Excursions
Choose from the selection of guided tours below.
Tour 1 Sissakan and Smbataberd
Hike down the mountain (or drive, your preference) for lunch on the Yeghegis River at the Sissakan Restaurant, where traditional Armenian food is served. After lunch a visit to an Observation Point to enjoy a unique mountain view with Armenian wild goats (Armenian mouflon). Drive to the village of Yeghegis for a one hour hike up the mountain to the medieval fortress of Smabataberd. Here you can enjoy a panoramic view of the medieval city of Yeghegis destroyed by a 7th century volcanic eruption. Hike down the other side of the mountain to the village of Artabyunk (or be picked up by a 4X4) for dinner at a mountain home and learn more about Armenian life from a local B&B owner. Spend the night at this rustic B&B or get a ride back to your starting point in Yeghegnadzor. |
Tour 2 Noravank and Areni
Drive through the canyon to the 12th century Monastery, Noravank, stopping on the way for a coffee in a restaurant located in a cave next to a mountain stream. At Noravank, take the one hour tour of the museum where you will hear about the process of painting ancient manuscripts and learn about the bas reliefs on the monastery. On the way to Areni, visit the excavation site for the caves where a 5th century shoe was discovered and see the wine factory dating from the 4 th century. Arrival to the village Areni. Wine tasting in Areni. A choice of lunch at Noravank where you can see the Armenian tradition of making tonir lavash, or at the Areni Winery. Then a visit to Saint Pokas church. |
Tour 3 Gladzor, Tanahat and Sourp Khach
Walk up the mountain through the villages of Gladzor and Vernashen to the Museum of the 12th century Gladzor University. Drive to the Gladzor University ruins, Tanahat. Continue through the mountains, stopping for a spectacular view of Mount Ararat, until you arrive at the restored church of Sourp Khach. |
Tour 4 Spitakavor and Proshaberd
Pack a lunch for a 3 hour hike up to Spitakavor Monastery. (Or a one hour drive by 4X4 jeep if you prefer.) When you arrive at the Monastery, you may well find local Armenians who will invite you to join their sacrifice horavadz (BBQ) at the Monastery. From Spitakavor, you can see the fortress of Proshaberd, and, if you are so inclined, you can continue on a one hour hike to the monastery, passing a village where Armenian shepherds spend the summer with their cattle and sheep. to the cheese factory where we taste all kind of local cheeses. Lunch in the nature surrounding. Wine testing in the Agahvnadzor winery . In the afternoon we have hiking tour to the architecture Momik`s birth place. Back to hotel, dinner, overnight. |
Tour package 5
Visit to St. Trdat church. Then we continue to old Martiros and Engraved church after we have lunch near the Katnof natural spring. After we continue our trip to Gndevanq. Back to Yeghegnadzor, and on the way we have a chance to visit a bee farm to taste natural honey. Arrival to the hotel, dinner, overnight. |
Tour package 6
Then we make our trip to Herher water reservoir where we have lunch of local fish. We continue our trip to the old village of Herher where we have a chance to learn more about Armenian rural lifestyle. After testing rural Armenia natural food we make hiking tour to “Vayots Sar” volcanic mountain. Back to Yeghegnadzor. Dinner. Overnight. |