Transfer from airport to hotel, overnight at Yerevan, time to prepare bikes.
Cycle on the main road towards Lake Sevan.
Martuni was formerly the capital of the Gegharkunik Province. It has the lovely Astvatsatsin church which is well worth a visit. There is also an Iron Age fort which was excavated in 1997 by an Armenian-Italian team
We stop at the Vanevan monastery, located along a gorge in the southern part of the village of Artsvanist. Vanevan monastery is an important piece of Armenian architecture dating back to the 10th century. The inscriptions on the southeastern part indicate that the church was built in 903.
At Gosh we visit the Monastery of Goshavank with its numerous khachkars, (Armenian stone crosses). Some of them are unique and highly artistic. The khachkars created by the carver Poghos in Goshavank stand out from the rest. The best of them is a 1291 khachkar with the maker's name carved in the bottom left star.
We spend the afternoon wandering around this lovely area and its tiny lake, Lake Parz. We spend three days hiking and exploring the area.
Lastiver has a cave in one of the most picturesque places in Armenia. During the Mongol invasions in the 13-14th centuries, locals found their shelter in this cave. The cave is located on an almost-flat slope of the canyon. In order to reach the cave people constructed a ladder which reminded them of a raft. From then on, the location has been known as “Lastiver” which can be translated as “up the raft”. Just below the cave at the lowest point of the gorge, you will see a stunning cascade of waterfalls. Finish the hike in the Apaga Resort. Relax here or participate in the adventure activities laid on at the resort. Return to Dilijan for the overnight stay.
Mount Dimats is one of the highest points of the Ljevan mountain range. Once at the top, an amazing view there is a stunning view of the rocky walls of the Ljevan mountains. We climb from 1300m to 2400m.
From here we cycle to Tsakhkadzor (the name means The Valley of Flowers) a spa town and a popular winter resort located in a lovely valley on the eastern slope of Mount Teghenis at 1845m. Here we visit the medieval Kecharis monastery. We can also take the Teghenis Mountain chairlift for stunning views of the Armenian mountains.
Bjni is a village in Kotayk Province. It is situated in a valley sandwiched between steep canyon walls and a small river. We’ll visit the 11th century Bjni fortress and church, both built by the Pahlavuni Princess.
At Garni we will visit the site of a Hellenistic complex which includes the temple, a Roman bath with a partly preserved mosaic floor with a Greek inscription, a royal summer palace and other remains from the Greco-Roman world. It forms part of the larger Garni fortifications which are amongst the oldest in Armenia.
The cycling part of the tour ends in Yerevan.
Free evening to explore Yerevan.
Once the centre of an empire, this former Soviet republic span the line between Europe and Asia. Armenia has a rich, ancient history, and it is most famously known for being the first country in the world to adopt Christianity as the state religion. It straddles the crossroads between east and west bordering Georgia, Azerbaijan and Iran, just south of the main Caucasus mountains. Ancient Armenia was one of the world’s oldest centres of civilization. At its height it stretched from the Black Sea coast to the Caspian Sea, and from the Mediterranean to Lake Urmia in Iran. Ancient Armenia was subjected to constant foreign incursions, finally losing independence in the 14th century CE. The centuries-long rule of the Ottoman Turks and the Persians imperilled the very existence of the people
The capitol city is Yerevan, and the country is mountainous though characterised by a great variety of scenery. The average height of the terrain is 1800m ASL.
Since the collapse of the USSR Armenia has modernised and opened up, increasing its tourist infrastructure.
Travel to the start and from the finish is not included in this holiday. Thus, it is very important that you note that neither your Tour Manager nor Bikexplore are responsible for you in any way until the appointed time at the designated meeting point. Should you fail to arrive at the appointed time for whatever reason, we will not be responsible for any additional expenses you may incur in order to meet up with the tour group. Before finalising travel arrangements, you should ensure that the tour is definitely going ahead. Should there be insufficient bookings or pandemic travel restrictions are re-imposed, we reserve the right to cancel the tour at any time. It is therefore recommended that you book fully flexible and refundable transport and accommodation or wait until you have been told the tour will go ahead. In the event of the tour being cancelled we will not be responsible for any losses incurred outside what you pay us.
Accommodation is usually in hotels, some guest houses are used in the smaller villages.
Sharing
Yes
There are two rest days at Dilijan in the Armenian Alps, both days have hikes.
We will be riding round the beautiful Lake Sevan situated at approximately 2000m ASL. The lake is surrounded by ancient monuments, churches and monasteries. Highlights include the largest khachkar cemetery in the world. (Medieval carved stone crosses), the beaches near Sevanavank Monastery, and the countless fish and crayfish restaurants along the lake shores. We visit Dilijan, centre of the ‘Armenian Switzerland’, a high and mountainous area covered with ancient forest and lush ‘alpine’ pasture. We ride though the Kotayk area with its mountain resorts and ancient settlements. Yerevan is an up-and-coming capital city which is becoming increasingly popular amongst tourists. We have time to explore its monuments and sites. It has a modern yet ancient heart with soviet style modernist buildings alongside bright lights and vibrant retaurants.
The weather is usually hot in Armenia in June. However, we will be riding in the mountains so you will need to bring appropriate clothing for adverse conditions. I do not expect bad weather as even in the mountains the weather should be warm and dry.
We recommend a good audax/ gravel type bike. Be aware that some of the roads are very small and can be rough, however, there are no gravel roads. I recommend larger tyres than usual to avoid any problems. You should ensure your cycle is well maintained, paying particular attention to wheels, tyres and brakes. Road bikes should also be OK as there is luggage transfer.
Although you will be provided with route notes and there will be a support vehicle as well as the local guide and the Tour Manager. If you wish to buy a map, the only one I could find is from Stanfords, Armenia and Azerbaijan. The Bradt guide to Armenia is good.
It is your responsibility to be suitably fit and abe to ride this tour.
At present Britain does not have a reciprocal health agreement with Armenia. Appropriate travel insurance is therefore essential; please check with your provider to ensure that they cover Armenia. Although most travel insurance policies do not cover cancellation due to pandemic restrictions, the money you pay to us for the holiday is fully protected until we depart.
I am a keen cyclist, trained cycle instructor, ride leader and mechanic, able to support members of the group who require it. I have led a number of tours for CTC Cycling Holidays and Tours and Bikexplore, and I have toured extensively in Europe and further afield.
Lyndale, Basingstoke Rd, Three Mile Cross, Reading RG7 1AS. 07508 025457. gregorywoodford@gmail.com