Planning a Day Trip from Tbilisi to Armenia including a Homemade Lunch in Alaverdi

Are you looking for some adventure and an extraordinary experience in the Caucasus? Does a day trip from Tbilisi to Armenia sound interesting to you? Then this article is for you. In it, we discuss the best way to explore Armenia from Tbilisi, including a visit to Alaverdi with a homemade lunch prepared by locals.

We have everything you need to know about planning your own day trip from Tbilisi to Armenia, including suggested itineraries, detailed information on how to get there and back, and top tips on what to see and do while there. So, keep reading!

Getting To and From Tbilisi and Armenia

The quickest and most convenient way to reach Armenia from Tbilisi is by road. The journey takes approximately 4-5 hours depending on traffic, or 2-3 hours if you take a direct flight from Tbilisi to Yerevan, the capital of Armenia.

To get to Armenia from Tbilisi by land, take the Georgian/Armenian highway M6/N243 from Tbilisi to Bagratashen/Bavra Border crossing. Before crossing the border, make sure you have a valid visa for Armenia. There is also the option of taking the additional GeoTravel minibus service which will cost around €17 per person and will take you from Tbilisi Central Station directly to the border crossing and back.

Suggested Itineraries for a Day Trip to Armenia

• Option 1: Spend the day in Yerevan. Yerevan is Armenia’s capital city and offers a variety of attractions and cultural sights. Explore Yerevan’s old city or check out the many museums in the city. If you’re up for some nightlife, there are plenty of bars, clubs and restaurants in Yerevan to choose from.
• Option 2: Visit Alaverdi with a homemade lunch at local family home. A great way to explore the regions around Yerevan is to go on a day trip to Alaverdi, located in the Lori region of Armenia. As well as exploring some of the beautiful countryside of Armenia, this itinerary also includes a home-cooked lunch prepared by an Armenian family.
• Option 3: Spend the day in Dilijan National Park. This park is known as “Armenia’s Little Switzerland’ as it is home to forests, fresh springs, beautiful lakes, and verdant meadows. Here you can enjoy hiking, canoeing, bird watching, fishing and horse riding.

What to See and Do in Alaverdi

Alaverdi, located at the edge of Debed River, is one of the oldest cities in Armenia. It is filled with historical and cultural monuments, churches, monasteries and castles cradled among the stunning mountains of Lori region. This makes it an ideal place to explore on a day trip from Tbilisi when combined with a homemade lunch provided by an Armenian family.

Here are a few sites you can’t miss when visiting Alaverdi:

• Haghpat Monastary: Haghpat Monastery, built in 976 AD, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. You can admire its distinctive twin-towered façade with carved stone ornaments and stroll through its beautiful gardens filled with spring flowers.
• Sanahin Monastary: Sanahin Monastery was founded in 966 AD during the Bagratid Dynasty of Armenia as an academy of higher education. It’s renowned for its architectural complex with buildings belonging to multiple periods in Armeninan history.
• Debed Canyon: Debed Canyon is one of the deepest canyons in Europe. Here you can admire rugged landscapes with rock formations and exotic plants.

Enjoying Home-cooked Lunch with an Armenian Family

Although it’s possible to eat at local restaurants when visiting Alaverdi, there’s nothing like experiencing Armenian hospitality by having lunch with a local family. This offers visitors an insight into everyday life of Armenians, as well as trying some delicious homemade specialties cooked with local ingredients – like cheese-filled Crepes (Anushabur), local soups such as Khata (yogurt-based broth soup) or Kotayk Shorva (meat-based broth soup) – all served with homemade bread.

We recommend that you book ahead if you’d like to experience a traditional homecooked lunch at an Armenian family home. With GetYourGuide, you can join a Day Trip from Tbilisi to Armenia which includes roundtrip transportation, full day guided tour of Yerevan and Alaverdi with a visit to local homestead for lunch. Your guide will explain to you about everyday life in rural Armenia and teach you about the traditional recipes for dishes served for lunch.

Conclusion

A day trip from Tbilisi to Armenia is an ideal way to explore this unique country without having to spend too much time traveling around. Those looking for an especially unique experience should consider visiting Alaverdi and having home cooked lunch cooked by an Armenian family – it’s a great way to gain insight into everyday life in Armenia. To easily plan your own day trip from Tbilisi to Armenia including a visit to Alaverdi and homemade lunch at local family home check out GetYourGuide.