Southern Silk Road & Tatev Loop
Drive south to Areni, Tatev, and Jermuk, then return via the Selim Pass and Lake Sevan.
Head south along the main highway and return north over the Selim Pass to avoid backtracking. Along the way, you will visit the red-cliff monastery, a wine village, prehistoric megaliths, one of the world's longest aerial tramways, and a spa town, before passing the khachkar cemetery and Lake Sevan on the way back to Yerevan. Perfect for self-drivers who want to explore the south in depth; the route features many mountain roads and skips the north.
The Selim Pass is often closed due to snow from late November to April; check daily road conditions starting from late October.
Day by day
Day 1 · Arrive in Yerevan and Explore the City
Yerevan（Republic Square、Cascade Complex、Matenadaran）
About half an hour from the airport to the city center; explore the city on foot and pick up your rental car the next day.
Renting a car requires an International Driving Permit and a credit card for the security deposit.
Stay: Cascade and Opera House Area
Day 2 · Garni Temple and Geghard
Yerevan（Garni Temple、Symphony of Stones (Garni Gorge)、Geghard Monastery）
About 40 minutes from the city to Garni, and another 15 minutes to Geghard; return to the city in the afternoon, with the total distance under 100 km.
Stay: Cascade and Opera House Area
Day 3 · Khor Virap to Areni
Yerevan（Khor Virap） → Vayots Dzor（Noravank Monastery、Areni-1 Cave & Areni Wine Village）
Drive south along the M2: about 50 minutes to Khor Virap, another 1.5 hours to Noravank, with Areni located right at the mouth of the valley.
The Yeraskh section of the M2 is close to the border; drive through without stopping.
Stay: Areni Village
Day 4 · Zorats Karer and the Wings of Tatev
Tatev & Goris（Zorats Karer (Carahunge)、Wings of Tatev、Tatev Monastery）
About 1.5 hours from Areni to Zorats Karer, another hour to the Halidzor tramway station; take the tramway and then drive 30 minutes to Goris.
The tramway is closed on Mondays, so plan your itinerary to avoid this; follow the road signs and do not trust GPS shortcuts.
Stay: Goris
Day 5 · Cave Village and Transfer to Jermuk
Tatev & Goris（Khndzoresk Cave Village & Swinging Bridge、Goris Stone Forest & Old Goris Caves） → Vayots Dzor（Gndevank Monastery、Jermuk Waterfall、Jermuk）
Sightsee around Goris in the morning; in the afternoon, drive west on the M2 and turn onto the canyon road to Jermuk (about 2.5 hours).
Khndzoresk is east of Goris and close to the border; stick strictly to marked roads.
Stay: Jermuk
Day 6 · Return via the Pass and Lake Sevan
Vayots Dzor（Selim Caravanserai） → Yerevan（Noratus Cemetery、Lake Sevan & Sevanavank）
About 1.5 hours to Selim, 1 hour over the pass to Noratus, and about 1.5 hours back to Yerevan via Sevan.
The pass reaches an elevation of about 2,410 meters; check daily road condition reports before setting off.