NEMRUT, ANI, VAN, MUSH, KARS, BITLIS, BERKRI, SASOUN
Visit Western Armenia (nowadays Eastern Turkey) where You can discover rich Armenian cultural and historical heritage. 5 day tour to Western Armenia and Nemrut will let you visit and discover Ani, Van and Aghtamar, Mush, Diyarbakir, Tigranakert, Bitlis, Berkri, Kars, Bayazed, Mount Ararat from “the other side”. During this tour we visit 2 Nemruts, first in Commagene with the Old Gods statues and the other one near Lake Van with Crater Lakes. Hamshen Tour is a professional travel agency focused on tours to Historical Armenia and our company is doing its best to provide quality service, the best in Armenia. We have English-speaking experienced guides (on demand).
Tour details
Tsovakn Hyusiso (Childir) Lake
Ani: Cathedral, Honents, Abughamrents, Prkich, Gagkashen, Arakelots Churches, City Walls, other places
Araks River
Mount Ararat (passing by the slopes of the mountain)
Daroink (Bayazed) Fortress (depending on the timetable)
Departing from Yerevan and passing through the Bavra checkpoint, we enter Javakhk, from where we cross the shores of Tsovakn Hyusiso Lake. Our next stop is the wonderful Ani. Next, a stop on the banks of the River Araks, which will soon merge with the Akhuryan. And here comes one of the most magnificent moments, crossing the slopes of Mt. Ararat, and soon Ararat is in front of us from the "other" side.
Berkri Waterfall
Mher’s Door
Van: Van Cats, Van Fortress, Urartian Kings’ Mausoleum
Varagavank Monastery*
Aghtamar Island, Holy Cross Church, swimming in Lake Van
Our first stop is Berkri Waterfall. Along the shore of Lake Van, we reach the Van city, where we will visit the Van cats, the Tushpa (Tosp) castle and the Mher’s door, which we may be the ones to open. And now it's time to go to the wonderful Aghtamar Island where the magnificent Holy Cross Church is, and its location and sculptures are amazing. Swimming in Lake Van is a dream, but with us it becomes a reality. It’s time to enjoy the legendary Van fish on the shores of Van Lake. Overnight is in the beautiful town of Datvan (Tatvan) on the shores of Lake Van.
Nemrut-Sarakn (Van): Crater
Bitlis (Baghesh): Cross stones of Por Village and Bitlis Fortress, St. Anania Church
Sasoun: Bridge of Batman *
Nprkert (Silvan): Wall Ruins
Diyarbekir (Tigranakert): City Walls, Armenian Church of St Kirakos, Tigris River and Tigris Bridge
In the morning we will visit Nemrut (Sarakn) in Van. Next is the city Bitlis (Baghesh), where we will see the Bitlis Fortress, as well as the giant khachkars of Por (Andents) village, which are simply amazing. We will discover Diyarbekir with its rich historical heritage. We will see the legendary walls of Diyarbakır-Tigranakert, then the Tigris River and the historical bridge and the Armenian Church of Saint Kirakos.
Euphrates River
Nemrut (Statues of Gods)
Passing through Bingyol or Khulp of Sasoun
And here we will soon reach the Euphrates River, which is one of the important rivers of Armenian civilization, on whose banks we will have a break to enjoy the magnificent scenery. The main stop of the day is the mysterious Nemrut, the sanctuary of the Old Gods. Nemrut is wonderful, unique. After passing Sasoun Khulp we will go to Mush.
Mush: Old Armenian Quarter, St. Marine Church
Aratsani River, Mush Valley, Sulukh Bridge
Basen: Araks River and Hoviv Bridge
Sarighamish Forests
Kars: Kars Fortress, St Apostles Church, Vardan Bridge, House of Yeghishe Charents
In Mush we will visit the church of St. Marine. Then, crossing the field of Mush, we go to the shore of the River Aratsani (Eastern Euphrates), where we visit Sulukh bridge with its unique historical role and beautiful architectural composition. After Mush, we will visit the Shepherd's (Hoviv) bridge, and then we will go to Kars City, where we will see Kars Fortress, St Apostles Church, Vardan’s Bridge and House of Charents.