The Ultimate Self-Launched Adventure in Armenia

Fly into Zvartnots International Airport (EVN) — there are indirect options via Cyprus, Vienna, Budapest, Istanbul and Sofia from the UK, typically £180–320 return. Take the public bus (Route 201) from the airport into central Yerevan for around £0.20, or a metered taxi for £5–8. Check into your hostel or guesthouse in the city centre. After freshening up, head out to explore Yerevan on foot: wander Republic Square, browse the Vernissage craft market and grab a coffee on one of the pavement terraces. In the afternoon, take a shared taxi (marshrutka) out to Garni village (~£1.50 each way) to visit the Hellenistic Garni Temple (entrance ~£2) and the dramatic 'Symphony of Stones' basalt columns nearby. Return to Yerevan for dinner at one of the traditional Armenian restaurants around the Northern Avenue or Mashtots area — try khorovats (BBQ), dolma and lavash for under £8.

🚌Public bus Route 201 from airport to city (~£0.20); shared marshrutka to Garni (~£1.50 each way)

🛏Envoy Hostel Yerevan or The Nest Hostel — central, sociable, dorm from £10–14/night or private from £22–28/night

• →Arrive at Zvartnots International Airport (EVN); take Route 201 bus to city centre (~£0.20) or taxi (~£6)
• →Explore central Yerevan on foot: Republic Square, Cascade Complex, Vernissage market
• →Day trip to Garni: shared marshrutka from Gai bus station (~£1.50), visit Garni Temple (£2 entry) and Symphony of Stones (free)
• →Welcome dinner at a traditional Armenian restaurant in Yerevan (~£8–10)

This is a big driving day covering southern Armenia. Hire a private driver for the day (standard practice for this route; negotiate at your hostel or via local agencies for ~£55–70 for the car, split between 2–4 travellers). First stop: Khor Virap monastery (~1hr from Yerevan, free entry), perched dramatically with views of Mount Ararat across the Turkish border — stunning on a clear morning. Continue to Areni village: visit the Areni-1 cave (small entry fee ~£2) where the world's oldest winery was discovered. Nearby, stop for wine tasting at the Old Bridge Winery (Areni), an award-winning producer offering tastings for ~£5–8. Continue east to Magel Cave near Goris for a self-guided caving experience — local guides are available on-site (~£8–12pp). End the day in Goris; try a khorovats (Armenian BBQ) dinner at a local restaurant — many will let you get involved in the grilling process if you ask nicely.

🚌Private driver hired for the day from Yerevan to Goris via Khor Virap and Areni (~£60 total for the car; split between travellers). Book via hostel reception or local agency.

🛏Hotel Mirhav or Goris Guesthouse, Goris — guesthouse double/twin from £18–25/night

• →Visit Khor Virap monastery with views of Mt Ararat (free entry, ~£1 donation)
• →Areni-1 Cave visit — world's oldest winery site (~£2 entry)
• →Wine tasting at Old Bridge Winery or Areni winery (~£6)
• →Guided caving at Magel Cave near Goris (~£10pp with local guide)
• →Khorovats BBQ dinner in Goris (~£8–10)

Start the day with breakfast at your guesthouse, then head to the village of Khot (~20 min by local taxi, ~£3) to pick up the trail to Hin Khot — a 7km, ~3–4hr hike through spectacular Armenian highland scenery with sweeping panoramic views. The trail is well-marked and free to walk independently. After the hike, transfer to Halidzor village to board the 'Wings of Tatev' cable car (~£6 one-way or £10 return) — the world's longest non-stop reversible aerial tramway at 5.7km. Ride across the Vorotan Gorge to reach Tatev Monastery (9th century, entry free, small donation welcome). Explore the monastery complex, ancient churches and clifftop views at your own pace before taking the cable car back down. Return to Goris for the night.

🚌Local taxi Goris to Khot (~£3); taxi to Halidzor cable car station (~£4). Alternatively rent a car in Goris from ~£25/day.

🛏Hotel Mirhav or Goris Guesthouse, Goris (same as Day 2)

• →Hike from Khot village to Hin Khot: 7km, ~400m elevation gain, 3–4hrs (free, self-launched)
• →Wings of Tatev cable car — world's longest non-stop aerial tramway (~£10 return)
• →Explore Tatev Monastery complex, 9th-century churches and gorge views (free entry)
• →Dinner in Goris (~£7–9)

Morning hike around the old cave city of Khndzoresk, a 7km loop (£1 entry) featuring the iconic swinging bridge suspended over the gorge — genuinely thrilling and completely self-navigable. After a picnic lunch with gorge views, begin the drive north (hire a driver or rent a car). Stop en route at the ancient Selim Caravanserai (free), a remarkably preserved 14th-century Silk Road inn at 2410m — eerie and atmospheric. Arrive at Lake Sevan in the late afternoon and check into a guesthouse on the lakeshore. Second-highest freshwater lake in the world at 1900m, with huge skies and a remote feel. Sevanavank Monastery on the peninsula is free to visit and magical at sunset.

🚌Private driver or self-drive rental car Goris → Khndzoresk → Vayk → Lake Sevan (~4hrs driving, ~£30–50 for driver or £25–30/day car rental)

🛏Sevan Hostel or Guesthouse Sevan — lakeside guesthouses from £15–22/night

• →Khndzoresk cave city and swinging bridge hike: 7km, ~200m elevation, ~3hrs (~£1 entry)
• →Roadside stop at Selim Caravanserai, 14th-century Silk Road inn (free)
• →Arrive Lake Sevan; sunset visit to Sevanavank Monastery on the peninsula (free)
• →Lakeside dinner at guesthouse or local restaurant (~£7–9)

Rise early for a wild swim in Lake Sevan before breakfast — the water is cold and crystalline, and you'll likely have the shore to yourself. Head north to Tumanyan in the Debed River canyon for whitewater rafting: this can be booked directly with Rafting Armenia or Adventure Armenia (both operate in Tumanyan region, £25–35pp including equipment and guide for ~2hrs/11km). The rapids are thrilling without being extreme — great for first-timers. Dry off and continue to the Dilijan area for the night. For glamping, Lori Bert Glamping near Alaverdi or Tumanyan is the go-to, with luxury bell tents from ~£35–55pp — book ahead at weekends. Alternatively, budget guesthouses in Dilijan from ~£18pp.

🚌Self-drive or hired driver: Lake Sevan → Tumanyan → Dilijan (~3hrs). Shared marshrutkas connect Yerevan to Dilijan (~£2.50) if rearranging.

🛏Lori Bert Glamping (bell tents ~£40pp) near Dilijan/Tumanyan, or budget guesthouse in Dilijan (~£18–22pp)

• →Wild swim at Lake Sevan shore (free)
• →Whitewater rafting on the Debed River with Rafting Armenia or Adventure Armenia: ~11km, ~2hrs (~£30pp including kit)
• →Jump from the old bridge into the Debed River (free, at your own risk)
• →Sundowner and dinner at glamping spot or Dilijan guesthouse

Dilijan is often called Armenia's 'Little Switzerland' — forested hills, fresh mountain air and a lovely old town quarter. Today's hike to Mount Dimats (2360m) is a 10km round trip with ~500m elevation gain, serving as a perfect warm-up for the Aragats summit in two days' time. Local 4x4 taxis can take you deep into Dilijan National Park to the trailhead (~£8–12 for the car). The trail is well-worn and waymarked. At the summit, enjoy panoramic views over the Tavush forests. Back in town, wander Dilijan's restored Old Town (Sharambeyan Street), browse artisan workshops and relax in this spa town. Dinner at a local restaurant — Dilijan has excellent home-cooking style eateries.

🚌Local 4x4 taxi to trailhead from Dilijan centre (~£10 for the car)

🛏Hostel Dilijan or Olde Dilijan Guesthouse — from £15–22/night

• →4x4 taxi into Dilijan National Park to Mount Dimats trailhead (~£10 shared)
• →Hike Mount Dimats summit: 10km, 500m ascent, 4–4.5hrs, 2360m high point (free)
• →Explore Dilijan Old Town: Sharambeyan Street artisan workshops (free)
• →Dinner in Dilijan (~£7–9)

Lastiver in the Tavush region is one of Armenia's most magical hidden corners — dense forest, clear rivers, waterfalls and dramatic gorges. Take a local taxi from Dilijan to the Lastiver trailhead (~£12–15 for car). The ziplining operation at Lastiver can be booked on-site or in advance via lastiver.am — expect to pay ~£12–18pp for the zipline across the forest gorge. After the adrenaline rush, hike the marked trail through the gorge, past cascading waterfalls and wildflower meadows (~7km, 3–4hrs, free). It's genuinely spectacular and the trail is easy to navigate independently. In the afternoon, take a marshrutka or shared taxi back to Yerevan (~2hrs, ~£3–5) for your final night in the capital. Head out for dinner and catch some of Yerevan's famous underground jazz scene.

🚌Taxi Dilijan to Lastiver trailhead (~£13); shared marshrutka or taxi Lastiver/Tavush to Yerevan (~£4–5)

🛏Envoy Hostel or The Nest Hostel, Yerevan — dorm £10–14/night, private £22–28/night

• →Ziplining at Lastiver over the forest gorge (~£15pp, book on-site or at lastiver.am)
• →Self-launched forest and gorge hike at Lastiver: 7km, ~300m elevation, 3–4hrs (free)
• →Waterfalls and scenic meadows in Tavush region
• →Return to Yerevan; jazz bar evening in the capital (~£8–12 for drinks)

The culmination of the trip: summiting the southern peak of Mount Aragats at 3888m — the highest point in Armenia. Book a day-trip driver from Yerevan to Kari Lake (the trailhead at ~3200m on Aragats' slopes) — this is the standard approach and costs ~£40–50 for the car (easily split). From Kari Lake, the trail to the southern summit is ~5km one way with ~700m ascent on loose volcanic rock (5–6hrs round trip, free). No technical equipment needed, but bring warm layers, waterproofs and plenty of snacks as conditions above 3500m can change rapidly. On clear days the summit views extend over all of Armenia and deep into Turkey with Mount Ararat in full view. Descend to Kari Lake and drive back to Yerevan. Celebrate with a summit dinner at a restaurant in Yerevan — you've earned it.

🚌Hired private car Yerevan → Kari Lake → Yerevan (~£45 total for car; easily split between 2–4 people)

🛏Envoy Hostel or The Nest Hostel, Yerevan (same as Day 7)

• →Drive Yerevan to Kari Lake trailhead, Mount Aragats (~1.5hrs by hired car, ~£45 total for car)
• →Hike to Mount Aragats southern summit: 3888m, ~10km, 700m ascent, 5–6hrs (free)
• →Summit views of Armenia and Mount Ararat in Turkey
• →Celebratory dinner in Yerevan (~£10–12)

The adventure ends today. Grab a final Armenian breakfast — try a local café for coffee, lavash and honey (~£3–4). Head to Zvartnots International Airport via public bus Route 201 (£0.20) or a metered taxi (~£6–8). Departures from Yerevan connect to major European hubs. If you have a late flight, leave your bags at the hostel and spend a final few hours exploring the Yerevan covered market (GUM Market) or the History Museum of Armenia (~£2 entry).

🚌Public bus Route 201 to airport (~£0.20) or metered taxi (~£7)

• →Final Armenian breakfast at a local café (~£3–4)
• →Optional: History Museum of Armenia (~£2) or GUM covered market (free to browse)
• →Transfer to Zvartnots International Airport: public bus Route 201 (~£0.20) or taxi (~£7)