Around Sevan: the Pearl of Armenia

This is not an ordinary excursion where tourists come to Sevan for an hour, take some photos and head back. We will devote almost an entire day to the lake. We will see Sevan from different shores, climb up to the famous Sevanavank, visit quiet Hayravank, walk among the ancient khachkars of Noratus and drive along the beautiful roads of Gegharkunik. The main advantage of this route is the ever-changing Sevan: in the morning it can be a deep blue, by midday a bright turquoise, and towards evening the water and mountains take on completely different shades.

At the agreed time an Amaras Tour car arrives directly at your address in Yerevan — your hotel, apartment or another place arranged in advance. There is no need to travel to a shared meeting point. Once aboard, we set off towards the Gegharkunik region, and after about an hour the vast blue expanse of Lake Sevan appears before us.

Sevan is one of Armenia's main natural treasures. The lake lies at roughly 1,900 metres above sea level and is surrounded by mountain ranges. It is the largest lake in Armenia and one of the largest high-altitude freshwater lakes in the region. But to truly feel Sevan, seeing it from a single viewpoint is not enough — which is exactly why this route is built as a journey along different parts of the lake.

Our first historical stop is the famous Sevanavank Monastery. Today it stands on a peninsula, but this place was once an island. A flight of steps leads up to the monastery, and at the top one of Armenia's best-known panoramas awaits: the vast surface of Sevan and the mountains around it. Monastic life here has a very long history. The complex's main surviving churches, Surb Arakelots and Surb Astvatsatsin, were built in 874 on the initiative of Princess Mariam, daughter of Ashot Bagratuni. Sevanavank gradually became an important spiritual centre of the region, and its island location allowed the monastery to remain relatively isolated from the outside world for a long time.

After exploring the monastery we don't rush back to the car, leaving time for a walk and photos. From here the scale of the lake is especially clear, and in good visibility the waterline almost merges with the surrounding mountains. After Sevanavank we continue along the lake. This is one of the main features of a private route: along the way we can stop at beautiful, safe panoramic viewpoints. There is no need to check the clock every ten minutes. Like a place? We stop. Want to take photos? We allow extra time. That is exactly how a private tour should be.

The next historical site is Hayravank Monastery. It stands right on the shore of Sevan and belongs to the monastic complexes of the 9th–12th centuries: its main church dates to the 9th century, while additional structures and a narthex were added later. Hayravank has a completely different atmosphere from Sevanavank — it is usually much quieter here. The monastery sits on a rocky stretch of shore, with the vast expanse of Sevan opening up right behind it, and it is this combination of dark stone, blue water and mountains that makes Hayravank one of the most beautiful historical stops on the route. We leave time for a walk around the monastery and panoramic photos. The land around Hayravank was settled long before the medieval monastery appeared; archaeological finds point to far earlier settlements in the area. So when travelling with a professional guide, the story here can cover not only Christian Armenia but also the more ancient history of the Sevan basin.

The next stop is the famous village of Noratus, home to the largest surviving collection of Armenian khachkars — a true open-air museum of stone art. Hundreds of khachkars from different periods stand here. Some have a fairly simple composition, while others are covered with carving so fine that the stone resembles lace. The word "khachkar" literally means "cross-stone": khach is cross and kar is stone. But a khachkar is much more than simply an image of a cross. Armenian masters created intricate compositions of geometric elements, plants, symbols and ornaments, and each left his own artistic signature, so it is practically impossible to find two identical khachkars.

The earliest khachkars here date to roughly the 9th–10th centuries, while many of the most richly decorated monuments were created much later. During the visit you can see how Armenian stone carving changed over the centuries. If you choose the tour with a professional guide, this stop becomes especially interesting: behind the ornaments and symbols lies a whole layer of Armenian history. A well-known folk legend is also linked to Noratus. According to it, as an enemy army approached, the villagers supposedly dressed the many khachkars in clothing and weapons. From afar the stones looked like a huge host, and the enemy believed a vast army stood before them. It is a legend rather than a confirmed historical fact, but it has long been part of local folklore.

We continue towards Gavar, the administrative centre of the Gegharkunik region. The town lies not far from the shore of Sevan and is a convenient place to stop for a rest and lunch. If guests wish, we arrange lunch at one of the suitable restaurants in the region, where you can try Armenian dishes and local fish. Since the trip is private, the restaurant and the length of the stop can be chosen in advance. Meals are paid separately.

After lunch we continue along the lake. The southern part of Sevan differs from the more touristy peninsula area: there are more open spaces, small villages and long panoramic roads, and this is where you begin to grasp the true scale of the lake. Along the way we make several stops wherever road conditions allow. Not every beautiful spot needs a name. Sometimes the best photos of the trip are taken in exactly such places: mountains, an empty road and a huge lake stretching to the horizon.

If you wish, professional drone filming can be added to the private tour, and the route around Sevan is especially well suited to aerial footage. From the air it can capture the scale of Lake Sevan, the shoreline, the mountain ranges, the panoramic roads, open natural areas, your car against the backdrop of Sevan and the beautiful stops along the shore. Filming takes place only in permitted locations and in suitable weather, and at historical and cultural sites the drone may be flown only where this is allowed.

After the journey along Sevan we head back, and the Amaras Tour car takes you directly to the address you specify in Yerevan. The whole trip takes approximately 9–10 hours. The price is calculated individually and depends on the number of participants, the chosen car category (Standard, Comfort, Premium or Luxury), the format of the trip — with a professional driver or with a dedicated professional guide — and any additional services.