YPT Tours to Armenia
Join one of our Armenia Tours to discover this little country located in the Caucasus. This former Soviet republic is full of ancient history, beautiful landscapes and interesting architecture, from ancient churches to brutalist Soviet buildings.
Armenia has a history stretching back millennia, evident in its ancient monasteries clinging to cliffsides and UNESCO World Heritage Sites like the Etchmiadzin Cathedral. It also offers dramatic landscapes, like the otherworldly rock formations of the Debed Canyon or the wildlife paradise of Dilijan National Park.
On our Armenia tours, you’ll travel across the country hearing stories of injustices and resilience, after the Armenian Genocide. You’ll also learn how the collapse of the Soviet Union impacted the country; when complex ethnic division intensified, causing recent wars between the neighbouring countries.
Group Tours to Armenia
We currently run a yearly Complete Caucasus tour where you can visit Armenia along with their neighbouring countries Georgia and Azerbaijan.
Independent Tours to Armenia
Having run tours to Armenia for many years, Young Pioneer Tours have been able to create a great network of local partners, hotels, guides and off-the-beaten-track itineraries and activities for Armenia. Prices depend on the number of people and what level of accommodation you desire, but YPT can arrange everything you need for a perfect independent trip.
Independent Armenia tours can focus exclusively on the country, or be combined with tours to Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkey or any country where there are direct flights to.
Example of an Armenia Itinerary (6 days, 5 nights)
Day 1 – Yerevan
- Arrive at your own leisure into Yerevan – the capital city of Armenia is well connected with many European and Asian countries. Self-transfer to our centrally located hotel.
- Pre-tour meeting will be held at the lobby of our hotel at 6:00pm to discuss the tour itinerary and to meet your fellow travellers and YPT guide.
- Head out for dinner and drinks in traditional restaurant
- Overnight in Yerevan
Day 2 – Yerevan
- Breakfast before our visit to Yerevan will start with the Mother Armenia monument – a powerful symbol of Armenia representing peace through strength. However during the Soviet era, a statue of Stalin once stood here.
- Our walking tour will also cover important sites including the Cascade Complex, the National Opera and Ballet Theatre, the National Assembly and many more buildings which were constructed during the Soviet Union.
- You’ll have some time to explore and capture some pictures along the walking tour. There are many Soviet and Armenian architecture wonders here, or you simply grab a coffee and enjoy the capital city.
Afternoon
- Lunch at a local restaurant, we recommend trying tjvjik consisting of lamb or beef liver with additional offal – a popular Soviet Armenian film was centred around this dish.
- At the Armenian Genocide Memorial complex, locally known as Tsitsernakaberd, you’ll learn about the massacres and forced deportations of Armenians. This is very much a delicate and sensitive subject: even today countries deny that there was a genocide.
- We’ll continue our tour of Yerevan before heading to the hotel to relax and freshen up.
- We’ll head to our favourite restaurant which serves amazing khorovats alongside some local beer and Ararat!
- Overnight stay in Yerevan.
Day 3 – Yerevan
- Early morning start with breakfast to make the most of our time in Yerevan.
- No trip to Armenia would be complete without visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Geghard, locally referred to as Ayrivank, meaning “the Monastery of the Cave”. The mediaeval monastery was founded in the 4th century and was carved out of the surrounding mountain cliffs.
- Garni Temple is our last visit. This is the only surviving Colonnaded Greco-Roman temple found in the former Soviet Union. Its origins are still unclear however the Armenian deity, Mihr the god of Sun, was worshipped here.
- We’ll continue past Garni Gorge witnessing the “symphony of stones” before visiting a large open-air market, a perfect place for a final purchase of Soviet antiques, before we transfer back to Yerevan.
Afternoon
- After lunch, free time to relax or explore a bit more of Yerevan on your own
- Dinner and drinks
- Overnight in Yerevan
Day 4 – Lake Seven
- We’ll have an early morning start with breakfast at our hotel.
- Your road trip continues to Lake Sevan, the largest lake in the Caucuses. We’ll spend some time here enjoying the natural beauty. Those who wish to go for a swim are free to do so.
- In Dilijan, a charming town surrounded by nature, we’ll learn about its cultural importance before checking another forgotten Soviet monument: the 50th anniversary of Soviet Armenia.
- We’ll visit a seldom but powerful Soviet era monument, Mother Armenia, created by Mehrabyan.
Afternoon
- we’ll grab a much-deserved lunch.
- After, we’ll head back Yerevan
- Farewell dinner and drinks in Yerevan
- Overnight in Yerevan
Day 5 – Yerevan
- Breakfast in our hotel
- Tour concludes at 4:00pm. YPT can arrange additional nights in Yerevan and airport drop-off for a fee. We are more than happy to provide advice for ongoing flights.
Bespoke Armenia Tours
Soviet architecture and monuments
Armenia is full of Soviet relics, monuments, brutalist architecture, abandoned buildings such as a Young pioneer camp and an abandoned resort. We can take you to the birthplace of the MIG jet designer, to Soviet cosmos observatories, great patriotic war memorials and more! At YPT we know the best hidden locations for all things soviet.
Armenian Culture
Armenia is home of some of the oldest churches and monasteries in the world and forts and castles from mediaeval times, for example the Medieval Goris Cave Dwellings. With our local guides, learn in depth about the singularities of this country, to understand the past and present conflicts in this region of the world.
Nature and hiking
The Caucasus mountains are a natural wonder, from the most iconic mountain Aragats, a volcano 4,090 m above sea level. And the beautiful forest mountains around Tatev, where you can also find the longest non-stop cable car for amazing views of the region.
Nagorno Karabakh
The Nagorno Karabakh region, also known as Republic of Artsakh, was an unrecognised state since 1994, that got de facto independence from Azerbaijan after two years of war. In 2023, this republic was dissolved, causing a mass departure of the population that was mostly of Armenia ethnicity. Unfortunately it’s not possible to visit the region just now (2024), but we are keeping an eye on when it will be possible to visit again, regardless of which state controls it. For more information, please visit our page: Can you travel to Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh)?
Filming in Armenia
Through our media arm Pioneer Media, we can make arrangements for productions, journalists, or others, to film within Armenia from big budget to guerrilla productions. We can also arrange meetings in country, as well as correct visas for journalist wishing to do projects within the country.
Frequently asked questions about travel to Armenia
The regions bordering Azerbaijan are still tense and better to be avoided, although there haven’t been major violent incidents since September 2023.