Mt. Ararat from Khor Virap Monastery, Armenia

The 4th century Khor Virap Monastery faces Mount Ararat, the biblical resting place of Noah’s Ark. Our cultural journey across Armenia brings us from Yerevan, the ancient capital, to remote Karabagh.

Photo by Kaos / Fototeca 9x12

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Armenia and Karabagh

Mountains and Monasteries in an Ancient Land

This itinerary is no longer available

We may run this trip again in the future, please contact us if you are interested.

Set on a 6,000-foot plateau of mountain highlands, Armenia is one of the cradles of Western civilization. Christianity came here in 300 AD, and the landscape is dotted with stone-carved monasteries and frescoed churches perched in dramatic locations. We explore from bustling Yerevan, with its sidewalk cafes, to the mountainous republic of Karabagh in the east. Along the way, we discover the sacred spiritual places, many of which are World Heritage listed, visit open-air markets with a rich abundance of locally grown fruits, enjoy grilled fish from Lake Sevan, go wine-tasting in the Areni vineyards, sample Armenian brandy (Winston Churchill’s favorite), and overnight at a sunny spa town with a chance for a soak in thermal springs. We enjoy wonderful hospitality everywhere we go in this welcoming land.

Highlights

  • Khor Virap, with its stunning views of Mt. Ararat
  • Spa town of Jermuk, alpine Lake Sevan, Areni wine country
  • Magical Dadivank Monastery in the mountain forests of Karabagh

Details

  • 14-day trip begins and ends in Yerevan
  • 13 nights in hotels, inns, and guest houses
  • All meals included except 2 dinners
  • Cultural touring and easy walking

This itinerary is no longer available

We may run this trip again in the future, please contact us if you are interested.

Suggested Reading

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Itinerary at a Glance
Armenia and Karabagh route-map

Days 1-3
Yerevan, Armenia / Khor Virap / Areni

Armenia’s capital, Yerevan (3,300'), is a vibrant blend of commerce and culture and one of the oldest cities in the world, with a history dating to the 8th century BC. We visit the huge central market, with sun-ripened fruit and fresh Armenian cheeses, and visit the famous Yerevan Brandy Factory, founded in 1888, for a tasting tour. The Khor Virap Monastery, built in the 4th century, has one of the most spectacular settings in the world, on a plateau facing Mount Ararat, snow-capped symbol of Armenia and Biblical resting place of Noah’s Ark. Khor Virap is a pilgrimage site for Christians and Armenians from all around the world. After wine-tasting in the village of Areni, we visit beautiful Noravank, a 13th century monastery perched on a cliff above a river gorge. Later we head to Jermuk, an old spa built around mineral springs in a highland setting.

Days 4-6
Karahunj / Mt. Tsghuk / Goris / Gerghard

Heading southeast, we visit 7,500-year-old Karahunj, the Armenian equivalent of Stonehenge, with its temple of 40 stones built in honor of the ancient Armenian sun god, Ari. At a crater lake at 10,800 feet on Mt. Tsghuk, we enjoy a picnic lunch and a look at the impressive Ughtasar petroglyphs along the lakeshore. Tatev, a monastery on a promontory overlooking a deep river gorge, was for centuries a fortress against foreign invasions. We explore its beautiful grounds then head to the mountain town of Goris, with its 19th century stone houses and leafy avenues. Nestled in a bowl of green hills, Goris is known for its limestone formations, cave dwellings, and homemade fruit vodkas. Also on our explorations are Echmiadzin Cathedral—the Vatican of Armenia—and the amazing 4th century Geghard Monastery, carved out of solid rock with a sacred spring in the interior.

Days 7-10
Shushi, Karabagh / Stepanakert / Tzapatagh

In the green, rolling hills of Karabagh, we visit Shushi, an ancient walled town housing the beautiful white Ghazanchetsots Cathedral. From Stepanakert, the capital, we visit magical Dadivank Monastery, set in a forested gorge, then continue around the shores of Lake Sevan (6,500'), whose serene turquoise water sparkles like a jewel surrounded by tawny mountains.

Days 11-14
Debet Canyon / Mt. Aragatz

Beautiful Debet Canyon holds two stunning World Heritage monasteries, Hagpat and Sanahin, along with Odzun, a pagan fertility monument. We head up to Kari Lake for a picnic at the foot of Mt. Aragatz (13,415') and visit Ani, the 10th century capital of Armenia, on our way back to Yerevan. Depart on Day 14.

This is the Itinerary-at-a-Glance. For the complete trip description, Download Full Trip Brochure