From Akhtala: Hiking, Foraging & Cooking Adventure｜Armenia

Immerse yourself in Armenia’s wild beauty with a full-day foraging and hiking experience in Lori province. Starting at Akhtala Monastery, you’ll explore the historic complex, then set off on a 2-3 hour 5km guided hike through lush forests, learning traditional foraging techniques and gathering seasonal wild ingredients along the way. Depending on the season and weather conditions, you can expect to find rosehip in the winter, linden flowers, and wild edible greens (garlic, Solomon’s seal, chervil, wild thyme, wild mint) in the spring, wild berries (strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, cornelian cherries) in the summer, and wild apples, pears, plums, walnuts, hazelnuts, and rosehip in the fall. After foraging, the journey continues to Kkviberd Fortress, or Woodpeckers’ Fortress in English, where you’ll take in breathtaking views before descending toward an abandoned village with ancient cross-stones and a freshwater spring. Total walking distance of this adventure is 10kms. From there, a short drive will take you to your host’s home to cook a meal using the ingredients you foraged and where your experience will end. You’ll come as a guest and leave as a family member with a full tummy and your foraged ingredients and full.