Day Trip to Hovhannavank, Lori Fortress, Stepanavan-Dendropark from Yerevan
Yerevan, Armenia
Trip Type: Day Trips
Duration: 10 hours
On this 10-hour trip from Yerevan you will first visit, Hovannavank, a monastery complex (5th-13th centuries). It was one of the oldest cultural centers in Armenia. About 20 manuscripts from Hovannavank are now kept in Matenadaran book depository. You will then visit City-fortress Lori (Lori berd) was founded in 11th century. It is located in Stepanavan, the second largest city in Lori province. The final stop is Stepanavan Dendropark, the only garden in Southern Caucasus that was transformed from forest into an arboretum. There are approximately 500 plant types in Dendropark among which California Sequoias and the Fir Greenhouse are the most peculiar ones.
More About This Activity All Day Trips →
On this 10-hour trip from Yerevan you will first visit, Hovannavank, a monastery complex (5th-13th centuries). It was one of the oldest cultural centers in Armenia. About 20 manuscripts from Hovannavank are now kept in Matenadaran book depository. You will then visit City-fortress Lori (Lori berd) was founded in 11th century. It is located in Stepanavan, the second largest city in Lori province. The final stop is Stepanavan Dendropark, the only garden in Southern Caucasus that was transformed from forest into an arboretum. There are approximately 500 plant types in Dendropark among which California Sequoias and the Fir Greenhouse are the most peculiar ones.This tour starts at 09.00am from the local operators office in central Yerevan. You will be driven to the Northern part of Armenia for the first stop of the trip at Hovhannavank monastery, which bears the name of John the Baptist. The oldest church here is the one-naved basilica built in the 5th century. In the 13th century under the patronage of Vachutian dukes new buildings were added. The portal of the main church, which is embellished with evangelical motifs, is of great interest.
The next stop is, Lori Berd, a medieval fortress located near Lori Berd village in Lori Province. The fortress was built by David Anhoghin to be the capital of Tashir-Dzoraget Kingdom. As it was situated on the northern trade route, Lori was a big cultural and trading centre in medieval Armenia. Deep canyons of this area made the Lori berd fortress unapproachable. In Lori were found different tools, weapons, jewelry, different vessels made of clay, glass or stone. This shows that different kinds of handicrafts were well developed in Lori.
Lunch will be at a cozy restaurant surrounded by nature. One can choose the meal between 4 offered options in the vehicle before arrival to the restaurant and pay on the spot.
The last stop is Stepanavan Dendropark, an arboretum located near Gyulagarak village. The arboretum is 35 ha in total of which 17.5 ha consist of natural forest and 15 ha of ornamental trees. This collection expanded along the newly constructed footpaths and vistas which began to reach into the natural forest and is thought to be the first place in the Transcaucasus, where a natural forest landscape had been reshaped into a Forest Park.
Drop off point is back in central Yerevan at the local operators head office.
The next stop is, Lori Berd, a medieval fortress located near Lori Berd village in Lori Province. The fortress was built by David Anhoghin to be the capital of Tashir-Dzoraget Kingdom. As it was situated on the northern trade route, Lori was a big cultural and trading centre in medieval Armenia. Deep canyons of this area made the Lori berd fortress unapproachable. In Lori were found different tools, weapons, jewelry, different vessels made of clay, glass or stone. This shows that different kinds of handicrafts were well developed in Lori.
Lunch will be at a cozy restaurant surrounded by nature. One can choose the meal between 4 offered options in the vehicle before arrival to the restaurant and pay on the spot.
The last stop is Stepanavan Dendropark, an arboretum located near Gyulagarak village. The arboretum is 35 ha in total of which 17.5 ha consist of natural forest and 15 ha of ornamental trees. This collection expanded along the newly constructed footpaths and vistas which began to reach into the natural forest and is thought to be the first place in the Transcaucasus, where a natural forest landscape had been reshaped into a Forest Park.
Drop off point is back in central Yerevan at the local operators head office.
« Go Back