Armenia
Armenia in Seven Days
This seven-day private journey brings together Armenia’s rich culture, distinctive flavours, and remarkable landscapes.
The experience
Overview
This seven-day private journey brings together Armenia’s rich culture, distinctive flavours, and remarkable landscapes. Discover Yerevan’s creative spirit, follow ancient paths to mountain monasteries, taste the wines of Areni, and watch Armenia’s landscapes change from sunlit valleys to forested hills. Each day reveals another part of the country’s story and gives you time to find your own connection to it.
- Duration
- 7 days / 6 nights · Private journey
- Overnight stays
- 5 nights in Yerevan · 1 night in Goris
- Arrival
- Zvartnots International Airport, Yerevan
- Departure
- Zvartnots International Airport, Yerevan
Along the way
Schedule
- Day 1
Your journey begins with a personal welcome at Zvartnots International Airport and a private transfer to your hotel in Yerevan. The rest of the day is yours to settle in and enjoy your first impressions of the Armenian capital.
- Day 2
After breakfast, leave Yerevan behind and travel into the landscapes of the Azat Valley.
A stop at Charents Arch offers your first opportunity to look towards Mount Ararat. On a clear day, the mountain rises beyond the valley, creating a beautiful backdrop for photographs.
Continue to Garni Temple, where elegant stone columns stand above a deep gorge. Walk around the temple with your guide, hear its story, and take in the open views before discovering the landscape below.
In the gorge, the Symphony of Stones reveals a different kind of architecture. Tall basalt columns form extraordinary patterns along the rock face, inviting you to slow down and look closely.
The journey continues to Geghard Monastery. Here, carved stone doorways lead into dim chambers, and parts of the monastery seem to emerge directly from the mountain. Allow yourself a quiet moment to appreciate its atmosphere.
Later, experience a tradition that remains part of everyday Armenian life: lavash baking. Watch thin sheets of dough being lowered into a tonir, then taste the bread while it is still warm, served with cheese and fresh herbs.
Return to Yerevan.
- Day 3
After breakfast, check out and set off towards southern Armenia, where broad plains gradually give way to vineyards, rocky hills, and mountain roads.
Begin at Khor Virap Monastery, a place closely connected with Armenia’s Christian history. Its position on the Ararat plain creates one of the country’s most recognisable scenes, with Mount Ararat visible when the weather allows.
Continue to Areni, where wine is part of both the landscape and local identity. Visit Areni-1 Cave to discover the region’s ancient winemaking heritage before enjoying a tasting at a local winery.
Further along the route, a narrow canyon leads to Noravank Monastery. Surrounded by red cliffs, the monastery rewards a leisurely visit. Explore its carved details, walk through the grounds, and find a viewpoint from which to appreciate the whole setting.
Your journey then continues to Goris, your base for the night. Check in and enjoy a relaxed evening before tomorrow’s visit to Tatev.
- Day 4
After breakfast, travel to Halidzor, where a memorable part of your journey awaits.
Board the Wings of Tatev cable car and glide above the Vorotan Gorge. As the landscape opens beneath you, mountain slopes, scattered villages, and the winding valley reveal the scale of southern Armenia.
At the other end of the journey stands Tatev Monastery, overlooking the gorge from its dramatic position. Explore its courtyards and historic buildings with your guide, discovering the people, ideas, and traditions that once made it an important centre of learning.
In the afternoon, begin the return drive to Yerevan, with breaks along the way. Arrive at your hotel and spend the evening as you please.
- Day 5
After breakfast, travel to Lake Sevan and climb the steps to Sevanavank Monastery. From the viewpoint, the lake stretches into the distance, its colours changing with the light. Continue with some time beside the water.
From Sevan, the road leads towards Dilijan. Walk along Sharambeyan Street, where traditional buildings, small workshops, and craft shops offer a glimpse of the town’s character. Enjoy time to browse or pause for coffee.
Later, follow the forest road to Haghartsin Monastery. Set among wooded slopes, its peaceful surroundings invite an unhurried visit before the drive back to the capital.
- Day 6
After breakfast, travel to Echmiadzin, the spiritual centre of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
Explore the cathedral precinct and visit Saint Hripsime Church with your guide. Together, these places offer a deeper understanding of the faith, architecture, and traditions that have shaped Armenian identity.
Continue to Zvartnots, where surviving columns and carved fragments suggest the grandeur of the cathedral that once stood here. Walk among the ruins and discover how its remarkable design took shape.
Return to Yerevan for an afternoon devoted to the capital.
Begin at the Cascade Complex, where terraces, outdoor sculptures, and city views bring together art and everyday life. Continue towards the Opera House, stroll along Northern Avenue, and discover Republic Square with your guide.
- Day 7
Enjoy breakfast and a final quiet morning in Yerevan, depending on your flight time. At the agreed hour, your driver will meet you for a private transfer to Zvartnots International Airport. Your journey comes to an end, leaving you with the flavours, landscapes, and encounters that made Armenia your own.
Before you set out
Tour information
Available on request at an additional cost, subject to availability and seasonal conditions.
Destination Highlights
- Yerevan and the Cascade Complex
- Garni Temple and Geghard Monastery
- Khor Virap and the Areni wine region
- Tatev Monastery and the Vorotan Gorge
- Lake Sevan and Dilijan
- Echmiadzin and Zvartnots
Signature Experiences
- Riding the Wings of Tatev cable car above the gorge
- Tasting local wines at an Areni winery
- Watching lavash baking and tasting warm bread with cheese and herbs
- Walking among the basalt columns of the Symphony of Stones
Inclusions and Exclusions
What’s included
- Private airport transfers on arrival and departure.
- 6 nights of accommodation with daily breakfast: five in Yerevan and one in Goris.
- Your choice of a 4-star or 5-star hotel in Yerevan and a selected local hotel in Goris.
- Private transportation in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle throughout the scheduled tours.
- Professional guide speaking your preferred language during sightseeing.
- Lavash-making experience with bread, cheese, and herb tasting.
- One wine-tasting experience at a local winery in Areni.
- Return Wings of Tatev cable-car ticket.
- One bottle of water, 0.5 L per person, on each sightseeing day.
Not included
- International flights.
- Entrance fees to attractions, archaeological sites, and museums, including Garni Temple, Symphony of Stones, Areni-1 Cave and Zvartnots.
- Lunches, dinners, and beverages, except the tastings listed above.
- Personal travel insurance.
- Early check-in and late check-out.
- Optional activities and additional museum visits.
- Personal expenses and gratuities.
- Any services not expressly listed as included in the tour price.
Make it your own
Optional experiences
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Welcome or farewell dinner with Armenian cuisine and live music.
Enjoy Armenian cuisine and live music at a welcome or farewell dinner arranged around your itinerary.
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Armenian brandy distillery visits and tasting.
Discover Armenia’s brandy-making tradition with a distillery visit and tasting. The venue and tasting selection are confirmed when booking.
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Traditional cooking experience featuring dolma or gata.
Discover traditional Armenian cuisine through a hands-on cooking experience featuring dolma or gata. The choice of dish is confirmed when booking.
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Private photography session in Yerevan.
Capture memorable moments of your journey with a professional photographer at selected scenic locations.
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Seasonal boat trip on Lake Sevan.
See Lake Sevan’s shores from the water on a seasonal boat trip.
Your journey with Arivio
Let’s plan your journey.
Tell us your preferred dates and a little about your plans. We’ll help you explore the options for this journey.
Armenia in Seven Days
info@ariviotravel.com