Following last year’s incredibly successful Extraordinary Travel Festival, NomadMania is teaming up with Next is Armenia to organise another week of exploration in all three Armenian NomadMania regions.
This trip will focus on abandoned and obscure Soviet relics as well as taking in three M@P regions and, as is the custom with Next is Armenia, home-stays and contact with locals featuring incredible culinary surprises.
Monastery Khor Virap and Ararat Mountain in Turkey – Mirco Siegenthaler
Itinerary (September 23-30, 8 nights)
Day 0 (September 22)
Arrival , Cascade Hotel at the center of Yerevan. Rest.
Yerevan, Armenia, Jun 2016 – Kristian Berg
Day 1 (September 23)
Yerevan – Wine region – Kapan (320 km), 5 h drive.
- Tour to Wine region will be through Ararat valley, known as cradle of civilizations.
- Photo-stop for the Biblical Mountain Ararat where Noah descended and planted first grape.
- Continue to wine region which was a part of ancient Silk Road.
- Have off road drive to Arpa preserve, see the nature and watch mountain gouts in wild. From here you can see Noravank 9-14th c Monastery from very high rocks.
- Lunch in one of the best family wineries of the region. Meet the owner of the winery and enjoy the food from their garden made by his mom and wife.
- After drive to Kapan. Overnight in Boutique hotel.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner included.
Photo by: Next is Armenia
Day 2 (September 24)
Kapan city tour – Vahanavank – Halidzor Fortress – Meghri – Kapan (150km ), 3 h drive.
- Start the day with touring in and around Kapan.
- Take off roads to drive to the 17th c. fortress nearby and the medieval monastery with an amazing location not far from it.
- After Visit main attractions of Kapan. Visit local artist’s workshop.
- Continue to Meghri town.
- Visit the oldest house in Meghri and have lunch with the owner.
- Learn about the town and have observing trip in and around.
- Drive back to Kapan. Visit guest house with an old facilities. Have local dish masterclass and dinner.
- Overnight in boutique hotel in Kapan
Breakfast, lunch, dinner included.
Yeghegnadzor – Axel Wacht
Day 3 (September 25)
Kapan – Tandzaver – Jermuk (180km ), 3 h drive.
- Drive to Tandzaver village. Have short hiking and horse riding around, see the cultural heritage.
- Have coffee break with locals.
- Drive to Jermuk spa town.
- Observing tour in and around Jermuk.
- Overnight in hotel.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner included.
Monastery Noravank – Mirco Siegenthaler
Day 4 (September 26)
Jermuk – Vardenis – Kalavan – Gosh (235 km), 4.5 h drive.
- Start the day with passing old silk road. You can trace the Silk Road in Armenia by following its caravanserai, or inns; medieval stopping points where caravan riders and their pack animals spent the night. The Selim Pass Caravanserai is a valuable example of these inns along the Armenian Silk Road.
- Coffee break in Vardenis town.
- Continue to Kalavan organic village with absolutely amazing farming culture and locals.
- Join locals to farm and bring the goods to make a lunch. Enjoy farm to table lunch.
- Drive to Dilijan. Have city tour around. Visit local master in own workshop. Make your jewelry and take it with you.
- In the evening visit the “doctor” in Gosh village who is a master of fruit alcohols now. Have a feast and tasting.
- Overnight in hotel.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner included.
Tatev – Gene R Johnson
Day 5 (September 27)
Gosh – Verin Voskepar – Haghpat – Sanahin – Dsegh (200km ), 4 h drive.
- Drive to Verin Voskepar.
- Walk in and around. Learn about the history.
- Continue to Lori Region. Visit Haghpat and Sanahin UNESCO heritage monasteries.
- Have Lunch in Local Restaurant.
- Continue to Dsegh village. Walk around, visit famous writer’s house , which is one of the oldest original houses in the village.
- Dinner and overnight in a boutique hotel.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner included.
by Yury Kravchuk
Day 6 (September 28)
Dsegh – Tumanyan Rafting – Vanadzor (45 km)
- In the morning start the trip from Rafting in Debet river. Experience the adventure with local rafters.
- Continue to Vanadzor town. Visit Abandoned factory as well as Artek Pioneer Camp, which is located in a thick forest of Vanadzor city. It was modelled after a prestigious facility of the same name in Crimea, which catered to members of the Soviet elite.
- Visit Cross-stone master in Vanadzor Town. Learn about him and his art.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner included.
UNESCO 4-11th C Echmiadzin Cathedral – Gene R Johnson
Day 7 (September 29)
Vanadzor – Spitak – Aparan – Yerevan (120 km)
- Drive to Spitak town. Visit Fairy Tale camp which was one of the best pioneer camps in the country which was founded in 1975 and worked until 1993. It is located near Spitak town perfectly merged with the nature and landscape. There are many interesting buildings and statues in the territory of the camp beautifully decorated with mosaic images.
- Drive to Aparan town. Visit war Bunker not far from the town. Unique construction , which is not popular and is visitors free, BUT an interesting way to feel the breath of Soviet era.
- Drive to Yerevan.
- Have free time. Overnight.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner included.
Last Caucasian Stop – Milan Winkelhock
Day 8 (September 30)
Free day. Departure.
Final Details
*** all photos are provided by our member and don’t necessary reflect a particular place in the itinerary.
Cost
- 6-9 pax – 1865 USD per person
- 10-11 pax – 1420 USD per person
- 12-13 pax – 1365 USD per person
Accommodation in 3*** Hotel and Guests Houses.
Included:
- All transfers in comfortable vehicles with AC
- Accommodation during all days of the tour
- Meals as mentioned in the program
- Off-road vehicles for Meghri and Arpa preserve
- All entry tickets for the landmarks
- Coffee break in Vardenis
- English speaking tour guide
- 24-hour online customer care
Not included:
- Airport transfer (25 USD one way)
- Orders out of planned menu
How to Join?
To sign up, please, contact us at harry@nomadmania.com.
