Armenia Tours

Armenia Tours cover a landlocked country in the South Caucasus recognized as the first nation in the world to adopt Christianity as a state religion, in the early fourth century. Monasteries carved into cliffs and mountainsides, an alpine lake and a compact, walkable capital give Armenia a character shaped as much by geography as by its long Christian heritage.

Armenia is part of the wider region covered under Asia Tours, and most itineraries combine Yerevan with day trips into the surrounding countryside.

Yerevan

Yerevan, one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities, centers on Republic Square and the pink volcanic tuff buildings that give much of the city center a consistent architectural character. The Cascade, a monumental stepped structure lined with modern art, offers views toward Mount Ararat across the border in Turkey on clear days, and the nearby Vernissage market sells crafts, carpets and antiques on weekends.

Geghard Monastery

Geghard, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is partly carved directly into the cliff face of the Azat River gorge. Founded in the fourth century and expanded over subsequent centuries, the monastery is closely associated with relics once kept there, including a spear said to have pierced Christ during the crucifixion.

Khor Virap

Khor Virap, a monastery near the Turkish border, sits on the site of the pit where Gregory the Illuminator was reportedly imprisoned before converting Armenia's king to Christianity. The site offers one of the closest views of Mount Ararat available from Armenian territory.

Lake Sevan and Dilijan

Lake Sevan, one of the largest high-altitude lakes in the world, sits at over 1,900 meters and is ringed by monasteries and beach resorts. Dilijan, a forested resort town sometimes compared to alpine Switzerland, offers hiking trails and a well-preserved old quarter of traditional wooden houses.

Tatev Monastery

Tatev, in Armenia's mountainous south, is reached via the Wings of Tatev, one of the longest reversible cable cars in the world, crossing the Vorotan River gorge to reach the ninth-century monastery on the opposite cliff edge.

Armenian Cuisine

Armenian cooking centers on grilled meats, fresh herbs and lavash, a thin traditional flatbread recognized by UNESCO as part of the country's intangible cultural heritage. Dried fruit, walnuts and pomegranate feature heavily in both savory dishes and desserts.

Getting to Armenia

Zvartnots International Airport, just outside Yerevan, is served by flights from Europe, Russia and the Middle East, and Armenia has offered visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to a broad range of nationalities in recent years. The country's compact size means most of its main sights can be reached from Yerevan within a two to three hour drive.

Noravank and the Southern Monasteries

Noravank, set within a narrow gorge of red cliffs south of Yerevan, is known for its distinctive two-story Surb Astvatsatsin church, reached by a narrow external staircase built into the facade. The monastery is often paired with a stop at the Areni winery region, where archaeologists uncovered what is considered one of the world's oldest known winemaking sites.

Armenia Tour Packages

Armenia tour packages typically combine Yerevan sightseeing with day trips to Geghard, Khor Virap and Lake Sevan, with longer itineraries extending to Dilijan or the southern monastery of Tatev.

Classic Tour Armenia in 6 Days 5 Nights

Best Time to Visit Armenia

May through October offers the most reliable weather for sightseeing and hiking, with September and October adding the colors of the autumn harvest across the country's vineyards and orchards.