Post-Race Armenia Tour
Discovering the jewel of the Caucasus
You've raced from Istanbul to Yerevan, so why not stick around and explore? Once the awards party wraps up on the Saturday evening, stay for a few extra days and let a local guide take you further into Armenia. This is a small, fully-guided group tour run in partnership with a local operator, with a Lupine Racing tour leader travelling with the group throughout, covering three nights and taking in some of the country's most striking monasteries, landscapes and food along the way.
The tour is entirely optional and bookable separately from your race entry. Full details of the main event are on the Beyond the Bosphorus race page.
UNESCO listed sites
Breathtaking nature
Interact with locals
Food and wine masterclasses
The group meets in Yerevan on the morning of the 13th to begin the tour. From there the route runs south through the Ararat valley to Khor Virap Monastery, one of the country's most important religious sites and the spot with the closest views of Mount Ararat itself. From here it's on to the Areni region, home to the Areni-1 Cave where archaeologists uncovered evidence of wine production dating back over 6,000 years, followed by a tasting at a local winery.
The afternoon continues to Noravank, a 13th century monastery set among the red cliffs of the Amaghu Gorge, before the drive on to Goris, a small town known for its stone houses and unusual rock formations, where the group stays overnight.
A short ride on the Wings of Tatev, one of the world's longest cable cars, crosses the Vorotan Gorge to Tatev Monastery, a 9th century monastic complex that was once home to one of Armenia's medieval universities. From there the route heads north over Selim Pass, a former stretch of the Silk Road, passing the 14th century Selim Caravanserai along the way.
There's an optional stop at Mikayelyans Farm for anyone keen to see traditional food production up close (payable locally, approximately €15). The day continues to Lake Sevan, Armenia's largest lake, with a visit to Sevanavank Monastery on its shore, before finishing at Dilijan, a forested resort town sometimes nicknamed the Armenian Switzerland.
Haghartsin Monastery, tucked into the forested hills around Dilijan, is the first stop of the day, followed by Garni Temple, the only Greco-Roman style temple left standing in Armenia, perched above the Azat River Gorge.
From Garni the group takes part in a traditional lavash baking masterclass, learning to prepare and bake the thin flatbread that's a UNESCO listed part of Armenian food culture. The last stop is Geghard, a UNESCO World Heritage monastery partly carved directly into the surrounding cliffs, before the return to Yerevan for the final overnight.
Tour ends after breakfast, leaving the rest of the day free for onward travel.
Key sights and overnight stops, in itinerary order.
This tour runs in partnership with our local operator in Armenia, with a Lupine Racing tour leader travelling alongside the group throughout. It's a small group tour rather than a race event, so our usual race rules and tracking app don't apply here. This will be a relaxing way to see more of the country alongside others, before you fly home.
Booking is separate from your race entry, and the group is capped at 16 travellers. Book your place to secure your spot.
Twin or double rooms throughout, based on the following hotels or similar standard. These properties are provisional and not guaranteed, our tour partner may substitute an equivalent hotel in each town if needed.
Ani Central Inn, 4 star, or similar
Goris Hotel, 3 star, or similar
Aurelia Dilijan, 3 star, or similar