Jeep Tour: Hayravank Monastery, Orbelyan Caravanserai, Smbataberd Fortress

• Hayravank Monastery Complex
• Orbelyan Caravanserai
• Smbataberd Fortress

The tour will be started from the Gegharkunik region. The first stop is the Church of Surb Stepanos of the Hayravank Monastery complex (IX-XIII centuries), which is located on a rocky cape on the shore of Lake Sevan. The monastery complex is located on the northeastern outskirts of Hayravank village and is considered as one of the unique samples of the Armenian architecture. Only the church and the gavit have been preserved.

Then, passing Big Sevan, we will go to the Orbelian Caravanserai (XIV century), which is located on the Yeghegnadzor-Martuni highway, on Mount Selim. This caravanserai, like a number of other similar constructions, served as an inn for merchants passing through Armenia along the Silk Road. Marco Polo once passed through this area and described how the Armenians lived in hard-to-reach mountains.

Then we will continue our way to Artabuynk village in the Vayots Dzor region, from where we will have an off-road trip to the Smbataberd Fortress. The fortress is divided by a wall into two parts, northern and southern. Here we can see the ruins of the citadel, residential buildings, reservoirs. Surb Nshan and Zorats Monasteries in Yeghegis village are visible from the fortress.

Departure: 10:00

Arrival: 21:00

Departure place: Hakob Hakobyan str. 1/ next to the Mergelyan Institute