Traveling off road in a modern UAZ jeep with the Arpa Environmental Foundation's team is a wonderful way to explore hard-to-reach places and to savor breathtaking views of the landscapes, wildlife, and historic structures of Vayots Dzor. For lovers of nature, the tour's highlight is the Arpa Protected Landscape, where professional guides and rangers will share with you their extensive knowledge of the flora, fauna, geology, and wildlife conservation. The protected area contains an astounding 885 plant species, 47 of which are registered in the Armenian Red Book as threatened, as well as 39 mammal species and 190 bird species, many of which are nationally or globally threatened.
For lovers of history, the tour's highlights are several notable structures, including Smbataberd Fortress dating to the 5th century, Noravank Monastery dating to the 13th century, and Spitakavor Church dating to the 14th century.
The duration of the tour and the exact logistics - including starting points and ending points - are flexible, depending on the interests and schedules of the visitors. The Yeghegnazor Visitor Center provides full details about the different options, as well as the opportunity to browse for souvenirs of Vayots Dzor.
There is much to learn and enjoy through this tour's exploration of Vayots Dzor's history and natural environment.
Meet your host
The mission of the Arpa Environmental Foundation is to manage and protect 6,000 hectares of protected land in Vayots Dzor region. The Arpa Protected Landscape is the first community-managed protected area in Armenia. The Foundation has developed a number of trails for guided hiking, biking, and horse-riding tours, and offers safari-style jeep tours through the protected highlands. In addition, the Foundation may offer camping experiences in the protected area or arrange overnight accommodations in a network of B&Bs in the region. In 2017, the Foundation opened a tourism visitor center in Yeghegnadzor, where travelers may find information about the protected area, arrange guided tours, rent bicycles and camping equipment, and browse a small craft shop.
