At the foot of Mount Ararat

Upon arrival at Yerevan airport, your guide will welcome you before your transfer to the hotel. You will then enjoy a free afternoon.

Optional and extra charge: if you arrive early in the morning, a discovery tour of Yerevan can be organized.

After breakfast at the hotel, you take the road with your driver to Geghard. Halfway there, you stop at the Tcharents Arc to admire the Mount Ararat, weather permitting.

You discover the Geghard cave monastery, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its name means "lance," in reference to the relic once kept there which, according to Christian tradition, was said to have pierced the side of Christ.

You continue towards Garni and its canyon, where a 30-minute walk allows you to observe the Basalt Organ, also called Symphony of Stones.

• Altitude of Garni: 1,400 m

• Altitude of the Azat canyon: 1,250 m

You then share a lunch at a local home in Garni and participate in the preparation of lavash, traditional Armenian bread.

The discovery continues at the Garni Citadel, known for its pagan temple dedicated to the Sun god, a testament to the Hellenistic era in Arménie.

Back in Erevan, you visit the dried fruits market, then enjoy free time for your shopping.

After breakfast, you check out of your room and depart with your driver across the Ararat Plain, dominated by the silhouette of Mount Ararat.

You visit the Khor Virap Monastery, dating from the 17th century, surrounded by orchards and vineyards irrigated by the Araxes River. Behind its ramparts lies the "deep pit" where, according to tradition, Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned for thirteen years, from 288 to 301, before founding the Armenian Church.

You continue towards the village of Areni, renowned for its wines. You discover the Bird Cave, where traces of winemaking dating back 6,000 years have been unearthed, as well as a leather shoe dating from 5,500 years ago.

Lunch is on your own.

In the afternoon, you explore the Noravank Monastery, founded in the 13th century. Its main church, Saint John the Baptist, exemplifies medieval Armenian architecture, with a narthex adorned with sculptures and tympana.

You continue south to the Syunik region, to reach Goris. Upon arrival, you settle in at the Saryan guesthouse or similar for two nights.

The morning begins with a visit to the old town of Goris, nicknamed the "Little Cappadocia". A short walk takes you to its caves and troglodyte dwellings, in a landscape of cavities reaching 10 to 20 meters in height.

You head to the troglodyte city of Khndzoresk for a canyon hike with a local guide. The route takes you across the suspended bridge, which connects the two banks.

Distance: 1.5 km
Duration: 1 h 30
Elevation gain: 500 m
Technical difficulty: easy

The route includes more than 200 steps to go down and back up. No vehicle recovery is possible.

You return to Goris for a free lunch, before continuing towards Tatev.

You take the Tatev Wings Aerial Tramway, inaugurated in 2010. It connects Halidzor to the monastery in 12 minutes, over a route of 5,752 meters above the Vorotan canyon.

You then visit the Tatev monastic complex, which overlooks the Vorotan river valley. This former intellectual and university center houses, in its courtyard, the Gavazan Column, nicknamed "the Crosier," standing 8 meters high and topped with a fretwork cross.

You will find Goris for the evening.

After breakfast, you check out of your room and head to Sisian. A short walk allows you to discover the megalithic site of Karahoundj, also called Zorats Karer. Its large pierced stones, arranged in a precise order, are associated with star observation and recall ensembles like Stonehenge.

You continue into the Syunik region, then enjoy a free lunch before heading to Selim.

You visit the Selim caravanserai, located on the southern side of the pass, in the Vayots Dzor region. Built in 1332 by Prince Chesar Orbelyan, it welcomed travelers who used medieval trade routes and testifies to Armenian architecture of the Middle Ages.

You continue to Noradouz, a historic village known for its khachkars cemetery. It houses 728 cross-stones dating from the 9th to 16th century, which illustrate this Armenian sculptural art.

You then head to Lake Sevan, located at 1,950 meters altitude and nicknamed the "Blue Pearl".

You settle for two nights at the Lavash Hotel or similar, on the shores of the lake, or at the Armenia Guesthouse in Dilidjan.

After breakfast at the hotel, you head towards Dilidjan. You discover its old town, its historical monuments and its character as a spa and wellness resort, combined with pure air and mineral waters.

You then meet a local craftsman specializing in woodworking, a well-established tradition in Dilidjan.

You join the Parz Lake, starting point of your hike to the Goshavank Monastery with a local guide. The route follows forest trails and crosses the Areguni Pass. A lunch break in the heart of nature punctuates the walk.

Upon arrival, you discover the Goshavank Monastery, built in the 12th and 13th centuries under the Zakarid dynasty. This ensemble of Armenian medieval architecture comprises several churches, chapels and a library. It also houses the tomb of the scholar Mkhitar Gosh.

Distance: 12 km

Duration: 4 hours

Elevation gain: +250 m / −250 m

Technical difficulty: easy

Parz Lake altitude: 1,344 m

Goshavank altitude: 1,232 m

Vehicle return is available for an additional fee.

You will find your hotel on the shore of the Lake Sevan, then enjoy a free evening to discover the region at your own pace.

Night on the shore of Lake Sevan or in Dilidjan.

After breakfast, you check out of your room and visit the Sevanavank Monastery. You discover its two churches, the Holy Apostles and the Holy Mother of God, while enjoying views of Lake Sevan.

Optional, with supplement: a 20-minute boat ride on the lake.

You then have time for a free lunch by the lakeside. The afternoon remains free for you to relax and explore the shores at your own pace.

At the end of the day, you head towards the village of Dzoraget and check in for a night at the charming hotel Tufenkian Avan Dzoraget.

After breakfast, you check out of your room and head towards Alaverdi, passing through the Debed canyon.

The morning begins at the Sanahin monastery, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Founded by the Kiurikian lords, it later passed to the Zakarides princes, who made it their family mausoleum. It subsequently remained the property of the noble Arghoutian family until the early twentieth century.

You then discover the Mikoyan site, which tells the story of engineers Artem Mikoyan and Mikhail Gurevich, creators of the MiG fighter aircraft.

Free lunch.

You continue with the Haghpat monastery, also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The complex is organized around the churches of Saint-Nechan, Saint-Gregory the Illuminator and Holy Mother of God.

You then visit the Akhtala monastery, dating from the thirteenth century. This complex comprises three churches, with the main church distinguished by its frescoes depicting scenes from the Old and New Testament.

In the late afternoon, you head towards Gyoumri and check in at the Berlin Art hotel or similar for two nights.

After breakfast at the hotel, you discover Gyoumri, located on the Shirak plateau, crossed by mountain gorges. You explore its city center and its two churches, then enjoy a stroll in the Vardanants Square.

You then visit the Dzitoghtsyan Museum, dedicated to architecture and folk life. Its collections allow you to better understand Armenian history and culture.

Free lunch.

You continue with the discovery of the Charles Aznavour statue, which pays tribute to the artist of Armenian origin in the center of Gyoumri.

You take the road to Marmashen to visit its monastery, located on the left bank of the Akhurian River, approximately two kilometers from the village. This ancient spiritual center testifies to the architectural heritage of medieval Arménie.

You will find Gyoumri at the end of the visit.

After breakfast, you check out of your room and set off to discover central Arménie, dominated by the Aragats mountain.

You visit the Amberd fortress, located at 2,300 meters altitude on the slopes of the massif. Its name means "fortress in the clouds". You explore its remains, including the walls, the church and the thermal baths. In the 10th century, Amberd played a defensive role for the Bagratouni and Pahlavuni kingdoms.

You continue to Ashtarak for lunch with a local family, before discovering the Karmravor church, dating from the 7th century. Dedicated to the Mother of God, it stands out for its cross structure and octagonal bell tower. Russian poet Osip Mandelstam mentioned it in his work Journey to Arménie.

You then head to Erevan and check in to your hotel for three nights.