Is One Day In Armenia Enough? My Yerevan, Dilijan And Sevan Lake Trip
Is One Day In Armenia Enough? My Yerevan, Dilijan And Sevan Lake Trip
Before even coming to Georgia I decided I would also use this trip to check out Armenia. I actually was saying about coming too Azerbajan too but I soon realized this wasn’t possible and I would just have to stick to the 2 countries.
10 days to visit both countries properly – I think you can but is One Day in Armenia enough?
I think 3 days would have allowed me to see a bit more but definitely the one full day was a good amount of to time to see a lot of cool places.
This was mostly thanks to the tour I managed to get on. If you are Interested in this tour and others definitely check out Viator – highly recommended.
Also, if you are coming from Georgia like me – book your transfer (Tbilisi to Yerevan) with 12go.asia
Getting from Georgia to Armenia
I wont talk too much about my time in Georgia here. You can read more about this in my blog post >>> Teddy Travels To Tbilisi, Georgia <<< but>
It was a long drive and I couldn’t believe how the driver was driving. The road laws are definitely a lot different to the UK. This guy was in the path of oncoming traffic and swerving around at any opportunity. I can’t complain as he did get me there but I did think to myself that this was madness.
In the advertisement I see the trip it said would be around 4 hours. We left at 9 and got to Yerevan about 3:30pm (I think it was). This included going through customs which wasn’t too straightforward and 2 stops along the way.
First impressions of Yerevan Armenia
It is hard to say what I thought getting into Armenia really. It is very rural here lots of mountains and countryside. I see a lot of animals on the way here including I think wild cows and horses.
Also, I noticed a very cool bear statue on the way in to Armenia and I was quite Interested to learn how many bears there are actually here.
I think there are 7 different species of brown bears here. I don’t know if this is more than Georgia or not but what I did notice was that outside of Yerevan most of Armenia seems to be green belt so a very good environment for wildlife I’d expect.
Arriving in Yerevan
I’m not sure what time it was when I actually got into Yerevan. It wasn’t quite dark but it was starting to get dark.
My first mission here was getting a new sim card with mobile data. This was a bit of a headache because not many people I asked spoke English.
In the end I found a van parked up selling sim cards and thankfully I was finally sorted.
After this my next mission was finding my hostel. I think I actually walked past it earlier when I was trying to find somewhere to buy a sim card lol
I found it quick enough and that was that – dropped off my bags and sat down for a cup of tea and did some blogging.
Dinner at the Caucasus Restaurant
One good thing about my hostel was right across the street was the Caucaus Restaurant. I wasn’t really sure what to expect here but the two main things were that the food was good and it was definitely very affordable.
It was a nice atmosphere I thought. Seemed like it could be a good place to go on a date. I ordered the veal with rice and vegetables. They seem to have a lot of veal on the menu in Georgia and Armenia. Pretty brutal really but the food was fine. I think the next night I ordered the Pork Ojakhuri – something I ordered several times in Georgia.
Very nice if you like this sort of thing.
Full-Day Armenia Tour: What I Saw
Stop 1: the Kecharis Monastery complex in Tsaghkadzor, Armenia
This was the first of 3 monasteries that was visited on this tour. It was only a short stop but definitely appreciated seeing the place.
The only thing I didn’t like was the gift shop tried to charge me – I think it was about £8 UK GBP equivalent for only a magnet and post card.
Stop 2 Tsaghkadazor Cable Car
Not to far from Kecharis Monastery was the cable cars. I was a bit hesitant to go up as I had very little cash on me to pay but I was fortunately able to pay with my card and I got to go up.
There is a separate Quad Biking tour at the top of here. This was not part of my tour but I was quite content with going up and down on the cable car.
Stop 3: Sevan River & Lunch
By this point I was pretty hungry. I was very tempted just to go to the cafe instead of the cable cars but I figured I would hold on for a bit longer.
On the mini bus I was told about it being bad luck to not eat the Trout if you ever come here. I was a bit apprehensive to the idea but I thought why not?
It was actually very nice although it was quite a lot to try and finish. We was at this stop for an hour and I reckon it took me maybe 45 minutes to eat it all.
For the other 15 minutes it was just nice to wander around for a bit and take in the views. I also got a video call from my little niece whilst I was here and I got to show here all the quack quacks on the lake. I think there was a heron here as well. It was a very beautiful place to come to.
Stop 4: Sevan Monastery
Just around the corner from Sevan Lake is the Monastery. I wasn’t expecting to be visiting such an amazing place so soon after seeing the lake but this place wow.
Walking up was definitely a pain. It was a very steep walk up.
I actually didn’t walk straight up with the group I found myself ordering a Pomegranite Juice from a stall at the foot of the hill before I realized where I was meant to go.
This was a strange experience. Pomegranite Juice is very popular in Armenia but the only way you can drink it without it tasting bitter is with lots of Sugar. Quite like Mint Tea.
Besides the Pomegranite drink getting up to the top where you can find the Sevan Monastery had some spectacular views. Of course you could see Sevan Lake but just the backdrop of the scenery makes it a very special place I think.
Stop 4: Haghartsin Monastery
This was definitely a lot like the first Monastery that I visited on this tour of Armenia – I appreciated seeing it and it was nice to walk around it but in a way I was glad to get moving again.
The area is up the foot of a mountain I maybe wouldn’t have minded a bit of a hike up here. I would guess this would be somewhere that would be good for bear spotting lol
Perhaps even to find the Striped Hyenas and the rare Armenian Leopard.
Stop 5: Dilijan Town & Dilijan River
Now, this was pretty much so the last stop. Strangely, I had just seen a friends post on Facebook saying how beautiful Switzerland looks – this town is dubbed the Armenian Switzerland.
It’s quite special here with a main street of Wooden cabins. It is not a big town but it is pretty amazing to see.
In regards, to the whole day this was a nice little cherry on top and I’d definitely recommend choosing a tour that includes stopping by here.
Even coming here for only 45 minutes was good, and I suppose yes I probably wouldn’t mind spending a whole day here just to relax and take in the views.
Returning to Yerevan
After our last stop at Dilijan River and for a drop of brandy – I didn’t try it but most of the tour did it was back off on the road again to Yerevan.
The drive back I think was maybe 2 1/2 hours. Dilijan is on the way back to Georgia and on the way from here Initially I remembered coming through here and seeing the Bear sculptures on the round about.
If I remember correctly, after getting back into Yerevan I went straight back to the hostel did some blogging and went for dinner again at the Caucasus Restaurant, and that was it.
It was an amazing day and I would definitely do it again – I will actually be back in Armenia soon so will see what happens.
Leaving Armenia & Heading Back to Georgia
It was once again a 9AM departure going the opposite way back to Tbilisi.
The pick up point was not too far from the hostel and finding it was really no trouble.
The drive back to Georgia was OK except going through Customs. I think it must have took almost 3 hours to get through the border.
It was a relief to get moving again it was already getting late and really I just wanted to get back to Tbilisi.
Final Thoughts: Is Armenia Worth Visiting for Just One Day?
So, yes I thought it was worth the time to come to Armenia from Georgia. As short as this stay was I definitely had a good experience of this country.
Compared to Georgia I think it is quite similar in a lot of ways but it definitely has its own charms.
To me it seemed the sky had a hazy blue and pink colour. It felt to me like I was on another planet kind of.
I like both Armenia and Georgia kind of equally – it is great how much cheaper it is here than England and besides this the weather is better and the places here are just Incredible.
Places I Didn’t Go in Armenia (But Would Love to Visit)
Although my time in Armenia was short, there are plenty of places I didn’t get the chance to explore. If I ever return — ideally with more than one day — these are the destinations at the top of my list.
Yerevan Zoo
Located just outside the city centre, Yerevan Zoo is one place I would have liked to visit, especially after spending time at Tbilisi Zoo in Georgia. The zoo is home to a variety of animals and is said to be a popular attraction for both locals and visitors.
Garni Temple
One of Armenia’s most famous landmarks, Garni Temple is a well-preserved Greco-Roman structure set against a dramatic mountain backdrop. It’s often combined with nearby attractions and looks like one of the most photogenic places in the country.
Geghard Monastery
Carved partially into the rock face, Geghard Monastery is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Armenia’s most unique religious landmarks. The setting alone makes it feel like a must-see destination.
Khor Virap Monastery
Famous for its postcard-perfect views of Mount Ararat, Khor Virap is one of Armenia’s most iconic sights. It’s a place I would have loved to visit for both the history and the scenery.
Gyumri
Armenia’s second-largest city is known for its distinctive architecture, arts scene, and slower pace compared to Yerevan. Gyumri seems like the kind of place that would offer a more local, authentic experience.
Noravank Monastery
Set within a narrow red-rock canyon, Noravank Monastery looks completely different from the monasteries I visited during my tour. The contrast in landscape alone makes it appealing.
Areni Wine Region
Armenia is one of the oldest wine-producing regions in the world, and the Areni area is known for its vineyards and wineries. With more time, a wine-tasting day trip would be high on my list.
Jermuk
Known for its hot springs, mineral water, and waterfalls, Jermuk appears to be a great option for anyone wanting to slow down and relax after busy travel days.
Mount Aragats
For hikers and outdoor lovers, Mount Aragats offers some of the best mountain scenery in Armenia. Even a short visit to the surrounding area would be worth it.
And I shall finish up here – if you are Interested in visiting Armenia and have any questions, or would just like to leave a comment after reading this blog please feel free to drop us a comment below – it would be great to hear from you.
Many Thanks:
Alex and Teddy
TeddyBearsTravels.com
Keen traveler and digital nomad looking to share my stories from my international trips.