Summer may be Armenia’s high season when it comes to travel, but there’s no shortage of things to do during the winter in this diverse and dynamic land. We love a good bucket list here at 2492, which is why we’ve updated our winter guide for the 2023-24 season. Check out these unique cultural experiences waiting to be had across the country, and if you book through our platform, please do let us know about your experience by leaving a review.
Go Snowshoeing in Lori and Recover in a Riverside Sauna
The northern Lori Province of Armenia is associated with lush green forests and canyons, but few travelers experience this beautiful corner of the country in the wintertime. Enter The Nest, an all season hiking and wellness center located about 20 minutes outside the city of Vanadzor. Following a professional local guide, you can head out on a snowshoeing expedition (they’ll provide all the necessary gear) and explore local hiking tracks before heading back to The Nest for a hot-cold therapy session in their sauna and a river that flows right by their spot.
Experience Local Hospitality and Food… On Top of a Mountain
What happens when you combine immersive nature, locally sourced food, and professionally trained hosts? You get our award-winning, 5/5 star rated Wild Food Adventures. Mountaintop Eats is one of those adventures, taking place on the golden peaks of Yeranos, just a 45 minute drive from Yerevan. Your experience begins with a 1.5 hour off road ride to the top. Along the way, you’ll learn about some of the fascinating discoveries made in these parts, like an ancient burial ground up to 6,000 years old. Once at the top, your hosts will share with you a traditional meal from the grill, called “nothing short of amazing.” You’ll feel good also knowing that a portion of your experience goes to support the conservation work of the nearby Khosrov Forest State Reserve.
Taste the Finest Local Wines on a Yerevan Walking Wine Tour
Armenian winemaking goes back a long time – over 6,000 years, to be precise. Whether you’re new to wine or a bonafide enophile, the Yerevan Winetrip, a 2492 original experience, is an excellent introduction to Armenia’s booming wine making scene. Following an expert storytelling guide trained in all things wine, you’ll hit up 4 of Yerevan’s best wine bars, trying a dozen different wines produced with indigenous grapes, paired with some delicious bites. You’ll go over the basics of wine tasting while learning about Armenia’s rich history of wine making. You’ll also familiarize yourself with several of the country’s 400 local grape varieties, as well as the unique terroirs where they’re grown.
Connect with Nature on a Silent Mountain Therapy Retreat
Have you ever sat in silence and done nothing? Ever done it in a remote, icy natural location, where panoramic views inspire awe? You can experience the healing power of doing nothing in nature on a Mountain Therapy Retreat with North Adventures Armenia. They’ll set you up in a beautiful corner of nature with comfortable seating, light snacks, local wine and other drinks, and then let you tune into the sounds of nature – the rushing of a river, the rustling of leaves, the crackling of pinecones, the song of birds, and the crunch of snow beneath your feet. You can choose an open field, a riverbed, or a mountain location, and your preferred time of day for this experience – either day, night, sunrise, or sunset. If you're not sure what type of Mountain Therapy experience you want, your hosts can build one specifically for you. For those seeking thrills during the winter, North Adventures also offers snowkiting experiences.
Stay Warm by Tasting Fine Local Fruit Spirits
You may have a hard time pronouncingoghi at first (try it: oh-ghee) but we’re pretty sure after a couple drinks you’ll have no problem at all. Oghis are local spirits typically made from the fruit that grows naturally across the countryside. Plum, quince, apple, grape, fig, mulberry, pear, apricot, peach, even almonds are all used by local people to distill oghi. At home distillation is popular in villages to this day, and in the village of Aghavnavank, you can taste high quality fruit spirits at Dilvados, a production facility and tasting room located among the green, forested mountains of the Tavush Province. You can even pair your tasting experience with a local meal sourced from the forest. Tavush is known not only for its wild fruits and vegetables but also high-quality meats like pork, lamb, chicken, duck, turkey, and quail.
Make Traditional Comfort Foods with Local Chefs
Armenian cuisine is as diverse and storied as the country’s land and history, meaning there’s a ton of cooking experience you can have while in these parts. You can learn how to make traditional Armenian sourdough bread using local whole wheat in Shirak. Or, you can head to Lori to try your hand at making yegh u shor [yegh oo shohr], a traditional cheese dish typically eaten by mountain shepherds, as well as ghapama [ghah-pah-mah], the ultimate Armenian dessert composed of a pumpkin stuffed with rice, nuts, dried fruit, honey, and spices. You can also taste local herbal teas near the city of Vanadzor. Meanwhile, in the forests of Dilijan, you can make your own custom gata [gah-tah], a traditional sweet bread, but using a wide selection of not-so-traditional ingredients, opening up a world of culinary creative possibilities.
