Private tour to Aragats-Lake Kari - Armenian Alphabet Monument - Amberd fortress

This four-peaked giant is the most favourite mountain of climbers. On the way to the southern peak the best stop is at Lake Kari (translated as stone lake), which is at the height of 3250 m. On the top one opens the most attractive scene: the silhouette of green valleys from one side, the eternal snow and silver lakes from other sides and the Biblical Mount Ararat far in the fog of Ararat Valley.

It was erected in 2005 to the 1600th anniversary of creation of the Armenian alphabet by the design of the famous Armenian architect Jim Torosyan. The monument is an interesting demonstration of the stone carvings of 39 Armenian letters. The Armenian alphabet has been used to write the Armenian language since the year 405 or 406 and is still used to present Armenian language in written form. It was devised by Saint Mesrop Mashtots, an Armenian linguist and ecclesiastical leader, in order to make the Bible accessible to Armenians and spread Christianity. Originally it contained 36 letters and had been completed in the Middle Ages.

Having been built on a naturally well-defended cape, Amberd has for long time served as an important military fort. Next to this secular edifice there is a church, built in 1026 by the duke Vahram Pahlavuni.