Perched monasteries, mountain vineyards and generous tables: Armenia in detail.

Complete Guide to Armenia

Nestled between the Caucasus and the Anatolian plateau, Armenia spans a compact territory where average altitude exceeds 1,800 metres. From our Yerevan offices, we explore a country that can be crossed in two weeks but requires a minimum of ten days to grasp its nuances: 4th-century monasteries perched on rocky ridges, Vayots Dzor vineyards where vines have grown for over 6,000 years, shepherd villages of Syunik and volcanic plains around Aragats.

Four regions structure most of our itineraries. Yerevan and the Ararat plain concentrate urban life, markets and ancient sites such as Garni and Khor Virap. The lush north, Lori and Tavush, hosts the listed monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin, amid forested gorges. The centre-east, around Lake Sevan at 1,900 metres, offers expanses of cobalt blue water and khachkar cemeteries. The south, from Vayots Dzor to Syunik, leads to Tatev and its 5.7-kilometre ropeway, the world's longest single-span cable car without interruption.

The cuisine, the language with its own alphabet, the hospitality in village guesthouses give particular depth to your journey. To build your itinerary, allow 10 to 14 days for a first visit, 17 to 21 days to include Syunik and trekking on the Transcaucasian Trail.

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The regions of Armenia

Each region has its own personality: climate, landscapes, pace of life and ways of traveling. Our local team helps you choose the combination that suits you.

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Yerevan and Mount Ararat

Erevan, the pink capital carved from volcanic tuff, spreads out at 990 metres facing Mount Ararat. From Republic Square, we reach the Khor Virap monastery in 40 minutes, perched on the Turkish border with Ararat's silhouette in the background. The plain is dry, hot in summer (35°C in July), and dotted with apricot orchards, Areni vineyards and ancient sites such as Garni, the only Greco-Roman temple preserved in the Caucasus. This region serves as a base for most stays: nights in the city, day excursions to Echmiadzin, Zvartnots and the genocide memorial.

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Lori and Tavush

In the north, the Lori and Tavush regions unfold forested gorges, alpine meadows and villages with corrugated metal roofs. The monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin, UNESCO-listed, date from the 10th and 13th centuries and can each be visited in a morning. Further east, Dilijan, a forest station at 1,500 metres, is surrounded by beech forests crossed by a section of the Transcaucasian Trail. The climate is milder and more humid than in the south, with summers around 22-25°C. We organize stays with local families in Gosh or Haghartsin, where you can taste ghapama and lavash baked in a tonir.

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Lake Sevan and Gegharkunik

Lake Sevan, covering 1,240 km² at an altitude of 1,900 meters, occupies the center-east of the country. Its shores welcome the Sevanavank peninsula and its 9th-century monastery, accessible by a staircase of 200 steps. In Noratus, Armenia's largest field of khachkars displays nearly 900 sculpted stelae dating from the 9th to the 17th century. In summer, the water reaches 20°C and Armenian families come to eat crayfish and ishkhan fish. We generally combine Sevan with a stop in Dilijan or before descending towards Vayots Dzor.

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Vayots Dzor

South of Yerevan, Vayots Dzor is a region of red canyons, vineyards and troglodytic villages. Areni, at 1,000 meters, produces wines from the areni noir grape variety and is home to the Bird Cave where the oldest known leather shoe was found, dated to 5,500 years ago. Noravank Monastery, nestled in an ochre gorge, is best discovered in late afternoon when the light warms the stone. We systematically plan two nights here, in Yeghegnadzor or in a guesthouse in Khachik, to also visit the Selim caravanserai, at 2,410 meters.

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Syunik and Tatev

The southernmost province, bordering Iran, attracts travelers with 15 days or more to spare. The Wings of Tatev cableway, 5.7 kilometers above the Vorotan gorge, connects the village of Halidzor to the Tatev Monastery, founded in the 9th century, in 12 minutes. Higher up, Goris and its fairy chimneys serve as a base for exploring Khndzoresk, a troglodytic village abandoned in the 1950s. The roads are winding; allow 4 to 5 hours from Yerevan. The altitude ranges from 800 to 2,500 meters, and summers remain pleasant around 28°C.

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