TREKKING ARMENIA

14 days/13 nights

Tour Code: ATDn-01-14

Highlights :

Feel the mystery of the biblical Mount Ararat, about which you have read many times in the Bible...
Hike to the highest waterfall of  Armenia-Shaki 
Explore the Geghama mountains

Climb the highest peak of Armenia – Mt. Aragats

Duration - 14 days

Average Trekking per day - 5 hours 12km

Maximum height - 3880m
Group size - min.6 pax, max. 12 pax
Accommodation - Hotels, BB, Tents
Best period - from June to September


Itinerary:

Day ½. Arrival-Yerevan city tour (~ 60 km)

Arrival at the airport Zvartnots. Transfer. Short rest. After late breakfast start city tour inYerevan. Visit the History Museum. In the evening enjoy the “singing fountains”. After lunch drive to the Tsitsernakaberd memorial park and Genocide museum. Welcome dinner in a restaurant. After dinner go to Cascade. Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan. (Altitude-950m).

Trekking: 0 hours




Day 3. Khor Virap - Noravank-Goris (~260km)                                                                      Enjoy the Biblical Mt. Aratat. Drive to Khor Virap (829m) which is  near the border with Turkey. Continue tour to Noravank monastery (12th c). Start trekking through a small mountain range to the village Areni. Visit Areni wine factory to taste local wine. Drive to city Sisian (1342). Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Sisian.
Total: trekking 10km / 3-3.5 hours

Day 4. Sisian - Karahunj - Shaki waterfall - Khndzoresk-Goris

Breakfast at the hotel. Tour to Karahunj (Stonhenge), old observatory 6 mil BC. Trip to the biggest Armenian waterfall Shaki, 6 km away from the city Sisian. The water flows down from the 18 m. 2-2.5 hour trekking. Lunch. Then go to Khndzoresk - a cave village. Return to the city Goris. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Goris.
Total: trekking: 5 hours

Day 5.  Goris - Shinuhayr – Devil’s Bridge - Tatev

City tour in Goris. Goris is very special with its architecture due to its interesting formations and many previously inhabited caves. Drive into the village Shinuhair. Trekking to the monastery Kusanac. Then trekking to the natural bridge called Devil's Bridge. Picnic-lunch. Then drive to Tatev (1500) monastery. Dinner and accommodation in private houses in the village of Tatev.
Total: trekking 18km / 7-8 hours

Day 6. Tatev - Ltsen - Vorotnavank - Sisian

After breakfast trekking from the village Tatev to the village Ltsen. Picnic lunch. Drive from Ltsen to Goris. On the way visit the monastery Vorotnavank. The secular buildings seem to be protected by a strong wall. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Sisian.
Total: trekking 15km / 5-6h

Day 7. Goris  - Gndevaz-Ketchut-Yeghegnadzor

After breakfast start tour with the visit to Gndevank monastery. The monastery is surrounded by large walls. And it was built by Princess Sophia who said:  "Vayots Dzor was a ring without a pearl, I put the pearl on the ring". Continue trekking to the water basin Ketchut. Picnic lunch. Trip to the spa town of Jermuk that is known for its mineral springs. Dinner and overnight in B&B in Jermuk or Yeghegnadzor.
Total: trekking 11 km / 5.5 hours
 

Day 8. Yeghegnadzor - Martuni-Tsaghkashen-Lake Akna

Early drive from Yeghegnadzor to Selim Pass visiting the caravanserai (XIV century). Then drive to  town Martuni near Lake Sevan. Transfer to Gavar and then Tsaghkashen. Picnic lunch. Trekking through the picturesque Alpine meadows to the lake Akna. Camping. Dinner and overnight in tents.
Total: trekking 13km / 6hours

Day 9. Lake Akna- Mountain Ajdahak

Breakfast in tents. Pack the tents, and start trekking to stunning volcanic mountains. Picnic- lunch. Trekking through Geghama mountain chain. Asceding to the top of the mountain Ajdahak (3597m). Camping. Dinner and overnight in tents.
Total: trekking 15km / 6-7hours.

Day 10. Mount Ajdahak – Lake Vank-Kakavaberd - Canyon Azat

Breakfast in tents. Pack the tents and hike to the lake Vankilich. Picnic - lunch. After lunch hiking to the medieval fortress Kakavaberd. Actually, the fortress is in ruins, but the walls and the pillars still remain. Dinner and overnight in tents in the Azat Canyon.
Total: trekking 20 km / 7-8 hours.

Day 11. Azat Gorge – Garni -  Geghard-Yerevan

Breakfast in tents. Pack the tents and trekking through Azat river gorge to the Garni temple. Northeast of Garni, higher up the gorge of the Azat river, there is a magnificent monument of medieval Armenian architecture - Geghard monastery. Return to Yerevan. Dinner at a restaurant. Overnight at a hotel in Yerevan.
Total: trekking 15 km / 4-5 hours

Day 12. Lake Kari - Mt Aragats - Yerevan

Early drive to the mountainous Lake Kari (3200). From the lake begin to climb to the Mt. Aragats -the highest mountain of Armenia. Ascending the southern peak (3880m). Picnic-lunch. Transfer to the capital Yerevan. Free time. Overnight at a hotel in Yerevan.

• Total: trekking 12 km/5-6 hours.

Day 13. Echmiadzin-Zvartnots

After breakfast departure to Echmiadzin which is mere 20 km from Yerevan and appears to be one of the world's first Christian churches. Return to Yerevan with stop at the ruins of Zvartnots temple - the pearl of the 7th c. Then  visit open air market Vernissage that offers woodcarving, antiques, fine lace, and the hand-knotted wool carpets.  Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.

Day 14. Departure
Transfer to the airport. Departure.

We recommend hiking boots, hiking socks, T-shirts, raincoats, backpacks, sunglasses and sun cream with all of you.