Tour to Samtskhe-Javakheti from Yerevan

Javakhk was one of 9 regions of the Gugark province, located in the north of the kingdom of Great Armenia; in the inscriptions of the Armenian ruler Argishti I (786-764 BC) it is mentioned by the name “Zabaha”. Today Javakhk is located on the territory of Georgia.

During this trip you will see medieval castles and fortresses, the fortified city of Akhalkalaki, thousands of shrines and, of course, Lake Parvana. We will begin our tour with a visit to the city of Gyumri, the second city in Armenia in terms of territory and cultural significance. Then we will go to the ancient fortified city of Akhalkalaki, where we will visit the Church of the Holy Cross, built in the second half of the 19th century. Part of Javakhk is also the cave city of Vardzia (Vardzunik), which has an 800-year history. On the road from Akhalkalaki to Akhaltsikhe we will visit the Khertvisi fortress, founded in the 2nd century BC. The latter is located at the confluence of the Parvana and Kura rivers and is one of the best preserved fortresses in the Caucasus. We will end the tour with a visit to the village of Gandza, where the famous Armenian poet Vahan Teryan was born. By choosing this tour, you will get acquainted with numerous spiritual, cultural and historical monuments that reflect the centuries-old history and cultural life of the Armenian population of Javakhk.