Day Trip From Tbilisi to Armenia
The mountain roads in Northern Armenia
Day Trip to Armenia
Envoy Tours
Envoy operates out of the youth hostel located around the corner from the hotel we stayed at Maidan Square in Tbilisi, Georgia. Our daughter Emma and boyfriend Simon had stayed at the hostel and recommended the tour company to us.
The “Envoy” brochure reads;
Take a detour from Georgia and spend a day visiting the gems of northern Armenia. If you are short on time but would love the chance to visit Armenia, this tour is designed for you.
This was aimed at us and fit the bill. We booked.
An Excellent Guide, and Good Driver
Having taken a tour just the day prior we were worried about the hurried driving and pace but this was a much more laid-back trip.
The driver, Pavel, came up and offered a handshake, and introduced himself. Our guide, Bekka, was super friendly, inquisitive, and had lots of experience.
This was his 50th trip to Armenia. We had the company of three others, a physician from Baltimore, originally from the Bay area, and a young couple from Helsinki, Finland, university students in biology and neurology.
We thoroughly enjoyed the conversation as the van motored on toward the Armenian border.
A phenomenal traditional Armenian lunch served by a local host
Armenia Attractions
The brochure continues and reads;
Starting from Tbilisi, cross the border to Armenia and visit two UNESCO Heritage-listed sights along the Debed Canyon. Explore the Sanahin monastery with its serene and tranquil surroundings before you marvel at the Haghbat monastery, positioned among green fields.
Enjoy a memorable BBQ lunch on the banks of the river in Alaverdi. Delight in the ancient frescoes of the church at the Akhtala fortress-monetary before returning to Tbilisi.
Visiting the Sanahin Monastery in Armenia
Apologies for the cop-out, copying the text from the brochure. Visiting an area so briefly, it can be tricky to recall the place names correctly.
The brochure, however, perfectly describes the trip. What it did not describe was the engaging dynamics in the group and the discussions about history, politics, and experiences from each of the participant’s countries.
Bekka had many stories about growing up in the former Soviet country. Even if our encounter with Armenia was very brief, it was interesting to see for ourselves how people live in this northern part of the country.
We can certainly recommend this tour.
Travel Photography From Northern Armenia
Debed Valley factory
Repair work in progress at the Sanahin Monastery
A commuter bus in Northern Armenia
Ruins at the Haghbat Monastery in Northern Armenia
A old car parked near the monastery
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Photos in this article are made using a Fujifilm X-Pro2. Lenses: XF 14mm f/2.8 R - XF 23mm f/1.4 R - XF 35mm f/1.4 R (links to my camera and lens reviews). Editing was done in Lightroom and used Fujifilm film simulations in some of the photos.
