WHEELED WONDERS

Tour overview

8 days/ 7 nights

Yerevan – Eco Village – Geghard Monastery – Garni Temple – Eco Village – Khor Virap – Urtsadzor Village (Urtsadzor Eco Training Center) – Vorotan Pass – Zorats Karer – Sisian – Transfer to Halidzor Village – Tatev Monastery – Halidzor – Transfer to Noratus Village – Lake Sevan – 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 – Eco Village - Geghard Monastery – Garni Temple - Eco Village

We start our cycling adventures in Armenia from Eco village. Our first direction is monastic Complex of Geghard (UNESCO). The monastery of Geghard is situated on a wild narrow mountain gorge of unusual beauty. The chapel was built in 1215, but the monastic complex was founded in the 4th century by Gregory the Illuminator, as the site of a sacred spring inside a cave. Then proceed to Garni Pagan Temple (1st c). The temple is comprised of 24 columns and symbolized the 24 hours of the day. Proceed and overnight in Eco village.

Total Biking Distance: 42km Total Climb: 895m Total Descent: 895m

Day 3/Eco Village - Khor Virap – Urtsadzor Village (Urtsadzor Eco Training Center)

We start biking to Ararat valley, where our first stop is Khor Virap Monastery (17th c.). This place is fairly considered one of the cradles of Christianity in Armenia. Here we can descend the deep dungeon where the first Armenian Catholicos Gregory the Illuminator was jailed for 13 years. At the monastery we can enjoy the best view to the Biblical Mount Ararat. Then proceed to Urtsadzor village, which is a real paradise for the fans of nature and rural life. After having some short rest in the village, we have some meals and then continue biking for around 9km to reach the Urtsadzor Eco Training Center for overnight.

Total Biking Distance: 83km Total Climb: 605m Total Descent: 1,180m

Day 4/Urtsadzor Village – Vorotan Pass – Zorats Karer - Sisian

We have an enjoyable drive along changing views to the gates of Syunik region – Vorotan pass. The pass is located at 2344m above sea level where landscapes change each other revealing all the beauty and diversity of nature. From here we start biking tour to beautiful town of Sisian. The town of Sisian is surrounded on the west by the Zangezur Mountains and on the south by the Bargushat Mountains. An exciting journey takes you back to the Bronze Age: not far from Sisian town we can see Zorats Karer (Armenian Stonehenge). There are some theories according to which the place used to be an ancient observatory and sanctuary. Overnight in Sisian.

Total Biking Distance: 39km Total Climb: 477m Total Descent: 1,190m

Day 5/Sisian – Transfer to Halidzor Village – Tatev Monastery – Halidzor

We are transferred to Halidzor village. Here we are given a unique opportunity to explore wealth of cultural and historical attractions of the region. We have a stop at Tatev Monastery. Perched atop the Vorotan river gorge, the 9th century monastic complex was one of Armenia’s most advanced medieval universities hosting students in many sciences. Because of its forbidding location, it was once hard to access. But now, we can take the longest reversible cableway in the world, called “Wings of Tatev” (5.7 km to reach the monastery. Overnight in Halidzor village.

Total Biking Distance: 27km Total Climb:1,043m Total Descent: 1,043m

Day 6/Halidzor – Transfer to Noratus Village – Lake Sevan

Transfer to an ancient Armenian village Noratus. Noratus is famous for its cemetery of cross-stones (khachkar), the largest one in the territory of Armenia. Many khachkars in the cemetery of Noratus, date back to the 13-17th centuries, however, the oldest one was curved in the 10th century. We start biking to Lake Sevan. The trip to Sevan is undoubtedly one of the most exciting ones in Armenia. Situated in the northern part of Armenian volcanic highland in Gegharkunik region, Lake Sevan has a unique combination of great size, high mountain location, and comparatively “soft water”. Lake Sevan is the largest lake in the Caucasian region, and one of the largest freshwater high-mountain lakes of Eurasia. It is located at about 2000 meters above the sea level. Overnight near the lake.

Total Biking Distance: 25km Total Climb: 226m Total Descent: 244m

Day 7/ Lake Sevan – Yerevan Leisure day

Transfer from Lake Sevan to Yerevan. Enjoy your leisure day in Yerevan strolling around our pink capital whose story started 29 years earlier that that of Rome. Overnight in Yerevan