Private Tour to Lake Sevan, Hayravank and Noratus Cemetery from Yerevan
When visiting Armenia, you must take advantage of seeing one of the country's biggest attractions, Lake Sevan! This tour allows you to travel around the lake and see the region's most well-known attractions.
Highlights:
the largest lake of the Caucasus - Sevan
the monastery of Sevanavank on the top of the peninsula
the panoramic view from Hayravank monastery
the world's largest khachkar (cross-stone) collection in Noratus cemetery
Includes:
a driver (guide)
Yerevan pick-up and drop-off
private minivan transportation
Not included:
entrance fees to attractions
meals
professional English-speaking guide ($65)
Your driving guide will meet you in Yerevan and take you to the pearl of Armenia, Lake Sevan, about an hour from the capital. Sevan is one of the world's most spectacular high-altitude freshwater lakes. It is approximately 1900 meters above sea level. The stunning scenery and crystal clear water provide ideal circumstances for rest. The lake is also known for its peninsula and the Sevanavank church complex, which was finished in 874 and dates back to the Middle Ages.
When you climb the 250 stairs to Sevanavank, you can see the lake and the mountains in all their glory. The silhouette of the cathedrals against the turquoise lake and beautiful sky leaves an inexplicable impression on tourists.
Then, on your way back, you'll stop at Hayravank monastery, which has another stunning vantage point and a panoramic view of the lake. There is no written evidence of when it was built, but the way it was built puts it among the 9th-century architectural pillars.
Your last stop at Noratus Cemetery will probably be the most interesting. It is known for having the world's most impressive collection of cross-stones (khachkars). Khachkar art is a unique representation of Armenian medieval culture. Noratus is an open-air museum with hundreds of khachkars on exhibit, the most striking of which are the so-called "embroidered" ones from the 13th and 14th centuries. Armenian cross-stone art is on the UNESCO Representative List of Humanity's Intangible Cultural Heritage. Your driver (guide) will carefully return you to Yerevan at the end of the tour.
