Trekking Tour “To the Origins of Civilisation” (7 days / 6 nights)

Armenia has a long and rich history, and some parts of its culture go back to ancient times.

ExploreArmenia tour operator invites you to join the trekking tour “To the Origins of Civilisation”. In one week, you will follow the paths of old civilisations and feel the spirit of thousands of years of history. Armenia is a land where every stone tells a story of the past. Here you will find a special mix of old and new, of art and knowledge, which makes Armenia a unique place in the world.

The land of Armenia was part of many ancient civilisations. In the 1st millennium BC, one of the first Armenian kingdoms was created here. It influenced the religion and culture of the region. This was also the time when the Armenian alphabet was developed.

Armenia is a place where ancient civilizations converged at the epicentre of historic currents. Throughout its history, Armenia has held a strategic position at the crossroads of East and West. Armenia became a meeting point for ancient cultures, including Mesopotamia, Persia, and other great civilisations. This exchange of knowledge and traditions made Armenia a centre of ancient trade and culture.

Armenia is waiting for you to join the trekking tour “To the Origins of Civilisation”, where every step will take you along the ancient paths of history.

Arrival and meeting at the airport.

We will start our tour of Armenia with a walking excursion in Yerevan. The capital has a unique and original style. Today Yerevan is a city where different architectural styles meet, with green boulevards and many fountains. You will see the main sights of Yerevan: France Square, the Opera and Ballet Theatre, Northern Avenue, and Republic Square.

Next, we will visit the Cascade Complex. This is a 500-metre stairway (572 steps) with fountains and flowerbeds. It is also an open-air museum with about 30 sculptures by famous artists. Inside the complex, on five levels, you will find the Cafesjian Center for the Arts.

After that, we will visit the History Museum of Armenia, which has around 400,000 exhibits. Its collections are divided into several sections: archaeology, ethnography, numismatics, historic architecture, and modern Armenian history.

Check-in at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Early departure from Yerevan.

Before the hike, the guide will give a short briefing. Recommended equipment: rain jacket with hood, warm sweater, trekking boots or trainers, extra socks, gloves, woollen hat and sun cap, personal hygiene items, strong trousers (jeans), sunglasses, sun protection, small rucksack, personal medicines, and sun cream.

Mount Sevkar is an extinct volcano in the Gegharkunik region of Armenia and part of the Vardenis mountains. Its name comes from the black volcanic stones on its slopes (“Sev” means black, “kar” means stone).

We will start the hike from the village of Nshkhark and climb to the top of Mount Sevkar. From the summit, there are wonderful views of Lake Sevan, Mount Armaghan, the Vardenis mountains, and the town of Martuni.

After the climb, we will go down the northern slopes to the Sevsar Observatory, a group of ancient rock carvings with astronomical symbols.

The most striking is a large stone slab (3 x 2 m) carved with signs, figures of stars and constellations. In the lower corner, there is a circle 90 cm wide, with a smaller circle and a spiral inside.

The hike ends on the slopes of Mount Gandzakar, where many old tombs can still be seen.

Return to Yerevan.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Drive to the starting point.

Mount Azhdahak is an extinct volcano and the highest peak of the Geghama Range, rising 3,597 metres above sea level. At the top there is a crater filled with water. From the summit you can enjoy views of Mount Ararat, Mount Hatis, Mount Arai, Mount Aragats, Lake Sevan, and the slopes of the Geghama mountains. In Armenian mythology, Azhdahak is a dragon-man (vishap), connected with many legends.

The route begins in the village of Goght. From there, a 4x4 drive takes us to the slopes of Mount Paytasar. On the way we make several stops: At Lake Vank, where you can see ancient vishap stones (“dragon stones”). These standing stones are among the oldest sacred monuments of Armenia and can be seen as the ancestors of khachkars (cross-stones). The similarity between a vishapakar and a khachkar lies in the fact that both are stone monuments with spiritual significance. In addition, many ornamental motifs found on khachkars are inherited from vishapakars. At sites with many prehistoric petroglyphs carved into the rocks.

The climb starts at the foot of Mount Paytasar and goes through alpine landscapes to Mount Karmir Katar (“Red Peak”, 3,530 m). From there we continue to Mount Azhdahak.

After a short rest we return to the car and drive to Garni Temple. Built in the 1st century by King Trdat I (Tiridates I), it was dedicated to the Sun God Mihr (Mithra). This is the only surviving pagan temple in Armenia from the Hellenistic period. In the gorge of the Azat River you will also see the famous “Symphony of Stones”, natural basalt columns formed by volcanic lava.

Return to Yerevan.

Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out from the hotel.

This excursion day in Armenia starts with a visit to the Khor Virap Monastery, located at the foot of the biblical Mount Ararat. It is one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Armenia, connected with the legend of Gregory the Illuminator. According to tradition, he was imprisoned here by King III Trdat (Tiridates III) for about 14 years for preaching Christianity. Visitors may go down into the underground cell, which is 6.5 m deep and 4.5 m wide.

From Khor Virap you get the closest and most impressive view of Mount Ararat, the national symbol of Armenia. According to the Bible, Noah’s Ark came to rest on this mountain after the Great Flood.

We then continue to the village of Areni, famous for its winemaking. Every October the annual Areni Wine Festival takes place here.

We will visit the Areni Winery and taste Armenian wines in the tasting hall. The wines of this region are known for their unique taste and rich bouquet.

Next, we take a short hike (about 7 km) from Areni to the Noravank Monastery Complex, built in the 13th–14th centuries. The monastery stands on a narrow ledge in a winding gorge of the Amaghu River (a tributary of the Arpa River). The gorge is famous for its tall red cliffs rising behind the monastery.

We also visit the Areni-1 Cave (“Birds’ Cave”), where archaeologists in 2008 discovered the oldest leather shoe in the world, over 5,500 years old. The shoe was found together with goat horns in a carefully prepared pit, 45 cm deep and 44 cm in diameter. In the same cave, the world’s oldest known winery was found, dating back more than 6,000 years.

Drive to the village of Hermon for overnight stay. Check-in at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out from the hotel.

Departure to the village of Yeghegis.

We will hike to the Tsaghats Kar Monastery Complex (10th century). Its creation is linked to several battles between Armenian forces and the Sassanid invaders in Vayots Dzor. The complex has several parts. One of the buildings on the edge of the gorge was the Church of the Holy Mother (10th century). Nearby are the main monastery buildings – the churches of St Hovhannes and St Karapet, decorated with beautiful ornaments. In the eastern part stands a unique two-storey mausoleum, the oldest known building of its type.

Short rest.

Next, we hike to the Smbataberd Fortress (5th century), a stronghold protected on three sides. It can only be reached from the north. The defensive complex was built according to the rules of medieval fortress construction. The total length of the fortress is about one kilometre. It is divided into northern and southern parts. Within the fortress, there are remains of barracks, water reservoirs, stables, and other defensive structures.

Walk down back to Yeghegis village.

Drive to Syunik Province.

We then visit Carahunge (also called Zorats Karer), a prehistoric site often referred to as the “Armenian Stonehenge.” The site has many large standing stones, some with circular holes at the top. It is considered one of the oldest observatories in the world, used for observing stars and the sun thousands of years ago.

Check in at the hotel in Goris.

Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out from the hotel.

We start with a visit to the village of Old Khot (Hin Khot), often called the “Armenian Machu Picchu.” Surrounded by high cliffs and blooming gardens, it is 67 km northeast of Kapan, on the left bank of the Vorotan River, at 1,500 metres above sea level. In the 1970s, the villagers moved to a more convenient flat area north of the old village. In Old Khot, there are many ancient graves dating back to the 1st–2nd centuries BC. On one cemetery site are the ruins of the Red Church, built in the 12th century. According to legend, the bells of this church were renowned for their powerful sound, and it is for this reason that another name of the region—Zangezur—is associated with the Red Church.

Next, we visit Shinuhayr, meaning “Father of Settlements”, one of the oldest villages in the Syunik region. Here you can see the 17th-century Church of Surb Stepanos, built on the remains of an older church. Archaeologists found evidence of a 4th–5th century temple, destroyed by an earthquake. The church walls include old crosses symbolising the Tree of Life and ancient gravestones. The village cemetery contains many old gravestones, including a 3-metre high khachkar (cross-stone) dated 1261.

We continue to Old Halidzor, first mentioned in the early 10th century and historically given to Tatev Monastery. The village was part of the monastery until the 19th century. Today, Old Halidzor is mostly ruins, with a damaged chapel and altar, 10th-century khachkars, and the Church of St Minas (1611). The houses and cliffs are connected: some rooftops serve as courtyards for other homes, creating a stepped layout down the gorge – typical for Armenian mountain villages.

Our journey then takes us to the Tatev Monastery Complex (9th–13th centuries), located at the edge of a huge gorge. Tatev was one of the most famous spiritual and educational centres of the medieval period and is considered one of the most remarkable places in the world. We will take the “Wings of Tatev” cable car – the longest reversible cable car in the world (5,752 m, listed in the Guinness Book of Records) – and travel over the stunning Vorotan Gorge straight to the monastery.

Return to Yerevan. Check-in at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out from the hotel.

We will visit Yerevan’s Central Market. Dried fruits are very popular in Armenia and often enjoyed with brandy. They make them from almost anything, even watermelon, melon, and tomatoes!

Next, we visit Vernissage, the open-air market for local crafts. You can see and buy handmade wooden chess and backgammon sets, ceramics, jewellery, traditional musical instruments, silver items, paintings, and more.

Transfer to the airport.

If you still have questions about the tour organization in Armenia, then it is very easy to contact us! You can order a call on the website, send an email or just SMS. We will get back to you shortly