Amberd, Aragats & Lake Kari

1. 1
   Hotel in YerevanPick-up at your address at the chosen time09:00
2. 2
   Armenian alphabet monumentThe Armenian Alphabet Monument stands by the road from Yerevan to Aparan, on the eastern slope of Mount Aragats near the village of Artashavan. It opened in 2005 to mark 1,600 years of Armenian writing. Thirty-nine tuff letters are covered in carved ornament, and among them stand statues of figures of Armenian culture, from Gregory the Illuminator to Hovhannes Tumanyan. Higher up the slope are a chapel and a cross made of many small crosses.20 min

   

   

   

   

   

   

   © BarevTrip

   The Armenian Alphabet Monument stands by the road from Yerevan to Aparan, on the eastern slope of Mount Aragats near the village of Artashavan. It opened in 2005 to mark 1,600 years of Armenian writing. Thirty-nine tuff letters are covered in carved ornament, and among them stand statues of figures of Armenian culture, from Gregory the Illuminator to Hovhannes Tumanyan. Higher up the slope are a chapel and a cross made of many small crosses.

   Free entry

3. 3
   Amberd FortressAmberd is a medieval fortress on the southern slope of Mount Aragats, set more than 2,000 metres above sea level on a promontory between two deep gorges. From the 10th to the 13th century it was one of the key strongholds of Armenian princes. What survives is a basalt citadel with semicircular towers, sections of wall, a bathhouse with underfloor heating and the Vahramashen Church of 1026. From the edge of the promontory you can see the gorges and the Ararat Valley, and on a clear day Mount Ararat.60 min
4. 4
   Mount Aragats, drive up the south slopeThe road from the fork near Amberd Fortress climbs the south slope of Aragats, Armenia's highest mountain, to Lake Kari. Over 13 kilometres the car gains about 840 metres, from roughly 2,350 to 3,190 metres above sea level. Lower down are meadows with shepherds' summer camps; higher up come scree fields and patches of snow, with the Ararat Valley opening out behind you. In winter this section is closed because of snow.0 min
5. 5
   Lake KariLake Kari is a small glacial lake on the southern slope of Mount Aragats, about 3,200 metres above sea level. A mountain road from Byurakan, past Amberd Fortress, comes almost to the water's edge. All around is stony high country: snow often lingers on the slopes until July, the peaks of Aragats rise above the shore, and on a clear day Mount Ararat can be seen in the distance. A cosmic ray research station and a seasonal café stand on the shore, and an ancient vishap, a carved dragon stone, rises on a hill at the southern end.25 min
6. 6
   Hotel in YerevanReturn to the same or another address in the city≈ 16:00

Driving between stops takes about 5.5 h. You can change the order by telling the driver.