Yoga Tour to Armenia / 7 Days

Yoga tour to Armenia is not only about traveling to another country, but also is about experiencing healthy and stress-free life. Also it is a great opportunity to deepen your own yoga practice or to start practicing yoga in the beautiful atmosphere of the mountainous Armenia, filled with the energy of ancient places, where you can withdraw yourself from everyday problems and connect with your inner self.

Yoga teacher Katia Logunova (10 years of personal practice, 8+ years of teaching experience, internationally certified in India, RYS-500). Katia was born and raised in Moscow and now permanently lives in Armenia. She leads group and private hatha yoga classes from beginners to advanced students, as well as prenatal and gentle yoga classes. She always does her best to approach everyone individually, helping with proper breathing and the body alignment. Katia believes that yoga is not just a set of exercises, but a fundamental knowledge, that can make you physically and mentally stronger, improving the quality of your life by revealing happier inner state.

Day 1: Yerevan

Meeting the group at the airport, transfer to the hotel and walking tour in Yerevan. During the walking tour we’ll explore the city architecture and see places which are hallmarks of Armenia.

During the dinner we will get acquinted to one another and we’ll tell you in detail about our upcoming plans for hikes and yoga classes.

In the evening we will have our first yoga practice in Armenia. The practice will be relaxing and restorative after the flight and busy day.

Overnight in Yerevan.

Day 2: Garni – Geghard – Symphony of Stones

We will start our day with breathing exercises and introduction to meditation (during the whole tour we will regularly stop near the ancient buildings for meditation).

After we will continue our journey to a pagan temple of Garni, which is one of the most famous monuments of pagan period and is dedicated to the god of sun Mithras. After observing the temple we will go down to the gorge of river Azat, where a natural monument is situated known as “Symphony of Stones”. These are vertical, upright cliffs, huge number of hexagonal basalt columns of volcanic origin.

In Azat gorge we will have one and a half hour long yoga practice after which we will visit  the monastery complex of the 13th century, which is carved out of the mountain.

Overnight in village Goght.

Details of the day:

• Location – Kotayk Province
• Distance from Yerevan – 37 km
• Length of the route – 5 km
• Difficulty level – easy
• The best hiking period –  May – October

Day 3: Mount Aragats

The medieval fortress Amberd is located on the slopes of Aragats. After observing the fortress we will meditate in the silence of the fortress walls. 

From the fortress Amberd we will continue our way to lake Kari. The Alpine lake is situated at the height of 3200m, on the plateau, under the mountain peaks. Not far from the lake we will start our yoga class (intensive practive 1,5 hour).

The most powerful extinct volcano with its energy and beauty is Aragats – the highest point of the nowadays Armenia. It has four peaks. A huge and picturesque crater is situated between them.

Overnight in Yerevan.

Details of the day:

• Location – Aragatsotn Province
• Distance from Yerevan – 80 km
• Length of the route – 5 km
• Difficulty level – easy
• The best hiking period –  May– October

Day 4: On the Road to South Armenia

In the morning of the forth day we will move to the South Armenia. On our way we will see a well known and significant temple – Khor Virap. The temple is built on the deep pit, where on the 4th century Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned for almost 15 years. We’ll go down to that place and try to feel the spirits of the past. From Khor Virap there’s a good view of mount Ararat. After exploring the monastery, we will do meditation there to try to feel the energy of this ancient place.

An Alpine Fortress on the Edge of the Cliff

Chronologically walking in the history we appear in the 5th century, when one of the best preserved fortresses of Armenia was built. It is surrounded by steep rocks from 3 sides and has strong walls with semicircular towers with the height of 8-10 meters and the width of 3-4 meters. There are many stories and legends about this fortress. The stories are connected to one of the greatest kings of Armenia.

We will walk to the Smbataberd fortress in silence. Observing the silence is one of the important and powerful yoga practices. Silent walking is a form of active meditation. During the hike we will concentrate on breathing, our own steps and will observe the nature. After exploring the fortress we will have a restorative yoga practice (approximately 60 mins).

After we will continue our way to an abandoned monastery complex of XI century from where we will go down to a village, which once was a fortified medieval town.

Overnight in Vayots Dzor.

Details of the day:

• Location – Vayots Dzor Province
• Distance from Yerevan – 180 km
• Length of the route – 12 km
• Difficulty level – medium
• The best hiking period –  May– October

Day 5: Along the Slopes of Teksar Mountains

We will start our day from breathing exercises and meditation in the nature, after which we will start our hike from narrow gorges up to the monastery, loacted on the slopes of Teksar mountains. We ascent to the monastery in silence, with concentration on breathing, the trail and our steps.

The remains of the Armenian military leader and political thinker Garegin Nzhdeh were secretly buried in the yard of Spitakavor Monastery. Every year, on 17th of June, in honor of his birthday, armenian people from all over the world make pilgrimage to the monastery. The whole Vayots Dzor will be seen from a bird’s eye view during this trip.

Overnight in Vayots Dzor.

Details of the day:

• Location – Vayots Dzor Province
• Distance from Yerevan – 26 km
• Length of the route – 15 km
• Difficulty level – medium
• The best hiking period –  May– October

Day 6: Rest day in Sevan

In the morning, through Vardenyats (Selim) pass, we will move to lake Sevan.

On our way we will see Orbelian’s Caravanserai. This is the only well-preserved caravanserai in Armenia. It was built along the Vardenyats Mountain Pass (previously known as the Selim Mountain Pass) in 1332, by prince Chesar Orbelian to accommodate weary travelers and their animals as they crossed from, or into, the mountainous Vayots Dzor region. Now Caravanserai does not serve its purpose and is open for everyone who wants to study the life of people of those times. 

Near Caravanserai we will have breathing exercises and meditation. 

Through the mountain passes we’ll go down to a real treasure, which is absolutely beyond the time, to eternal and magnificent lake Sevan. The lake is on the height of 1900 meters. People call it the pearl of Armenian mountains and this metaphor reflects the whole essence of the attitude to lake Sevan.  The lake, surrounded by mountains, is changing all the time depending on the season, and reflecting the slightest change in the weather, even because of the movement of the clouds,  because of light and shadows, it may change beyond recognition. However, you should see all these with your own eyes, to understand.

After we will visit Sevanavank monastery, which is located on a peninsula at the northwestern shore of Lake Sevan.

Near the lake we will have yoga practice, intensive or restorative, it depends on group wellness and weather conditions (1,5 hour).

Details of the day:

• Location – Gegharkunik Province
• Distance from Yerevan – 140 km
• Length of the route – 5 km
• Difficulty level – easy
• The best hiking period –  May– October

Day 7: Sunny Yerevan

In the morning at the hotel we will have our last yoga practice. Before leaving we will have time to have a walk in Yerevan. There is a market known as “Vernissage” very close to Republic Square. Here you can get souvenirs and many other things typical to Armenia.

At the end we will exchange the contacts and transfer you to the airport.

Тentative tour cost*

Actual cost may slightly vary and depends on accomodation chosen by the group (hotels, guest houses or hostels).

Number of participants	Price per person
2 — 3	1400$
4 — 5	890$
6 — 9	815$
10 — 15	710$

The price includes:

• the service of the guide-translator
• the service of yoga teacher
• transfer from the airport and back
• transportation within Armenia
• accommodation in hotels
• food service during the whole tour

The price does not include:

• Air tickets
• Rent of personal equipments
• Alcoholic beverages

Gear List:

• Yoga mat
• Comfortable and loose fitting clothes for yoga
• Backpack
• Walking boots
• Warm clothes
• First aid kit
• Container for water
• Raincoat
• Cap or bandana
• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Forehead flashlight
• Lighter, matches
• Camera
• Hiking gaiters

FAQ

Guides:

Our guides are local, but speak English freely.

We are in this business for a long time and we know how to present Armenia, so you will return with desire to learn more about our country. We are all professionals here and are well-known in Armenia.

Overnight:

Overnights will be either at hostels or guesthouses.

Food:

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included. Mostly will be national dishes from Armenian cuisine.

If there are vegetarians in the group, please inform us beforehand.

The breakfast and dinner will be mostly at hotel/guesthouse. During the trip we’ll take some dry rations with us.

Transportation:

Our bus will accompany us all the way.

Expenses:

Everything is included in the cost. You’ll have nothing to pay, excluding your personal expenses.

For the booking and all questions, please contact us.

 

Hiking and Trekking in Armenia