Travel to Armenia
with Rozalia Shaybekyan
with Rozalia Shaybekyan
Fram promises a lot of unique routes guided by leading historians, archaeologists, ethnographers, naturalists and the best travel companions – like-minded people developing the most advanced Russian and global projects.
September 26 — 28
UNKNOWN ARMENIA
Medieval manuscripts, wine and outer space
Medieval manuscripts, wine and outer space
This country is antiquity itself, and the legends from the times of the Old Testament are still alive here. It was here, on the Armenian Highlands, near the ranges of the Lesser Caucasus, that Noah's ark saved the world. And it was here, at the Ararat volcano, that the raven flew out of the ark to search for land. It was the first Christian country across the world and it is the abode of scientists and books written in one of the most ancient alphabets in the world. The plentitude of temples and monasteries rivals the world's largest book museum in wisdom. The beauty of the local mountains can be compared to the gold of local apricots that Pliny called the Armenian apple.
This is Armenia, the country of Noah's Ark, violet mountains, sun-filled apricots, volcanoes and mineral water.
It's just three days, but the impressions you'll get will last for life.
This is Armenia, the country of Noah's Ark, violet mountains, sun-filled apricots, volcanoes and mineral water.
It's just three days, but the impressions you'll get will last for life.
WHO ARE YOU
TRAVELLING WITH
Rozalia Shaybekyan is a born traveler: she dropped her diplomatic career in favor of being a tour guide (Rozalia speaks six languages!). She was born in Georgia, lived in Russia and Spain but she always returned to Armenia. She believes people in Armenia have been looking for the harmony of nature and civilization for thousands of years — they built monasteries in scenic, remote places so as to preserve written legacy there during the conquests. Rozalia knows what kind of harmony she is talking about — she traveled across Europe, Africa, South America and the Middle East, she rode camels in a desert of Morocco and flew a paraglider. She sees many contrasts in Armenia. European and Oriental cultures, paganism and Christianity coexist here. She loves the orange mountains and vibrant sunsets of Vayk, the blue Lake Sevan and the air of Dilijan.
ROZALIA SHAYBEKYAN
01 \
Rozalia Shaybekyan is a born traveler: she dropped her diplomatic career in favor of being a tour guide (Rozalia speaks six languages!). She was born in Georgia, lived in Russia and Spain but she always returned to Armenia. She believes people in Armenia have been looking for the harmony of nature and civilization for thousands of years — they built monasteries in scenic, remote places so as to preserve written legacy there during the conquests. Rozalia knows what kind of harmony she is talking about — she traveled across Europe, Africa, South America and the Middle East, she rode camels in a desert of Morocco and flew a paraglider. She sees many contrasts in Armenia. European and Oriental cultures, paganism and Christianity coexist here. She loves the orange mountains and vibrant sunsets of Vayk, the blue Lake Sevan and the air of Dilijan.
ROZALIA SHAYBEKYAN
01 \
Director, film and television producer. He is a true professional of his craft. He studied in Moscow, then trained in Europe. Armen's works touch with their kindness and deep humanity. Perhaps, it's all about his hometown, which Armen didn't leave for either career or family. Together, we will walk around Gyumri, a city with a thorny history. Armen is utterly devoted to the city and he knows all the local stories and anecdotes, as well as all the secret places. Like everyone else in Gyumri, he likes to tell jokes, especially about the famous Gyumri bragging. Armen is a wonderful storyteller, delicate, intelligent and emotional.
ARMEN VARDANYAN
02 \
Director, film and television producer. He is a true professional of his craft. He studied in Moscow, then trained in Europe. Armen's works touch with their kindness and deep humanity. Perhaps, it's all about his hometown, which Armen didn't leave for either career or family. Together, we will walk around Gyumri, a city with a thorny history. Armen is utterly devoted to the city and he knows all the local stories and anecdotes, as well as all the secret places. Like everyone else in Gyumri, he likes to tell jokes, especially about the famous Gyumri bragging. Armen is a wonderful storyteller, delicate, intelligent and emotional.
ARMEN VARDANYAN
02 \
ARMENIA
ARMENIA
Arnemia
Day 1
The first day is devoted to a walk in the mountains — we will take jeeps to go to Lake Parz, and from there we will trek to the Goshavank monastery, have a picnic there on a meadow among the mountains and come over the Matosavank forest monastery. Then we will reach the Molokan village of Fioletovo, the last of the thirty Molokan settlements in Soviet Armenia. After having lunch there, we will leave for the village of Dsegh to spend the night there in a glamping.
Day 2
We will move to the Debed River, reach the monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin, the first UNESCO World Heritage listed sites in Armenia. Haghpat served as a shelter for scholars and theologians and was famous for its book-writing workshops. Forming a couple, the monasteries worked as an academic town of medieval Armenia. After lunch, we will go to Gyumri — the Soviet Leninakan, which was destroyed by the terrible earthquake of 1988. After checking in a hotel, we'll go for a walk around the restored city.
Day 3
After breakfast, we will have a walk around Gyumri with Armen Vardanyan, before going to one of the largest and most beautiful wineries in Armenia with its own vineyards. After lunch, we will reach a monastery perched on the edge of a ravine. Next we'll visit the Byurakan Observatory, the leading space exploration center in Armenia. Finally, we will return to Yerevan full of impressions.
Dilijan
Goshavank
Gyumri
Fioletovo
Yerevan
ROUTE
HOW WILL OUR JOURNEY GO? →
Route duration — 3 days
We have only three days to see the most interesting places, so it's going to be intense. Be ready!
Please fill out a short form
We will contact you and answer any questions you may have
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
You need to be ready for hiking. We wake up early, walk a lot, ride jeeps, trek, so if you dream of a lazy ride, it's not the case. We do not expect feats from the participants, but we hope that you enjoy activity holidays. We will be riding off-road vehicles. We value comfort, beauty and convenience when traveling, so we are looking for attractive and comfortable accommodation as well as fresh and delicious food. Get ready to be surprised!
We're going to ride off-road vehicles on the roads of Armenia. And you can drive as well, it's not a joke! Just don't forget your driver's license.
We do not just take travelers to interesting places and arrange ordinary tours for them. We like to understand the meanings of something and self-develop during traveling — it gives us a chance not only to get to know the world and countries, but also to change by learning more. We appreciate stories, and we try to understand more than a hasty tourist. Before we start the trip, in a private telegram chat, we will start telling about the history of the places we're going to visit — about ancient Armenia, the history of its people and route points. The stories will continue during the trip, so when we return, we will know more.
The journey, guided tours, off-road vehicles, breakfasts, hotels.
We are conscious travelers — we respect local customs, we enjoy learning new things and understanding the meaning of the places we visit. History, culture, geology, botany and geography — we'll cover it all. And what's more, there will be trekking, landscapes, sunsets and sunrises.
It is not required, but recommended.
We will eat delicious and fresh local food. No cans of stew or sprats. If you have any food allergies or food preferences, please contact us, so we could find an appropriate option for you.
Yes, you can. We think that seeing Armenia, its mountains and monasteries, tasting the most delicious Armenian jam in the world will appeal to any child. Children should preferably be over six years old, since we will have a short trekking route to Goshavank, and we expect your child to be able to cover it.
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