Private tour: Uncover northern beauties of Armenia in 3 days
Must-see places
Itinerary
Tsaghkadzor, Kecharis Monastery, Lake Sevan, Sevanavank Monastery, Goshavank Monastery, Haghartsin Monastery, Dilijan
1. Tsaghkadzor
5-10 min
Details: Tsaghkadzor
Nestled in the very heart of Armenia, just 60 kilometers from Yerevan and soaring 1845 meters above sea level, lies Tsaghkadzor a modern ski paradise and one of the nation's most breathtaking retreats. Its name, meaning "Valley of Flowers", feels like a poetic promise that nature has kept in full: in summer, emerald slopes ripple with wild blooms, while winter cloaks the peaks in a dazzling gown of snow and ice.
2. Kecharis Monastery
20-30 min
Details: Kecharis Monastery
In the northwestern part of Tsaghkadzor, embraced by mountain peaks and evergreen forests, stands Kecharis Monastery – a spiritual treasure of medieval Armenia. Its origins date back to the 11th-13th centuries, when this grand complex rose in the mountains as a beacon of faith and learning. The ensemble includes four churches and two narthexes, each bearing the mark of centuries and the craftsmanship of master builders. One of the narthexes became the resting place of Magister Grigor Pahlavuni – the distinguished statesman and founder of the monastery, whose name remains etched in Armenian history.
3. Lake Sevan
High in the embrace of Armenia's mountains lies Lake Sevan – the blue heart of the land, beating in harmony with the winds and the sun. Legend tells that once a green valley stretched here, until the heavens shed their tears, filling it with shimmering water as a priceless gift to humankind.
4. Sevanavank Monastery
50-60 min
Details: Sevanavank Monastery
From the northwestern shore of Lake Sevan, a breathtaking panorama unfolds: a peninsula rises from the shimmering surface, crowned with ancient temples. Here, in 874, at the command of Queen Mariam, daughter of King Ashot Bagratuni, the Sevanavank Monastery was built – the spiritual guardian of Armenia's blue jewel.
5. Goshavank Monastery
40-50 min
Details: Goshavank Monastery
Amid the gentle green hills of Tavush, where only the whisper of the wind and the song of birds disturb the stillness, stands Goshavank Monastery a sanctuary where spiritual devotion and the cultural grandeur of medieval Armenia intertwine. Its origins are inseparably linked to Mkhitar Gosh, the renowned statesman, scholar and author of Armenia's first codified law, as well as timeless fables and parables whose wisdom still resonates today.
6. Haghartsin Monastery
60-70 min
Details: Haghartsin Monastery
Hidden deep within the leafy forests of Tavush, Haghartsin Monastery seems as though it has stepped straight out of an ancient manuscript, where stone walls and nature blend into a single, harmonious whole. Founded between the 10th and 13th centuries, it stood for centuries as both a spiritual refuge and a cultural beacon, drawing monks, pilgrims and master craftsmen. The complex includes the churches of St. Gregory, St. Mary and St. Stephen, along with monastic cells and service buildings carefully woven into the mountainous landscape.
7. Dilijan
20-30 min
Details: Dilijan
Dilijan is a corner of Armenia where nature and silence weave a harmony that captivates every traveler. Nestled among emerald forests and gentle hills, the town stretches along the scenic valley of the Aghstev River, where the air carries the scent of pine and the freshness of mountain streams. The national park's unique pearls are two beautiful sights hidden in the forests: Lakes Parz and Gosh, the shrubs and trees around which have witnessed numerous folk tales in the form of wild animals.
Overnight stay
Akhtala Fortress, Haghpat Monastery, Sanahin Monastery, Kobayr Monastery
1. Akhtala Fortress
40-50 min
Details: Akhtala Fortress
Akhthala Fortress, like a timeless stone sentinel, rises proudly on a high plateau in the picturesque Lori region, resembling a peninsula embraced on three sides by deep gorges. As early as the 10th century, builders fused nature's raw power with human craft: sheer cliffs were reinforced with tall defensive walls and the entrances were guarded by imposing three-tiered towers. For centuries, these walls withstood invasions and preserved within their silence the breath of history.
2. Haghpat Monastery
50-60 min
Details: Haghpat Monastery
To the northeast of Sanahin, cradled by the lofty peaks of Lori, stretches the monastery of Haghpat – a masterpiece of Armenian medieval art, where stone speaks the language of centuries. Founded in the 10th century under King Ashot III of the Bagratuni dynasty, it rose at a time when Armenia blossomed in culture and spirit. The weathered walls of Haghpat still carry the resonance of that golden age, bearing silent witness to the passage of time.
3. Sanahin Monastery
40-50 min
Details: Sanahin Monastery
Not far from Haghpat, in the heart of the Lori region, rises Sanahin Monastery – a true marvel of Armenia's medieval architecture. Its construction began in the second half of the 10th century, during the reign of King Ashot III and from the very beginning the complex was conceived as both a spiritual and educational center.
4. Kobayr Monastery
50-60 min
Details: Kobayr Monastery
In the 12th century, Armenian architecture began a new path of ascent and the first striking witness of those remarkable heights is the Kobayr Monastery. Perched on a sheer rocky cliff in the Lori region, it seems as if born from the mountain itself: its walls and churches merge with the stone vaults, while caves carved into the cliffs complete the ensemble, turning it into a unique spiritual realm.
Overnight stay
Gyumri, Harichavank Monastery, Dashtadem Fortress, Aruch Cathedral, Yerevan
1. Gyumri
90-110 min
Details: Gyumri
In the heart of the Shirak Valley, where cold winds carry the fragrance of the steppe, lies Gyumri – a city where the past and present breathe in unison. Its old streets are like the pages of an ancient book, each door, stone and balcony preserving stories passed down through generations.
2. Harichavank Monastery
20-30 min
Details: Harichavank Monastery
On the western slope of the mighty Mount Aragats, hidden among rugged cliffs and windswept ridges, lies Harichavank – an ancient monastery that still breathes the spirit of centuries. Experts trace its origins back to the 7th century, when the first walls of the complex rose skyward as a testament to faith and spiritual strength. In the 13th century, the monastery gained a church and a narthex, becoming an important religious center, while in the 19th century it served as the summer residence of the Armenian Catholicoi, further enhancing its significance.
3. Dashtadem Fortress
20-30 min
Details: Dashtadem Fortress
Not far from the town of Talin, the mighty fortress of Dashtadem rises above the village of the same name, like a stone guardian of the centuries. This castle is one of the greatest monuments of medieval Armenia, originally built to shield the fertile Ararat Valley from enemy invasions. Its foundations stretch back to the Urartian era, while the first citadel was erected by the powerful Kamsarakan dynasty, whose ambitious constructions left a deep imprint on the region.
4. Aruch Cathedral
20-30 min
Details: Aruch Cathedral
Fifty kilometers from Yerevan, in the quiet village of Aruch, rises one of the largest churches of medieval Armenia – the majestic Cathedral of St. Gregory. Built in the 7th century, it still preserves the grandeur of its era, when Armenian architecture was reaching new heights. Once crowned with a massive dome, the church now stands beneath the open sky, which has become its new canopy, as if continuing the frescoes that still gleam on its ancient walls.
Inclusions
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Professional drivers
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Air-conditioned vehicles
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Bottled water
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Free pick-up & drop-off within Yerevan
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Vehicle & passengers insurance
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Extra stops on the route upon request
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Driver/Guide accommodation & meals
Exclusions
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Hotel accommodation
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Significant deviations from the route
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Alcoholic beverages if lunch option selected
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Audio guides
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Wi-Fi in the vehicles
What to expect
- Discover the beauty of the Armenian valleys
- Visit one of the largest freshwater high-altitude lakes in Eurasia
- Admire the forests of the "Armenian Switzerland"
- Marvel at the incredible UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites
- Explore the picturesque mountain ranges
- Walk along "the city of crafts and arts"
*200 steps to climb to Sevanavank
*600 m to walk up to the hill to Haghartsint
*This tour is NOT recommended for people with high blood pressure
Booking conditions
Cancellation & modification
Meet our Guides
Varduhi Iskandaryan
EN
Manya Gevorgyan
RU
HY
EN
I have been a tour guide since 2015. To this day, every excursion is a great source of positive energy for me. During the tours, you will not only get acquainted with the sights, the country's history, and its architectural features, but also feel the full charm of the Armenian emotional mindset and lifestyle.
Anahit Aslanyan
RU
Education – musical-pedagogical and cultural studies. I have worked in the fields of tourism, education, and culture in Russia and Armenia. Currently, I work as a guide at the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute and in the company "Hyur Service". As a person with a humanities education and a cultural studies mindset, I strive to present my homeland as comprehensively as possible so that visitors gain a general impression of the history and art of the Armenian people. I pay special attention to mental and cultural characteristics to make every visitor's stay in Armenia comfortable and positive. I continue to study and share new knowledge.
Anahit Ghazaryan
RU
My name is Anahit Ghazaryan, and since 2015 I have been in a state of love! I am in love with Armenia, and I always want to talk about it! Come visit! I guarantee it will be beautiful, easy, delicious, and fun! Let's discover Armenia together, enjoy it, and fall in love! I don't like legends and tell them only when absolutely necessary, and only those that feature real historical figures! Since I was born in the middle of the last century, I talk about some events not as a historian, but as a witness!
Reviews
Тарасов
Russia
01.05.2025
Хотелось поблагодарить нашего гида Анаит за интересно проведённую 3-х дневную экскурсию и отметить её интеллигентность, дружелюбие и информированность по всем задаваемым нами вопросам. Большое спасибо и нашему водителю за его дружелюбие, предупредительность и вежливость. Все остались очень довольны проведённым в Армении временем. Спасибо им большое!
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