Discover Armenia – the beautiful people, the old language and history, breath-taking beautiful landscapes! Book one of our Self-drive tours in Armenia.
Our Self-drive tour Armenia will provide you with the perfect holiday package of your pre-planned route, the travel organization, a 4×4 rental car, booking of hotels and guesthouses as well as local guides where you need them.
A wonderful self-drive tour of Armenia from/to Yerevan.
You can take this trip at any time on any desired date.
The recommended travel time is April to mid-November.
Upon your request, we will send you our customized travel offer.
Your unforgettable holiday is guaranteed in Armenia! We offer a similar Self-drive tour to Georgia.
Scroll down to the end of this page for the enquiry form.
Overview
On our Self-drive tours we organize your route, we book your rental car – normally a Toyota RAV4 and all hotel accommodations according to your needs and preferences. We are very experienced on this kind of trips with more than 20 years of knowledge, practice and partners in Armenia and beyond.
You travel independently and we book guides and sightseeing for you along your itinerary. Wherever you are, our support is always nearby in Yerevan or Gyumri.
This self-drive tour Armenia takes you from the Armenian capital of Yerevan through the fertile Ararat plains to the south of the country to Tatev monastery and Zorats Karer and then via Jermuk and the Zelim Pass to Lake Sevan and on to Dilijan National Park. From there it goes north-west to the Aragats region and to Gyumri. Your trip ends back in Yerevan.
Highlights of this tour
- The Armenian capital Yerevan
- The Hellenistic temple of Garni and the stone monastery of Geghard
- Khor Virap Monastery with the famous view of Mount Ararat
- Areni Region, Areni Stone Age Caves 1 and Noravank Monastery
- Tatev Monastery, cable car and stone circles of Zorats Karer
- The medicinal water springs of Jermuk
- Beautiful Lake Sevan, the Caravanserai at Zelim Pass and the Cemetery of Noratus
- Dilijan - the "Little Switzerland" of Armenia
- The Debet Gorge and the monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin
- Culinary evening in an Armenian host family in Gyumri
- Mount Aragats and Amberd Fortress
- Etschmiadzin
Itinerary
10.00 a.m. Meeting with your English-speaking guide and walk through the world-famous city of Yerevan including a visit to a famous factory (surprise!)with a small tasting.
Lunch and discussion of your itinerary in a nice Cafe in the afternoon.
Overnight in Yerevan, Hotel 3*
09.00 a.m. Collection of the rental car at the hotel.
Short drive of 30 km to the outskirts of Yerevan and visit of the famous 1st century Hellenistic temple of Garni. Below the temple in the Garni Gorge you can see huge basalt columns. Continue to Geghard Monastery. Return to Yerevan.
Overnight in Yerevan, Hotel 3*
Distance: 70 km / travel time: 2 hours
South of Yerevan in the Ararat Plain lies your first highlight destination, the beautiful Khor Virap Monastery at the foot of Mount Ararat. After the sightseeing you go to the village of Areni. The place at 1054 meters above sea level is best known as a grape-growing region in the fertile Arpa valley. You are welcome to taste the delicious Armenian fruits of the region and then visit the impressive cave excavation site at Areni. The world’s oldest fully preserved leather shoe and the oldest wine factory from the Copper Age were discovered here. Overnight in a nice family pension in Yeghegnadzor village. Overnight in Yeghegnadzor, guest house
Distance: 120 km / travel time: 2.5 hours
Today you go a little further south to Sisian, where you can plan a stop at the Zorats Karer stone circles – a Bronze Age burial ground with an ancient settlement. Continue to Tatev and take an exciting cable car ride to the 9th century monastery. At 5,750 meters, the cable car is the longest aerial tramway in the world. Overnight in Goris, guest house
Distance: 170 km / travel time: 3 hours
Visit to the nearby cave town Khndzoresk. Then it’s off to the spa town of Jermuk, where you can take a leisurely stroll by the lake and taste the fresh medicinal waters from the springs. Here is a very healthy air as well. Overnight in Jermuk, Hotel 4*
Distance: 110 km / travel time: 2 hours
Drive over the Zelim Pass to Lake Sevan – the blue pearl of Armenia. On the way you will pass an old caravanserai. Lake Sevan is the largest freshwater lake in Armenia and, at around 1,900 meters above sea level, is also one of the largest high mountain lakes in the world. At Lake Sevan, you can visit the old cemetery at Noratus and the famous Sevanavank Monastery on the north-west shore of Lake Sevan. Overnight in Dilijan, guest house
Distance: 200 km / travel time: 3.5 hours
There are numerous hiking opportunities in the national park of Dilijan, e.g. from Lake Parz to the place Gosh. Maps can be found at the Tourist Information Center in the heart of Dilijan. Optionally, we can also book a hiking guide for you.
If you don’t want to hike, you can visit Haghartsin Monastery near Dilijan. It consists of three churches and a refectory built between the 10th and 14th centuries. Overnight in Dilijan, guest house
Distance: 20 km (Haghartsin u.z.) / travel time: 0.5 hours
Beautiful scenic drive north into the Debet Gorge to Alawerdi. Here it is worth driving up into the mountains to the monasteries of Haghpat, Sanahin and Odzun. In the evening you can enjoy the view from your great accommodation and end the day comfortably. Overnight stay in the Debet Gorge, Guesthouse
Distance: 100 km / travel time: 2 hours
Drive via Stepanavan, where you can visit the Dendrological Park, to the second largest city in the country after Gyumri. The city was badly damaged in the earthquake of December 7, 1988. In the meantime, large parts of the city have been nicely restored and the old town in particular, with its typical buildings made of red and black volcanic rock, is worth seeing. After a walk through the center and the city park, you can also visit a small art gallery: http://www.aslamazyanmuseum.com/
Gyumri is a very welcoming city and the residents are always interested in a conversation and the guests of the country. In the evening you are invited to a culinary evening with an Armenian host family. You will be picked up at the hotel at 4:00 p.m. Overnight in Gyumri, Hotel 3*
Distance: 150 km / travel time: 2.5 hours
You have enough time to see Gyumri or visit the city’s colorful market and stock up on fresh produce for today’s drive. Afterwards you start to Amberd. Visot the famous fortress and head to a nice hotel with a pool. Overnight at Amberd, Hotel 3*
Distance: 100 km / travel time: 1.5 hours
10.00 am Meet your guide at the hotel. Mount Aragats is the highest mountain in Armenia with a height of 4090 meters (north peak).
Today you can choose to do a moderate to difficult hike (4-6 hrs) to the South Summit (3879 m) of Mount Aragats or have a rest at the hotel. There are also many great wineries in the area. Overnight at Amberd, Hotel 3*
Distance: 30 km / travel time: 1 hour
A visit to Etchmiadzin – the religious center of the country – is worthwhile in the morning. The museum here is particularly interesting.
Then it goes back to Yerevan, where you can review your trip again. We would be happy to recommend a nice bar.
Drop off the rental car at the hotel. Overnight in Yerevan, Hotel 3*
Distance: 35 km / travel time: 1 hour
Our services
Included services
- Travel planning, organization and implementation
- Creation of individual travel documents including a map
- Airport transfer from/to Yerevan
- City tour of Yerevan with a German-speaking guide
- Overnight stay in a double room, meals according to the program
- 1x brandy tasting in Yerevan
- 1x culinary evening in Gyumri
- Rental car medium-sized off-road vehicle e.g. Renault Duster or similar.
- Including insurance and all kilometers, additional drivers included free of charge
- Incl. liability insurance and fully comprehensive insurance
- 1x hiking guide from Amberd for the hike on Mount Aragats or in Dilijan NP
Not included services
- Flight to/from Armenia
- fuel
