from 3 reviews
7-8 hours
Daily Tour
Armenian, English, Russian
This tour moves from open water to deep forest in the space of an hour. Lake Sevan and its monastery are the first half – altitude, blue water, bare mountain ridges. Then the road climbs over the Sevan-Dilijan pass and drops into a completely different Armenia: dark beech forests, deer, and a medieval monastery so hidden among the trees that you hear it before you see it. Haghartsin Monastery is one of the least-visited major sites in the country, and one of the most beautiful.
1. Lake Sevan is the starting point – one of the world’s great high-altitude lakes, sitting at 1,900 meters above sea level. Twenty-eight rivers flow in, only one flows out. The water is extraordinarily clear. Sevanavank Monastery stands on the peninsula above the lake, founded in the 9th century by Mariam, sister of King Ashot Yerkat. From the top of the peninsula the view of the lake and the surrounding peaks stretches in every direction.
2. The second stop is Sevan Peninsula, which was once an island, but due to the artificial lowering of the water level, it became a peninsula. On top of it stands Sevanavank, founded in the 9th century by Mariam, the sister of Armenian King Ashot Yerkat.
3. The next stop is Dilijan National Park, Dilijan National Park covers 34,000 hectares of old-growth forest – one of the largest intact forest ecosystems in the Caucasus. Haghartsin Monastery sits deep inside it, reached by a road that winds through beech trees for several kilometers. The complex was built between the 10th and 13th centuries and includes three churches, a refectory, and a gavit. The forest surrounding it is so thick that the monastery feels genuinely remote, even though it is only 15 kilometers from the town of Dilijan.
4. The last stop is Haghartsin Monastery, situated in the northeastern part of Armenia. The monastery was founded between the 10th and 13th centuries, under the patronage of the Bagratuni dynasty.
This private tour gives you time to enjoy the natural beauty of Lake Sevan, explore the hilltop Sevanavank Monastery and spend time in the scenic town of Dilijan – all at a comfortable pace.
All private tours can be changed upon request.
Your private driver and guide meet you at your hotel in Yerevan. No group schedule - the pace and stops are entirely yours throughout the day.
Arrive at one of the world's largest high-altitude freshwater lakes, sitting at 1,900 meters above sea level. The color shifts from turquoise to deep sapphire depending on the light. Stop at the shore for photos, a walk along the water, or a coffee at a lakeside cafe.
Climb the staircase to the Sevan peninsula and visit the monastery founded in 874 AD by Princess Mariam of the Bagratid dynasty. From the top the panoramic view across the lake and surrounding mountain ranges is one of the most photographed scenes in Armenia. A working religious seminary still functions here, giving the site a quietly alive atmosphere.
A scenic 45-minute drive northeast from Lake Sevan into the forested hills of Tavush Province - the landscape transforms from open highland steppe to dense ancient woodland as you descend into the Aghstev River valley.
Arrive in Dilijan - Armenia's beloved forest resort town known as the Armenian Switzerland. Walk through the restored 19th-century Sharambeyan Street with its wooden balconied houses, artisan workshops and local craft shops. Optional lunch at one of the town's cozy restaurants.
Optional lunch at a local restaurant in Dilijan. Can be added in Extras when booking.
Drive 18 km from Dilijan into the forest to the magnificent Haghartsin Monastery complex, built between the 10th and 13th centuries. Set deep among ancient oaks with a huge centuries-old tree at the center of the courtyard, this monastery was recently restored through a generous donation by the Ruler of Sharjah who was moved by its beauty. One of the most atmospheric monastery visits in Armenia.
