Trails, Temples & Traditions: 5-Day Private Armenia Tour

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

Erebuni fortress. Visit Erebuni fortress which is an Urartian fortified city

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.).

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.

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)

Art Kvartal is an art complex with its gallery, design shop, art school, cafe in the center of Yerevan

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).

Lunch - Anteb restaurant. Traditional Armenian food(Manti soup; bulgar salad; lamb barbeque)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Lunch - Garnitoun restaurant. Armenian traditional lunch(main dish barbequed fish)

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.

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.

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

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

Lunch at Noravank Monastery. Lunch at Noravank Monastery

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.

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.

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

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

Lunch - Dilijan forested city. Armenian traditional food

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.

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.

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

Lunch - Haghpat village. Armenian traditional lunch(main dish pork barbeque)

Drive back to Yerevan - Airport transfer. We have a transfer to the airport