About this experience
Do you want to understand what Armenia is in one tour? To do this, you need to mix mountains, rivers, temples, and wine, adding the Armenian alphabet - the country's pride. In this journey, you will see Ararat and Armenia's highest mountain Aragats. You will admire the canyon, touch the antiquity of monasteries, and find stone giants in the form of letters. And you will solidify your impressions with good Armenian wine.
What to Expect
Ashtarak - a town where old Armenia lives
"Reading" our country will begin with the town of Ashtarak, which carefully preserves national traditions and color. You will visit the small 7th-century Karmravor church, with recently restored frescoes, and taste the best sharots (also known as sudzhuk and our churchkhela). We will talk about outstanding people: I will tell you how Ararat miraculously united poets Yevtushenko and Gevorg Emin with the artist Sarjan. Here you will see a cafe connected with the unusual story of an Armenian who was involved in the coffee business alphabet. And in a local store, you can buy traditional Armenian chocolate. At the end of the walk in Ashtarak, we will descend to the gorge, where the 17th-century three-arch bridge and the old water mill Muhsonc have been preserved.
Mountains, rivers, and the silence of ancient temples
The next stop is the Kasakh Gorge, a multi-level canyon with a river flowing at the bottom. The beautiful alliance of sky, stone, water, and the visible peaks of Mount Aragats is a stunning landscape! After that, you will visit the Sagmosavank Monastery (the Monastery of Psalms), which the Vachutyan princes built on the edge of a cliff in the 13th century. Among its buildings, the scriptorium combined with the church is distinguished. I will share legends and real stories about the price Armenians paid to preserve ancient manuscripts.
Find your letter
The Armenian alphabet is considered one of the most perfect alphabets in the world. Armenians have a special attitude towards it - it is not just writing but also a sacred art. You will see a monument to the alphabet - 39 letters made of tufa at human height, learn about its creation, the hidden code in it, and how Armenian tufa glorified Armenia, Russia, and Bulgaria. And you will take a photo with the first letter of your name.
The ABCs of Armenian winemaking
The final point of the route is the Voskevaz winery, which will remind you of the scenery for an old legend. You will be amazed by its interiors with frescoes, paintings, and reliefs, all created by hand. Of course, you will taste the wine and learn about the specifics of local viticulture.
Organizational Details
- I will pick you up at any convenient place in Yerevan and take you back
- Additional expenses: visiting the winery with a tasting (~5000 drams) and lunch
- The winery is closed on Sundays. If our tour takes place on this day, instead, you can visit a local winemaker in Yerevan with a tasting of homemade wine in an old cellar. For the cost and details, inquire via direct message.
