Private hiking tour through Armenian Highland with English-speaking tour guide. This tour is design for active traveler who takes pleasure in exploring both the culture and environment. We will explore lively cities, walking through spectacular mountain scenery and sample local drinking (wine, beer…). Along with wonderful classics visiting unheard-of regions, far away from the mass tourism, and in line with current trends.
Day 01 : Arrival Yerevan
The morning begins with a visit of St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral, Tsitsernakaberd (1915 Genocide Memorial), continue to the Cascade is a huge white stairwell built into a Yerevan hillside in the 1970s, with water fountains running down. Our next stops are Opera house, Northern Avenue and walk down via Abovyan Street to Republic Square.
A traditional Armenian welcome dinner.
Day 02 : Yeghegnadzor
After early breakfast long drive take us to the two important and picturesque monasteries of Armenia, Noravank Monastery (masterpiece of the 13th Century architect Momik) dramatically located in the canyon and Khor Virap one of the holiest sites in Armenia. En route to Noravank Monastery we will visit Areni village famous with its wine. Wine taste in Areni winery.
Day 03 : Goris
We continue our exploration of Southern Armenia. Transfer to village of Vernashen passing the village Gladzor, a major center of science and calligraphy in medieval Armenia. Start hiking to Spitakavor Monastery (trail length 14 km). Walking through the village, we have an opportunity to meet and chat with locals and gain a true insight into their traditional ways of life. Continue further to the South, on endlessly winding roads leaping through gorges over the mountains of Syunik..
Day 04 : Hermon
After laisurely breakfast our day begins with the visit to the impressive Khndoresk (Cave Town) with cave apartments, where people lived till 1960s. And also we will discover Khndzoresk’s new-opened 160m long rolling bridge. The bridge connects two sides of old Khndzoresk, where you can see the 2 churches located in this gorge. Our next exploration for this day is magnificent Tatev Monastery perched on the edge of the Vorotan Canyon. Here you have a chance to fly above Vorotan Canyon with Wings of Tatev (the longest cable tram in the world /5750m/). Transfer to Hermon village for overnight.
Day 05 : Sevan
We are ready to continue our walking adventure in Southern Armenia. We reach the fertile valley of Yeghegis river where we hike to Smbataberd fortress a well-preserved medieval citadel built by King Smbat (12 km round trip). The setting of Smbataberd is perhaps the most beautiful in Armenia, with Arpi river valley at your feet. Continue to Lake Sevan, one of the highest freshwater lakes in the world. The tranquil majesty of its ever-changing waters, stunning mountains silhouetted against the blue sky, all this inspired its name The Pearl of Armenia. We travel via the rugged Selim Pass and enjoy the views of Lake Sevan below, en route stop at amazingly intact Selim Caravanserai, an important trading post on the Great Silk Road where little has changed since the fourteenth century. En route we stop at romantic Sevanavank Monastery on the peninsula of Lake Sevan and Noratuz old cemetery to see the ‘forest’ of khachkars.This day is designed as a rest day to enjoy water activities at the Lake and prepare for the hikes of the coming days.
Day 06 : Ijevan
Morning starts with the visit to “Old Dilijan” complex experience the town as it was in the 19th century. Drive to Crystal Lake to start hiking in Dilijan National Park along stunning forest trails (8 km), cross the wildly beautiful Areguni pass and reach Goshavank Monastery where the great scholar of the 13th century Mkhitar Gosh is buried. Lookout for morning birds that are particularly active at this time, explore the enchanting nature of the park as we take a gentle walk on well-defined forest trails. For those with more energy to burn we offer a short but absolutely fantastic walk to a small lake above Goshavank. End the day with a drive to Ijevan, a small town that captures the spirit of rural Armenia and check in at our hotel.
Day 07 : Haghpat
Off to Ijevan we take a short transfer to the trail-head. We will spend the day hiking (10 km round trip) in this beautiful wilderness area, no roads, no shops, no TVs, just incredible views and marvelous solitude. A wonderful forested route into the most unspoilt and rugged area of north-eastern Armenia as we head into a deep gorge before descending to cascading waterfalls and the most scenic meadows in Armenia. Follow the hiking trail to reach hidden caves of Lastiver, Armenia’s best-kept secret. All the time we have open views of the beautiful green plateau of Lastiver. A fitting finale for the day full of impressions is a well-deserved dinner at Haghpat village farmhouse where villagers adhere to their traditional ways of life.
Day 08 : Yerevan
Morning takes to the town of Alaverdi. The afternoon is spent exploring beautiful Sanahin and Haghpat monasteries (hiking from Sanahit to Haghpat). After hike transfer to famous road bakery to a feast of baked delights. Back o Yerevan via Armenian Alphabet monument.
Day 09 : Yerevan
Mt. Aragats, the highest peak of the Lesser Caucasus is a popular target for mountaineers. The mountain has sub-alpine and alpine zones, four peaks and one of the biggest craters in the world, created by a volcano eruption in the distant past. The people you are most likely to encounter while at Aragats are Yezidi nomads living a nomadic life in tents, isolated from the rest of the society and preserving their way of life, traditional norms of behavior and unique religion. Their main occupation is sheep breeding and producing the most ecologically pure milk on the planet, from which Yezidi make cheese, butter, matsun and yogurt. Hiking at Aragats is especially spectacular in spring when the entire mountain is literally covered with poppies and other mountain flowers. The easiest peak of Aragats is the southern peak. Starting from Kari Lich (Stone Lake), we will take a 3 hour hike to the summit on a steady slope (3,879m). Back to Yerevan via Amberd fortress in the clouds.
Day 10 : Yerevan
After leisurely breakfast we drive to the village of Garni. We will walk around the Garni Pagan temple from the 1st Century, In the morning we drive to the North -East of Armenia to Garni village where we start hiking to the gorge of Azat river with the ancient rock bridge and the natural volcanic rock formations “symphony of stones” and we finish our hiking in Garni Temple. After walking in area of temple a short drive will transfer us to majestic Geghard Monastery “the Monastery of the Spear” where on the hillsides you can still see caves that housed monastic cells.
Day 11 : Departure Yerevan
Transfer to airport. End of the tour.
| City | Night (s) | Hotels |
| Yerevan | 01 | Radisson Blu Hotel, Yerevan |
| Yeghegnadzor | 01 | Amrots Hotel |
| Goris | 01 | Mirhav Hotel |
| Hermon | 01 | Lucytour Hotel |
| Seven | 01 | Hotel Kambuz |
| Ijevan | 01 | Qarvansara Resort |
| Haghpat | 01 | B&B Edem |
| Yerevan | 03 | Radisson Blu Hotel, Yerevan |
– Meeting and assistance by our representative.
– Welcome with fresh flower garlands.
– 10 Nights hotel accommodation.
– Daily Breakfast, Lunch and Dinners.
– Local English-speaking guide.
– All transfers, sightseeing, excursions as per the program by vehicle.
– Entrance fees to monuments.
– Transport, Parking, Gasoline & Toll ways.
– All present government taxes.
– International Airfare.
– Tips, gratuities, Portage, laundry, telephone calls, table drinks, camera/ video camera charges, or any other expenses of a personal nature.
– Visa fees, personal insurance.
– Any item not specified under cost includes.
– Accommodation in good hotels.
– Check-in / out time is 12 noon at most of the hotels.
– Extension to other places is also possible with a minimal extra cost.
– Additional nights are available at each place with minimal supplement.
– A visa is required and must be obtained prior to your departure from your Country.
– If quoted hotel is not available, we will provide one of a similar category and standard.
– Small deviations in the tour program are sometimes necessary, depending on weather, road conditions, flight schedules and room availability.
– In case the government changes presently applicable taxes, increase in airlines prices, fuel surcharge our rates will need to be adjusted accordingly.
– Sometimes, there is no relevance between the distance and time of travelling, as it depends upon the condition of the roads and congestion of the traffic.
– While every effort will be made to maintain the itinerary, in view of local strikes etc that are beyond our control all schedule and itineraries are subject to last moment changes.
– Clients must be fully insured, as the company cannot accept liability for loss or damage to client’s property, medical emergencies or any other loss suffered by them whilst on tour.
– In Case of issuing Domestic or International air tickets, SGV is not responsible for any refund if the flight is delayed or cancelled, as it is the responsibility of airline.