Wild Armenia Hiking Holiday

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

Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation.

Overnight in the hotel in Yerevan.

Ani Central Inn 3* or similar B & B

After breakfast at the hotel. Start your hiking tour by visiting the Areni village and Arpa Parnas wine factory, tasting wine made from the special Areni grape.

Then drive to Noravank monastery (13th century; means “New Monastery”). Noravank is a masterpiece of Armenian architecture, situated in a narrow gorge and encircled by tall, sheer, brick-red cliffs.

Drive to Artabuynk village and start the hike. The trail leads to Smbataberd Fortress, founded during the 5th century but reestablished and heavily fortified during the 9th to 10th centuries. The fortress received water from an underground clay pipe, leading from the monastery of Tsakhats Kar.

Continue the tour by visiting Tsakhats Kar Monastery (10th century) decorated with splendid khachkars – a fascinating symbol of Armenia’s cultural and religious heritage in the form of a decorative cross-stone on the flank of the mountain. Continue the hike toward Yeghegis village which is the final destination of the day. Overnight stay in Hermon.

Driving distance: 180 km

Hiking route: Artabuynk – Smbataberd – Tsakhats Kar – Yeghegis

Hiking distance: 12 km / 4 hours

Altitude: Artabuynk 1680m – Smbataberd

After breakfast in the hotel, transfer to Syunik, the southern province of Armenia. From Ltsen villag start hiking towards the village of Tatev.

The road passes through the oak and hornbeam forests, singing forest birds accompanying you along the entire route.

Start your day ascending, and after walking for about 8 kilometres, begin the descent to Tatev village, where the 9th – century Tatev Monastic Complex is located.

View the monastery before taking the spectacular Tatever cableway (included in the Guinness World records as the world’s “longest non-stop double track cable car”) and admire a wonderful and unique view of mountains, gorges and the beautiful landscape of Syunik region. Drive to Goris town for overnight stay.

Driving distance: 185 km

Hiking Route: Ltsen – Tatev

Hiking distance: 16 km/5-6 hours

Altitude: Ltsen 1550m – Tatev village 1550m

Elevation gain / loss: ↑600m ↓600m

After breakfast at the hotel drive 30 minutes to a unique cave village, with a picturesque view of the ruins of the old village of Khndzoresk: churches, tombs, nature, springs and a new bridge that spans the gorge. Khndzoresk is an ideal place for hiking. Explore every corner of these man-made dwellings.

Continue with a visit to Karahunj (Zorats Karer) – a prehistoric archaeological site alike famous Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England and Carnac Stones in Carnac, France.

Shaki Waterfall is situated in Armenia, above Lake Shaki.

The altitude is 18 m. The waterfall is located 3 km North- West of Sisian city, in gorge of the River Vorotan.

Drive to the spa town of Jermuk. Jermuk is famous for its hot springs and mineral water brands bottled in the town. It is attractive for its fresh air, waterfall, artificial lakes, walking trails, the surrounding forests and mineral water pools. After having a short rest, we will walk down to the gorge of the Arpa river to enjoy the beuty of Jermuk waterfall.

Driving distance: 180 km

Hiking Route: Old Khndzoresk village

Hiking distance: 3 km / 1.5 hours

Altitude: Old Khndzoresk 1200m-1400m

Elevation gain / loss: ↑88m ↓166m

After breakfast in the hotel, start the day with a hike to the natural hot springs 6 km from Jermuk. Here you have a chance to relax in bath in the warm springs.

Continue to the Kechut reservoir and drive through the Vardenyats Pass (2410 m) and visit Orbelyan’s Cravanserai, built in 1332 by Prince Chesar Orbelian. This used to be an important stop on the famous Silk Road accommodating weary travelers and their animals as they crossed from or into the Vayots Dzor Mountains.

Drive across Lake Sevan and visit Noratus Cemetry a medieval cemetery with a large number of early kachkars (cross-stones) dating back to the 10th century.

At the end of the day reach Sevan, located on Lake Sevan, the largest lake in Armenia and Caucasus region. It is also the second largest fresh-water high-altitude lake in the world. This huge mountain lake is situated at an altitude of about 1900 meters above sea level. Overnight in Sevan.

Driving distance: 185 km

Hiking route: Jermuk – Hot springs – Kechut Reservoir

Hiking distance: 12 km / 3 hours

Altitude: Jermuk 2100 m – Hot springs 2055 m – Kechut reservoir 1960 m

Elevation gain / loss: ↑302m ↓197m

This morning drive to the Tavush province and visit Dilijan town. It is known as the “Armenian Switzerland” by locals.

Not far from Dilijan there is a small beautiful lake called Lake Parz (Crystal lake) which is located in the Dilijan National Park at 1330 m above sea level.

Hike from Parz lake to Gosh village.

The trail goes through the forests and alpine fields. At the end of hike you will reach to the impressive monastic complex of Goshavank (12-13th century) which has remained in relatively good condition and also houses one of the world’s finest examples of a khachkar. There is an option to continue the hike from Gosh village to Gosh lake and back to the village.

Drive to the capital city Yerevan. Overnight in the hotel.

Driving distance: 115 km

Hiking route: Parz lake – Gosh village – Gosh lake (optional)

Hiking distance: 8 km / 2.5 hours + 5 km / 2 hours (Gosh lake)

Altitude: Parz lake 1330 m – Gosh village 1190 m – Gosh lake 1410 m

Elevation gain / loss: ↑238m ↓346m

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