Bike tour in Armenia

Departure from France to Armenia. Arrival at Zvartnots airport, Yerevan. Reception at the airport by the English-speaking guide. Transfer to the hotel. Time available for rest.

Overnight in Yerevan.

Guided tour of the capital of Armenia, Yerevan: Victory Park (Haghtanak in Armenian) for a panoramic view of the capital, Cascade; Matenadaran - a research institute and the richest repository of medieval Armenian manuscripts in the world; Armenian Genocide Memorial; Republic Square.

Overnight in Yerevan.

Departure for the region of Aragatsotn. Discovery of the fortress of Amberd (2300 m) (7th-13th century) located north-west of the village of Byourakan. Cycling starts from Amberd Fort to Saghmosavank Monastery (13th century) passing the monument dedicated to the Armenian alphabet. Continue to Kotaïk region by the Yerghvart road with a stop at Hovanavank monastery. Transfer to the village of Bjni. If desired, you can continue the hike to the village of Bjni on an asphalt road. Dinner and overnight in Bjni at the camp.

Walking distance - 50 km Including mountain road - 10 km

Altitude difference: Fortress of Amberd - 2300 m Saghmosavank Monastery - 1700 m Bjni - 1500 m

Pick up is always possible.

Duration of visit: 02h30

Bike ride from the village of Bjni to the Guégharkunik region, where Lake Sevan is located (1900 m). Discovery of the Sevan monastery (9th century) located on the Sevan Lake peninsula with a magnificent view of this mountain lake where still lives an endemic species of salmon trout called Ichkhan (prince in Armenian). Transfer to Dilidjan, in the region of Tavouche. Visit of one of the old districts of Dilidjan Old Dilidjan. Overnight in Dilidjan.

Walking distance - 60 km Including mountain road - 0 km

Altitude difference: Bjni - 1500 m Lake Sevan - 1900 m

Pick up is always possible.

Duration of visit: 02h00

A long day (55 km, 5-6 hours) of cycling: Cycling from Dilidjan to Gochavank (Goch Monastery). Discovery of Gochavank (twelfth-thirteenth centuries) is linked to the name of Mkhitar Goch, fabulist and jurist, an important drafter of Armenian civil law texts of the Middle Ages. From the village of Goch continue the hike to the village of Aghavnavank (13th century) Visit of the monastery. We continue from Tchambarak to Chorja. Transfer to the hotel, Tsapatagh. Overnight at the hotel on Lake Sevan.

Cycling path - 70 km Including mountain road - 5 km

Altitude difference: Village of Goch - 1350 m The highest point of the road - 2200 m Village of Chorja - 1900 m

Pick up is always possible.

Duration of visit: 01h30

From Tsapatagh bike ride around Lake Sevan on the east side to the south passing through the city of Vardenis to the town of Martouni (65 km). From Martouni the road begins to climb towards the Vardenyants pass, then begins to descend. If desired you can continue cycling and join the village of Chatine, from where transfer to the hotel, Hermon. If the participants are transferred by bus from Martouni to Hermon, then en route there is the possibility to visit the caravanserai of Selim too (1332). Night at Hermon at the Holiday House.

Walking distance - 65 km Including mountain road - 25 km

Altitude difference: The area of Lake Sevan - 1900 m City of Martouni - 2000 m The highest point of the road - 2410 m Village of Chatine - 1500 m

Pick up is always possible.

The road passes along the Vayots Dzor and Vardenis mountains. En route you can see the extinct volcano of Vayots Sar (Mount Vayots) and the water reservoir of Herher. Discovery of Karahundj. This megalithic site, 1770 meters above sea level, is an alignment of stone blocks from north to south, with a perfect circle in the center. Karahoundj is also considered as an ancient observatory built in the VI millennium BC. Transfer to Sissian.

In total 40 km, 4-5 hours. Night in Sissian at the Holiday House.

We start the bike tour for Harjis which is 25 km from Sisian. On the way visit the caravanserai of XIII s. Continue to Halidzor village. The point of arrival is the Halidzor cable car that we will take to reach the Tatev Monastery. It is an important site to visit in Armenia, one of the largest monasteries of medieval Armenia. Overnight at Halidzor village, in a small hotel or homestay.

Transfer by bus 250 km, cultural day. Departure for the region of Vayotz Dzor for the discovery of the monastery of Noravank ("new monastery", IXe-XIVesièces). Continuation to the Ararat region for the discovery of the Khor Virap monastery, which means "deep pit". It is here that St. Gregory the Illuminator spent 13 years of his life before evangelizing Armenia. Back to Yerevan.

Overnight in Yerevan.

Dinner and night the hotel.

Duration of visit: 02h30

Hike from Yerevan to Geghard Monastery. Discover the monastery of Geghard unique in its kind in Armenia, a jewel of Armenian architecture. Geghardavank (13th century) is a monastery dug in the rock where, in the Middle Ages, was kept the "holy spear" hence its name Guéghardavank. Today the relic is in Etchmiadzin. After lunch visit the pagan temple of Garni (77 AD). Cycling hike in the Azat Valley with its basaltic organs called "Stone Symphony" in Armenian. Transfer to Yerevan. Overnight in Yerevan.

Walking distance - 65 km Including mountain road - 5 km

Altitude difference: Departure from Yerevan - 1300 m The highest point of the road - 1750 m Garni - 1400 m Guéghard - 1800 m The gorge of the Azat River - 1250 m

Duration of visit: 02h30

Cultural day without bike. Departure for an excursion to the "Holy See" of Echmiadzin with visits to the cathedral and the church of St. Hripsimée (VII century). On the return trip, visit the ruins of Zvartnots Cathedral, a masterpiece of Armenian architecture. In the afternoon visit the history museum.

Duration of visit: 05h00