Hiking Through Armenia And Georgia / 11 days

Our Armenia and Georgia tour offers you a visit to two countries with ancient history and breathtaking nature. This is a journey from a pagan temple in Armenia to Svan towers in Georgia. The tour is without tents. All overnights will be in hotels and guesthouses.

For booking as well as for all questions, please contact us.

 

Travel dates:  5 – 15 September 2024

Day 1. Yerevan

Meeting the group at the airport and transfer to the hotel. The participants introduce themselves to each other and then we will take a city tour.  During the walking tour we’ll explore the city architecture, and see the landmarks, which are the hallmark of Armenia.

Driving 25 km

Day  2.  Khor Virap – Abandoned Villages of Vorotan Gorge

In the morning of the second day we will move to South Armenia. On our way we will see a well known and significant temple – Khor Virap. The temple is built on the deep pit, where on the 4th century Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned for almost 15 years. We’ll go down to that place and try to feel the spirits of the past. Also Khor Virap is known for its view of Mount Ararat.

Afterwards we will move to Syunik region and walk down to Vorotan Gorge, where we will see several abandoned villages with huge houses carved out of the rock. After seeing all these you can easily imagine how people used to live in the caves.

Details of the day:

• Location – Syunik province
• Driving – 270 km
• Length of the route – 8 km
• Relative altitude – 400 m
• Difficulty level – easy
• Overnight stay – Goris

Day 3.  From Syunik to Sevan

In the morning we’ll travel through time and move to the village Khndzoresk. Old Khndzoresk – a village spread over about 3 km at the slopes of the deep gorge, was one of the most populous villages of Syunik region. In the 20 century the settlement was moved to the top of the cliff.  One can reach Old Khndzoresk only by the long rocking suspension bridge, passing over a deep gorge. The bridge itself is a landmark and attracts not only tourists, but the local people as well.

After we will visit Tatev monastery and get familiar with its history. From the medieval Armenia we will immediately move to the 21st century Armenia and cross the deep Vorotan Gorge on the world’s longest ropeway.

“Wings of Tatev” was recorded by Guinness World Records as the world’s longest non-stop double track cable car. At its highest point over the gorge, the car travels 320 m above ground level.

From here through the Vardenyats Pass we will continue our way to lake Sevan. On our way we will see the Orbelian Caravanserai. Prince Chesar Orbelian built the Orbelian Caravanserai to accommodate weary travelers and their animals, who were passing through Vardentas Pass. Afterwards, we will visit the biggest and oldest cemetery of Armenia – Noratus. It has over 800 khachkars (cross-stone) and gravestones, carved between 9th-17th centuries.

The day ends at the hotel on the shore of lake Sevan.

Details of the day:

• Location – Syunik and Vayots Dzor provinces
• Driving – 250 km
• Difficulty level – excursion day
• Overnight stay – Sevan

Day 4. Lake Sevan – Forests of Tavush – Mtskheta

In the morning we will start our journey from a real treasure, which is absolutely beyond time, to eternal and magnificent lake Sevan. The lake is at the height of 1900 meters. People call it the pearl of Armenian mountains and this metaphor reflects the whole essence of the attitude towards Lake Sevan.  The lake, surrounded by mountains, is changing all the time depending on the season, and reflecting the slightest change in the weather, even because of the movement of the clouds, because of light and shadows, it may change beyond recognition. However, you should see all these with your own eyes to understand. 

Continuing the theme of lakes, we’re moving to another mountain lake lost in the mountains. We will start our trip from a lake and through the mountains, surrounded by thick forests, going down to village Gosh. One of the biggest monasteries of the region is located here. This is a medieval Armenian monastery complex of the 12-13th centuries. There is a two meter high khachkar in the territory of the monastery, which is recognized as the best for the skillful work of its creator, master Poghos.

After crossing the Georgian border we will move to Mtskheta, situated 20 km from Tbilisi.

Details of the day:

• Location – Mtskheta-Mtianeti
• Driving – 320 km
• Relative altitude – 600 m
• Length of the route – 10 km
• Difficulty level – moderate
• Overnight stay – Mtskheta

Day  5. Jvari – Mestia

People used to call Mskheta the “Second Jerusalem”. It has been the shrine of pagan idols since times immemorial and it is where Christianity in Georgia takes its origin. And because of that Mtskheta attracts a lot of tourists from all over the world.

Not far from Mtskheta is situated is a sixth century Georgian Orthodox monastery Jvari – a unique and outstanding example of the medieval religious architecture in the Caucasus. We will go up to the monastery from where we can see the confluence of the Kura and Aragvi rivers.

After we will move to the picturesque Upper Svaneti and in the evening we will reach Mestia, which is the administrative center of Svaneti. Here are situated the legendary Svan towers. These towers used to be fortified fortresses of defense, and personal treasuries. However many of Svan towers still remain in use and now they have become the local attraction.

Details of the day:

• Location – Svaneti
• Driving – 450 km
• Difficulty level – excursion
• Overnight stay – Mestia

Day 6. The Cross Over Mestia

In the morning we will visit the house-museum of the outstanding Soviet alpinist Mikhail Khergiani and will appear inside of the Svan tower. Khergiani – the legend of Soviet alpinism. He was  several times a champion of the USSR and a winner of trade union competitions for mountaineering and rock climbing. And he was awarded the Order of the Badge of Honor. Khergiani was and still is the pride of Svans.  After visiting the house-museum of Khergiani we will continue our way to the iron cross, which can be seen from everywhere in Mestia. Because of that the whole trail is called “The Cross”.

After returning to Mestia we will visit the museum of Svan Towers.

Details of the day:

• Location – Svaneti
• Length of the route – 11 km
• Relative altitude – 750 m
• Difficulty level – moderate
• Overnight stay – Mestia

Day 7. Becho

We’ll drive from Mestia to Becho, from were we will walk till the waterfall, which is the highest one in Georgia.  The waterfall Shdugra is situated not far from the Russian border, on the way you can see the landscapes of mountains and forests and in the end the path leads to the picturesque forest.

In the evening we will return to Mestia.

 

Details of the day:

• Location – Becho
• Driving – 20 km
• Length of the route – 14 km
• Relative altitude – 550 m
• Difficulty level – moderate
• Overnight stay – Mestia

Day 8. Mestia – Tbilisi

In the morning we will say goodbye to Svaneti and move to Tbilisi.

Tbilisi lays on the banks of the Kura River. During the long period of its development the city changed with the historical epochs, and the history of Tbilisi can be studied by its architecture: starting from an ancient and narrow streets of Narikala and ending with the wide avenue of Rustaveli.

Details of the day:

• Location – Tbilisi
• Driving – 450 km
• Difficulty level – excursion
• Overnight stay – Tbilisi

Day 9.  Birtvisi Canyon

In the morning we will move to Birtvisi. This is an unbelievable place with its uniqueness and beauty.

There are rock prominences which are dislocated in line, in succession or joined to each other and they form small narrow canyons. The main attraction of the canyon is the ruins of the complex of ancient fortifications of Birtvisi canyon.

After exploring the mysterious canyon we will return to Yerevan.

Overnight in Yerevan.

Details of the day:

• Location – Tbilisi – Yerevan
• Driving – 300 km
• Length of the route – 7 km
• Difficulty level – moderate
• Overnight stay – Yerevan

Day 10.  Mount Aragats – the highest summit of Armenia

In the morning we will drive to Amberd. The medieval fortress Amberd is located on the slopes of the Mount  Aragats. After observing the complex we will drive to Lake Kari. The Alpine lake is situated at the height of 3200m, on the plateau, under the mountain peaks. And from here we will start our ascent on the Southern peak (3887m) of Mount Aragats.

After the climb we will return to Yerevan.

Details of the day:

• Location – Aragatsotn province
• Driving – 120 km
• Relative altitude – 600 m
• Length of the route – 12 km
• Difficulty level – moderate
• Overnight stay – Yerevan

Day 11.  Sunny Yerevan

Before going to airport we will have time to take a walk in Yerevan. There is a market known as “Vernisazh” very close to Republic Square. Here you can get souvenirs and many other things typical to Armenia.

At the end we will exchange contacts and transfer you to the airport.

Driving – 25 km

 

Tour Price:

Number of participants	Price per person
2 — 3	1 200 000 AMD
4 — 5	790 000 AMD
6 — 9	775 000 AMD
10 — 15	585 000 AMD

 

The price includes:

• the service of the English-speaking guides
• transfer from the airport and back
• transportation within Armenia and Georgia
• accommodation in hotels and guesthouses
• food service during the whole tour
• tickets for “Wings of Tatev”
• tickets for “History Museum of Armenia”

 

The price does not include:

• Air tickets
• Alcoholic beverages

 

For the booking and all questions, please contact us.

Hiking and trekking tours in Armenia