Of particular interest in the Geghama Range is the volcanic lake Akna. Akna means ‘eye’ in Armenian, and Akna is the goddess of motherhood and birth in Mayan mythology. In the morning we meet at the designated place and in half an hour we get from Yerevan to the village Sevaberd at the height of 2058m.

An off-road vehicle will take you to the lake with your camp, kitchen and other luggage. We throw our luggage into the van which will be waiting for us at the finishing point of the first day. We’ll take small backpacks (48l) with us, and put into it all the things we need for the day trip (1l water, snack, personal medicine, windbreaker, etc.).

We start our hike from Sevaberd village and walk 13 km to Akna mountain lake. Akna Lake is located 3032 meters above sea level in the Geghama Highlands, 6 km from Mount Azhdaak. Individual lunchboxes and water will be provided. The trekking time will take 4-5 hours. The reward for your hard work will be a wonderful hot dinner from the Chef and Armenian wines. Your tent camp will be set up at your arrival. (Sleeping bags and sleeping mats will also be available).

Overnight in tents at Akna lake.

Azhdaak in Armenian mythology is a human vishap (human-dragon). Vishaps, live in high mountains, in large lakes, in the sky and in the clouds. Rising to the sky or descending, especially to the lakes, they make a rumble, sweeping away everything in their path. A vishap that has lived to be a thousand years old can consume the whole world.

In the morning, we’ll have a joint warm-up after our first day of hiking and a delicious breakfast from our cook. After getting our lunchboxes and water we start our trek today to Duck Lake and climb to the top of Azhdaak Mt 3597m. Azdaak is an extinct volcano with a crater lake on top. At the top we have lunchboxes. The summit offers views of Mount Ararat, Mount Aragats, Lake Sevan as well as the slopes of the Geghama Range and the valley of the Kotayk region. Not far from Duck Lake we will set our next camp.

If we have the strength we will visit the placers of rock paintings and the place of strength under the Nazeli mountain. Difference of heights of the day is 750 m. Trekking time is 7 hours, the distance is 15 km.

Overnight in tent camp.

As always, we will start the morning with a delicious breakfast and a warm-up. We’ll help our camp leaders set up camp and hit the road, armed with a lunchbox and water. Our first hike will be to Lake Wank. On the shore of Lake Wank, we will explore the idols of the vishapaks. Vishapakars (vishapas) are stone phalic statues depicting ancient mythological creatures. Originally they were deities or spirits of water and were installed near water sources. After enjoying the place of power and touching the history of 4 thousand years ago we move forward to the village of Geghard. Height difference of today is 900m. Transition time is 6-7 hours, total length is 11 km.

At the end of the crossing you will find a car waiting for you, which will take you to Yerevan. But before that we will visit the temple Garni (the only preserved monument of the Hellenistic pagan period in Armenia) and the Geghard Monastery (founded in the 4th century on the place of the holy spring, which starts from a cave, the most important of which is the spear, that pierced the body of Jesus Christ on the cross).

Return to Yerevan. Accommodation in guest house. Shower and other delights of civilization will bring you back to your feet. In the evening before dinner you go for a walk in the center of Yerevan.

Overnight in Yerevan

Be ready for an early wake-up call and an early breakfast.

From Yerevan we will go to the foot of the volcano Aragats, at the altitude of 3200m. Today we are going to climb the South summit of Armenia’s highest point, Mount Aragats. The start will be at an altitude of 3200 m near Lake Kari. The total ascent today is about 700 meters and will take 3-3.5 hours. At the summit you will admire the views of the crater and the rest of the summits of Mount Aragats - there are 3 more peaks in total. Emotions from the views, a snack and hot tea will give us strength to go down (1.5 hours). After finishing our ascent and having a short break we will make our camp.

In the evening we will have a delicious camping dinner and Armenian beer tasting.

Overnight in tents at Kari Leach Lake.

After a good night’s sleep and enjoying breakfast we will fold camp and make our trek today down the slopes of Mount Aragats to the ruins of the Amberd Fortress. Once we reach the fortress we will walk in its ruins and listen to some interesting historical facts. After lunch on the way we will return back to Yerevan.

End of the program. Departure

Some people are already leaving, and some are going shopping for souvenirs. But you have nothing better than to have a cup of coffee in a cafe in Yerevan, or just take a walk in the “pink city”.

Farewell dinner at the discretion of the participants

Say goodbye and… make an appointment for new routes.