dilijan) Full transportation Multi-lingual professional tourist guide Breakfast at the hotel Entrance fees The rates do not include: Lunches, dinners Flights Travel insurance Visa to Armenia |
 | Home | | About Armenia | | Tours to Georgia | | Hotels | | Apartment Rental | | Rent a Car | | Visa to Armenia | | Photo Gallery | | About Us | | Contact Us |