Lake Sevan & Dilijan: Sevanavank, Goshavank & Haghartsin Day Trip

Driving into Armenia's High-Altitude Lakes & Mountain Monasteries

You drive from Yerevan to Lake Sevan's peninsula monastery, walk through Dilijan's national park forests, and visit two medieval monasteries—Haghartsin and Goshavank—with a professional guide who handles all entry fees and logistics. The 9-10 hour day includes transport, admission, lunch, and water, so you show up and move through the itinerary without planning the route yourself.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Lake Sevan and Monasteries

• Start from meeting point
• Visit Lake Sevan viewpoint
• Explore Sevanavank monastery
• Stop in Dilijan town
• Tour Haghartsin monastery
• Visit Goshavank monastery
• Return to starting point

The Experience

You're heading north out of Yerevan, climbing toward the Tavush region where the landscape shifts from city sprawl to dense forest and open sky. The drive takes you straight to Lake Sevan, sitting at 1,900 meters above sea level—one of the world's largest freshwater high-altitude lakes, ringed by mountains that push past 3,000 meters. The water is genuinely clear, the kind of transparent you don't expect to see in a lake this size. Sevanavank, the medieval monastery complex built in 874 on the peninsula jutting into the lake, is where the tour really settles in. You'll climb about 200 steps to reach it, and the view back across the turquoise water with the church silhouettes against the sky is the kind of thing that justifies the whole morning's drive.

After Sevanavank, the route dips into Dilijan, a town locals call "Armenian Switzerland" because of the thick forests surrounding it—part of Dilijan National Park. It's a short stop, more of a breath than a full exploration, but enough to see why people come here to walk. Then you're moving again toward Haghartsin monastery, a 10th-century complex tucked into the woodlands with a 600-meter downhill walk to reach it. The buildings blend into the landscape in a way that feels less like architecture imposed on nature and more like something that grew there. There's an ancient oak tree hollow near the monastery—mostly collapsed now, but visitors still pass through it and make wishes, which is the kind of small, persistent tradition that tells you something about how long people have been coming to this place.

Goshavank is the final stop, another medieval monastery founded by the scholar and fabulist Mkhitar Gosh. The complex spreads across green territory with several religious and secular buildings, and there's a khachkar—a carved stone cross—from 1291 that's considered exceptional. By this point in the day, you've moved through four distinct landscapes and three centuries of Armenian religious architecture, all without arranging transport, buying separate tickets, or figuring out which monastery is which. The guide speaks English and Russian consecutively, so you're not scrambling to understand. The vehicle is air-conditioned, water and pastries are included, and the timing is built so you're back in Yerevan by evening.

What’s included

• Your day includes hotel pickup from Yerevan, air-conditioned transport with WiFi, a professional guide speaking English and Russian, admission to Sevanavank, Haghartsin, and Goshavank monasteries, bottled water, pastries, and lunch.
• Vehicle and passenger insurance are covered.
• You return to Yerevan by evening.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Hyur Service

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Lake Sevan and three medieval monasteries in one day without renting a car or navigating the route yourself—the fixed itinerary and included guide handle the logistics, which is what makes a 9-10 hour day feel manageable instead of rushed.

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Top questions

How long is the drive from Yerevan to Lake Sevan?

The tour is 9-10 hours total. Lake Sevan is roughly 60 kilometers northeast of Yerevan, so the drive is around 1.5 hours each way depending on traffic and stops.

Do I need to be fit to do this tour?

It's suitable for all fitness levels, but there are 200 steps to climb to Sevanavank and a 600-meter downhill walk to Haghartsin. Wear comfortable shoes and dress for mountain weather.

What's included in the price?

Transport, professional guide (English and Russian), admission tickets to all monasteries, bottled water, pastries, and vehicle insurance. Lunch is included.

Can I bring small children?

Yes. Infants can sit on an adult's lap or ride in a stroller. Children must be accompanied by an adult. The tour operates in all weather, so dress appropriately.

Will I know my seat in advance?

No, seats are assigned on the day of the tour.

Is this tour available year-round?

Yes, it operates in all weather conditions. Dress for the season—mountain weather can change quickly.

What language is the guide?

The guide speaks English and Russian consecutively throughout the day.

How many people are in a typical group?

It's a group tour, so you'll be with other travelers. The exact group size varies by departure date.