Our country is rich in its nature, history, culture, and heritage – duh! So, it’s absolutely necessary that you don’t limit yourself to the capital, and take tours from Yerevan to explore the rest of Armenia. I made your work easier and came up with a good list of existing tours you can consider. By the way, I looked through the offers of the three most well-rated tour-guide agencies in Armenia – Hyur Service, Land of Noah and Yerani travel. I analyzed the options, and selected the three best routes for you, taking you outside of Yerevan.
So, below you’ll find detailed information about those tours organized in a way that allows you to explore Armenia from Yerevan in a series of smart day-long routes. You may want to rent a car (by the way, read more about renting a car in Armenia (coming soon)) and tour around Armenia by yourself following these tour routes, or you may choose the services of one of these tour agencies. For that reason, I also provide some overview of their tour services on those routes below.
Best-rated tours from Yerevan around Armenia:
- Armenian wine tasting and monasteries: stop at Khor Virap, Noravank, Areni Cave (Birds Cave), and then at the nearby “Hin Areni” winery;
- Tatev monastery and more: stop at Noravank, Tatev Monastery, “Wings of Tatev” Ropeway, and of course Karahundj;
- Lake Sevan and Dilijan: stop at Lake Sevan, Sevanavank, Dilijan, Haghartsin, and Goshavank.
As a rule of thumb, don’t forget to share some of your thoughts on my recommended tours from Yerevan. Let me know if there are destinations you would want me to add to this list. You can use the #ArmeniaTravelTips hashtag and reach me on Instagram or Twitter. I’ll look forward to your messages 🤩
Top 3 best tours in Armenia (from Yerevan)
Armenian wine tasting and monasteries
The itinerary of this tour includes Khor Virap, Noravank, Areni cave (Birds cave) and “Hin Areni” winery. Khor Virap is probably the most famous pilgrimage site in the country. It is also the closest point to Mount Ararat where you can truly enjoy the most stunning view of the mountain. Another really cool thing about this spot is that here you’re getting as close as possible to a point where the borders of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Iran all meet.
Next on the tour route is Noravank which is a great architectural example left from the 13th century. This monastery consists of St. Karapet, St. Gregory The Illuminator churches and St. Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God) two-storey church, and it is mostly known for the latter one. You will also witness some civil buildings and khachkars near the area of Noravank. This place also stands out with its unique architectural design and the value it stores to this day. So, sure enough, you can’t miss this location.
Another stop that you’ll make during your tour is the Areni cave and the winery located nearby. You might be surprised but the world’s first leather shoe was found in Areni cave which has more than 5500 years of history. Even more thrilling is the fact that the oldest skirt and the first winery in the world were also found in the same area.
As you are already in one of the cradles of Armenian winemaking you will need to taste it ASAP as well. Besides seeing the cave you get the chance to take an Armenian wine tasting tour at the “Hin Areni” winery. This is where you will learn about the historic Armenian winemaking traditions. I love Armenian wine, and I’m sure you’ll love it too. So, don’t forget to buy some and take them with you.
General information about the tour
| Tour guide | Duration of the tour | Group size | Price * |
| Hyur Service | 9-10 hours | Up to 50 | 76,400 AMD for 3 people |
| Yerani Travel | 8-9 hours | Up to 19 | 76,000 AMD for 3 people |
Tatev monastery and more
Tatev Monastery is an amazingly spectacular place to visit either by taking a private guided tour or just on your own. It is one of the best places to visit in winter as well. Even though if you organize it in one day you might get tired as it’s quite far from Yerevan, I assure you it is worth it! You can check out my post about the Yerevan to Tatev Monastery day trip idea and get some useful tips. There are other beautiful spots you can see while on your way to Tatev, so don’t miss them! 😉
One of those spots is Noravank and in fact, both Hyur Service and Land of Noah offer private tours that include Tatev Monastery, “Wings of Tatev” ropeway and Noravank (check out the links for more info). On top of these three sights Hyur Service includes a tour to “Hin Areni” winery as well. And, Land of Noah adds Karahunj (the Armenian Stonehenge) to the stops on the way.
If you decide to take a tour to Tatev, my recommendation is to not miss out on the “Wings of Tatev” ropeway experience. You might be surprised but the ride is 5.7 km and is known to be the longest in the world. It’s even registered in the Guinness Book of Records. You will also have magnificent views of the monastery, lush forests and a deep gorge of River Vorotan. This will be an impressive experience with breathtaking nature and mountains.
General information about the tour
| Tour guide | Duration of the tour | Group size | Price * |
| Hyur Service | 12-13 hours | Up to 50 | 114,600 AMD for 3 people |
| Land of Noah | 1 day tour | Up to 20 | 155,000 AMD for 3 people |
Lake Sevan and Dilijan
We Armenians consider Lake Sevan our sea, and many go here for summer vacation (read more about beaches in Sevan here). So, the third best tour around Armenia from Yerevan starts here. Sevan is one of the largest freshwater lakes in the Eurasia region. And besides the recreational resorts and fun activities around the lake, you can also explore Sevan historically. There is the Sevanavank monastery complex located on the peninsula where you will enjoy a stunning view of the lake. To visit Lake Sevan and not to know about Kiavar is wrong! So, read my blog post on funny Armenians stereotypes to learn about Kiavar and Kiavartsies (local Armenians in Sevan).
Next stop – Dilijan! Here you can experience the unique beauty of Dilijan’s mountains and forests. Nature and the fresh air you breathe here are worth everything, trust me! Besides being in nature you can enjoy Haghartsin and Goshavank monasteries full of history. These monasteries date back to the 12th -13th centuries and will amaze you with the way architecture blends with nature. Personally, one of my favorite locations in Dilijan is the Haghartsin monastery.
If you decide to take this tour with a guide, check out the options in the table below. You can also check out some other guided private tour options that include Sevan. There are tours that besides Sevan will also take you to Tsaghkadzor, Garni temple and Geghard monastery. And, even tours that will last 2-days but will take you to Khor Virap, Areni, Noravank, Tatev, Carahunge and Jermuk. This might be a perfect option for you if you’re short on time.
General information about the tour
| Tour guide | Duration of the tour | Group size | Price * |
| Hyur Service | 8-9 hours | Up to 50 | 73,100 AMD for 3 people |
| Yerani Travel | 9-10 hours | Up to 19 | 72,000 AMD for 3 people |
What’s included in the price
At this point, you’re probably wondering what is included in the price in case you decide to take a private tour, rather than exploring these routes outside of Yerevan by yourself. Well, this section is to answer your question. I would still recommend that you check everything that’s in the package for you with the private guide operator before reserving your tour throughout Armenia. But, generally, this list is what you’ll get.
- Professional drivers
- Air-conditioned vehicles
- Bottled water
- Free pick up and drop off at your hotel within Yerevan
- Professional guide service (if you select this service)
- Vehicle and passengers insurance (only offered by Hyur Service)
- Extra stops on the route upon request (only offered by Hyur Service)
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours prior the tour (only offered by Land of Noah and Yerani Travel)
- Free Wi-Fi on board (only offered by Yerani Travel)
- All entrance tickets included (only offered by Yerani Travel)
* You can always add lunch options with extra money (check out their website).
** The prices I mentioned for each tour are for guided tours. Also, note that the price might slightly change depending on the number of people.
Final thoughts on Armenia’s best tours from Yerevan
Our country has many beautiful sights, and once you are done exploring the capital, it’s a no-brainer that you gotta look out for tours from Yerevan to explore the rest of Armenia. I hope this selection helps to guide you on the direction to take – whether on your own, or with a guided tour. And, if you like taking your explorations beyond urban areas, note that Armenia can be a great hiking destination for you (just read the post and you’ll see what I mean).
In case you prefer private tour guides while traveling, I think it will be worth reading my separate post on that. And, as always, I encourage you to use #ArmeniaTravelTips on Instagram or Twitter to share with me your thoughts about the tours and your overall experience in Armenia. I’m always happy to hear from you!
Featured image credits: left to right Olya Kobruseva on Pexels, Annie Arstamyan and Alexandra Dementyeva on Unsplash
