Private Tour: The Road of Wine, Mountains and Jermuk

This route runs only for you and your companions.

At the appointed time, an Amaras Tour car arrives directly at the address you specify in Yerevan — at a hotel, apartment, or other pre-agreed location.

You don't need to come to a shared meeting point.

In the private format, time can be distributed more flexibly, with stops at beautiful panoramic viewpoints and more time spent at places you enjoy.

08:00 — departure from Yerevan.

In the morning we pick you up from the specified address and head south of Armenia.

Over the course of a single day, the landscape changes several times.

The Ararat valley gives way to the mountains of Vayots Dzor, the red cliffs of Noravank, and then the forests and highland gorges of Jermuk.

Khor Virap.

The first stop is Khor Virap monastery.

It is one of the most important sites in the history of Christian Armenia.

Its name translates as "deep dungeon."

According to Armenian Christian tradition, it was here that King Tiridates III imprisoned Gregory the Illuminator for his Christian faith.

Gregory spent about 13 years in the underground pit.

After his release he played a key role in converting the royal family and in Armenia's adoption of Christianity in the early 4th century.

Today, on the monastery grounds, visitors can descend into the underground pit connected with this story.

View of Ararat.

Khor Virap is famous for another reason as well.

It is one of Armenia's most famous panoramic viewpoints, with a view of Greater and Lesser Ararat.

In clear weather the mountain seems very close.

In the private format, enough time is set aside here for a walk and photos.

If you choose the tour with a professional guide, you'll receive a full historical account of Gregory the Illuminator, King Tiridates III, and early Christianity in Armenia.

The road to Vayots Dzor.

After Khor Virap we continue south.

The Ararat valley is gradually left behind.

Vayots Dzor begins — a region of mountains, canyons, ancient monasteries, and one of Armenia's most renowned winemaking traditions.

The next stop is Areni.

Areni — the wine heart of Vayots Dzor.

The village of Areni is known above all for its grapes and centuries-old winemaking history.

It is with this region that the native Armenian Areni grape variety is associated.

The climate of Vayots Dzor, its elevation, abundant sunny days, and the character of the soil create favorable conditions for viticulture.

Today Areni is one of the main centers of wine tourism in Armenia.

Wine tasting.

The journey includes a stop for a wine tasting.

Guests can get acquainted with local wines and learn more about the region's contemporary winemaking culture.

For guests who do not drink alcohol, the tasting can be skipped or replaced with extra time at another point on the route.

This is exactly the advantage of the private format — the program adapts to you.

The Noravank canyon.

From Areni we continue along a picturesque gorge.

The landscape gradually becomes completely different.

The road runs between tall reddish cliffs.

Around another bend, Noravank monastery appears among the mountains.

Noravank.

Noravank is one of the architectural symbols of Vayots Dzor.

The monastic complex developed especially actively in the 13th–14th centuries and was closely tied to the powerful princely house of Orbelian.

Noravank was not only a religious center.

Education, manuscript art, architecture, and stone carving all flourished here.

Master Momik.

The history of Noravank is inseparably linked with the name of Momik, one of the outstanding masters of medieval Armenia.

He was an architect, sculptor, miniaturist, and master of khachkars.

One of the complex's best-known structures is the two-story church-mausoleum of Surb Astvatsatsin, or Burtelashen, completed in the 14th century.

Its unusual composition and stone carving have made the church one of the most recognizable monuments of medieval Armenian architecture.

Time at Noravank.

On a private tour there's no need to rush through the monastery.

We allow time for getting to know the complex, for the professional guide's account, for a walk, for photographs, and for panoramic shots against the red cliffs.

After Noravank we continue deeper into Vayots Dzor.

The road to Jermuk.

As we approach Jermuk, the surrounding landscape changes again.

The dry cliffs gradually give way to greener mountain scenery.

Jermuk lies in the highland part of Vayots Dzor and is known for its mineral springs, gorges, forests, and cool climate.

The "Mermaid's Hair" waterfall.

One of Jermuk's natural landmarks is its famous waterfall.

It is often called "Mermaid's Hair."

Water descends the slope in thin streams into a deep gorge, which is how the waterfall got its romantic name.

A stop is included here for a walk and photos.

Arch of Dreams.

The next photo spot is the Arch of Dreams.

It's a popular panoramic viewpoint in Jermuk with a view of the gorge and surrounding mountains.

We stop here for photos and a short walk.

In good weather, this part of Jermuk is especially suited to beautiful panoramic shots.

Jermuk.

After the natural sites, we get to know Jermuk itself.

It is one of Armenia's most famous resort towns.

The city's main natural asset is its mineral springs.

It is thanks to them that Jermuk has developed as a resort destination for decades.

The Mineral Water Gallery.

We visit Jermuk's famous Mineral Water Gallery.

Here mineral water comes directly from natural springs.

The springs differ in temperature.

You can taste the water and feel how different it is from ordinary bottled mineral water.

It is one of Jermuk's most distinctive attractions.

Rest and free time.

Since the tour is private, time for rest can be built into the Jermuk stop.

At guests' request we arrange a stop for lunch.

If you prefer to spend more time in nature, the length of the stops in town can be shortened, and vice versa.

Return to Yerevan.

After getting to know Jermuk, we head back.

The car delivers you directly to the address you specified in Yerevan.

The approximate return time depends on the departure time, the length of the stops, and road conditions.

The overall length of the journey is roughly 11–12 hours.