There’s arguably no cooler way to explore a new country than through a day trip. I was able to see Uruguay from Argentina by taking a ferry for the day, I walked to Paraguay from Brazil, and I’ve even gotten to see places like Turkïye on a long layover. So, when I found myself in Tbilisi, Georgia on a total whim, I took that whim one step further by booking a day trip to Armenia through GetYourGuide.
The tour I booked was called “From Tbilisi: Day Trip to Armenia Including Homemade Lunch.” I was debating booking a wine tour in Georgia instead, but it seemed like a missed opportunity to not tick off a new country when I was so close to the border, so I chose Armenia, or as I like to refer to it, The Land of Cher (hello, Cher is Armenian!). Here’s a rundown of how the day went.
Arriving at the tour office
I had to be at the tour office by 8:30 a.m., and the area of Tbilisi in which it was located was a little chaotic. There were a lot of people there going on different tours, but they were kind enough to provide coffee, water, tea, and WiFi. When a guide called out my tour name, I knew it was go time. What I really appreciated about this tour was that it was small; there were maybe ten of us total. We briefly introduced ourselves by saying our names and where we were from, and it helped break the ice as we all jaunted over to a new country together.
90 minutes to the border
After driving for about an hour and a half, we arrived at the Armenian border. Despite having traveled to 80 countries, I do sometimes still get nervous at border crossings. Luckily, crossing over was swift and easy, even if passport control was a bit stoic. I appreciated that days before the trip, my guide texted me to confirm whether I had my visa to get into Armenia: at the time that I visited, Americans did not need a special visa, but the guides clearly want to make sure everyone is prepared so the trip goes smoothly.
Welcome to Armenia!
As soon as we got stamped into Armenia, there was an ATM to take out Armenian Dram. I was unsure of how much to take out since we were only there for the day, but my guide suggested about the equivalent of 20 USD. Spoiler alert: this ended up being way too much money because Armenia is quite affordable, but it all worked out because I was able to tip my guide in the end using my leftover Armenian Dram.
Before our time in Armenia truly began, we stopped at a local convenience store. I saw local snacks and hot sauces, along with some funny Armenian souvenirs, but ultimately opted out of buying anything.
Stop #1: Akhtala Monastery
The first of many monastery stops was Akhtala. We had about 45 minutes here and were able to go into the church, take photos, and see the majestic Armenian landscape which was arguably more beautiful than this particular monastery itself.
Stop #2: Haghpat Monastery
This was by far my favorite stop of the day. There really are no words to describe the sheer beauty of this place. Haghpat Monastery is located high in the green Armenian hills, and the two monastic complexes date all the way back to the 10th centuries. Go toward the back, have someone else stand high up on the hills while you walk toward the monastery, and you will get the photo of your dreams. But even photos don’t do this place justice; it’s like taking a step back in time.
Stop #3: Lunch at Guest House Anoush
Okay, I lied — THIS might have been my favorite stop. Our small group was invited into a home of a lovely woman named Anoush. She prepared a massive lunch for us, which was included in the tour. We were given plates and plates of mixed vegetables, Korean carrot salad, Armenian cheeses (which were quite pungent), grilled chicken thighs and wings, potatoes, yogurt, bulgur, you name it. Food just kept coming. At the end of the day, we went around the group to say what our favorite part of the day was, and about 90% of us talked about how lovely the meal was. There was also the option to purchase pomegranate wine for the equivalent of about 2 USD, so obviously, I did that.
Stop #4: Alaverdi
After lunch, it was back on the road. This time, we stopped by the town of Alaverdi, not to be confused with Alaverdi Cathedral in Georgia, which is a UNESCO World Heritage protected site. Alaverdi was just for us to walk around and climb up to a viewpoint if we so chose. I used the time to ask my guide questions about Armenia, and he explained the genocide the Armenian people faced, and how Armenia also claims to have made wine before Georgia.
Stop #5: Mikoyan Brothers Museum
This stop was quite fun. The Mikoyan Brothers Museum honors two brothers, Anastas and Artem Mikoyan. They invited the MiG jet, which you can see at the museum. There are plenty of Russian and English translations all over, including a small photo of a ballerina. It’s giving Soviet Union art!
Stop #6: Sanahin Monastery Complex
The final stop in Armenia was Sanahin Monastery Complex. Made primarily of stone, this complex was a nice way to end the long day of looking at monasteries. Leading up to it, there were people trying to sell our group anything they could, and when we ignored them, while I can’t confirm exactly what was said, I am pretty sure I was called an Armenian slur or two. Hey, it’s all part of the experience, and the harassment was low key worth seeing the beautiful Sanahin Monastery Complex.
Back to Georgia we go
After eating some local food, seeing several monasteries, and learning quite a bit about Armenia’s past from my lovely guide, it was time to go back to Tbilisi. Crossing back over the border was a breeze, and at the border crossing, there was a duty free, so I used some of my Armenian Dram to buy a $4 bottle of Armenian vodka. Hey, I couldn’t come home empty handed.
If you’re interested in booking this day trip, you can book the same tour I took through GetYourGuide. I’d highly recommend it for a fun, unique way to explore a lesser visited Asian nation.
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DISCLAIMER II: GetYourGuide sponsored this experience.