New Year hike in Armenia (6 days)

armeniangeographic

6 months ago

As the climate of Armenia is quite mild, our country is ideal for winter hiking. However, many guests of Armenia do not know what they can do here in wintertime besides skiing. That’s why we have developed a special New Year hike in Armenia for you to imagine a wealth of choice you have.

Admire the landscapes of Armenia, decorated with dazzling white snow.

Travel dates:

02/01/2025 – 07/01/2025

Day 1: Yerevan

Our staff will meet you at the airport and help you check into a hotel. Next step is a walking tour along Yerevan, during which you will see the sights of the Armenian capital.

Yerevan

Day 2: Garni Pagan Temple and Symphony of Stones

You will first visit the Geghard monastery complex, carved right into the rock. Then – the pagan temple of Garni, which is dedicated to Mithra, the God of Sun. After visiting the temple the group will descend into the gorge of the Azat River, where the natural monument “Symphony of Stones” is located. It consists of many hexagonal basalt columns of volcanic origin.

Garni Pagan Temple

A visit to the Khosrov State Reserve is next . From the Symphony of Stones the group will go to the monastery complex of Havuts Tar (XI century). You will definitely enjoy a stunning view of the Azat River gorge from the top on which the monastery is located.

Azat Reservoir in winter

Details of the day:

Location – Kotayk region
Distance by car – 90 km
Altitude gain — 400 м
The length of the route — 8 km
Difficulty level – easy
Overnight — Yerevan

Day 3: High mountain fortress

On the third day we will go to the south of Armenia to see the legendary Khor Virap temple (IV century). The name of Saint Gregory the Illuminator is closely connected with it. Legend has it that Saint Gregory was imprisoned in an underground prison for 13 years by decree of the pagan king. In addition, the Khor Virap temple is located on a hill from where Mount Ararat is visible.

Khor Virap Monastery

After leaving this holy place and reaching the village of Artabuink, the group will hike to the high mountain fortress. This fortress of the 5th century is one of the best preserved architectural monuments of Armenia. It is surrounded on three sides by steep cliffs. The height of its powerful walls with semicircular towers is 8-10 meters, and the width is 3-4 meters. There are many legends and stories about this fortress associated with the name of one of the great Armenian kings.

We will go to the Syunik region in the evening.

Smbataberd

Details of the day:

Location – Ararat and Vayots Dzor regions
Distance by car – 300 km
Altitude gain — 250 m
The length of the route – 9 km
Difficulty level – medium
Overnight — Goris

Day 4: Vorotan Gorge

We will go down to the Vorotan Gorge to see a number of abandoned villages with the houses carved into the rock.

Vorotan canyon

Let’s continue our journey to one of the most visited places in Syunik – the village of Old Khndzoresk,which is known with its cave houses and a 160 meter long suspension bridge.This is a mountain settlement, whose inhabitants literally carved out their houses in solid stone. In the 1950s, the bulk of the population was resettled to a new location, and the village itself gradually became an object of tourist attention.

Khndzoresk

Details of the day:

Location — Syunik region
Distance by car – 60 km
Altitude gain — 400 m
The length of the route – 10 km
Difficulty level – medium
Overnight — Goris

Day 5: Wings of Tatev and Noravank Monastery

We will pass the deep Vorotan Gorge by the world’s longest cableway that will take us to the famous Tatev Monastery.

The Wings of Tatev cableway is registered in the Guinness World Records. It was not only the length of the road that was record-breaking (5,752 meters), but also construction time (only 10 months). It passes over the Vorotan River gorge and connects two villages – Halidzor and Tatev. The highest point of the cable car lift is 320 meters from the ground above the Vorotan River.

Tatev monastery

After visiting the Tatev Monastery – one of the XIV-XV centuries Armenia’s centers of culture, science and education – we will descend into the Vorotan Gorge again. Let’s see the Great Hermitage of Tatev where about 700 monks lived. Our group’s next stop is the Devil‘s Bridge.

Then you will have the opportunity to see the ancient stone complex of Carahunge (Zorats Karer), which purpose of construction is still being discussed among scientists. Some say Carahunge is the oldest observatory in the world, others call it a place of worship where sacrifices were made.

Noravank Monastery

We will also visit the Noravank Monastery, known also as the Red Monastery. Its name origins from the color of the mountain the monastery is located on. In addition, the monastery is famous for its unique bas-relief depicting God.

Details of the day:

Location — Syunik region
Distance by car – 307 km
The length of the route – 6 km
Difficulty level – easy
Overnight — Yerevan

Day 6: Sunny Yerevan

You still have time to walk around Yerevan on the last day of the tour. The Vernissage market is two steps far from the Republic Square. You can find everything that you want there.