from 7 reviews
6-7 hours
Daily Tour
Armenian, English, Russian
This tour pairs two completely different landscapes in one day. Tsaghkadzor sits in a pine-covered mountain valley at 1,800 meters – cool, green, and smelling of forest even in summer. Lake Sevan, an hour further east, opens up to a completely different kind of beauty: vast, open, and blue in every direction. The contrast between the two is what makes this route special – you start among trees and end at the water. Overall, the furthest destination is about an hour’s drive from Yerevan.
1. Tsaghkadzor– Tsaghkadzor means Canyon of Flowers in Armenian, and in summer you understand why immediately. The town is built into the slopes of Mount Teghenis and its main street is shaded by old trees. The medieval Kecharis Monastery complex sits at the edge of town — three connected churches built between the 11th and 13th centuries by the Pahlavuni princes. The oldest, St. Grigor, was constructed in 1033. What makes Kecharis unusual is the carved decorative details on the exterior stonework – intricate geometric patterns that are rare in Armenian church architecture of this period.
2. Our next stop is Lake Sevan –After the enclosed forest feeling of Tsaghkadzor, arriving at Lake Sevan, feels like the landscape exhales. The view opens suddenly as you crest the hill — a vast blue expanse surrounded by bare mountain ridges. Sevanavank Monastery stands on the peninsula above the water, reachable by a stone staircase. From the top, the view stretches across the entire lake. On a clear day you can see where the water meets the sky with no visible boundary.
This daily tour from Yerevan is ideal for travelers who want to see Tsaghkadzor, Lake Sevan and Sevanavank without rushing, with a well-planned route and expert guide.
All private tours can be changed upon request.
Your private driver and guide meet you at your hotel in Yerevan. All three destinations are within one hour of the capital - no long drives, maximum scenery.
Arrive at Armenia's most famous mountain resort town, set on the slopes of Mount Teghenis. In winter this is the country's top ski destination. In summer it offers cool fresh air, cable car rides and peaceful forest walks — a perfect escape from Yerevan's heat. Visit the 11th-century Kecharis Monastery, one of the finest medieval complexes in the Kotayk region, with its beautifully carved stone churches set among pine trees.
Arrive at Armenia's most famous mountain resort town, set on the slopes of Mount Teghenis. In winter this is the country's top ski destination. In summer it offers cool fresh air, cable car rides and peaceful forest walks — a perfect escape from Yerevan's heat. Visit the 11th-century Kecharis Monastery, one of the finest medieval complexes in the Kotayk region, with its beautifully carved stone churches set among pine trees.
A scenic 30-minute drive through the Armenian highlands to the lake.
Arrive at one of the world's largest high-altitude freshwater lakes, sitting at 1,900 meters above sea level. Stop at the shore for photos, a walk along the water, or a fresh ishkhan trout lunch at a lakeside restaurant.
Climb the staircase to the peninsula and visit the monastery founded in 874 AD by Princess Mariam of the Bagratid dynasty. The panoramic views of the endless blue lake from the top are among the most spectacular in Armenia.
Relax on the shore or explore the area before heading back.
