Armenia is a compact country, and the most practical approach is to use Yerevan as your base and take day trips in all four directions. Spend the first two days exploring locally, then head north to Lake Sevan and south to Tatev over the last two days, keeping a comfortable pace throughout. Most excursions involve chartered or shared cars, with mountainous roads—allow flexible time for delays.
Start with Garni Temple, the only surviving Hellenistic colonnaded temple in the former Soviet region → Lunch in a canyon village → Visit the rock-hewn Geghard Monastery in the afternoon. The acoustics of its cave churches and sacred chants are highlights of your Armenian trip, with rows of khachkar (cross-stone) monuments along the way. Dress modestly when visiting the monastery; women may bring a scarf.
Explore Etchmiadzin Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the mother church of the Armenian Apostolic Church, which houses a relic believed to be from Noah’s Ark → Nearby Zvartnots Ruins feature the remains of a 7th-century three-tiered circular church, most photogenic at dusk. The two sites are close together and can be covered comfortably in a half-day chartered trip.
Drive to Lake Sevan, the largest lake in the Caucasus. The Sevanavank Monastery on the peninsula features blue-domed churches reflecting on the water → Swim or boat in summer, or enjoy golden autumn lakeside views. Have lunch with grilled lake fish. The drive takes about an hour and a half; bring a jacket as it gets windy by the lake.
Ride one of the world’s longest aerial tramways, the "Wings of Tatev," across a gorge to reach the cliffside Tatev Monastery → Stop en route at the Monastery of Khor Virap (Deep Pit Monastery), where you can see Mount Ararat across the border river—the sacred mountain where Noah’s Ark is said to have landed in Armenian tradition. The cable car may be suspended in winter due to high winds; check in advance.
On the morning return trip, visit wineries other than Khor Virap or the forested town of Dilijan → Do last-minute shopping in Yerevan in the afternoon, then head to Zvartnots Airport for departure. Arrive two hours early. The daily per-person budget for this 7-day trip is approximately 450 to $99, including accommodation, meals, and shared car costs.