Haghpat Monastery Day Trips: Top 5 Unmissable Armenian Adventures
Okay, so you’re thinking of visiting Haghpat Monastery, a place soaked in history, right? Situated way up high in Armenia, this gem offers more than, like, just a pretty view. It’s almost a jumping-off point for loads of great day trips that show you more of what Armenia is all about. What’s more, if you set off exploring, you are able to see super old monasteries, picture-postcard towns, and some absolutely outstanding scenery. What I plan to do, anyway, is take you through five day trips from Haghpat. These will add extra depth and flavour to your Armenian outing.
1. Sanahin Monastery: Haghpat’s Sister Site
You know, close to Haghpat, just a short trip away, is Sanahin Monastery, yet another spot that’s, in some respects, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Actually, these two monasteries do share some similar architectural stuff, so you can kinda see how they were both very much built around the same time. Sanahin, really, it’s slightly less visited than Haghpat, perhaps, and because of that, arguably, it feels a bit more, like, peaceful, in a way. Get a load of the complex of khachkars—those really fancy Armenian cross-stones—and there’s this cool old library, too it’s almost like walking back in time, seeing the place.
Getting from Haghpat to Sanahin isn’t, like, a major deal either; a brief taxi trip, maybe, even some local transport, gets you there very easily. Anyway, consider this: it’s very simple to include both these sites in a day. As a matter of fact, if you’re thinking of hitting up just one location outside Haghpat, then yeah, maybe Sanahin is definitely the one.
Read our full review: Sanahin Monastery Armenia Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Sanahin Monastery Tours)
2. Odzun Church: A Hidden Gem of Lori
Alright, so next up, there’s Odzun Church. Now, this one is just a little bit further afield but arguably, very worth the trip. Odzun Church, basically, it’s in the village of Odzun, and what’s truly wonderful, that its structure dates way back, could be around the 6th century! Yeah, that’s a very long time ago. Typically, visitors gawk at the unusual basilica layout plus there is a couple of awesome monuments surrounding the actual church itself.
What’s more, the setting is superb – just imagine all that fantastic country backdrop all around. Because, really, driving to Odzun gets you to soak in a lot of what the Lori Province has to offer, and that truly is wonderful if what you would prefer is being outside looking at amazing vistas. That, seriously, makes the drive super special.
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3. Akhtala Fortress-Monastery: A Fusion of Cultures
Then again, are you actually into both history and art, well, then, you might think Akhtala Fortress-Monastery will impress, just a little? Situated not too far away from Haghpat, this location presents not just some incredible architecture and stunning Byzantine frescoes, it very much comes with a wall that once really made this one kick-butt defence point! What’s fascinating about Akhtala basically, is its history—arguably a mix of Armenian and Georgian cultures—something you literally notice as soon as you approach, by the look and feel of all those old monuments.
Just picture wandering through ancient walls, seeing paintings from way back when that, anyway, have remained amazing all this time. In fact, it’s a great spot for anyone wishing for something that offers a mix of different historical things mixed with great aesthetic wonder. Very, very few would feel let down coming here. I mean, truly.
Read our full review: Akhtala Fortress Monastery Armenia Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Akhtala Day Trip)
4. Kobayr Monastery: A Serene Escape
Okay, now for Kobayr Monastery, very popular, this one could be exactly the location for people, very much, on the lookout for some peace and quiet outside of the frequently-visited vacation destinations. Could be, you might locate the site down in some wonderful gorge, literally making this place extremely tranquil in some respect, away from any commotion or commotioning visitors. It could be that much of the charm found at Kobayr exists literally because it has grown to be partly covered over time, with those wild terrains offering what is, anyway, very like, an awe-inspiring scene integrating all things of Mother Nature plus history really rolled altogether.
There really is that truly unique mix of architectural aspects and all that surrounding green makes traveling to the site genuinely great if you’re trying your best to find some peaceful self-exploration in Armenia, okay?
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5. Alaverdi Town and Debed Canyon: Experiencing Local Life
Alright so next there’s Alaverdi itself together Debed Canyon—an absolutely sensational decision just for, perhaps, anyone attempting experiencing nearby, everyday life over Armenian land. Alaverdi used to be this important copper mining centre, so you can literally explore the distinct architecture right here. I can see you checking all these constructions that really talk all about the place’s professional back history, very very great just to learn of its commercial progression over all that period. Also the Debed Canyon it has remarkable landscapes: it is amazing when you have some hikes at such magnificent locales just beyond all of the monuments, right.
Basically by simply exploring this area visitors end up with very like amazing possibilities simply for taking pictures coupled using first hand accounts regarding how everyday Armenians end up in practice residing across such sensational landscape – the things which in all reality you may love to witness, actually!
Read our full review: Alaverdi Town Armenia Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Alaverdi Trip)
Haghpat area around that, seems an absolutely stunning region literally providing everyone having completely extraordinary pursuits. Really consider going via these particular specified points so one, to provide a more fulfilling trip!