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Yerevan ✦ Sevaberd ✦ Lake Akna ✦ Mount Azhdahak 3,597 m ✦ Dragon stones ✦ Lake Vanki ✦ Geghard ✦ Garni
PRICE
€
565
from, per person
DURATION
4 / 3
days / nights
GUIDES
German-speaking trekking guide (other languages on request)
LEVEL
Moderate
9–12 km and 4–6 hours of walking per day, up to approx. 1,000 m of ascent at altitudes of 2,000–3,600 m; three nights in tents. Good health and reasonable fitness needed.
OVERVIEW
Volcanoes, crater lakes and dragon stones
East of Yerevan rises the Geghama range — a high volcanic plateau of extinct cones, crater lakes and alpine meadows that few travellers ever see. On this four-day trek we camp beside Lake Akna, climb Mount Azhdahak (3,597 m) with its lake in the crater, and walk past prehistoric petroglyphs and vishaps — the mysterious fish-shaped “dragon stones” set up near the sources of mountain streams thousands of years ago.
The route ends in the valley of the Azat river with two of Armenia’s great monuments: the rock-cut Geghard Monastery and the Hellenistic Temple of Garni. Tents, sleeping bags, mats and all meals are provided, and 4WD vehicles support the group.
GOOD TO KNOW
Currency
Armenian Dram (AMD). Cards work in Yerevan; carry cash for villages and markets.
Visa
EU, US, UK, Canada and many others: visa-free for up to 180 days a year.
SIM
Viva, Ucom and Team Telecom at the airport and in every city; eSIM available.
Time Zone
GMT +4
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Key places on the route
Mount Azhdahak
The highest summit of the Geghama range rises to 3,597 m — an extinct volcano whose crater holds a small, perfectly still lake. From the top the view sweeps over a sea of volcanic cones and alpine meadows, Lake Sevan to the east and, on clear days, the snowy dome of Mount Ararat to the south.
Vishaps – the Dragon Stones
Scattered across the high meadows stand vishaps — fish-shaped stone stelae up to six metres long, carved thousands of years ago and set near the sources of mountain streams, often with water seeming to flow from the fish’s mouth. Together with rock petroglyphs of hunters and animals, they make the Geghama plateau an open-air museum of prehistory.
Geghard Monastery
At the end of the trek the trail leads down to Geghard, a monastery partly carved into the cliffs of the Azat gorge. Its rock-hewn chapels, lit only through openings in the ceiling, have an extraordinary acoustic — a single voice fills the stone like a choir. A UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Armenia’s holiest places.
Temple of Garni
The Temple of Garni, built in the 1st century and dedicated to the sun god Mihr, is the only standing Greco-Roman colonnaded temple in the former Soviet Union. Below it, the walls of the Azat gorge are lined with the hexagonal basalt columns of the Symphony of Stones — a fitting finale after days among the volcanoes.
THE ROUTE
What we see
ITINERARY
Day by day
01
Yerevan – Sevaberd – Lake Akna
After breakfast we drive from Yerevan to the village of Sevaberd and start walking up into the Geghama range. A picnic on the way, then the trail climbs to Lake Akna, hidden between four volcanic peaks. 12 km, about 5 hours, from 2,000 m to camp at about 3,050 m (+1,035 m).
02
Summit of Mount Azhdahak (3,597 m)
A gradual ascent to Mount Azhdahak, the highest peak of the Geghama range, lets us find the slow, steady rhythm of high-altitude walking. Picnic on the summit, with a view of the serene lake in the crater and alpine meadows all around. We descend and pitch camp at the foot of the mountain. 9 km, about 6 hours, 600 m up and down.
03
Dragon Stones and Lake Vanki
Through colourful summer meadows and across small streams we walk to Lake Vanki at 2,600 m. All along the route we see prehistoric petroglyphs and vishaps — fish-shaped “dragon stones” 3–6 m long, usually standing near river sources. Lunch box near Mount Paytasar. 12 km, about 6 hours, 550 m up and down.
04
Down to Geghard and Garni
The last walk descends from Lake Vanki to the village of Geghard: 12 km, about 4 hours, 850 m down. By jeep we visit Geghard Monastery (4th–13th c., UNESCO), carved into the rock, the basalt columns of the Symphony of Stones and the Hellenistic Temple of Garni (1st c.). Lunch in Geghard and drive back to Yerevan.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
Clear from the start
Included
Not Included
HOW IT WORKS
From request to confirmation
01
Send a request
Tour, dates and group size. Travel agencies: add your markets and expected volume.
02
Offer within 48 hrs
Detailed program and price. For agencies: net rates and a program you can use with your clients.
03
Confirmation
Contract, invoice and deposit. Our team in Georgia runs the tour; you keep one contact person throughout.
PRICE & QUOTATIONS
Every tour is priced for your group
This program is a starting point. Hotels, dates and the route can be adjusted, so we prepare an individual quotation for every request — for travel agencies and private groups.
INDICATIVE PRICE
from
€
565
per person · 3* / 4* hotels · group of 35+
THE FINAL PRICE DEPENDS ON:
-
Dates and season
-
Group size
-
Hotel category
-
Changes to the route
-
Language of guide
FAQ
Good to know before you ask
When is the trek possible?
From 10 June to 30 September, when the plateau is free of snow.
How fit do I need to be?
The trek is graded moderate: good health and reasonable fitness are important. You walk 4–6 hours a day at 2,000–3,600 m with a light pack.
What is the group size?
The price of €565 per person is for a private group of up to 6 people. Larger groups on request.
Can I combine it with a tour of Armenia?
Yes — it fits well before or after our Armenia tours, and we can add hotel nights in Yerevan.
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