Escorted Tours and Holidays in Armenia
Armenia is a small, high country where the Caucasus meets the Anatolian plateau — deep gorges, volcanic uplands, and monasteries built out on ledges above rivers. It adopted Christianity as its state religion in 301, and the churches show their age: dark stone, conical roofs, carved khachkars standing in the grass outside.
Our reason for coming is the wine, and the autumn festival at Areni that goes with it. Armenians were pressing grapes in this valley six thousand years ago, and the village still marks the harvest with a day of tasting, music and dancing.
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Armenia Tours
A direct flight from London to Yerevan takes roughly five and a half hours. Our tour includes return flights from London Heathrow, and there may be a layover in Frankfurt — that depends on the schedules and is confirmed when flights are released, so ask us nearer the time. Flights into Yerevan's Zvartnots airport often land late at night or in the early hours, which is worth knowing when you plan your first day.
It takes place in the autumn, after the harvest, usually on a Saturday in early October in the village of Areni in the Vayots Dzor region. The exact date is set locally each year and the tour is timed around it. For the confirmed departure dates on our nine-day itinerary, ask us and we will tell you what is currently released.
At the time of writing, British passport holders do not need a visa for short visits to Armenia, and you will need a passport valid for the length of your stay. Entry rules do change, so please check the current Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office advice for Armenia before you travel, and tell us if you hold a passport from another country so we can point you in the right direction.
Monasteries, Gorges and Mount Ararat
Armenian churches are rarely in towns. They are on cliff edges, at the head of valleys, half cut into rock — Geghard is carved directly out of the gorge wall, Noravank sits under red cliffs a short drive from Areni, and Tatev is reached across a canyon on a cable car that runs for something over five kilometres. From Khor Virap, on a clear morning, Mount Ararat fills the whole southern horizon, on the far side of a closed border.
Between the monasteries the country is mostly high pasture and orchard. Lake Sevan sits at nearly 2,000 metres, and the roads to the south climb over passes that feel a long way from anywhere.
This is not strenuous travelling, but it is uneven underfoot: cobbles, worn steps, gravel courtyards and a few short climbs from the coach. If you have any doubts about the walking involved, ask us before you book.
Wine at Areni and the Autumn Festival
The Areni-1 cave, above the village, holds the oldest known winery in the world — clay vats, a press bed and grape pips dated to around 4,000 BC. The grape that grows here still carries the village name, Areni noir, and some producers continue to ferment in buried clay karasi rather than barrels.
Our Armenian tour is built around the wine festival held in the village each autumn, when the small producers set out their jars along the road and the day turns into tasting, music and dancing. The price includes participation in the festival and a tasting at the Areni winery itself.
Armenian food suits the wine: lavash bread baked against the wall of a clay oven, khorovats grilled over vine cuttings, apricots and pomegranates, and a great deal of fresh herbs. Breakfast and lunch are included on every day of the tour except the free day, when breakfast only is provided.
