Grand Armenia Road Trip

Armenia Grand Tour is a marvellous trip that will take all motorists along the varied topography of Armenia. The beautiful landscapes, arid fields, and idyllic villages laced with long and eventful history are everything that you will encounter while travelling along the Armenian roads. Despite the fact that Armenia is not an easy place to explore due to many less developed sections and difficult terrain, the country is valued for its rich culture, interesting landmarks, and unique cuisine.

Armenia Grand Tour offers 9 beautiful stages during which you’ll be offered a deeper insight into the country’s culture and geography. The trip starts at the Yerevan Airport where those who opt for a rental car will have the opportunity to equip themselves with a car make that suits their liking. The trip will take you north to such cities as Vanadzor and Navur. Later, you’ll travel south to such urban jewels as Shaki, Goris, or Ararat. The final stage of the tour is again the Yerevan Airport from where you can take a bus or a taxi to reach Yerevan and continue your Armenian adventure.

Your journey starts at the Yerevan Airport. It is precisely the place where you can collect your rental vehicle.

The trip starts at the Yerevan Airport where those travellers who would like to rent a vehicle have a number of options to choose from. The final destination of this around 120-kilometre stage is the beautiful Gyumri, the second largest city in Armenia. Along the way, you’ll have an opportunity to admire the constantly changing landscape through your car window.

In Gyumri, there exist a number of sightseeing options that await you. Its long history can be seen at every corner. The lovers of the topic will be especially interested in the archaeological sites that are scattered outside the city limits. You can also try visiting such places as Marmashen Monastery, Saint Alexandra the Martyr's Russian Orthodox Church, and Gyumri City Hall.

Your next stage will take you north through such settlements as Mayisyan, Keti, Pokrashen, or Musayelyan to arrive at Tashir. There, you’ll pass the halfway point of this lap. Take M3 road and travel south to reach the beautiful Vanadzor. Along the way, you’ll have a unique opportunity to admire the beauty of the Stepanawan Dendropark. Nearby, you’ll also find the remains of a fortress from the 3rd millennium BC.

After leaving the Stepanawan Dendropark, you’ll be only at a stone’s throw away from Vanadzor. On your way, you’ll pass such places as Gjulagarag, Bazum, and Darpas. Vanadzor is the third largest city in the country and can boast a very scenic location among the verdant hills, which you’ll have the opportunity to admire while driving into the city.

In Vanadzor, the capital of Lori Province, you should definitely visit such places as old khachkars, the beautiful Downtown, Vanadzor Central Park, and Saint Gregory of Narek Cathedral. After leaving the city and heading for your final destination of this stage, you’ll notice dense flora through your car window. It is characteristic for this part of the country.

This stage of your trip will take you along the beauty of Armenian natural parks. You’ll have an opportunity to take additional stopovers at such places as the Getik State Sanctuary or the Dilijan National Park, which is one of the four protected natural areas in the country. Reaching Navur will take you around 3 hours without any additional breaks.

In order to reach the town of Navur, you need to drive along H38 road. This small settlement is everything that travellers searching for an escape from congested cities seek. Through your car window, you’ll admire stunning topography which is the quintessence of Northern Armenia. Verdant hills, misty peaks, and beautiful flora are characteristic of the Navur’s nearest vicinity.

After a short break in Navur, hop in your car to head for your next destination, namely Vardenis. This part of your road trip will be especially scenic owing to the fact that it runs along the shores of Lake Sevan, the largest body of water in the whole country. You can even take an additional stopover to admire the beauty of this place. Interestingly, the only island that can be found on the lake is home to a medieval monastery.

Vardenis is located at a stone’s throw from Lake Sevan. You’ll reach it by taking M14 road. Vardenis enjoys a stunning location against the backdrop of Vardenis Mountains, which you can admire along the way. While in the city, the must-see attractions include medieval khachkars, the Monument of Perished Soldiers, and the Holy Mother of God Church.

After some time spent in Vardenis, you will travel to the last destination of this stage, namely Shaki. It is located at a distance of 171 km away. For those who are into nature reserves, there’s an option of an additional stopover in Herher State Sanctuary. Along the way, you’ll admire more mountainous Armenian terrain.

Shaki is a small town which is best known for the Shaki Waterfall. It’ll be an ideal place for those who seek some tranquillity during their road trip. Here, you’ll feel a true unity with nature. On all sides, you’ll be surrounded by scenic views and dense flora. From Shaki, continue your trip towards Goris located at a distance of 154 km away.

Along your way to Goris, you’ll pass such settlements as Noravan, Vaghatin, or Vorotan. Goris can boast one of the most scenic locations in this part of Armenia. Around the town, you’ll admire beautiful arid fields, green hills, and interesting monuments dotting the landscape.

While in Goris, you shouldn’t miss such highlights as the Goris Gate, the settlement of Old Kores, the Surp Hripsimé Basilica, or Saint Gregory Cathedral. There are also numerous viewpoints around the city which will allow you to admire the settlement and its nearest surroundings from afar.

This stage of the trip is almost 200 km long. Through your car window, you’ll see stunning mountain ranges which are the epitome of Southern Armenian geography. After some time spent in the south, your trip will take you north to Ararat located against the backdrop of the mountain of Urts.

Along your way to Ararat, you’ll drive through such places as Rind, Chiva, or Zangakatun. The rural Armenia will charm you with its beauty and idyllic ambiance. Take some time to see the highlights of Ararat and then hit the road in order to reach the final destination of this road trip, which is again the Yerevan Airport.

Those who have opted for car rental option should leave their cars at the airport. However, reaching it doesn’t necessarily mean the end of your Armenian journey. The distance from the airport to the city centre of Yerevan is 12 km. The two available options to get there are bus transfer or taxi transfer.

Yerevan is both the capital and the largest city of the stunning Armenia. It is a true urban jewel that will take you on a journey around its most notable highlights. Those who would like to delve deeper into the city’s history should definitely consider a visit at the History Museum of Armenia, the Erebuni Historical and Archaeological Museum-Reserve, or the Armenian Genocide Memorial and Museum.

Sightseeing around Yerevan doesn’t only entail focusing on history. You can also take a stroll around the gardens which are part of the Cafesjian Centre for the Arts, try some of the delicacies of Armenian cuisine at one of the restaurants in the City Centre, or admire the architecture of Yerevan’s main cathedral, Surp Sarkis. The lovers of art will be additionally pleased with a visit at the National Gallery of Armenia.

We believe that the presented road trip idea has become a superb inspiration for your future holiday excursions.
The tour we’ve suggested can be used as a template that can be recreated in its entirety or only partially and that can be enriched with diverse stopovers.
If car travel is the preferred travel mode for you, there are a number of important traffic regulations to follow and a number of elements to keep in mind to make your journey smooth. These tips will also become useful for drivers who are interested in hiring a car or camper hire.
In Armenia, there are a number of road regulations to be remembered while on a tour. When moving around Armenia in a car, try to stay away from spirits at any cost. The permitted level of alcohol in blood is low and amounts to only 0‰. Exceeding the maximum permissible speed, which is 37mph, when travelling around the urban areas may result in a speeding fine. When it comes to undeveloped areas, you should be mindful of the fact that the maximum permissible speed is 56mph. Avoid driving faster than the permissible speed of 56mph when on motorways. Driving with your headlights on at daytime and having a fire extinguisher and first aid kit greatly increase the safety.
But what are the costs of the whole trip. Well, depending on the budget option that interests you, the money that you have to spend on your holiday expenses may vary. Let’s have a look at the budget options.
We estimate that the budget option when it comes to fuel to cover the planned 724mi while travelling around Armenia will be roughly 86 GBP. Within the economy offer, accommodation will cost around 259 GBP. Tourists who go for this option will spend roughly 259 GBP on food and restaurants. Travellers will have to pay approximately 259 GBP if they go for the cheapest car hire offer as well. Thus, the estimated travel expenses amount to about 604 GBP without vehicle rental and 864 GBP with vehicle rental.
Holidayers who seek greater comfort and the standard option should be prepared to pay the maximum of 121 GBP for the gasoline needed to cover the trip. Cost amounting to 648 GBP can be expected by all holidaymakers who are considering standard overnight stays. When choosing this option, take into consideration that the food and restaurants within this range will cost approximately 345 GBP. Travellers who are also interested in a standard car rental should expect a cost of around 518 GBP. Summing up the standard offer, the estimated cost of the road trip will total more or less 1,632 GBP for holidayers who would like to try car hire and 1,114 GBP for those who are not interested in renting.
Drivers who are searching for the highest level of convenience will be pleased with the premium offer. When it comes to this offer, the estimated cost of the road trip will total around 2,996 GBP for travellers who are considering car hire and 1,114 GBP for those who do not need a rental vehicle. Travellers who want to cover the tour in a premium rental car should expect a cost of around 1,036 GBP. When it comes to the top standard version of the trip, the gasoline cost will be roughly 147 GBP. Holidayers who are considering top services in all aspects of their adventure should expect to pay approximately 518 GBP for restaurants and food and about 1,295 GBP for accommodation options.
Our trip will also be perfect for all camper fans, as it can be easily adjusted to their requirements. If you choose this travel option, you will pay up to more or less 1,295 GBP. Camper fans will spend more or less 181 GBP on gasoline allowing to cover all stages of the Grand Armenia Road Trip. Holidayers who are considering camper hire should expect to pay approximately 216 GBP for accommodation and approximately 259 GBP for expenses connected with food.
The Road Trip Costs section shows all the above details in a straightforward way.
The period between April and October is superb to explore the part of Armenia mentioned in our Grand Armenia Road Trip. If you like Grand Armenia Road Trip, our website is full of interesting scenic drives and road trips. Hopefully, the great diversity of ideas will surely cater to the needs of the most demanding travellers.