Author’s tour – The Mysticism of Lori region

09:00 Departure for the tour, heading north of Armenia. 12:00 Hovhannes Tumanyan House-Museum, whom Armenians consider "The poet of All Armenians". 13:00 Check-in and lunch at the beautiful guesthouse "Debed Life" in the village of Debed. The Lori region is renowned for "Lori" cheese, and here, we'll have a masterclass on making authentic Lori cheese. 15:30 A walk to the Saint Gregory Monastery, commonly known as Bardzrakash. The monastery complex dates back to the 10-13th centuries. The stone structures of the main buildings, nestled in the green gorge, are currently in ruins, exposed and overgrown with vegetation. We'll walk along the trail that was once trodden by the heroes of the famous story "Gikor" by Hovhannes Tumanyan. Approximately halfway along this trail, there is a spring where one of the famous scenes from the movie "Gikor" was filmed. Next, an exciting activity awaits us – "Zilin," a ride on a ZIL truck towards Lake Tsover (translated from Armenian, Tsover literally means "seas"), located 3 kilometers southeast of the village of Dsekh. This picturesque lake in the depth of the forest, where Hovhannes Tumanyan used to enjoy picnics, is now a favorite relaxation spot for the residents of Dsekh. Depending on the season, during the hike, you can gather various berries and later prepare compotes and various treats from them. Dsekh also provides all the facilities for horse riding enthusiasts and cycling enthusiasts. In the evening, exciting games await us by the bonfire. 20:00 Dinner and overnight stay in Debed.

Breakfast at the guesthouse. 09:00 Departure. 10:00 Short walk to the Kobayr Monastery, dating back to the 11-13th centuries. The history of Kobayr is closely connected with the famous noble families of medieval Armenia: the Kyurikyans and Zakaryans. The monastery is particularly notable for its stunning frescoes from the late 13th century. The location of the monastery is also impressive, perched above the Debed River gorge, on the slopes of the basaltic Lori Mountains covered with dense vegetation. 12:00 Travel to the Alaverdi city for a masterclass in baking aromatic Lori bread and gata in the oven at the Iris guesthouse. 13:30 Journey to the city of Akhtala. 14:00 Walking tour of the Tamerlan Fortress. 15:30 Lunch at the Nurik Restaurant. 17:00 Visit to the fortress and the Church of the Holy Mother of God in Akhtala. The history of Akhtala traces back to the Bronze and Iron Ages. The first excavations were conducted here in the late 19th century by the renowned French archaeologist Jacques de Morgan. The fortress was built by King David Anhoghin in the 10th century, and the Church of the Holy Mother of God represents a unique blend of Armenian and Byzantine architecture. It is the largest among the churches named after the Virgin Mary in modern Armenia. The frescoes, dating back to the early 13th century and covering an area of 960 square meters, have been well-preserved. 18:00 Drive to the village of Haghpat. Check-in and dinner at the Kefilyan (or Gayane) hotel with a captivating view of the Lori Gorge. 20:00 Dinner and overnight stay in Haghpat.

Breakfast at the hotel. 9:00 Tour to the Haghpat Monastery – a significant architectural monument of medieval Armenia, which served as one of the centers of spiritual culture in Armenia from the 10th to the 13th centuries. In 1996, Haghpat, along with Sanahin, was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. 10:30 Journey to the village of Odzun. 11:10 Hiking tour to the Horomayr Monastery along the picturesque "goat" trail, almost above the Debed River gorge. The first mentions of the monastery date back to the 7th century. The monastery complex consists of two groups of buildings located on the banks of the Debed River and on the plateau. Part of the monastery is carved inside basalt rocks. 14:00 Lunch at Sergey's house. Masterclass on preparing a local alcoholic beverage. 16:00 Trip to the village of Lori Berd. 16:40 Visit to the Lori Fortress. Founded by David Anhoghin in the early 11th century (1005-1020), in 1065, King Kyurike I declared Lori the capital of the Kingdom of Kyurikyanov (1049-1089). As a prominent center on the northern trade route, Lori was a major hub for trade and craftsmanship in medieval Armenia. Lori was connected by trade routes to Ani, Dvin, Dmanisi, Tpghis, and other cities. In the 11th-13th centuries, the city had a population of 10,000 people. The area (approximately 9 hectares), surrounded by the city's first fortress gates, served as an acropolis. 17:30 Return to Yerevan.