If you are a diversity-lover, this tour is for you: modern is intertwined with ancient, extreme with relaxing: ziplining in Tsakhkadzor and hiking through Old Halidzor and Khnzdoresk; wine tasting in Areni and walking to Smbataberd; exploring the Devil's Bridge and flying over the gorge on a cable car!
Don't miss this great chance to experience it all with us!
Day 1: Yerevan- Tsakhkadzor – Zipline
Arrival in Yerevan, meeting and transfer to the hotel. After check-in and a short rest, we start our program with a city tour when you will get acquainted with the main sights of our friendly city. The next destination of our tour is Tsakhkadzor ski resort in Kotayk province. Tsakhkadzor is amazing in any weather and season. But since we are fans of extreme sports, we are going to experience the first activity of our tour: zipline.
Tsakhkadzor zipline offers flights with lengths of max. 700 meters and heights of max. 130 meters. The flight takes place in 3 stages. The first stage is the starting position of 480 m. During the second stage, a stop is made, and the participant makes a small ascent, walking 150 m and reaches the place where from the return flight begins. After the ascent, reaching the third level of the zipline, a return flight of 630 meters long is made.
After a great dose of adrenaline, we will have a good Armenian feast: a welcome dinner at one of the restaurants of national cuisine in Tsakhkadzor.
Return to Yerevan, to the hotel.
Day 2: Yerevan — Smbataberd Fortress — Areni — Goris
After breakfast we set off for Vayots Dzor province. The first point of our tour will be Smbataberd fortress located high in the mountains, where we will have hiking, and when we reach the top of the fortress we will be astonished by a beautiful view of Mount Teksar.
Smbataberd Fortress on a hilltop to the east of Artabuink village, is a medieval fortification complex erected on the site of an ancient observation post of the 5th century. No one knows why the fortress is named Smbataberd. One of the numerous versions says that it was named after Smbat the commander, famous for his superhuman strength. Captured by the Byzantines, Smbat was forced to fight with wild animals for his life in the arena. Having defeated a bear, a bull and a lion, he earned everyone's respect and was freed.
After visiting the fortress, we proceed to the village of Areni, known as a wine-making center of Armenia. In Areni we will visit a cave where an ancient winery and shoes dating back more than 6000 years were discovered.
After observing the cave, we will enjoy lunch and wine tasting at a local winery. After lunch – transfer to Goris for dinner and overnight at a local hotel.
Day 3: Goris— Khndzoresk — Tatev
After a delicious rural breakfast made from organic food we are going to Khndzoresk, an ancient village of caves. Imagine you are walking from present to past along the hanging bridge over the gorge. Now we are in the ancient caves where people lived 100 years ago. There were 9 blocks or taghs where people lived; by 1913 there had been 1800 residential buildings, 7 schools, shops and workshops in the cave city.
After exploring the caves we are flying to the Tatev Monastery on the world's longest cable car "Wings of Tatev". While taking a ride you will be amazed by the Vorotan River gorge. Our guide opens all the secrets of the pearl of Armenian 9th - century architecture. After the tour in the monastery we will have lunch made by locals. In the evening let’s explore Tatev’s countryside.
Day 4: Tatev — Devil's Bridge — Old Halidzor — Yerevan
A delicious organic breakfast is ready for you to taste in the morning. Then we are going to have a walking tour to the Devil's Bridge, one of the natural wonders of Armenia, which is located below the Tatev Monastery, in the 500-meter gorge of the Vorotan River. For millennia, water and wind have been creating this miracle of nature, grinding and cutting through the frozen lava. The width of this natural bridge is 60 m, the length is 30 m. Near the bridge, you can plunge into warm healing springs surrounded by stalactites of bizarre shades. And the bravest can go down to the river to look into the mysterious grottoes under the springs.
While having lunch in the village of Halidzor you will not stop admiring stunningly beautiful Syunik mountains. Then we go to the abandoned settlement of Old Halidzor. This trail runs through the village of Halidzor, which was built in 1966. Arriving in Old Halidzor, you will see that rocks grow into houses, houses into rocks, and the roof of one house serves as a courtyard for another, forming a cascade of houses descending into a deep gorge. The village belonged to the Tatev Monastery for nine centuries. Here we will see a ruined altar, ancient constructions, a chapel and a lot of springs. Return to Halidzor station and transfer to Yerevan.
Day 5: Yerevan - Airport
Depending on the time of your flight we will have a short visit to Yerevan central market, where you can taste and buy the most delicious dried fruits.
Transfer to the airport for your flight home.
The program price includes:
