Adventure Hiking in Armenia

Why it's much better

• Summit Armenia's highest peak, Mount Aragats (4090m)
• 4 days hiking through gorges, forests, meadows and beside cascading waterfalls
• Spend a night under the stars on the slopes of an extinct volcano
• Hike along the Great Silk Road to a medieval fortress
• Fly above a 300m deep canyon on a zip line
• Explore the narrow tunnels of Armenia's largest cave networks
• Take a dip in the second highest freshwater lake in the world
• Hike under the shadow of Mount Ararat, the fabled resting place of Noah's Ark

• Guides Expert, English-speaking local guides
• Accommodation 4 nights in a hotel, 1 night in a local guesthouse, 1 night camping on Mount Aragats.
• Meals All your food is included, except for 2 dinners in the capital, Yerevan.
• Transfers All airport transfers
• Permits All permits and entry fees
• Equipment All camping equipment for the Mount Aragats summit hike
• Happiness Guaranteed We're so confident that your holiday will be your best yet, we actually guarantee it
• Feel Good Vibes We mitigate 4x the carbon emitted by all our travellers and support important conservation projects

Day 1: Arrive in Armenia and explore the capital, Yerevan

Your host will meet you at Zvartnots International Airport and transfer you to your hotel in Armenia’s capital city, Yerevan.

Depending on your arrival time on day 1, you will be shown around Yerevan's highlights and have a chance to soak up the cosy cafes and bars, ahead of your group meet up at 6pm. You’ll have an optional dinner with your fellow adventurers before bedding down for the night.

Day 2: Caving day

Your first day of adventure in Armenia is caving day! After breakfast you’ll head out of Yerevan (by car) to get your first taste of the Armenian countryside.

It's almost caving time, but first you've got a cultural treat. You’ll stop off at Khor Virap Monastery for sweeping mountain views and have a traditional Armenian BBQ. All eyes will be on Eastern Turkey's enormous Mount Ararat - the fabled resting place of Noah's Ark. Not to be confused with Mount Aragats, that you'll climb at the end of the trip.

You'll spend the afternoon exploring the winding ways and narrow tunnels of caves ‘Magel’ and 'Areni 1’ - and hanging out with the bats!

3-4 hours of light hiking inside the caves

Day 3: Hike to Spitakavor

Today our hiking adventure properly gets under way, with a day trekking through Armenian villages and past ancient monasteries, en route to Spitakavor.

The route is a fairly gentle hike as we make our way towards the Great Silk Road: an ancient network of trade routes which connected the East and West as long ago as the 2nd century BCE.

Hiking distance: 11km - Elevation ascent/descent: 600m - Duration: 4-5 hours hiking

Day 4: Hike along the Great Silk Road and wild swim at Lake Sevan

With a full day of hiking ahead, you’ll load up on a big breakfast and drive to the trailhead for your hike along the Great Silk Road. Soak up the amazing views of the Caucasus mountains as you follow the ancient trade route. Look out for the medieval fortress of Smbataberd, probably built for King Smbat II Tiezerakal (“Master of the Universe”).

Next up, picnic! You’ll have a picnic lunch at a beautiful spot with sweeping views of the lower Caucasus range. Then, well lunched, you'll carry on hiking the Great Silk Road to the ancient trading post of Selim Caravanserai.

At the end of day's hike, you'll stop off at Lake Sevan for a well deserved dip. Lake Sevan is the second highest fresh water lake in the world, at 1900m above sea level. Calling all wild-swimming aficionados: this is the place to get your cold water fix in Armenia! All dried off, you’ll overnight at a countryside accommodation surrounded by forests and canyons.

Hiking distance: 12km - Elevation ascent/descent: 600m - Duration: 4-5 hours hiking

Day 5: Zip lining and hiking near Lastiver

Today starts with an open air breakfast before heading to a canyon nearby for some vertigo-inducing zip lining. You'll take turns to fly over a canyon that is up to 300m deep. For anyone who isn’t too keen on heights, you can swap for an activity which sees you slightly less far off the ground... horse riding. This can be arranged on the morning with your guide for a small extra cost.

Later you’ll take a hike into a really unspoilt and rugged part of Armenia. Hike through a dense forested area, into a deep gorge and past waterfalls, before descending into a large and picturesque meadow region in the Caucasus foothills. You're in for a treat: this hike is considered one of Armenia's best kept secrets.

After dinner, you’ll help set up camp for a night under the starts, sleeping beneath the peak of Mount Aragats.

1-2 hours of ziplining

Hiking distance: 7km - Elevation descent/ascent: 200m - Duration: 2-3 hours

Day 6: Summit Mount Aragats ( 4090m )

An early start today as you walk to Kari Lake, before your climb up Mount Aragats. There will be around 1100 metres of altitude to gain until you reach the summit.

All going to plan, you’ll have lunch on the summit. Congratulate yourself on reaching Armenia's highest point and the pinnacle of your Armenian adventure. From here you can look down on all of Armenia and into neighbouring Turkey.

You’ll descend back down the mountain to last night's camp. Then it's time to pack up and head back to Yerevan, the last stop on your adventure.

Hiking distance: 17km - Elevation ascent/descent 890m - Duration: 6-7 hours hiking

Day 7: Free day in Yerevan

Today is a free day to explore Yerevan in the time you have left before your return flight. Your host will arrange a transfer to the airport in time for your flight home.

You will stay in a mixture of locally-run hotels and guesthouses. The night before you climb Mount Aragats is spent camping on the mountain at 3200m above sea level.

Rooms are all twin share basis unless you request a private room upgrade. Private room upgrades are available for an extra £100 on top of the main trip price. You will have your own tent provided for you when camping on the mountain.

Yerevan

You will have 2 nights accommodation in a modern 3 star hotel Armenia's capital. The hotel is in a central location, close to bars and a popular arts centre very nearby. This will make a great launchpad for the little bit of down time you will have to explore Yerevan either end of your adventure.

Yeghegnadzor

In Yeghegnadzor after your caving day you'll stay in a beautiful family run winery and guesthouse, with mountain view balconies, traditional Armenian food, open fire and an outdoor swimming pool.

Herman Village

After your first hiking day you'll stay in a hotel in a peaceful location at the end of the valley in Herman Village. There's a sauna and pool here to help sooth limbs post-hike, as well as more delicious Armenian food to fuel up on ahead of a longer hike the following day.

Ijevan

In Yenokavan Village, after your day hiking on the Great Silk Road, you'll stay at Apaga Resort in an amazing natural setting with incredible mountain views all around. This is your launchpad for the ziplining adventure on day 5

Mount Aragats Camp

You will wild camp on Mount Aragats at an altitude of 3200m. There are no facilities and we all pitch in to set up and take down camp before and after reaching the summit. All part of the adventure!

Your trip begins and ends in the capital, Yerevan. Pass through Armenian countryside as you take on adventurous activities, staying in hilltop villages of the lower Caucasus range.

You'll hike along the Great Silk Road, the ancient trading route which linked the West with the East for millennia.

Wild swim in the second largest freshwater lake in the world, Lake Sevan. It's much bigger than lakes one-six. You'll also have epic views of Eastern Turkey's biblical mountain, Mount Ararat.

The trip culminates at Mount Aragats, an isolated four-peaked volcano and the highest point of the lesser Caucasus range.

Yerevan Hotel

Your adventure begins at your hotel in Yerevan that you'll be free to check into after 2pm. There will be a briefing at 6pm, before heading out for an optional group dinner. The exact hotel will be confirmed pre-departure.

Airport transfers from Zvartnots International Airport are included if you arrive on the start day, so please let your host know your flight times.

Yerevan Hotel

Your adventure ends back at your hotel in Yerevan. Airport transfers are included, so please let your host know your flight times.

Please note, transfers are only included if you arrive or depart on the start and end days of the trip. If you would like to arrive early or extend your stay, your host can arrange airport transfers and additional accommodation for an extra cost.