Autumn weekend: 3 locations where you can escape from the bustle of Yerevan

After a long season of scorching sun in Armenia, it is time for a velvety autumn with an ideal temperature of 20-25 degrees. At this time, you have a great opportunity to spend a comfortable weekend outside of Yerevan. We have made for you a list of three locations that will be interesting for you.

Lake Sevan: Yasaman and Sevanavank

An hour and a half drive from Yerevan directly along the M4 highway – and you find yourself at Sevanavank – one of the temples of Armenia overlooking Lake Sevan. The blue expanse with the smooth reliefs of the mountain slopes rising from it cannot leave anyone indifferent. The silhouette of a temple complex made of black volcanic tuff rises against this picturesque background. This place has been sacred since time immemorial, and now there are two restored churches of the IX century, the foundation of cells and many khachkars. This is one of the best locations for photos from Sevan.

After a trip into history, you can have lunch or dinner with a beautiful view. A five-minute drive from Sevanavank, near the coast, there is a restaurant Yasaman (translated from Armenian as "Lilac"). The concept of the restaurant with panoramic windows and a veranda allows you to get both aesthetic and gastronomic pleasure. The restaurant's menu includes dishes of Armenian and continental cuisine and, of course, many fish and other seafood, including local trout, whitefish and crayfish, there is even tolma with fish.

Dilijan: hiking, jipping and tastings

Dilijan National Park is beautiful at any time of the year, but in autumn it acquires a special charm with various shades of red and yellow. Imagine what medieval monasteries look like against the background of this beauty… It's worth seeing!

Dilijan has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in recent years. All the amenities for a perfect vacation among the mountains are created here. You do not need to think about how to organize your weekend on your own, as GoToDili has done it for you for a long time, packing everything into exciting tours: hiking and jeeping are waiting for you at the most popular attractions of Dilijan – Haghartsin, Goshavank, Lake Parz and others and atypical places like the picturesque village of Agavnavank with the monastery of the same name XI-XII centuries.

As a special entertainment, we have come up with an unusual Dilvegas game for you – a "blind" tasting of Dilvados fruit distillates. During the game tasting, you will learn how to catch and distinguish the flavor combinations in this alcoholic drink and have fun in the company of your loved ones.

Lori: UNESCO Monuments, COAF and Shakaryan Rancho

The Lori region, of course, is a stretch concept... let's try to walk through several iconic places. The geographical proximity to Georgia has created an incredible mix of colorful Orthodox and restrained Ancient Eastern culture here. Of course, this list is impossible to imagine without the main wealth of the region – the monasteries of the X century included in the UNESCO World Heritage List – Haghpat and Sanahin. In addition to the fabulous panoramic view, these monasteries are a real storehouse of historical artifacts – artful bas-reliefs and khachkars of the finest workmanship.

On the way to the sights, it is worth stopping by COAF or the Children of Armenia Charitable Foundation, which is a unique educational smart center for residents of the province using cutting–edge technological solutions. The center with its unusual elongated architecture fits seamlessly into the green landscape, overlooking wide fields with mountain slopes. Here you can take a tour and get acquainted with the activities of COAF: science and art, as well as robotics and programming. The SMART Center has become an important point in the development of the region, creating opportunities for education and personal growth in rural areas of Armenia.

Not far from the smart center there is Shakaryan Rancho, a recreation area where you can spend an exciting weekend with your family in a real rural ranch with comfortable barnhouses and a restaurant. There you will be given a special tour of the vast territory and picturesque natural views. The restaurant's menu contains fresh produce, some of which is grown locally, including meat and dairy products. In some reservations, you can see deer, horses, anguses, goats and even peacocks and other animals.

This is only a small part of what Armenia has to offer for an unforgettable autumn weekend. Don't just limit yourself to this list of locations – explore more. Armenia is a diverse country and holds many more surprises for those who are ready to go in search of new experiences.