Private Tour: Around Lake Sevan — Pearl of Armenia

This isn't an ordinary excursion where tourists arrive at Sevan for an hour, take photos and head back — we dedicate almost an entire day to this lake.

We'll see Sevan from different shores, climb up to the famous Sevanavank, visit the quiet Ayravank, walk among the ancient khachkars of Noratus, and drive along the beautiful roads of Gegharkunik. The main advantage of this route is Sevan's ever-changing character: in the morning it can be deep blue, by midday bright turquoise, and toward evening the water and mountains take on entirely different hues.

At the appointed time, an Amaras Tour car arrives directly at the address you specify in Yerevan — your hotel, apartment, or another pre-arranged place — so you don't need to come to a general meeting point. After pickup we head toward the Gegharkunik region, and about an hour later the vast blue expanse of Lake Sevan appears before us.

Sevan is one of Armenia's greatest natural treasures. The lake sits at an altitude of about 1,900 metres above sea level and is surrounded by mountain ranges — it is Armenia's largest lake and one of the largest high-altitude freshwater lakes in the region. But to truly feel Sevan, it isn't enough to see it from a single viewpoint, which is why this route is built as a journey along different parts of the lake.

The first historical stop is the famous Sevanavank Monastery. Today it stands on a peninsula, but it was once an island, and reaching the monastery means climbing a staircase. At the top awaits one of Armenia's most famous panoramas: from above, the vast surface of Sevan and the surrounding mountains open up.

Monastic life here has a very ancient history. The complex's main surviving churches — Surb Arakelots and Surb Astvatsatsin — were built in 874 at 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 getting to know the monastery, we don't rush straight back to the car — we leave time for a walk and photos. It's from here that the scale of the lake is especially visible: in good visibility the waterline practically merges with the surrounding mountains.

After Sevanavank we continue the journey along the lake — one of the main features of this private route. Along the way we can stop at beautiful and safe panoramic spots; there's no need to watch the clock every ten minutes. If you like a place, we stop. If you want to take photos, we leave extra time. That's how a private tour should go.

The next historical point is Ayravank Monastery. It stands right on the shore of Sevan and belongs to a group of 9th–12th-century monastic complexes: the main church of the complex dates to the 9th century, with additional structures and a narthex added later.

Ayravank feels completely different from Sevanavank — it's usually much quieter here. The monastery stands on a rocky stretch of shore, with the vast expanse of Sevan opening up right behind it; it's exactly this combination of dark stone, blue water and mountains that makes Ayravank one of the most beautiful historical points on this route. We leave time for a walk around the monastery and panoramic photos.

The area around Ayravank was inhabited long before the medieval monastery appeared — archaeological finds point to much earlier settlements in this area. So on a tour with a professional guide, this stop lets us talk not only about Christian Armenia, but also about the much older 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 carved so finely that the stone looks like lace.

The word "khachkar" literally means "khach" — cross, and "kar" — stone. But a khachkar is much more than an image of a cross: Armenian masters created intricate compositions of geometric elements, plants, symbols and ornaments, and each master left his own artistic signature, so it's almost 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 art changed over the centuries, and on a tour with a professional guide this stop becomes especially interesting, as a whole layer of Armenian history opens up behind the ornaments and symbols.

Noratus is tied to a well-known folk legend. According to the tale, as an enemy army approached, local residents supposedly dressed the many khachkars in clothing and weapons, so that from a distance the stones looked like a huge army — and the enemy decided a large force stood before them. It's a legend rather than a confirmed historical fact, but it has long become part of local folklore.

We continue toward Gavar, the administrative centre of the Gegharkunik region, located not far from the shore of Sevan, where it's convenient to stop for a rest and lunch. If guests wish, we arrange lunch at one of the region's suitable restaurants — you can try Armenian dishes as well as local fish. Since this is a private journey, 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 touristic peninsula area — there is more open space, small settlements and long panoramic roads here, and this is where you really start 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 come from exactly such places: mountains, an empty road, and a huge lake stretching to the horizon.

If desired, professional drone videography can be added to the private tour — the route around Sevan is especially well suited for aerial filming. From the air it can capture the scale of Lake Sevan, the shoreline, mountain ranges, panoramic roads, open natural areas, the car against the backdrop of Sevan, and beautiful stops along the shore. Filming is carried out only in permitted places and under suitable weather conditions; at historical and cultural sites, drone flights are only possible where this is allowed.

After the journey along Sevan we begin the road back — the Amaras Tour car takes you directly to the address you specified in Yerevan. The total length of the trip is roughly 9–10 hours.

This private tour suits those who want not just to see Sevan, but to spend a whole day with it. The route connects Sevanavank, panoramas of the lake, Ayravank, the ancient khachkars of Noratus, Gavar, the roads along Sevan and the mountains of Gegharkunik — offering history, nature, beautiful roads, calm walks and countless spots for photography. The route suits couples, families with children, friends and small groups, requires no serious physical preparation, and lets you travel at a calm, private pace.