Armenian Highlands Adventure Tour
About this activity
Highlights
- Explore the serene Lake Sevan
- Discover the historic Hayravank Monastery
- Wander through the ancient Noratus Cemetery
- Marvel at the stunning Jermuk Waterfall
- Enjoy a delightful wine tasting experience
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Guided tour of Lake Sevan and Hayravank Monastery
- Visit to Noratus Cemetery and Jermuk Waterfall
- Wine tasting at a local winery
- Meals not specified in the itinerary
Itinerary
starting and ending point
The fascination and the "pearl" of mountainous Armenia is Lake Sevan, which is one of the world's greatest high altitude fresh-water lakes. It is about 1900 m above sea level. The lake is of volcanic origin and is surrounded with mountains of 3000 m and higher. The beautiful landscape and the crystal water serve nice preconditions for excellent rest.The lake is also famous for its peninsula and medieval church complex, built in 874.
The church of Hayravank is built on a high rock on the shore of Lake Sevan. There is no written testimony concerning the date of its foundation, however, according to the constructional solutions, it has gained its place among the 9th century architectural pillars. This cozy church is built of roughly hewn stone and looks rather modest.
The art of khachkar (cross-stone) is the most original manifestation of Armenian medieval culture. Noratus, truly considered to be a forest of khachkars and an open-air museum, displays hundreds of khachkars, the most stunning of which are the so-called "embroidered" ones, typical to the 13th-14th centuries. This is a unique place, where one can reveal the development of khachkarial art in its historical process. Armenian cross-stones art is included in UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The Selim pass, connecting Vayots Dzor and Gegharkunik regions, has been an important trade route from times immemorial. The long caravans with loaded camels were passing this way. Perceiving the necessity of having a place to stop after long and tiring journeys, the Armenian duke Chesar Orbelian in 1332 ordered building a caravansary on this long serpentine road of Selim pass. This is a three-nave building, lightened only through the windows on the ceiling as, out of security concern, they foresaw no windows on the walls and even nowadays the mysterious darkness seems to keep some rumors from those far away days...
The famous health resort Jermuk is in the north-eastern part of Vayots Dzor. The mineral waters of Jermuk have been famous for their medicinal properties since early medieval. A special drinking gallery, along which pump rooms with mineral water are lined up, has been constructed for visitors. The water temperature varies from 30 to 50 degrees C.
Vayots Dzor and Areni village in particular has been the cradle of Armenian winemaking for millennia. "Hin Areni" wine factory opens up the doors of this region to the world to showcase the historic and indigenous Armenian grape varietals. At the winery the historic traditions of winemaking are well combined with state-of-the-art modern equipment. "Hin Areni" wine factory has the capacity to process over 250 tonnes of grapes.
Meeting point
Start Location
Hyur Service, 96 Nalbandyan poxoc, Yerevan 0010, Armenia
Important information
Know before you book
- The tour operates in English; ensure you understand the language.
- Confirm your booking at least 24 hours in advance to secure your spot.
- Be prepared for a full-day excursion with multiple stops and activities.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes suitable for uneven terrain.
- Bring a light jacket, as temperatures can vary throughout the day.
- Carry a camera to capture the stunning landscapes and historical sites.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Infants Required On Laps
- Stroller Accessible
- Easy Public Transport
Good to know
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- The duration is approximate
- Seats will not be known in advance
- 200 steps to climb Sevanavank
- Sunscreen recommended in summer
Traveler reviews
Perfect road trip
The tour was good. Many interesting places we have visited with Guide Karen and David the driver took us there.
Jermuk
Karen was very nice just like Daivid Very nice, and it was very beautiful and great with both of them I will come back
Enjoyed the day
Marian and Ayrat did both a very good job. We enjoyed this day, despite some bad weather. They even provided umbrellas for us, verry considerate
Pick smth else instead
I would like to share my honest feedback as this was my first experience of this kind, and I hope it may help others who are considering this tour. Overall, I found the itinerary quite long and tiring, with a significant amount of time spent in the bus on winding mountain roads. In my opinion, Armenia has many more interesting and rewarding places to explore. Although Lake Sevan is mentioned in the program, the actual experience mainly consists of a stop at a small monastery, followed by driving past the lake. The visit to the cemetery felt unnecessary and not very engaging. The Selim Pass is beautiful, but the journey is very fast-paced, leaving little time to truly enjoy or photograph the scenery. The lunch was enjoyable, and the waterfall and mineral springs were pleasant stops, although they required a separate detour rather than being naturally on the route. The winery visit felt rather basic compared to other tastings I have experienced, with limited storytelling and a simple tasting of three wines with light snacks. Overall, the tour lasted around 12 hours, and in my personal opinion, it did not fully justify the time or cost. The guide, Karen, is a very kind and knowledgeable person, but the delivery felt quite monotone, which made it harder to stay engaged throughout the day. This is simply personal feedback and is not intended to offend anyone.
Beautiful mountains, sights and culture
I went with a buddy of mine and we had a great time. Beautiful landscapes and sights, well organized, with a very friendly guide, who could tell a lot about the history and culture. I would definitely recommend that you try a tour with these guys.