Armenia with an Open Heart
Between troglodytic monasteries and sculpted khachkars, Arménie reveals 1700 years of Christian faith engraved in stone.
Duration
9 days
Ideal seasons
Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct
Style
Guided tour
Comfort
classique
Travelers
Couple, Solo, senior, groupe
The spirit of travel
The first country to officially adopt the Christian faith, Arménie boasts a thousand-year history dating back to the megalithic era. The country stands out for its monasteries and religious buildings with unique architecture, centered or basilical in style. Impressive sculptures, figurative or interlaced, adorn the drums of domes, the tympanums of portals and the mausoleums of medieval princes. The religious fervor of this people has contributed to preserving their national identity in the face of multiple foreign occupations, from the Seljuks to the Ottomans, until the Soviet empire. Arménie appeals to both sacred art enthusiasts and lovers of vast landscapes with Asian accents.
The stages of your journey
Highlights
Day-by-day itinerary
Welcome to Arménie!
Zvartnots International Airport → Erevan
Upon your arrival at Zvartnots Airport in Yerevan, collect your baggage before being greeted by your driver.
Transfer to your hotel in Yerevan, where you will stay for 3 nights
Dinner at your leisure and night in Yerevan.
Yerevan City Tour: History, Culture and Panoramas
Breakfast at the hotel.
Guided bus tour of Yerevan, a city that stretches like an amphitheater on both sides of the Hrazdan River.
Walking tour through the Cascade architectural complex, recognized for its singular architecture.
Visit to the Matenadaran, an institute dedicated to ancient manuscripts. Stop at the Grand Candy shop, renowned for its chocolate with Armenian dried fruits.
Lunch in the city.
In the afternoon, discover the Museum of History of Arménie.
Meeting with a local musician in Yerevan, with a demonstration of Armenian wind instruments, notably the duduk, accompanied by a light snack.
At the end of the day, visit to the statue of Mother Arménie in Victory Park, offering an impressive panorama of the city.
Museums are closed on Mondays and public holidays. The Matenadaran is also closed on Sundays.
Evening option: From 21:00 to 23:00, during summer and in September, it is possible to attend free musical fountain shows on Republic Square in Yerevan.
Discovering Echmiadzin, the Spiritual Cradle of Arménie
Breakfast at the hotel.
Departure for Echmiadzin, considered the Vatican of Arménie.
Visit to the ruins of the Zvarnots Cathedral, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Discovery of the Edjmiatzine Cathedral. If your visit takes place on a Sunday between 11:00 and 13:00, it is possible to attend, even briefly, the Eucharistic celebration of the Armenian Apostolic Church, one of the oldest rituals in the world.
Lunch in Cau, enhanced with a culinary workshop to learn how to prepare Armenian dolma.
Return to Yerevan.
Visit of the museum and the Armenian Genocide Memorial.
Option (additional charge to be paid on site): Folk dance and song show in Yerevan.
From Khor Virap to Goris, between spirituality and ancient heritage
Breakfast at the hotel.
Early departure towards Khor Virap.
Visit of the monastery, built on the site where Saint Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned for thirteen years, with Mount Ararat in the background.
Discovery of the Areni 1 cave, an archaeological site housing the oldest winepress and wine fermentation system ever found, dating back approximately 6,000 years.
Lunch in the region.
Optional: local wine tasting.
Visit of the Noravank monastery, famous for its finely sculpted tympana and spectacular rocky setting.
Road to Goris. Hotel check-in for two nights.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
From Goris to Tatev: Between Natural Wonders and Prehistoric Mysteries
Breakfast at the hotel.
In the morning, visit to Old Goris, nicknamed the little Cappadocia of Arménie for its rock formations and troglodytic dwellings.
Drive to Tatev. Take the "Wings of Tatev" aerial tramway, the longest in the world, to reach Tatev Monastery, perched on a cliff overlooking the Vorotan canyon. This vast monastic complex offers an exceptional panorama.
Lunch near the site.
In the afternoon, drive to Sisian for a walking visit to Zorats Karer, also called Karahoundj, a megalithic site considered older than Stonehenge.
From Selim Pass to Lake Sevan: Traditions and High-Altitude Landscapes
Hotel breakfast and check-out.
Early morning departure towards Selim Pass.
Visit of the medieval caravanserai of Selim, nestled in the mountains.
Discovery of the Noradouz site, famous for its impressive field of khachkars, stone crosses sculptured in a typically Arménian style.
Visit of the artisanal cheese factory of the Mikaelian family, with tasting of cheeses aged in wine and cognac.
Lunch during the journey.
Visit of Lake Sevan, located at 1950 meters altitude, with its churches perched on the peninsula.
Optional: boat tour on Lake Sevan, available from mid-May to September.
Road to Dilijan.
Hotel check-in, dinner and night in Dilijan.
Monasteries of the North and Armenian Craftsmanship between Vanadzor and Haghpat
Hotel breakfast and check-out.
In the morning, drive to Vanadzor.
Meeting with a master craftsman of khachkars in his workshop.
Continue traveling to the village of Haghpat.
Visit the Haghpat Monastery, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, comprising several churches including Saint Nechan, Saint Gregory the Illuminator, and Holy Mother of God.
Lunch in Haghpat.
In the afternoon, visit the Akhtala fortress monastery, dating from the 13th century. The main church is renowned for its frescoes depicting scenes from the Old and New Testament.
Around Garni and Geghard
Breakfast at the hotel.
Visit of the Geghard rock-cut monastery, a 13th-century masterpiece listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Optional: spiritual music concert in the monastery, known for its exceptional acoustics.
Route to Garni. Discovery of the canyon and the famous natural monument nicknamed the Basalt Organ or Symphony of Stones (UNESCO).
Lunch with a local family with a workshop on preparing lavash, the traditional Armenian bread baked in an underground oven (listed by UNESCO).
In the afternoon, visit to the Garni citadel, the only remaining vestige of the Hellenistic period in Arménie.
Return to Yerevan.
At the end of the day, visit the dried fruit market in the Gum district and free time for shopping.
Discovery of the Vernissage, a large craft market mixing flea markets and antiques, frequented by locals and visitors.
Dinner on your own and night at the hotel in Yerevan.
Museums are closed on Mondays and public holidays. The Vernissage is fully open on weekends.
See you soon in Arménie!
Erevan → Zvartnots International Airport
Breakfast at the hotel and check-out.
Transfer to Zvartnots International Airport for your return flight.
Price per person
Indicative price per person, based on double room. Each trip is customized according to your preferences.
This trip can be tailored to your preferences
This itinerary provides an excellent foundation for discovery, but it can be fully customized. Our local advisors build each trip tailored to your budget, dates and preferences.
Not included
- The plane tickets
- Insurance
- Alcoholic beverages and personal expenses
- Boat trip on Lake Sevan from mid-May to September
- Spiritual Music Concert at Geghard
- Folklore show in Yerevan
- Wine Tasting in Areni
- Tips for guides, drivers and porters
Included
- Airport / hotel / airport transfers
- An air-conditioned coach with good comfort for the entire circuit
- The services of a very good English-speaking guide throughout the circuit for the visits mentioned in the program from day 2 to day 8
- Accommodation in double/twin rooms in 3*/4*/4*+ hotels in Yerevan
- (5 nights), 2 nights at Mirhav Hotel or similar in Goris, 1 night at Paradise Plus Hotel or similar in Dilijan
- Half board with all lunches and 3 dinners in the regions
- Entrance tickets to the sites, monuments and museums mentioned in the itinerary
- Ticket for Tatev Ropeway and Areni 1 Cave
- Mineral and tap water, local coffee and tea during all lunches and dinners
- Master class of traditional Armenian bread: lavash at Garni
- Master class of Dolma in Echmiadzine
- Mikaelian Cheese Factory near Lake Sevan
- Duduk Workshop in Yerevan
- Khachkar Workshop in Vanadzor
Practical Information
Registration is considered firm and final after payment of a deposit of 30% of the total price and acceptance of the specific terms of sale.
The balance must be paid no later than 45 days before the departure date.
See our specific terms of sale for full details.
In the event of cancellation by the traveller, the following fees apply:
- Plus de 60 jours avant le départ : 40 % du prix total (acompte retenu)
- Entre 60 et 30 jours avant le départ : 50 % du prix total
- Moins de 30 jours avant le départ : 100 % du prix total
We strongly recommend taking out cancellation insurance. See our specific terms of sale for full details.
The information below concerns travelers who are nationals of the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland and Canada traveling to Armenia for tourism purposes. As entry rules may change, we recommend you verify this information with the official authorities before your departure.
Passport
To enter Armenia, your passport must be valid for the entire duration of your stay and contain at least one blank page for immigration stamps.
The document must be in good condition (no damaged, torn or altered pages).
Tourism stay without visa
Nationals of the European Economic Area, Switzerland and Canada benefit from a visa exemption for tourism stays in Armenia.
This exemption allows a stay of up to 180 days per year on Armenian territory, without any prior procedure required.
The authorities may also request:
a return travel ticket or onward flight,
proof of sufficient financial resources for the duration of your stay,
an accommodation address in Armenia.
Registration with local authorities
Any traveler staying in Armenia is in principle required to register with the local authorities within 20 days of arrival. In practice, this formality is generally handled directly by the hotel or accommodation establishment, which registers the traveler.
If staying with a private individual or in non-professional accommodation, you should ensure that this procedure is completed, as failure to do so may result in a fine upon departure from the territory.
Traveling with children
Minors must hold their own valid passport covering the duration of the stay.
In some European countries, when a minor travels without one of their parents, an exit authorization from the territory may be required according to the regulations of the country of residence.
Other nationalities
Entry conditions may vary depending on nationality. Travelers concerned should check with the Armenian embassy or consulate in their country of residence.
To participate in our trips, it is strongly advised to be insured for repatriation assistance and medical expenses abroad.
Your local agency encourages you to review the specific policy developed with our partners CHAPKA ASSURANCES and AXA ASSISTANCE.
To subscribe to insurance, learn about coverage and rates, follow the link below.
CAP EXPLORER: The complete insurance solution designed for a worry-free trip!
Choose the plan that suits you best:
Explorer'Multirisque
Explorer'Annulation
Explorer'Assistance
Explorer' Complémentaire Carte Bancaire
Specific to our trips, we strongly recommend subscribing to them.
If you choose to subscribe to one of these plans, the policy detailing all coverage and claims reporting procedures are available on the insurer's website.
Your local agency will be aware of this, but only the participant is responsible for following the claims reporting procedures. The participant must therefore keep this policy with them throughout their trip.
Chapka — Cap Explorer
Our insurance partnerTravel with peace of mind with our partner Chapka. Cancellation, repatriation, medical expenses, baggage… All the coverage for a worry-free trip.
Travel with peace of mind — I'll handle the insuranceFrequently asked questions
For a tourist stay in Armenia, no visa is required. A valid passport for at least 3 months after your return date is sufficient. Always check the latest conditions with the consular authorities of your destination before departure.
Go to the My Trips section to find all your projects.
You can send a message to your host directly from the Tea Lounge.
For a quality tailor-made trip, expect between 110 and 180 euros per day and per person, including accommodation, meals, internal transport and activities. International flights (400-700 euros round-trip from Paris) are additional. Armenia remains one of the most affordable destinations in the Caucasus.
Your documents are accessible in the Documents tab of your trip.
Absolutely. We tailor each itinerary to suit travelers' profiles. For families, we prioritize relaxed pacing, family-friendly accommodations, engaging educational activities, and comfortable private transfers. Our local English-speaking guides know how to capture children's attention with age-appropriate anecdotes.
It's simple. You exchange with our local team to define your wishes, budget and dates. You receive a detailed itinerary proposal within 48 hours. You adjust every detail together until you reach the perfect version. You confirm and travel with peace of mind. Your local agency remains available 7 days a week throughout your trip.
In case of emergency, contact your local agency immediately.
Payment is generally made in two installments.
Our agency is part of the Nomadays network, registered in France. You benefit from APST (Professional Tourism Solidarity Association) guarantee which covers 100% of your funds. Secure payment, repatriation insurance included, and English-speaking assistance 24/7 on site throughout your stay.
Let's talk about your adventure — Yerevan and Ararat Plain
Travel Creator Between Memory and Mountains, based in Yerevan
Armenia is a land of memory, but also of life and human warmth. What I love is seeing travelers discover this energy far beyond the ideas they had before coming.
— Lilith
