Duration: | 9 Day(s) - 8 Night(s) |
Tour Category: | Cycle Tour |
Day 1. Arrival
Arrival at the International Zvartnots Airport. Meet and greet. Transfer to the Hotel in Yerevan. (--/--/--)
Day 2. Yerevan – Khor Virap – Areni – Noravank – Selim –Sisian/Goris (~ 300 km ride, 10 km off road)
Breakfast at the hotel. Start Motor bike tour and drive along the main road about 50 – 60 km to Khor Virap monastery 4- 17th cc. Sightseeing. Khor-Virap has a very rich history. It is situated in the Ararat valley against the biblical Mt. Ararat where Noah's arch cast an anchor. Continue tour trough Urtsadzor village to Vedi. There is a nice optional off road for about 10 km from Vedi to a nice small Armenian church. Drive through Sevakavan village optional visit to the house museum of one of the famous Armenian poets Paruyr Sevak. Continue tour to Areni village which is 130 km far from Yerevan. Possibility to have lunch in a local cave cafe. Drive to Noravank monastery - a great religious and cultural centre of 12th c. Pass an important trade point in the famous Silk Road and visit Selim caravanserai (XIV c.). Drive back to have extension to the south of Armenia. Dinner and overnight in Sisian or Goris. (B/--/D)
Day 3. Sisian/Goris – Tatev –Shoushi – Stepanakert – Gandzasar (210 km ride / 15 km bad road)
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Tatev and explore the monastic complex of Tatev which is an architectural masterpiece dating back to the 10th century and is often called a monastery built on the edge of nothing. On the way to this monastery there is a strange natural bridge called the Devil’s Bridge. Bad dirt road for 15 km. Possibility to have lunch in a nearby restaurant. Drive to Armenia – Karabagh border. Passport control. After visa formalities drive to the cultural centre of Karabagh - Shousi. If you are note tired you can have a photo stop at the beautiful Holy Amenaprkich Ghazanchetsots Cathedral (1868-1887). Drive to Stepanakert which is 9 km north from Shoushi. Drive to Gandzasar for dinner and overnight in a local hotel. (B/--/D)
Day 4. Stepanakert
Free day in the capital of Nagorno Karabagh – Stepanakert. Optional excursion in the city, visiting the Artsakh history museum, walking around, etc. Overnight in Gandzasar.
* This day is offered to be able to have rest after the long drive and take care of the bikes in case of necessity. (B/--/D)
Day 5.Gandzasar-Dadivank-Vardenis-Tsapatagh (220 km ride/ mainly bad road)
Breakfast at the hotel. Proceed to the 13th c. monastery of Gandzasar which is about 40 km northwest of Stepanakert and is considered one of the highlight of Naghorno Kharabakh. Drive through Drmbon village and reach Sarsang reservoir about 30 km bad road. It’s advisable to take picnic lunch as there are no eateries or restaurants on the read. Sightseeing ride to Dadivank monastery (9th -13th century) on the way. Turn off the road about 17 km towards the natural warm springs of the regaion. Return to the main road and continue to Vardenis town. Drive to Tsapatagh hotel for dinner and overnight. (B/--/D)
Day 6. Tsapatagh – Sevan – Dilijan – Tumanyan – Alaverdi – Odzun (~250 km ride/ ~30 km dirt road )
Breakfast at the hotel. Ride alond the main road to Sevan peninsula via Drakhtik village. Lake Sevan is a huge mountain lake which takes up to 5% of Armenia’s surface area, optional stop at the peninsula of 9th c. for a photo break of the monastic complexes. Note you have to climb 220 stairs to reach Sevanavank. Continue along the main road to Dilijan, the greenest resort town of the country. Optional stop for lunch in one of the local restaurants to taste the local mushroom dishes. Ride towards Tumanyan region, visit Odzun Monastic complex, the people of Odzun are very hospitable and if you prefer not to have lunch to save time and see as much as possible we will arrange a nice coffee stop in one of the houses of the beautiful village of Odzun, this will be a great opportunity for you to communicate with the locals and have a clearer insight in the country’s way of living. Overnight in one of the Armenian style hotels or B&B in Odzun/Haghpat. (B/--/D)
Day 7. Toumanyan –Stepanavan – Dendropark – Spitak-Gymri (~ 210 km ride/ 25 km dirt road)
Breakfast. Ride to Stepanavan via Kurtan. Visit 35 hectare Dendropark Botanical Garden that features a diversity of tree species brought from different regions of the world. It is also a place of rest, green and fresh, even during hottest times of summer. Continue tour to Vanadzor along the main road. We reach our destination point Gyumri which is the second largest city in Armenia. Dinner and overnight in Gyumri. (B/--/D)
Day 8. Gyumri – Tegher – Amberd – Qari Lake – Yerevan (250 – 300 km/ mainly bad road)
Breakfast at the hotel. Motor city tour in Gyumri. Ride along the bad road to the village of Tegher. Pass Orgovi gorge reach Amberd. Amberd Fortress (2300 m) was built during the 10th century in the historical Aragatzotn district. Drive to Qari Lake (3200m) on the southern slope of Aragats, the highest mountain in Armenia (4090m). Return to Yerevan. Dinner and overnight in Yerevan. (B/--/D)
Day 9: Departure
Transfer to the International Zvartnots Airport. Flight home. (--/--/--)
For prices and availabilities please contact us.