Hidden Trails of Armenia Hiking Holiday

Arrival at the Yerevan airport. Meet with your guide and driver.

After breakfast in the hotel, stary your city tour on foot in Yerevan.

Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia, and one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities. Yerevan is older than Rome by 29 years. Situated on the left-bank (along the river Araks) part of the Ararat valley Yerevan offers breathtaking views of holy mountain Ararat. The history of Yerevan dates back to the 8th century BC. In 2018 Yerevan celebrated its 2800th anniversary.

After your walking tour, drive to Kotayk region. Visit the open-air museum of Garni pagan temple. It is the only surviving monument of the Hellenistic period in Armenia. The temple is dedicated to the God of the sun Mithra and was built in the 2nd half of the 1st c AD during the reign of king Tiridates I. Garni pagan temple has unique design and is the only type of temple across the Caucasus and the former Soviet Union.

Start your hike from the temple to Havuts Tar monastery complex (11-13th cc.) through the Azat river gorge.

Garni temple is situated on a high hill (height above sea level is 1413 m) and behind it is an unforgettable view of the canyon of the Azat river.

As you hike along the canyon you will view cliff walls of well- preserved basalt columns. These wonderful basalt rocks are so beautiful they appear to be artificial and are known as “Symphony of the Stones”.

The Havuts Tar monastery complex is located to the east of Garni on the left bank of the Azat River and was one of the major religious and cultural centres of medieval Armenia.

This formidable 11th century walled monastery stands half ruined on an outcrop across the Garni River gorge from the village of Goght.

Lunch will be in a local villagers house in Garni village.

Geghard Monastery, which is cut into the rock (13th c), is one of the most famous medieval monasteries in Armenia.

The complex of medieval buildings is set into a landscape of great natural beauty, surrounded by towering cliffs at the entrance to the Azat river valley. According to the legend, the monastery housed the spear which had wounded Christ on the Cross and from which comes its present name, Geghardavank (the Monastery of the Spear).

Allegedly it was brought there by the Apostle Thaddeus, first recorded in a document of 1250.

The church with its surrounding structures is included in the UNESCO World Cultural heritage List.

Hiking Route: Garni – Azat river gorge – Havuts Tar – Garni

Hiking distance: 11 km / 4 hrs

Altitude: Garni 1380m – Azat river goge 1220m – Havuts Tar 1600m

Ascent: 300m, Descent: 250m

Drive back to Yerevan.

This evening you will have a welcome dinner in typical Armenian restaurant with Armenian folk music and dances.

Today’s excursion will take you to Ararat region. Here Khor Virap monastery (meaning “deep pit” or “deep well”) is located. The monastery was host to a theological seminary and was the residence of Armenian Catholicos.

Khor Virap’s notability as a monastery and pilgrimage site is attributed to the fact that Saint Gregory the Illuminator has been imprisoned here for 13 years.

A chapel was initially built in 642 AD at the site of Kirat Virap by Nerses III the Builder as a mark of veneration to Saint Gregory.

Lunch.

After lunch drive to Yeghegis village from where you start your hike to the 10th century Castle of King Smbat nestled on top of a mountain. Once there you feel on the roof of the world.

Smbataberd (Smbatavan) castle lies to the southeast of Artabuink village (old Yeghegis) on top of a narrow mountain top. From here you can also see the village of Yeghegis (old Alayaz). On three sides the castle is protected by the ridge.

This wall made it impregnable for most of its life, the mountain can only be approached from the north end.

Hiking route: Yeghegis – Smbataberd – Tsakhats Kar

Hiking distance: 12 km / 4-4.5 hrs.

Altitude: Artabuynk 1680m – Smbataberd 1970m

Ascent: 400m, Descent: 400m

Drive to Sisian. Free time. Overnight in the hotel. Hotel Basen 3* or similar.

After breakfast in the hotel, transfer to Syunik, the southern province of Armenia.

Your hike today will start in Ltsen village and head towards the village of Tatev through a beautiful natural forest.

In the small village of Ltsen (located in Syunik Province) there is a marvelous and little-known place. The villagers call this sacred place “Anapat” (desert), because it is full of unknown mysteries and secrets. You can take some water with you from the sacred Armaghan water spring before commencing your hike to Tatev.

The track passes through the oak and hornbeam forests, with singing forest birds accompanying you along the entire route. Start your day ascending, and after walking for about 8 kilometers, start the descent to the Tatev village, where the 9th- century Tatev Monastic Complex is located. En route you will have lunch.

When you reach Tatev monastery, you will see how the monastic ensemble stands on the edge of the deep gorge of the Vorotan River, with dramatic views, especially on clear dasys

Hiking Route: Ltsen – Tatev

Hiking distance: 16 km/5-6 hours

Altitude: Ltsen 1550m – Tatev village 1550m

Ascent: 280 m, Descent: 200 m

Drive to Tatev. Overnight in the hotel – Saro B & B

After breakfast in your hotel you will take the Tatever cableway (included in the Guinness World records as the world’s “longest non- stop double track cable car”) start today’s hike to Tatevi Mets Anapat (Great Hermitage of Tatev) build in 17-18th centuries.

Tatev was a religious and educational center found by monks from Harants Anapat. Continue on to the natural beauty: Devil’s bridge.

The hike comences in Halidzor village. Halidzor Fortress is located 5km southwest of Kapan, Halidzor was built in the 10th century as a monastery. In the beginning of the 18th century, Armenian military commander David Bek turned the ancient monastery into an unassailable fortress and a symbol of many victories.

Devil’s Bridge located 150m above the Vorotan river, is considered one of the natural wonders of Armenia. It is a natural “roof” that overhangs the frantic waters beneath. The Gorge, with two steep yellow-red slopes, stretches down to meet the edges of the bridge. The cliffs are so close to each other that they create just a narrow corridor, 180-200 meters in width.

For centuries, people used this water for various purposes, especially for the treatment of rheumatic diseases.

Formerly, at a loss for an explanation of its geological processes, locals simply considered it the devil’s deed, giving this formation its name.

Driving distance: 115 km

Hiking route: Tatev village – Tatevi Mets Anapat – Devil’s bridge

Hiking distance: 6 km / 3 hours

Altitude: Tatev village 1550 m – Tatevi Mets Anapat / Devil’s bridge 1000m

Ascent: 15m, Descent: 275m

Drive to Goris. Overnight in the hotel Mthnadzor 3*.

After breakfast start today with a visit to Khndzoresk – a cave village with a large cave system.

There is also a 160-meter long swinging bridge that was built using nothing more than local funds and labor in 2012 and which shakes with every footstep.

Visit to Karahunj (also called Zorats Karer) – a prehistoric archaeological site near the city of Sisian in the Syunik province of Armenia. It is somewhat like famous Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England and Carnac Stones in Carnac, France.

The phrase Zorats Karer is translated from Armenian as “Worrier Stones or Stone Army”. The stones make whistling sounds on a windy day, presumably because of multiple holes bored at different angles into the stones in prehistoric times.

Shaki Waterfall is situated in Armenia, above Lake Shaki.

According to the legend, a blue-eyed lady, named Shake, swam across the river, trying to escape from enemies. The invaders managed to catch up with her, but on that very moment a rock appeared under her and the water, flowing above the rock, hid her under its foams. After that story, the waterfall and the village, where it is located were called Shaki.

Drive to Selim Caravanserai. In medieval Armenia many buildings were built along commercial routes for the accommodation of travelers. According to an inscription in Armenian and Arabic, one of those, the caravanserai of Selim, was built in 1332 by Prince Chesar Orbelian. This caravanserai offered hospitality to travelers along the highway crossing the Selim (Sulema) mountains.

You will also visit Sevan Lake, the “blue-eyed beauty” of Armenia. One of the biggest highland freshwater lakes in the world, it is situated 1900 m above sea level.

The tour will continue along the coast of Lake Sevan to the peninsula. From here you will see the 9th century monastery of Sevanavank (IX cent.),which stands on what was once an island of the same name.

Hiking Route: Old Khndzoresk village, Shaki waterfall

Altitude: Old Khndzoresk 1200m-1400m

Khndzoresk – Ascent: 200 m, Descent: 180 m – 2- 2.5 hrs

Shaki waterfall – Ascent: 180m, Descent: 160m – 2 hrs

Overnight in the hotel in Sevan – Nov Land.

Early this morning start your hike to Tsovagyux then continue to Lake Gosh passing Geghatap village.

Lake Gosh is located in the heart of the Dilijan Reserve. The name of the lake comes from the village named after the outstanding Armenian writer and public figure Mkhitar Gosh, who lived in the 12th -13th centuries. Dense forest surrounds the lake and makes the lake very scenic especially when the leaves turn golden and red in the autumn.

Lunch near Goshavank.

Goshavank was erected in the place of an older monastery once known as Nor Getik – destroyed by an earthquake in 1188. Mkhitar Gosh, a statesman, scientist and author of numerous fables and parables as well as the first criminal code, took part in the rebuilding of the monastery.

Hiking Route: Tsovagyux – Geghatap – Gosh lake – Goshavank

Hiking distance: 13 km / 6-7 hours

Altitude: Gosh lake 1410 m

Ascent: 509 m, Descent: 1400m

Drive back to Dilijan. Overnight in the hotel in Dilijan – Old Dilijan Tufenkian.

Today, visit Echmiadzin Cathedral – the first Christian church in the world. Echmiadzin has been one of the most important locations (not only religiously) in Armenia since its foundation. The cathedral complex is called the “Armenian Vatican” for its significance. The Echmiadzin Cathedral was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2000 along with several important early medieval churches located nearby.

On the way back to Yerevan you will visit Zvartnots temple (means “celestial angels”) 7th century wonderful architectural masterpiece. The remnants of Zvartnots, even in ruins, are a majestic sight. And it is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The site has been the focus of worship from pre-Christian times. Excavations have also uncovered Urartian temple foundations, a sacrificial alter and a large cuneiform stone celebrating the construction of a large canal system during the reign of King Russa II. The canal system, connecting to the Hrazdan River, is still in use.

Drive back to Yerevan. Overnight in the hotel in Yerevan.

Driving distance: 150 km

Early in the morning drive to the mountain Lake Kari (3200m).

Today you will hike to the southern summit of the highest mountain of Armenia and South Caucasus. Mt. Aragats with its unique nature has sub-alpine and alpine zones as well as four peaks and one of the biggest craters in the world, created by a volcano eruption in the distant past.

The highest northern peak is 4090m. You will ascend the southern one (3880m). Descend from the mountain and return to the capital Yerevan.

On your way to Yerevan you will visit the fortress Amberd (8th c). Amberd is one of the rare remnants of Armenian military architecture of the Middle Ages. During the walk to the fortress you can enjoy the scenery of colorful alpine meadows and mountainous backdrop.

Driving distance: 140 km

Hiking route: Lake Kari – Aragats southern summit 3880m – Lake Kari

Hiking distance: 9 km / 5.5 miles

Hiking duration: 6-7 hrs

Altitude: Kari Lich (Stone Lake) 3200 m – Southern summit 3879 m – Western summit 4,080m (optional)

Ascent: 700m, Descent: 700m.

Drive back to Yerevan. Overnight in the hotel.

Today you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home.