Private Tour: Secrets of Ancient Lori

This route is a completely different Armenia. There won't be many popular tourist stops here. The main protagonists of this day are the mountains, gorges, old monasteries, hiking trails and the almost untouched nature of northern Armenia. In a single day we'll see ancient Odzun, head into the Arevatsagh gorge and get to know the monastic monuments hidden among the cliffs of Lori. This is a route for those who want not just to see Armenia through a car window, but to walk a bit of it on their own feet.

In the morning, the Amaras Tour car arrives directly at the address you specify — a hotel, apartment or other place agreed in advance. You don't need to come to a common meeting point. After pickup we head north. Along the way the surrounding landscape gradually changes: the city falls behind, and mountain passes, forests and the deep valleys of Lori appear.

The Lori region is known for a completely different character of nature. There are more forests here, green slopes, deep gorges and rivers. One of the region's main natural features is the system of gorges of the Debed river and its tributaries. It was among these mountains that monasteries arose in the Middle Ages, which today seem almost hidden from the outside world.

The first major stop is Odzun. The village sits on a high plateau above the gorge, and its main landmark is the famous Odzun Church, one of the most interesting monuments of early medieval Armenian architecture.

The history of this place is tied to the early centuries of Armenian Christianity: the present-day church is mostly dated to the early Middle Ages, and Odzun is also linked to ancient Christian legends, including the legend of the Apostle Thomas. But it's not only the church itself that draws special attention here — nearby stands a rare stone memorial monument with two tall carved stelae, structures of a kind almost never found elsewhere in Armenia.

Odzun sits on a plateau, so it offers magnificent views of the surrounding mountains and gorges of Lori. We leave enough time here for a walk and photos. If you choose a professional guide, a full historical account of early Christian Armenian architecture and the region's history begins here.

After the historical part, we continue the journey toward the Arevatsagh gorge, where the more natural and active part of our day begins. Arevatsagh is Lori without the usual tourist infrastructure — mountain slopes, cliffs, a river, green expanses and roads running through an almost untouched landscape. Depending on the season the gorge looks completely different: in spring it is especially green, in summer richer mountain hues appear, and in autumn the slopes turn golden and reddish.

The individual format includes stops at the most beautiful and safe natural spots. Part of the route is covered on foot: we don't rush and can adjust the length of the walk to the guests' physical fitness. This is where the main advantage of a private tour is especially felt — the program isn't tied to the pace of a large group.

The next historical part of the journey is connected to Surb Nshan — the Holy Sign. Among the mountain landscapes of Lori, medieval monuments like this look completely different from monasteries located near major roads — here the architecture literally becomes part of the surrounding terrain. When traveling with a professional guide, we explore in detail the monument's history, its architecture and the role of monastic centers in medieval Lori.

One of the most unusual points on our journey is the Oromayr monastic complex. It lies near Odzun, on the slopes of the vast Debed gorge. Oromayr's main distinguishing feature is its location: it isn't one compact monastery but a complex made up of upper and lower parts set at different levels of the gorge. Part of the structures stand at the edge of the plateau, while another part is literally hidden below, among the rocks.

The first written mentions of the monastery date to roughly the 7th century. However, the main structures visible today mostly date to the 12th–14th centuries. One of the complex's most important churches is Surb Nshan, built in 1187. The monastic ensemble later continued to expand: other churches, chapels, a bell tower, khachkars and a monastery cemetery appeared here.

The most impressive part of the complex lies below the rim of the gorge. To see it you need to walk: the path follows the natural mountain terrain and in places has a fairly steep descent. That's why Oromayr can't be treated as an ordinary car excursion — it's a historical site you have to reach on foot, and that's exactly what makes it especially interesting.

Oromayr's lower structures are literally built into the slope of the gorge. On one side, medieval walls; on the other, an enormous natural cliff. Nearby are caves, khachkars and the remains of monastic buildings. Here it's especially easy to see how medieval Armenian architects used the natural terrain as part of the architecture.

The length of the walking portion depends on the visiting option chosen: you can limit yourself to the upper part and the panoramas, or, for active guests, descend to the lower monastic complex. The trail is in places rocky, uneven, has descents and ascents and can be slippery after rain, so comfortable closed shoes with good tread are needed for the full route. In heavy rain or if the trail is unsafe, the descent to the lower complex may be dropped from the program.

After the active part, we leave time for rest and panoramic stops. From the high points of the route, views open onto the Debed gorge, the mountain slopes of Lori, forested areas, the rocky walls of the canyon and small mountain villages — this is one of the most photogenic parts of the route.

After the program is complete, we head back to Yerevan. At the end of the journey the car takes you directly to the address you specified. The approximate duration of the whole trip is 12–13 hours.