from 3 reviews
8-9 hours
Daily Tour
Armenian, English, Russian
Most tourists visit Lake Sevan and stop there. This tour continues north into Dilijan territory to find two things most visitors never see: Goshavank Monastery, which contains some of the finest khachkar carving in Armenia, and Lake Gosh – a small, forest-surrounded alpine lake that barely appears on tourist maps. The combination of the vast open Sevan and the intimate, tree-enclosed Gosh in a single day is one of the most memorable contrasts on offer. Our private tour to Sevan and Dilijan lasts around 8-9 hours, and all the sites are situated in the north of Armenia.
1. The tour begins at Lake Sevan, the largest lake in Armenia, sitting at 1,900 meters altitude. Sevanavank Monastery stands on the peninsula above the water — founded in 874 AD by Princess Mariam, built from black basalt tufa. The climb to the top takes about five minutes and gives a panoramic view of the entire lake. This is the starting point before the route heads north into the forest.
2. The next stop is in Tavush region, in the resort town of Dilijan, Goshavank Monastery was founded in 1188 by the scholar and jurist Mkhitar Gosh – the man who wrote Armenia’s first legal code. The monastery complex contains an extraordinary collection of khachkars, including a double khachkar considered one of the masterpieces of medieval Armenian stone carving. The detail in the lacework patterns is so fine that scholars still debate how it was achieved with the tools available in the 12th century.
3. The last stop is Lake Gosh, it is five minutes from the monastery and feels like a different world from Sevan. Where Sevan is vast and open, Gosh is small and completely enclosed by beech forest. The water is dark green, almost black in shade. It is one of those places that feels genuinely undiscovered — most people who visit Goshavank don’t even know the lake exists.
For travelers who enjoy a mix of landscapes and culture, this tour brings together the best of both: you will visit the shores of Lake Sevan and two historic monasteries, with time to enjoy the quiet beauty of Lake Gosh.
All private tours can be changed upon request.
Your private driver and guide meet you at your hotel in Yerevan. No group schedule, no fixed pace - the day belongs entirely to you.
Arrive at one of the world's largest high-altitude freshwater lakes, sitting at 1,900 meters above sea level. Stop at the shore to take in the extraordinary expanse of blue water surrounded by Armenian mountains on all sides.
Climb the staircase to the peninsula and visit the monastery founded in 874 AD by Princess Mariam of the Bagratid dynasty. From the top, the panoramic view of Lake Sevan is one of the most photographed scenes in Armenia. A working religious seminary still functions here, giving the site a quiet, living atmosphere unlike most tourist monasteries.
A scenic 45-minute drive through forested hills toward Tavush Province - some of the greenest landscapes in Armenia.
Visit the remarkable 12th-century monastery complex in the village of Gosh, founded by Mkhitar Gosh - medieval Armenia's most celebrated scholar, fabulist and author of the country's first legal code. The complex houses one of the finest khachkars in existence, carved by master Poghos in 1291. Your guide will bring the stories of this extraordinary place to life.
Optional lunch at a local restaurant in the Dilijan area. Can be added in Extras when booking.
A gentle 5 km walk through dense mountain forest from the village of Gosh leads to the hidden Lake Gosh - a small, perfectly clear forest lake at 1,400 meters altitude. One of the most peaceful spots in Armenia, rarely visited by tourists. Comfortable walking shoes recommended.
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