Transcaucasian Trail Hike Armenia

On arrival you will be met at the airport and transferred to the group hotel. This evening your Armenian guide will provide a trip briefing before you all enjoy a traditional welcome meal. Overnight: Aviatrans Hotel or similar

Meals:  D

Today we will have a tour of the capital. Our tour will start from the Victory Park, at Mother Armenia monument, from where you will behold a panoramic view of the city. We will then visit other sights of the capital, including the Republic Square, the Opera house, the Cascade where you will see the statue of the world-famous sculptor Fernando Botero “The Black Cat”. We will also drive via Baghramyan Avenue, where you will see the Parliament, the Palace of President, and the National Academy of Sciences. We will visit the Genocide Memorial Complex with the museum. Visit Matenadaran museum, which hosts the biggest collection of medieval Armenian manuscripts. *Please note that our trip itinerary will depend on current opening times (and days) of the museums/historic sites and therefore the order of sights visited may vary accordingly. Overnight: Aviatrans Hotel or similar

Meals:  B,L,D

Today we drive east of Yerevan towards Garni village where we'll enjoy a light warm up walk. From the village we start hiking through the canyon to 1st century A.D. Garni Temple, a unique example of Armenia's pagan past. At one time this was the summer residence of the Armenian kings located in a picturesque place overlooking a deep canyon. Apart from the ruins of the royal complex, you will also see a bathhouse with an interesting mosaic. We will have an enjoyable walk down to the Garni gorge where we will admire volcanic basalt formations called “the symphony of stones”. Not far from Garni we will drive to Geghard monastery, a UNESCO site. Some buildings of this construction were cut carved out of solid rock. We soak up with medieval Armenian architecture of the Geghard Cave Monastery, some chambers of the monastery were carved out of solid rock and possess exceptional acoustics. The monastic complex received its name after the Holy Lance which was kept here in the middle ages. The cave enclosures of this cultural and architectural wonder are notable for amazing acoustics. The secret of the chamber has never been found. Hiking: ~3km, 1.5-2hrs Altitude change: -120m, +100m Overnight: Local guesthouse (twin-share)

Meals:  B,L,D

After the breakfast, we start our hiking from the hotel. We will walk up to Vartenyats mountain range, from where we will have beautiful view to Sevan Lake, which is the “blue eye of Armenia” or the “Pearl of Armenia”. This fresh–water lake of volcanic origin is situated at an altitude about 6.500 feet. Its crystal – clear transparent water changes color several times during the day. It is turquoise in direct sunlight, then turns a greenish shade, and finally becomes gray by the evening. It is one of the largest high-altitude lakes in the world located at 1900m and is surrounded by snow-covered mountains. From here we will take a Transcaucasian trail to village of Kalavan. Hiking: ~13km, 5.5-6hrs Altitude change: +450m, -850m Overnight: Kalavan village guesthouse (multi-share)

Meals:  B,L,D

Following a hearty breakfast we will continue our hike along the Transcaucasian Trail to the village of Gosh. On the way we will have a picnic lunch near Gosh Lake which is a small lake hidden in forest. In the Gosh village we will stay in small hotel near the monastery 12th century Goshavank. This monastery was named in honor of Mkhitar Gosh. He was an Armenian scholar, writer, public figure, thinker, and priest. He wrote the "Book of Laws" the first Armenian Legal text. Hiking: ~16km, 5.5-6hrs Altitude change: +350m, -550m Overnight: Local guesthouse (twin-share)

Meals:  B,L,D

From the hotel we will start to walk again along the Transcaucasian Trail to the resort town of Dilijan, located in the midst of the forests of Dilijan National Park, famous as Armenian Switzerland. Today our bus will take us from the city center to the hotel. Today we will have a picnic lunch near Parz lake (clear). Before going on the bus we will visit old part of Dilijan, which still preserves 19-century housing. Hiking: ~16km, 5.5-6hrs Altitude change +450m, -500m Overnight: Local guesthouse (twin-share)

Meals:  B,L,D

In the morning our private vehicle will take us to village of Shamakhyan. We will start today's hiking from Shamakhyan village, which is one of the districts of Dilijan Resort town. We will ascend Haghartin Mound from where we will have majestic view of Haghrtsin medieval monastery hidden in Dilijan forests. It is a picnic lunch today. *Note: There is a possibility of a hike to the summit of Hagartsin Mountain. Depends on the weather and the group's physical abilities. After visit of Haghartisn monastery, we will drive to our final stop in village Haghpat near the border with Georgia. The fantastic scenery of this monastery make this visit an unforgettable experience. Hiking: ~12km, 5hrs Altitude change: +500m; -550m Overnight: Local guesthouse (twin-share)

Meals:  B,L,D

In the morning we will visit Haghpat monastery, after which we will start our hiking towards to Sanahin monastery. Both are boasting medieval monasteries included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Our hike will pass through Armenian colorful villages enjoying the peace and magnificent scenes of a remote mountainous villages such as Hahgpat and Akner. We will finish our hike in Sanahin village. This village is the birthplace of the Mikoyan brothers: Anastas - a prominent Soviet politician; and Artem, one of the engineers of the famous MIG jets. After our visits we enjoy a farewell lunch and then our vehicle will take us to the border where our Georgian guide will be awaiting us for our transfer to Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. This trip concludes upon arrival into Tbilisi. If you are ending your Transcaucasian Trail Hike here, you can be taken directly to Tbilisi airport. Do not book departure flights before 9.00pm (21:00) given the visits and lunch on the Armenian side, and the additional time for border formalities into Georgia and travelling times/possible delays into Tbilisi on the last day of the tour. If you are continuing on the Transcaucasian Trail Hike Georgia, you will be taken to the Tbilisi group hotel. End of services. Additional nights accommodation, and private airport transfers on any other day, can be arranged for extra cost. Hiking: ~9km, 3.5-4hrs Altitude change: -250m; +200m.

Meals:  B,L