Adventure Hiking in Armenia

Touch down in Yerevan and transfer to your central hotel. If you arrive early enough, meet your fellow travellers and guide and head out late morning on a guided walking tour, soaking up the vibrant atmosphere and narrow streets of Armenia’s capital city. This evening, enjoy some free time in Yerevan to explore the lively local cafes and bars, then take a walk to Republic Square to watch the colourful show of the dancing fountains. Back at the hotel, bed down for the night and get ready for the adventure ahead.

Head out of Yerevan for your first taste of Armenia's majestic landscapes. Stop off at the iconic Khor Virap Monastery for some sweeping mountain views, then have a traditional Armenian BBQ as you stare out at Eastern Turkey's enormous Mount Ararat – the fabled resting place of Noah's Ark. Spend the afternoon amongst bats as you explore the labyrinth of underground chambers and tunnels of the Magel and Areni-1 cave systems. The latter has proven to be a treasure trove of Copper Age artefacts, where the oldest shoe, brain, and winery in the world have been discovered. This is a proper caving experience with some very tight squeezes through dark and dusty tunnels and chasms. Later, tuck into a delicious evening meal and bed down for the night at your cosy guesthouse in Yeghegnadzor.

After breakfast drive to the nearby village of Vernashen, the start point of today's hike which lead to the remote Spitakavor monastery, which dates back to the 14th century and is the gateway to the Silk Road. Enjoy the mountainous route and stunning views as you trek along rocky trails, past rivers and green fields. Keep your eyes peeled for the endemic Armenian Bezoar goats which roam the area. Tonight, enjoy authentic Armenian hospitality as you stay overnight in a tiny village (either Yeghegis or Hermon) tucked away in the mountains.

Enjoy an exhilarating exploring part of the Great Silk Road, an ancient network of trade routes which once connected East and West. Soak up the amazing views of the Caucasus Mountains and the medieval fortress of Smbataberd. This was likely built for King Smbat II Tiezerakal, known as the Master of the Universe. Have a picnic lunch with gorgeous views of the Lower Caucasus Range and then hike on to the ancient trading post of Selim Caravanserai, where ancient medieval traders used to stop for a night. End the day with a well-deserved dip in Lake Sevan – the second-highest freshwater lake in the world, at a whopping 1900m above sea level. Spend the night in Yenokavan village, which is surrounded by lush forests and deep canyons.

Begin the day flying over a 300m deep canyon on a vertigo-inducing zip line (for anyone who isn’t keen on heights, you can swap this for horse riding for a small extra cost – just speak to your guide). Back on the ground, you'll hike into an unspoilt and rugged part of Armenia. Considered one of the nation's best-kept secrets, you'll pass through a dense forest, cascading waterfalls and a deep gorge into a large and picturesque meadow region of the Caucasus foothills. After dinner, help set up camp for the night and sleep beneath the mighty peak of Mount Aragats.

Set off early and walk to Kari Lake (3200m), then climb to one of the four summits of Mount Aragats. The mountain is a four-peaked volcano massif: if conditions permit, you'll aim for the northern summit (4090m) – the highest point in Armenia. Expect some rocky sections, some loose scree, and a bit of a scramble to the summit. However, if your guide has safety concerns about either the hiking/weather conditions or the group's ability, they will suggest a suitable alternative such as the southern summit (3888m) or the western summit (3995m). All going to plan, you’ll have lunch on the summit looking down on all of Armenia and deep into neighbouring Turkey. Descend down the mountain to the campsite, pack up and head back to Yerevan, the last stop on your Armenian adventure.

Use your spare time to explore Yerevan, before heading to the airport and back to reality.