Armenian Touristic Itineraries

< Armenia Travel and Tourism

If you are visiting Armenia and have a limited travel schedule, what can you do to see a wide variety of things while also getting to see some of the best things?

These suggested itineraries are exactly that, suggested, as to help you create a fun and exciting planned trip. It should be noted however, planning and tourism in Armenia do not go hand-in-hand. Be flexible and try to enjoy yourself as much as possible.

• 5 days in Yerevan
• 5 days in Armenia
• 1 week in Yerevan
• 1 week in Armenia
• 10 days in Armenia
• 2 weeks in Armenia
• 1 month in Armenia

Bike Armenia Tour Route

See: Bike Armenia Tour Route

Road Trips

The half day and one day itineraries are recommended trips that start from Yerevan. For two day trips or longer, overnight stay locations are in italics. (Sites in parenthesis are optional) Crossed out sites mean that you probably do not want to go unless you have a 4x4 vehicle, or are willing to take a long hike. To see ratings of how much I like particular sites, visit the site ratings page. Many of these places may be very difficult to find without a copy of Rediscovering Armenia Guidebook

HALF DAY TRIPS

• Garni -> Geghard
• Khor Virap (although a popular half day trip, it is a waste not to incorporate it into a larger trip)
• Mughni -> Hovhannavank -> Saghmosavank
• Hripsime -> (Vogharshapat) -> Echmiadzin -> Gayane
• Aruj Cathedral -> Aruj Caravanserai -> Talin Cathedral -> Dashtatem Fortress
• Karmravor -> Mariane-> Mughni-> Hovhannavank-> Saghmosavank
• Ptghni -> Avan
• Sardarapat Museum and Monument
• HIKE from Odzun -> Horomayri -> Kobayr
• HIKE from Garni -> Havuts Tar -> Geghard
• HIKE from Sanahin -> Haghpat

ONE DAY TRIPS

All assume you begin the day in Yerevan, and give you time to return to Yerevan if you'd like. Or you can look at the 2 day trips, and combine one of these with one of those, which begin outside of Yerevan.

• Climb Mt. Aragats
• Garni Temple -> Garni Gorge -> hike to Havuts Tar and back -> Geghard
• Amberd Fortress -> Byurakan Observatory -> Byurakan Church -> Tegherivank Monastery
• Yeghegis Church-> Teghenyats Monastery (hike final portion) -> Tegherivank

(Shativank) -> Tsakhatskar -> Smbatabert

• Bjhni Church -> Bjhni Fortress -> Makravan -> Kecharis
• Aruj Cathedral -> Aruj Caravanserai -> Talin Cathedral -> Dashtatem Fortress -> Mastara -> Gyumri
• Aruj Cathedral -> Aruj Caravanserai -> Talin Cathedral -> Mastara -> Harichavank -> Gyumri -> Marmashen
• Sardarapat -> Yereruyk -> Ani Overlook (if possible) -> Gyumri -> Marmashen
• Khor Virap -> Surp Karapet -> Areni -> Noravank -> Zorats (or Glazdor)
• Lake Sevan (Sevanavank, Hayravank, Noratus, Vanevan, Makenyats)
• Erebuni Museum -> Shengavit -> Metsamor Museum
• Khor Virap -> Surp Karapet -> Selim Caravanserai -> Noratus -> Hayravank -> Sevan Monastery
• Kecharis -> Dilijan -> Haghartsin -> Goshavank -> (Aghjkaghala)

TWO DAY TRIPS

These trips are better if you overnight in or near the town where they begin. You may seriously cut into your day and spend too much of your time in the car if you start from Yerevan, but it is doable. If you combine one of these with a trip above that takes you closer to the general area these trips begin, you'll save a lot of travel time and expense.

• Dilijan -> Makaravank -> Akhtala -> Haghpat -> Sanahin -> Odzun -> Kobayr
• Goris -> Satan's Bridge -> Tatev -> Bgheno-Noravank
• Goris -> Khndzoresk -> Dzidzernavank
• Goris -> Bgheno-Noravank -> Kapan -> Vahanavank -> Baghaberd -> (Meghri)
• Sisian -> Sisavan Church -> Waterfall -> Sisian Museum -> Aghudi Memorial -> Vorotnavank -> Shamb
• Sisian -> Ughtasar
• Alaverdi/Sanahin -> Akhtala -> Haghpat -> Sanahin -> Odzun -> Horomayri -> Ardvi -> Kobayr
• Alaverdi/Sanahin -> Arakelots -> Kirants
• Alaverdi/Sanahin -> Mt. Lalvar -> Khorakert
• Alaverdi/Sanahin -> H'nevank -> Lori Berd -> Khuchapi
• Dilijan/Ijevan -> Nor Varagavank Monastery -> Berd Fortress -> (Khoranashat, after peace treaty is signed)
• Dilijan/Ijevan -> Yenokavan Canyon and cave with prepackaged camp/tour
• Yeghegnadzor -> Shativank Monastery -> Tsakhats Kar Monastery-> Smbataberd Fortress
• Yeghegnadzor -> Yeghegis Church-> Zorats Cathedral -> Jewish Cemetary -> Arates Monastery
• Jermuk -> Spend one or more nights in Jermuk soaking in mineral springs, hiking, and exploring Gndevank
• Stepanakert -> S'khtorashen tree -> Amaras Monastery -> G'tichavank Monastery
• Stepanakert -> Askeran Fortress -> Aghdam Ghost Town-> Dadivank Monastery

ALMOST EVERYTHING IN ONE TRIP

14 days & nights, 90 sites, non-stop

(Dvin) -> Khor Virap -> Noravank -> Tsakhats Kar -> Smbatabert -> Zorats -> Yeghegnadzor -> Spitakavor -> Boloraberd -> Tanade -> S. Khach -> G'ndevank -> Jermuk -> Zorakarer -> Sisavan -> Aghudi -> Vorotnavank -> Kotrats Caravanserai -> Goris -> Tatev -> Bgheno-Noravank -> (Yeritsavank) -> (Halidzor) -> Vahanavank -> Baghaberd -> Kapan -> Khndzoresk -> Tsitsernavank -> Shushi -> Stepanakert -> S'khtorashen -> Amaras -> G'tichavank -> Stepanakert -> Aghdam -> Gandzasar -> Dadivank -> (via Kelbajar pass continue to Lake Sevan) -> Makenyats -> Vanevank -> (Selim Caravanserai) -> Noratus -> Hayravank -> Sevanavank & Beaches (beachfront hotel) -> Dilijan -> Haghartsin -> Goshavank -> Makaravank -> Arakelots -> Kirants -> Alaverdi -> Akhtala -> Haghpat -> Sanahin -> Odzun -> Kobayr -> Hnevank -> Lori Berd -> Stepanavan -> (Dendropark) -> Marmashen -> Gyumri -> Harich -> Lmbatavank -> (Makaravank) -> Mastara -> Talin Cathedral -> Dashtadem -> (Kristapori Vank) -> Sardarapat -> Echmiadzin Cathedral & Museums -> (Gayane) -> Hripsime -> Zvartnots -> Echmiadzin -> Karmravor -> Mariane -> Tegher -> Amberd -> Byurakan B&B (Observatory) -> Saghmosavank -> Hovhannavank -> Mughni -> Garni -> (Havuts Tar) -> Geghard -> YEREVAN

It is really possible to do this "almost everything trip", and in 14 days at that, but it is more of an example than a recommendation. You would be rushing like mad, and would almost certainly need a 4x4 and someone who speaks eastern Armenian or Russian along with you... but if you do try it, buy tons of film and tell me all about your trip! :-)

See also

• Yerevan Walking Tours
• Armenia Heritage Trail