Armenia Culture & Food Journey from Yerevan

Summary

Yerevan to Sevan: Food, Faith & Stories Across Armenia

Step into Armenia’s living history as you bake lavash with locals near Garni, taste Areni wine in ancient cellars, and wander monasteries carved into cliffs. With every meal and story shared by your guide, you’ll feel more connected — not just to Armenia’s sights but its people too. These are memories you’ll carry long after you leave Yerevan behind.

What’s the experience like?

Ever wondered what it feels like to tear warm lavash straight from the tonir oven in a village near Garni? I didn’t expect my hands to smell like toasted wheat all day, but they did — and honestly, I didn’t mind. Our guide, Arman, kept laughing at my awkward rolling technique (“You’ll get there by your tenth try,” he said). The whole kitchen was filled with this earthy aroma and the chatter of women who somehow made everything look easy. That’s how our week in Armenia started: not with sightseeing, but with flour on my shirt and laughter echoing off stone walls.

The days blurred into each other in the best way — one moment we were craning our necks at the pagan columns of Garni Temple under a sky that couldn’t decide if it wanted to rain or shine; the next, we were tasting tart Areni wine in a cellar that smelled faintly of oak and something older. At Khor Virap Monastery, I tried to take a photo of Mount Ararat but just stood there instead because the air felt heavy with stories (and maybe a bit of sulfur from the fields). There’s something about standing where history happened that makes you go quiet for a minute. Even Li from our group stopped talking — which is saying something.

I’m still thinking about the sound of water at Shaki Waterfall after hours on winding roads out past Goris. It was colder than I expected; my shoes got muddy but nobody cared. We crossed that swinging bridge at Old Khndzoresk (I gripped the sides tighter than I’ll admit), then shared dried fruits from the market while watching dusk settle over Hermon village. The food never stopped coming: khorovats grilled over coals, thick yogurt with herbs, brandy tastings that left us all a little flushed. Every meal felt like someone’s grandmother had cooked it just for us.

On our last morning back in Yerevan, I wandered Republic Square before breakfast — fountains silent, city waking up slow. I bought pomegranate-shaped sweets for home at Vernissage market and tried to remember every name and story Arman told us along the way. You can see so much in seven days here: ancient manuscripts at Matenadaran, carvings at Noratus cemetery, even snow on distant peaks if you’re lucky. But it’s those small moments — sticky fingers from honeyed walnuts or singing along (badly) to Armenian pop on the bus — that stick longer than any postcard view.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Yerevan City Tour

• Visit Yerevan Cascade Museum
• Explore historic monument with city view
• See Armenian national epic monument
• Enjoy Republic Square and singing fountains
• Welcome dinner with folk program

Day 2 — Echmiadzin and Zvartnots Tour

• Visit Matenadaran manuscript museum
• Tour Echmiadzin Cathedral
• See Echmiadzin treasury
• Visit Zvartnots Cathedral
• Tour Ararat brandy factory and tasting
• Lunch at Agape restaurant

Day 3 — Khor Virap to Goris

• Visit Khor Virap Monastery
• Explore Bird’s Cave in Areni
• Wine tasting at local winery
• Visit Noravank Monastery
• Tour Jermuk mineral water gallery and waterfall
• Lunch at local winemaker's house
• Dinner at hotel in Goris

Day 4 — Tatev and Surroundings

• Visit Old Khndzoresk cave town
• Cable car to Tatev Monastery
• See Shaqi Waterfall
• Visit Zorats Stones observatory
• Lunch at Shen house restaurant
• Dinner at Lucytour hotel

Day 5 — Selim to Yerevan Highlights

• Visit Vardenyats (Selim) caravanserai
• Explore Noratus khachkar cemetery
• Tour Sevan Lake and Sevanavank Monastery
• Photo stop at Charents’ Arch
• Visit Geghard Monastery
• Tour Garni Temple and bake lavash bread
• Lunch with cooking master class

Day 6 — Amberd and Yerevan Museum

• Tour Amberd Fortress
• Visit History Museum of Armenia
• Lunch at Lebanon restaurant

Day 7 — Shopping and Departure

• Shopping at Vernissage and Tashir markets

Top questions

How many days does this Armenia culture & food journey last?

The journey lasts 7 days starting and ending in Yerevan.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes, hotel pickup is included as part of this tour package.

Are meals or tastings part of the experience?

Yes, you’ll enjoy Armenian dishes throughout and take part in tastings of local wine and brandy.

What are some main attractions visited?

You’ll visit Garni Temple, Geghard Monastery, Khor Virap Monastery, Shaki Waterfall, Etchmiadzin Cathedral, Zvartnots Cathedral, Republic Square, Yerevan Cascade and more.

Is there a hands-on cooking activity?

Yes, you’ll join locals to bake traditional Armenian lavash bread near Garni.

Are guides local experts?

Your guide is local and shares stories about Armenian culture and history throughout the trip.

Is this suitable for families or kids?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels; infants can ride in strollers or prams.

Does it include transportation between cities?

An air-conditioned vehicle is provided for all transfers between destinations during the tour.

What’s included

Your week includes daily hotel pickup in Yerevan city center, an expert local guide sharing stories along each route, comfortable air-conditioned transport across Armenia’s landscapes (from monasteries to waterfalls), hands-on lavash baking with villagers near Garni Temple, guided tastings of Areni wine and legendary Armenian brandy (cognac), plus plenty of authentic meals — all before returning each evening to your central hotel base.