Things to do in

Gegharkunik Province

This fantastic tour will introduce you to the exotic Pagan history of Armenia, before then showing the later development and spread of Christianity throughout the country. Your first stop will be Garni Temple (77 A.D.), which is the only standing heathen temple in the whole post-Soviet area. The monastic complex of Geghard is another historical site included in this daily tour. Approximately translated into English as “Monastery of the Holy Lance”, it refers to the lance with which Longinus pierced Jesus whilst he was still hanging on the cross. The complex is a representation of 13th century Armenia, which is considered to be the Golden Age of the country’s architecture. On the way to the temple, there will also be short stop at the Charents Arch where you will be given the chance to enjoy one of the best moments of your trip to Armenia: a picturesque view of the Biblical Mount Ararat. From here, your tour will progress to the beautiful Lake Sevan. Merely an hour’s drive from the capital city of Yerevan, Sevan is situated at the height of 1,900 meters above sea level and surrounded by a vast chain of mountains. Your lake tour begins by climbing a flight of stairs to the Sevan Peninsula, a pleasant morning workout that will compensate itself with unforgettable panoramic views of the lake from the top. You will also visit the monastery of Sevanavank, which was built by the princess Mariam to honor the life of her deceased husband in the 9th century. The tour will then take you to the north of Armenia, where you will be surrounded by beautiful nature. Passing through the city of Dilijan, you will make a stop at the monastery of Gosh-Goshavank. The final destination during this trip will be the monastery of Haghartsin, which dates back to the 10th-14th centuries.

Start the tour at 10 AM by arriving at the local operator's office in Yerevan. After checking in, set off towards the Eastern part of Armenia in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle. First, make a short stop at Charent's Arch where you can soak up the wonderful views to the biblical Mount Ararat. Them, head over to the Garni pagan temple which towers over a triangular cape. Admire the temple's blend of Greco-Roman and Armenian styles and see the ruins of the former royal palace with its stunning mosaics. After this, continue on to a masterpiece of 13th-century Armenian architecture at Geghard Monastery. Learn about how this cave monastery was believed to have housed the relic of the lance that pierced the side of Jesus as he hung on the cross. Experience its incredible construction which boasts fascinating acoustics which has served as a good place to sing spiritual songs. Marvel at some of the churches in the complex which are masterfully hewed into a huge rock. Discover how the complex is rich in subtle sculptural embellishments and many striking khachkars (cross-stones). Next up, stop for lunch at a cozy family-style restaurant called Abelyan House. Here, also watch the process of baking the Armenian lavash bread. Observe how the dough is rolled out flat and slapped against the hot walls of a clay oven. Have a good opportunity to participate in a lavash baking procedure. Savor the opportunity to taste it afterward with local cheese and greens. Following this, pop over to the amazing Lake Sevan, which is one of the world's greatest high altitude fresh-water lakes. Learn about how the lake is of volcanic origin and is surrounded by mountains of 3000 m and higher. Immerse yourself in the beautiful landscape surrounded by crystal-clear water. Check out the medieval church complex of Sevanavank Monastery on the peninsular before you head off. Finally, hop back into the vehicle and take the return journey back to the meeting point in Yerevan where the tour concludes.

Start your day bright and early with a warm greeting by your guide who will be waiting for you in the lobby of your hotel. After a short meet and greet, you will be ready to kick start the day's adventures. Take a short and scenic drive in the direction of the most famous ski resort in the country, Tsaghkadzor, where you can enjoy skiing through Mount Teghenis. Get your skiing underway with a ropeway ride to reach the first ski path of the mountain from where can hit the slopes. Whilst you ski, take in the magnificent views of the proud Armenian snow-covered peaks.   After your skiing fun, you will head to the biggest lake in Armenia, Lake Sevan, which is partially covered with ice during the winter season and a magnificent view to behold. Next, drive towards the Sevan Peninsula to see the old monastic complex of Sevanavank and marvel at the breathtaking panoramic views.   Following your visit to the monastery, you'll hop back on board your comfortable vehicle and return to your hotel in Yerevan.

This tour will introduce you to the mysterious pagan history of Armenia and explain the spread and influence of Christianity in the country's history. Visit the Temple of Garni, the only standing Greco-Roman temple in the whole post-Soviet area. Standing on a high plateau overlooking the Azat River gorge, the temple is home to a Roman bathhouse which houses a mosaic, made out of 30,000 pieces of natural stones. It also hosts the ruins of the royal palace, dating back to the 3rd-century. Head to the monastic complex of Geghard. The complex is from medieval times, which was considered to be the Golden Age of the country’s architecture. Check out the impressive church cut right out of solid rock.  Drive to the beautiful Lake Sevan surrounded by a vast chain of mountains. Climb a flight of stairs to the Sevan peninsula for an unforgettable panoramic view of the lake and see the 9th-century monastery of Sevanavank. Built by the princess Mariam in honor of her late husband, Sevanavank is also home to one of the most beautiful Amenaprkich Khachkars of Armenia.

Whilst staying in Armenia, you simply cannot miss the opportunity of visiting one of the country’s most renowned landmarks: the beautiful Lake Sevan. Merely an hour’s drive from the capital city of Yerevan, Sevan is situated at the height of 1,900 meters above sea level and surrounded by a vast chain of mountains. Here you will visit Hayravank Monastery, which is situated on a high hill. The trip will then continue along the shore to reach Noratus, a village which is home to the largest collection of the Armenian Khachkars, stone steles engraved with a cross which are designed to show the way to salvation. According to the legend, Hayk (the ancestor of all Armenians) ordered his people to decorate every single stone in Armenia, which is why you will see some 3,000 of these decorated stones, which depict various stories from different ages.

Your picturesque trip to Lake Sevan starts from Tbilisi; you will be picked up at your hotel and driven to Dilijan town. Visit Lake Parz. It is a small lake located in Dilijan National Park east of Dilijan in Armenia. The lake was formed by natural climatic changes. "Parz" in Armenian means clear. Take a short walk to Sharambeyan Street. Situated within the national park, the area, popularly known as "Little Switzerland" for its forested hills and picturesque houses made of stone and wood, remains home to many Armenian visual artists, musicians, and filmmakers. Browse through the small shops or discover an art gallery and museum.  Continue your tour to Lake Sevan - the Jewel of Armenia, known as the Geghama Sea. It is one of the largest high-mountainous freshwater lakes in the world. Here, visit the Sevanavank Monastery, the most prominent landmark of medieval Armenian architecture.

Whilst staying in Armenia, you simply cannot miss the opportunity to visit the country’s most renowned landmark – the beautiful Lake Sevan. Merely an hour’s drive from the capital city of Yerevan, Sevan is situated at a height of 1900m above sea level and surrounded by a vast chain of mountains.The tour begins as you climb a flight of stairs to the Sevan peninsula – a pleasant morning workout that will reward you with unforgettable panoramic views of the Lake from the top. You will also visit the monastery of Sevanavank, built by Princess Mariam to honor the life of her deceased husband in the 9th Century. The tour will then take you to the North of Armenia, where you will be surrounded by beautiful nature. Near to the city of Dilijan, you will make a stop at the monastery of Gosh-Goshavank. This historical church is located in the heart of nature and by a beautiful village with the same name. Mkhitar Gosh was one of the great intellectual powers of his day, authoring numerous works, including the first code of civil and Canon law that was used in both Greater Armenia and Cilicia. The last destination during this trip will be the monastery of Haghartsin, dating back to the 10th -14th Centuries. The name translates as “the play of the eagle”. The scenery here is stunning, with both the monastery and the nature surrounding it providing breathtaking views.

Day 1: After the pick up from your hotel in the morning, you will soon reach the border to Armenia and at around 11:00AM. You will step into the historical region of Lori, which is famous for its rocky landscapes and mysterious monasteries. Here you will visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Haghpat. A few of hours from there, you will arrive at the scenic lake of Sevan, one of the signature sites of Armenia. Here you can see the Medieval Sevanank Monastery, and even enjoy a traditional lunch by the lake. In the late afternoon you will reach Yerevan, the modern capital city. Some of the key sights not to miss here include the Mother of Armenia, Victory Park, and Cascade. Day 2: Your second day will begin with a 1-hour ride to see the Garni Temple and the monastery of Geghardm, which is a true jewel of religious architecture in Armenia. Following some classical sightseeing, you will be invited on a tour through the world famous brandy factory, where you will learn about the history of the drink and taste brandies of different parts of the aging process. After an interesting day of exploration, you will reach Tbilisi at around 9:00PM.

Whilst staying in Armenia, you cannot miss the opportunity to visit one of the country’s most renowned landmarks – the beautiful lake Sevan. Merely an hour’s drive from the capital city of Yerevan, Sevan is situated at a height of 1900m above sea level and surrounded by a vast chain of mountains. The tour begins by climbing a flight of stairs to the Sevan peninsula – a pleasant morning workout that will be compensated for by the unforgettable panoramic views of the lake from the top. You will also visit the monastery of Sevanavank, built by Princess Mariam to honor the life of her deceased husband in the 9th Century. Sevanavank is also home to one of the most beautiful Amenaprkich (all savior) Khachkars of Armenia. This is one of the 13 rarest crosstones depicting Jesus.

Visit the historic Haghartsin Monastery Complex and try extreme sports at Yell Extreme Park on this private trip starting with pickup in Yerevan. Feel alive as you paraglide, mountain bike, and zip line. Join a paintball fight or embark on an off-road tour.  After pickup, head to Haghartsin, a spiritual and cultural center of medieval Armenia located 12 km from Dilijan and surrounded by thick woods and beautiful landscapes. Explore this unique example of architecture and natural harmony.  Spot hundreds of inscriptions containing rich material on the socio-political history of medieval Armenia. See St. Grigor Church, St. Katoghike Church, St. Stepanos Church, a refectory, and more. Later, get the opportunity to do extreme sports without being a professional at Yell Extreme Park located in Yenokavan (activities are at your own cost). Test out your paintball skills, go horseback riding, or head into the wild on an off-road adventure.  Suit up and paraglide through the sky, bike in the mountains, or visit the Rope Park where you can try rope climbing, obstacle courses, and zip lines. After your thrilling adventures, get driven back to Yerevan for drop-off.