Overview
Discover the charm of Armenia with this exciting 6-day holiday covering culture, history, mountains, lakes, and vibrant city life. Explore the beautiful capital Yerevan with its iconic landmarks, lively streets, and stunning architecture. Visit the scenic resort town of Tsakhkadzor, enjoy breathtaking views from the ropeway, and witness the beauty of Lake Sevan. Experience ancient heritage at Garni Temple and Geghard Monastery, both rich in history and beauty. Enjoy shopping at local markets, malls, and souvenir centers. A perfect getaway combining relaxation, sightseeing, shopping, and unforgettable experiences in one memorable journey.
Highlights
- Explore vibrant Yerevan city landmarks and nightlife
- Visit scenic Tsakhkadzor mountain resort town
- Experience breathtaking beauty of Lake Sevan
- Discover Garni Temple and Geghard Monastery
- Enjoy shopping markets, malls, souvenirs locally
Itinerary
Arrival in Zvartnots International Airport by Air Arabia. Transfer to the hotel. Check-in at 14:00 Rest. Evening short walk in the city center to explore night Yerevan. Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.
Breakfast at the hotel. Sightseeing tour around the vibrant city Yerevan. Being established in 782 BC, nowadays Yerevan is a thriving city with the excitement, hustle and bustle of a modern capital. We start our exploration from the Republic Square, the masterpiece of the architect Alexander Tamanian. Proceed to Opera House, a stunning architectural piece and the hub of Yerevan. We visit Cascade Complex, an open-air museum of modern art with massive stairways leading up to the Victory Park providing a fantastic overlook to the entire downtown from above. The complex links the historic residential and cultural centers of the city.
Optional: Visit Yerevan Brandy Factory (11 USD p/p). The legendary Ararat brandy is considered the pride of many generations and a global symbol of Armenia. For many years Stalin provided Armenian brandy to Winston Churchill. Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.
Today we will explore stunning nature beauty of Armenia. Armenia displays natural diversity of landscape, flora and fauna. To see all this we start our trip visiting Tsaghkadzor. Tsaghkadzor is a spa town and a popular health resort in Armenia. It is one of the places of our mountainous country, where the beauty of the nature appears with its whole variety. The name literally means ‘gorge of flowers’ and the whole city is surrounded with virgin woods and alpine meadows. We take a ropeway over Teghenis Mountains offering a bird’s eye over surrounding mountain valleys, lush forests Armenia is so rich with. Our next stop is Lake Sevan, the so called “Blue Pearl of Armenia”. This huge mountain lake, which takes up to 5% of Armenia’s surface area, is about 2,000 meters above sea level and is the second highest freshwater lake in the world.
Optional: Boat/ Sail boat trip on the lake to enjoy the changing the changing colors of the water. Drive back to Yerevan. Overnight at the hotel Yerevan.
Breakfast at the hotel. We start our trip to the Cave Monastery Geghard inscribed in UNESCO World Heritage list. Geghard monastery is the masterpiece of the 13th century Armenian architecture partly carved out of a huge rock. We proceed to the Garni Temple, the only Pagan Temple in Armenia, which dates back to the 1st century. Optional: Jeeping tour to Garni Gorge typically referred to as the "Symphony of Stones", a unique and picturesque monument of the nature (10 USD p/p). Millions of years are required for the shaping of such formations.
Optional: Lunch at a local house in Garni where you will have opportunity to watch Armenian national bread “lavash” baking and barbeque making process in the underground stove called “tonir”. Drive back to Yerevan. Leisure evening on your own. Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.
After breakfast proceed to Yerevan Fruit and Food market complete with fresh vegetables and dried fruits, alleys of Armenian lavash and sweets. Continue to Vernissage flea market to get the best variety of souvenirs, handmade rugs and local jewelry items (open on weekends). Our next stop will be the biggest mall to enjoy your shopping leisure. Free time. Overnight at the hotel in Yerevan.
Breakfast at the hotel. Check out by 12:00. Transfer to the airport. Departure home by Air Arabia.
Cost
Package Includes
- Accommodation.
- 4 x overnights at the hotel in Yerevan.
- Airport / hotel / airport transfers.
- Transportation as mentioned in the program in comfortable A/C vehicle.
- English speaking professional guide throughout the tour.
- All activities as per program with entrance fees.
- Catering BB: breakfast at the hotel.
- 1 bottle of mineral water per day/per person.
- Transportation, food, accommodation and insurance of Guide during the trip
- Down jacket, all-season sleeping bag, duffel bag and trekking map(in case if you don’t have your own. Down jacket, sleeping bag and duffel bag must be returned after completion of the trip)
- First Aid Medical Kit(Your guide will carry the Medical Kit but we also advise to bring yourself for your own use, as far as possible)
- All the required permits and paperwork
Package Excludes
- Meals and alcoholic beverages except described.
- Optional activities.
- Flights
- Visa.
- Travel insurance
- Personal Expenses such as shopping, bar bills, hot shower, telephone, laundry, titbits etc
- Food and accommodations in Kathmandu
- Services not mentioned or not promised by the agent/agency
- Emergency expenses such as expenses on chartered helicopter.
FAQs
Annapurna Base Camp is a Grade B or a moderately difficult trekking route. So any fit person can do this trek, even if you do not have any previous experience. You should be aware of what to expect and mentally prepare for it. Then, as long as you will too, you can.
On average, you walk about 4 to 6 hours per day. One or two days can be as less as 3hrs and one or two days can be as long as 7hrs.
The highest altitude reached is 4190m. This is the elevation of Annapurna Base Camp. ABC is the highest we will climb in this trek.
Yes, you can charge batteries en route. Charger should be brought. There are hot shower facilities as well. You may have to pay a certain amount for both ($1-$2). Negotiate. Also, a hot water facility could be free at a lower elevation.
No. There are no ATMs on this trek route. You will have to draw enough cash in Pokhara or Kathmandu. There are a number of ATMs in these cities. Everything is paid in Nepali rupees. So money should be exchanged before the start of the trek.
Yes. The Internet can be accessed in most places. Sometimes, there might be some technical problems. The Internet in Nepal is not as fast as you are used to and at times you can just lose connection.
Not really. It depends on you. If you want, ABC trekking can be done independently. You could hire a guide and a porter by yourself instead of going through an agency or not hire a guide at all. Although, not having a guide can be a little problematic during the offseason.
It really depends on you. Is it your first time in Nepal? How confident are you of being able to find your way around? How pressed on time are you? If you go through an agency, it will be costlier but everything will be planned. You will only have to come, trek and return.
For the Annapurna region, pay for guides range from $20 to $30 per day and porters take $15 to $25 per day.
