The Ultimate Self-Launched Adventure in Armenia

Arrive at Zvartnots International Airport (EVN). Skip the private transfer — take the marshrutka (minibus) from the airport to the city centre for around £0.50, or a taxi via the GG app for roughly £4. Check into a central hostel or guesthouse and rest up. In the afternoon, explore Yerevan's vibrant café-lined streets independently. Head out to Garni village (approx. 28km) via marshrutka from Yerevan's Gai Bus Station (around £0.80 each way) to visit the Garni Temple and the extraordinary 'Symphony of Stones' basalt columns — both free or minimal entry fee. Return to Yerevan for dinner at a traditional Armenian restaurant on Abovyan Street — try Lavash or Sherep for an authentic, affordable feed (£8–12 for a full meal with wine).

🚌GG app taxi from airport to city ~£4; marshrutka Yerevan–Garni ~£0.80 each way

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in central Yerevan (e.g. Envoy Hostel or The Nest Hostel) — dorm ~£10–14/night, private twin ~£20–28/night

• →Arrive at EVN — take GG taxi (~£4) or marshrutka (~£0.50) to city centre
• →Explore Yerevan's Republic Square, Northern Avenue and café culture
• →Marshrutka to Garni village (~£0.80 each way) — visit Garni Temple (entry ~£2) and Symphony of Stones (free)
• →Welcome dinner at a traditional Armenian restaurant in Yerevan (~£10–12 incl. wine)

This is a long travel day covering the south of Armenia. The most cost-effective option is to hire a private driver for the day (shared among your group), which is common practice in Armenia and costs roughly £50–70 for the full day car. Alternatively, join a shared day tour from Yerevan covering Khor Virap and Areni for around £15–25pp via GetYourGuide or local agency Hyur Service. Stop at Khor Virap Monastery for stunning views of Mount Ararat (free entry). Continue to Areni village to visit Areni-1 Cave (entry ~£2) where the world's oldest winery was discovered, then head to Magel Cave for a guided caving experience (book via local guide or Hyur Service, ~£15–20pp). Stop at Yeghegnadzor for a khorovats (Armenian BBQ) dinner at a local restaurant — many offer interactive grill experiences for £10–15pp. Overnight in Goris.

🚌Private driver hire for the full day Yerevan–Khor Virap–Areni–Goris ~£50–70 total (split between group); or shared day tour from Yerevan ~£15–25pp

🛏Guesthouse in Goris (e.g. Old Goris or Mirhav Hotel) — twin room ~£18–25/night

• →Khor Virap Monastery — free entry, views of Mount Ararat over the Turkish border
• →Areni-1 Cave visit (~£2 entry) — site of world's oldest winemaking
• →Magel Cave guided caving experience (~£15–20pp via local guide or Hyur Service)
• →Khorovats (Armenian BBQ) dinner in Yeghegnadzor (~£10–15pp)

Take a local taxi or arrange your guesthouse to drop you at Khot village (approx. 20km from Goris, ~£5–8 by taxi). Walk the trail from Khot to Hin Khot — a scenic 3–4 hour route through wild Armenian landscapes with panoramic views. No guide strictly needed as the trail is manageable with offline maps (Maps.me or AllTrails). Continue by taxi or marshrutka to Halidzor, gateway to Tatev Monastery. Board the 'Wings of Tatev' cable car — at 5.7km the longest non-stop reversible double-track cable car in the world. Return ticket costs approximately £7–9. Explore Tatev Monastery complex (entry ~£1.50) independently. Return to Goris for dinner.

🚌Taxi Goris–Khot ~£5–8; taxi/marshrutka Khot–Halidzor ~£3–5; taxi Halidzor–Goris ~£5–8

🛏Guesthouse in Goris (same as Day 2) — twin room ~£18–25/night

• →Hike Khot to Hin Khot trail (3–4hrs, ~4mi) — self-launched with offline maps (Maps.me/AllTrails)
• →Taxi/marshrutka to Halidzor (~£3–5)
• →'Wings of Tatev' cable car return ticket (~£7–9)
• →Explore Tatev Monastery complex (entry ~£1.50)

Start with the morning hike to the old cave city of Khndzoresk — just 8km from Goris, reachable by taxi (~£4) or on foot. The Khndzoresk swinging bridge and cave dwellings are a highlight of southern Armenia (entry ~£1). After exploring, arrange a marshrutka or shared taxi north towards Lake Sevan, stopping en route at the Selim Caravanserai — a remarkably preserved 14th-century Silk Road inn on the Vardenyats Pass (free entry, accessible by any car travelling the M2 highway). Arrive at Lake Sevan and check into a lakeside guesthouse. Enjoy the incredible views over one of the world's highest freshwater lakes at sunset.

🚌Taxi Goris–Khndzoresk ~£4; shared taxi/marshrutka Khndzoresk–Lake Sevan via Vayk ~£8–12

🛏Lakeside guesthouse at Lake Sevan (e.g. Sevan Writers' Resort guesthouses or Mirage Sevan) — twin room ~£20–30/night

• →Taxi to Khndzoresk (~£4) — hike the old cave city and cross the famous swinging bridge (entry ~£1)
• →Shared taxi or marshrutka north via Vayk towards Lake Sevan (~£8–12)
• →Stop at Selim Caravanserai on the Vardenyats Pass (free entry)
• →Arrive Lake Sevan — sunset views from lakeside guesthouse

Start the morning with an open water swim at Lake Sevan — the lake is free to access from the shore near your guesthouse. After breakfast, arrange transport north to Tumanyan in the Debed River canyon (approx. 2.5hrs). The easiest option is a shared taxi or private car hire (~£20–30 for the car). Book Debed River whitewater rafting directly with a local operator such as Rafting Armenia or Active Armenia — prices are approximately £20–30pp for a 2–2.5hr rafting session including gear and guide. After rafting, head towards Dilijan and check into a glamping or eco-lodge option. Ijevan or Dilijan area has several beautiful spots — Kef Glamping near Dilijan offers bell tents with forest views for around £25–35pp. Enjoy sundowners and dinner under the stars.

🚌Shared taxi or private car hire Lake Sevan–Tumanyan ~£20–30; local taxi Tumanyan–Dilijan area ~£10–15

🛏Glamping bell tent near Dilijan (e.g. Kef Glamping or similar eco-lodge) — ~£25–35pp/night

• →Open water swim at Lake Sevan (free)
• →Shared taxi/private car to Tumanyan (~£20–30 for car)
• →Debed River whitewater rafting (~£20–30pp, book via Rafting Armenia or Active Armenia direct)
• →Check into glamping/eco-lodge near Dilijan (~£25–35pp)

After breakfast at your glamping spot, head into Dilijan — Armenia's 'Little Switzerland' — a charming spa town with beautiful 19th-century architecture. Arrange a local 4x4 hire or taxi into Dilijan National Park (easily organised through your accommodation or Dilijan's tourist info office, ~£15–20 for the ride in). The Mount Dimats hike (4–4.5hrs, ~6mi) reaches 7,742 ft and is well-marked enough for self-launched hiking with offline maps, though a local guide can be hired for ~£20–30 for the day if preferred. Enjoy spectacular panoramic views from the summit. Return to Dilijan town in the afternoon to explore its pedestrianised old quarter, artisan workshops, and renowned mineral spring water. Overnight in Dilijan.

🚌Local taxi to Dilijan National Park trailhead ~£15–20

🛏Guesthouse or budget hotel in Dilijan (e.g. Dilijan Hostel or Mirhav Dilijan) — twin room ~£18–28/night

• →4x4 taxi ride into Dilijan National Park (~£15–20)
• →Hike to Mount Dimats summit at 7,742ft (4–4.5hrs, ~6mi) — self-launched or with local guide (~£20–30)
• →Explore Dilijan's old town, artisan quarter and mineral springs
• →Optional: visit Haghartsin Monastery (~5km from Dilijan, free entry)

Head northeast from Dilijan to Lastiver in the Tavush region — a stunning forested gorge area with rivers, waterfalls and the best zipline in Armenia. Local taxi or marshrutka from Dilijan to Ijevan (~£5–8), then onward to Lastiver (~£4–6 by taxi). Book the Lastiver zipline directly on arrival or in advance via their website — approximately £15–20pp for a thrilling ride hundreds of feet above the forest gorge. Follow the gorge hiking trail independently (3–4hrs, well-marked, no guide required) through forest, past waterfalls and into scenic meadows. After the hike, arrange a shared taxi or marshrutka from Ijevan back to Yerevan (approx. 2.5hrs, ~£5–8pp). Enjoy dinner in Yerevan and a well-earned rest before the big summit day.

🚌Dilijan–Ijevan marshrutka ~£5–8; taxi Ijevan–Lastiver ~£4–6; shared taxi/marshrutka Ijevan–Yerevan ~£5–8pp

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in central Yerevan — dorm ~£10–14/night, private twin ~£20–28/night

• →Lastiver zipline (~£15–20pp, book direct at the site or via lastiver.com)
• →Self-launched forest gorge hike at Lastiver (3–4hrs, ~4mi) — waterfalls and scenic meadows
• →Marshrutka/shared taxi Ijevan–Yerevan (~£5–8pp)
• →Dinner in Yerevan to prepare for summit day

The climax of the adventure. Arrange a private taxi or driver from Yerevan to Kari Lake on Mount Aragats (approx. 60km, 1.5hrs, ~£20–25 for the car — share costs if travelling with others met on the road). Kari Lake sits at around 10,500ft and is the standard starting point for the southern summit ascent. The trail to the southern summit at 12,756ft is unmarked in places — hiring a local mountain guide is strongly recommended for safety and navigation (~£30–40pp via Armenian operators like Hike Armenia or through your Yerevan accommodation). The hike is 5–6hrs return with ~2,300ft of ascent on steep, loose terrain at altitude. Pack lunch to eat on the summit. Descend to Kari Lake and return by taxi to Yerevan. Tonight, celebrate with dinner at a good Yerevan restaurant and hit the jazz bars on Abovyan or Saryan Street.

🚌Private taxi Yerevan–Kari Lake (Mt Aragats) return ~£40–50 total for the car

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in central Yerevan — dorm ~£10–14/night, private twin ~£20–28/night

• →Private taxi Yerevan–Kari Lake ~£20–25 (share if possible)
• →Hire local mountain guide for Aragats summit (~£30–40pp via Hike Armenia or guesthouse referral)
• →Summit hike to Mount Aragats southern peak at 12,756ft (5–6hrs return, ~6mi, ~2,300ft ascent)
• →Packed summit lunch with views over Armenia and Mount Ararat
• →Celebratory dinner and jazz bars in Yerevan

The adventure ends today. Grab a final Armenian breakfast — lavash bread, matsun yoghurt, honey and fresh fruit at a local bakery or your guesthouse. Head to Zvartnots International Airport by GG taxi (~£4–5) in time for your onward flight. Armenia will have left its mark.

🚌GG app taxi to EVN airport ~£4–5

• →Final Armenian breakfast at local bakery (~£3–5)
• →GG taxi to Zvartnots International Airport (~£4–5)