ARMENIAN WILDLIFE TALES

Tour overview

7 days/ 6 nights

Yerevan – Garni Village – Geghard Monastery – Geghadir – Tsaghkadzor – Peninsula of Sevan – Port Ayas – Dilijan National Park – Yenokavan – Stepanavan – Saghmosavan village – Yazidi Village – Lake Kari – Yerevan

*Dates are flexible

Day 1/Arrival

Meet and greet at the airport. Transfer to the hotel. Check in formalities at the hotel. Overnight at a hotel in Yerevan. (-/-/-)

Day 2/ Yerevan – Garni Village (Garni temple, organic dry fruit tasting) – Geghard Monastery – Geghadir (HyeLandz Eco Village)

We start our green tour to the most interesting paths of Armenia. We will visit the only survival of the Hellenic epoch in the whole territory of the Caucasus - Garni Temple. This pagan temple was built in the 1st century as a worship place devoted to the god of sun Mihr. During the lunch we can also watch and take part in the process of “lavash” baking in the traditional underground oven “tonir”. Moreover, we have an opportunity to see how Armenian sun-kissed apricot, peach and other fruits are made into dry fruit at a local house. Our next stop is a mediaeval monastery Geghard (UNESCO). The monastery is of unique importance and style as it is partially carved out of the adjacent mountain, surrounded by cliffs. Driving to Geghadir. At HyeLandz Eco Village enjoy homemade dinner and have a closer look to goat milking, cheese and yogurt making. Overnight at HyeLandz.

Day 3/Geghadir – Tsaghkadzor (horseback riding) – Peninsula of Sevan – Port Ayas

Driving to whole-year-round resort town of Tsaghkadzor where we can take a 2-seat chairlift ropeway ride to Teghenis mountain (2851 m) to enjoy the breathtaking view of Lake Sevan. Also, we will have a horseback riding tour discovering local nature and environment. Moving to Lake Sevan. No tourist itinerary is complete without a boat trip around this wonderful aquatic universe, whose clear waters have travelled along many different rivers. During the lunch at the lake we will have an opportunity to taste the fish from the lake cooked according to the special local recipe. Going to Port Ayas. Overnight in tents on the beach or at Ecohotels.

Day 4/ Sevan – Dilijan National Park (Red Deer Breeding Center, Lake Parz)

We start our day with a good breakfast full of local eco meal on the beach. Driving to Dilijan. Here we visit Dilijan National Park. Dilijan national park’s area is one of the unique corners in the Armenian nature, which distinguishes with its richness, rare diversity, meadow-forests landscapes, separate eco-systems with high economic values and natural monuments’ protective, scientific-cognitive, medical and recreational high values. Visiting Red Deer Breeding Center where we have a unique opportunity to feed the red deer. We will have a nice hiking tour to our next stop – Lake Parz, which is located in Dilijan National Park, at the altitude of 1400 m above sea level. Overnight in Dilijan at wooden guest houses.

Day 5/Dilijan – Yenokavan (Yell Extreme Park) - Stepanavan

We drive to Yenokavan. Here you have a free day to enjoy your day in Yell Extreme Park where we can fly, overcome obstacles and climb over rocks surrounded by extremely beautiful nature. Also, feel free to take part is horseback riding and off-road tours. Driving to Stepanavan. Overnight in Stepanavan at local’s house.

Day 6/Stepanavan - Saghmosavan village (Saghmosavank) – Yazidi Village - Lake Kari – Yerevan

After eco breakfast at local’s house we drive to Saghmosavan village. Here we visit one of the richest and most prominent spiritual and cultural centers of the Middle Ages - Saghmosavank monastery. It is situated atop the precipitous gorge carved by the Kasagh river. In Saghmosavan village we can see how local’s prepare homemade cheese and taste some indigenous types of cheese. We head to Kari Lake. On the slopes of Aragats mountain we can see a whole "scattering" of Yazidi villages. We have a wonderful opportunity to get familiar with the locals’ daily life, taste some local dishes in tents. Driving back to Yerevan. Overnight at a hotel in Yerevan.