Hiking and cultural 5 Day Private Guided Driving Tour in Armenia

$2,540
Duration
5 days
Difficulty
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About This Tour

During our 5 days we will hike Armenian mountains on moderate trails with duration of 3 - 6 hours hike per day and get familiar with the Armenian historical and religious monuments, ancient culture and national cuisine. We will visit memorials, markets, temples, monasteries and many more to learn about the history.
We will take a journey back in time, and find the treasures of an ancient land that is landlocked and mountainous. Armenia, with its dry landscapes to dense forests and steep is ideal for hiking and any sightseeing one can think of. National capital Yerevan remains one of the world's least explored ancient cities.

Activities
Language

Inclusions

  • English speaking licensed guide
  • Modern minivan with A/C
  • Daily water bottle

Exclusions

  • Foods and Drinks
  • Personal Expences
  • Accommodation

Tour Plan

Itinerary

Expand All
Day 1 / Airport pick up / Visit Erebuni fortress / Walking Tour in Yerevan
Day 1 Erebuni fortress

Visit Erebuni fortress which is an Urartian fortified city

Day 1 Republicn Square

We set off to explore, and we begin our walk from beautiful Republic Square through the city center and up the strikingly modern Cascades for views of Biblical Mount Ararat. During our walk we discover the ancient culture of Yerevan, the city which‌, despite numerous invasion‌, hasn't lost its unique traditions.  During our walk we are also getting acquainted with Armenian History; Architecture; Geopolitics; Economy; Geography; Traditions; Religion History; etc.).

Day 1 Mirzoyan Library

A gem in the city. Filled with books, journals related to design and photography, and a bar and gallery, the space is peaceful and amazing.

Day 1 Vernissage market

Visit Statue of Garegin Nzhdeh(Armenian national hero) so we will talk here geopolitical situation of Armenia and will get acquainted to important historical facts connected to Armenia starting from 16th century; walk in Cultural Genocide park(Khachkars also know as Armenian cross-stones); Metro station Republic Square(discovering Armenian metro)

Day 1 Dolmama - Armenia's Restaurant

One of the best-known restaurants in Armenia. Dozens of presidents, prime ministers, and celebrities have visited the restaurant.

Day 1 Dalan Art Gallery

Walk in Abovyan street(the oldest street in Yerevan built 1856) we will stop to see and talk about old houses and buildings from 19th century which were used as profitable houses for rich Armenian merchants for example we will see the building of richest Armenian merchant Egor Khanzadyan built 1895.

We will visit Dalan art Gallery's hidden backyard which has a set up for jazz concerts and open air vine roofs.

We will try sea buckthorn juice which have been used over centuries as food, traditional medicine, and skin treatment in China, Russia, and northern Europe.

Day 1 Charles Aznavour Square

In this beautiful square we will see the oldest hotel in Yerevan "Grand hotel Yerevan" which was opened in 1926, during the Soviet period(the hotel facade is richly decorated with black Armenian tuff stone).

Day 1 Lunch - Anteb restaurant

Traditional Armenian food(Manti soup; bulgar salad; lamb barbeque)

Day 1 The Armenian National Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet

Visit Swan Lake and Opera House. The ground-breaking of the Opera-Theatre took place on 28 November 1930 during the celebrations of the 10th anniversary of Soviet Armenia. On January 20, 1933, the building was officially opened.

Day 1 Cascade stairs; Cafesjian Center for the Arts

The Cascade is a giant stairway made of limestone in Yerevan, Armenia. It links the downtown Kentron area of Yerevan with the Monument neighborhood. The construction of the cascade started in 1971 and was partially completed in 1980.

Day 2 Hike from Garni village to Garni temple(distance - 4km; duration 2-3 hours)

The trail will take us to pass the “Symphony of Stones,” a natural monument made up of well-preserved hexagonal and pentagonal basalt columns. Near these stones we will notice an 11th-century medieval bridge. We continue our hike through the Azat River Gorge and admire the striking beauty of the geological formations on either side. We will end our hike at Garni temple.

Day 2 Echmiadzin Monastery Complex

Etchmiadzin Cathedral is the mother church of the Armenian Apostolic Church, located in the city of Vagharshapat. According to most scholars it was the first cathedral built in ancient Armenia, and is often considered the oldest cathedral in the world.

Day 2 Garni Temple

The Temple of Garni is the only standing Greco-Roman colonnaded building in Armenia and the former Soviet Union.

Day 2 Lunch - Garnitoun restaurant

Armenian traditional lunch(main dish barbequed fish)

Day 2 The Monastery of Geghard

Geghard is a medieval monastery in the Kotayk province of Armenia, being partially carved out of the adjacent mountain, surrounded by cliffs. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site with enhanced protection status.

Day 3 / Hike from Gnishik village to Noravank monastery(distance - 13km; duration 5-6 hours)

Trail leads down into a beautiful gorge, winding like a snake along the river, leading to an ancient monastery. We might see a bezoar ibex (goats), badgers, sky soaring vultures and eagles.

Day 3 Khor Virap Monastery

The monastery is surrounded by green pasture lands and vineyards within the Ararat plain and is in view of Mount Ararat. The Arax (or Arakas) River flows close by, and the monastery is across from Aralık, Turkey.

Day 3 Gnishik village

Gnishik village is home to only a small handful of families, whose total is barely over 15.

Day 3 Noravank Monastery

Noravank is a 13th-century Armenian monastery, located 122 km from Yerevan in a narrow gorge made by the Amaghu River.

Day 3 Lunch at Noravank Monastery

Lunch  at Noravank Monastery

Day 3 Drive back to Yerevan
Day 4 / Hike Goshavank Monastery to Parz lake(distance - 8km; duration 3-4 hours)

This track goes from Monastery of Goshavank to Parz Lich, a very nice walk through the forest of Dilijan National Park. Path starts in Goshavank and goes up to some unexpected mountain’s fields. The way from here to Parz Lich is always under beeches trees (fagus). Itinerary ends at Parz Lich.

Day 4 Monastery Sevanavank

On the shores of the high-altitude Lake Sevan (the largest body of water in Armenia and the Caucasus region) we pause at Sevanavank Monastery(founded in 874 AD by Princess Mariam the daughter of Ashot king). The Monastery is located on a peninsula at the northwestern shore of Lake Sevan after the artificial draining of Lake Sevan, which started in the era of Joseph Stalin, the water level fell about 20 meters, and the island transformed into a peninsula.

Day 4 Goshavank Monastery

The impressive monastery which has remained in relatively good condition also houses one of the world's finest examples of a khachkar.

Day 4 Lake Parz,

A small lake located in the Dilijan National Park east of Dilijan in Armenia.

Day 4 Lunch - Dilijan forested city

Armenian traditional food

Day 4 Alaverdi - Lori province

We visit the monastery of Goshavank, once famous for its library, founded in the 13th century, restorations are being financed by an Islamic individual from the United Arab Emirates for reasons not fully understood.

Overnight in Alaverdi

Day 5 / Hike from Sanahin to Haghpat(distance - 10km; duration 4-5 hours)

The trail is attractive not only by its remarkable nature, it's also thrilling for the fascinating cultural heritage - Sanahin (10 century) and Haghpat (10-13 century) monasteries.

Day 5 Monastery of Sanahin

Sanahin Monastery is an Armenian monastery founded in the 10th century in the Lori Province of Armenia, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Day 5 Haghpat monastery

Haghpat Monastery, also known as Haghpatavank, is a medieval monastery complex in Haghpat, Armenia, built between the 10th and 13th century.Lunch at Megerian

Day 5 Lunch - Haghpat village

Armenian traditional lunch(main dish pork barbeque)

Day 5 Drive back to Yerevan - Airport transfer

We have a transfer to the airport

Meeting / Pickup

Pick-up only: Customers must be picked up from selected pick-up locations.

Know Before You Go

  • Animals or pets allowed
  • Public transportation nearby
  • Infants must sit on your lap

Please Note

  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Not stroller accessible
  • Infant seats unavailable
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Not recommended for people with heart conditions

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