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Wild Food Adventures

“Can't Miss Culinary Experience”

Forbes Magazine

Our Wild Food Adventures are 5/5 star rated 3 course dining experiences in Armenia’s most beautiful natural settings, hosted by professionally trained local chefs and benefiting local wildlife conservation. All the dishes on our menus are authentic to each location and are prepared using fresh, seasonal, and local ingredients. 

Featured in Forbes and Food & Wine Magazine, Wild Food Adventures have been rated 5/5 stars by travelers. Choose from one of the locations below, and leave the rest to us. You won’t just learn about Armenia’s rich culinary traditions and wildlife on your food adventure; you’ll be a part of them.

Winemaker’s Table, Areni Cliffs $$$

  • Areni, Vayots Dzor Province

  • Starting in Areni village, you’ll travel off-road to the spectacular heights of Noravank Canyon in the Arpa Protected Landscape, known for its incredible biodiversity. Your dining table will afford a crystal clear view of the 13th-century Noravank Monastery below, as well as glimpses of the majestic bezoar goat, an endangered wild goat species that, thanks to conservation efforts led by wildlife rangers who you’ll meet, are thriving in herds on the cliffs around you.

  • Starting at 59,000 AMD per person for groups of 8 guests. Pricing varies according to group size.

  • A donation of 2,000 AMD from each individual’s booking in your group will go to the Caucasus Nature Fund, who will double that amount and send it directly to the Arpa Protected Landscape, so that they can continue their conservation work.

Winemaker’s Table, Areni Vineyards $$$

  • Areni, Vayots Dzor Province

  • Getaway to the sun-kissed vineyards of Areni village in the heart of Armenian wine country, where local hosts will share an authentic 3 course meal (with vegetarian options included) made with locally sourced and seasonal ingredients. Dine among the vines of your host’s family vineyard while sipping on local wines as the fields glow golden with the setting sun. You won't just learn about Armenia's rich culinary and winemaking traditions; you'll be a part of them.

  • Starting at 40,000 AMD per person for groups of 8 guests. Pricing varies according to group size.

  • A donation of 2,000 AMD from each individual’s booking in your group will go to the Caucasus Nature Fund, who will double that amount and send it directly to the Arpa Protected Landscape, so that they can continue their conservation work.

Mountaintop Eats $$$

  • Dvin, Ararat Province

  • Both the journey and the destination are the stars of this Wild Food Adventure as you traverse the rocky, Martian-like mountain terrain from Dvin village before settling down to a 3-course traditionally grilled meal among the golden peaks of Yeranos. On the way, you’ll get a spectacular view of the Azat Reservoir not many get to experience, and get in touch with your inner adventurer!

  • Starting at 49,000 AMD per person for groups of 8 guests. Pricing varies according to group size.

  • A donation of 2,000 AMD from each individual’s booking in your group will go to the Caucasus Nature Fund, who will double that amount and send it directly to the Khosrov Forest State Reserve, located near where this experience takes place, so that they can continue their conservation work.

Nomadic Kitchen by Zovak $$

  • Norashen, Tavush Province

  • Travel to Armenia’s far north for an extraordinary 3 course dining experience at the Nomadic Kitchen, set in an alpine meadow. Starting from your hosts guest house in the village of Norashen near the town of Berd, you’ll head to the mountains in a Soviet SUV, where seasonal cattle herders live between the spring and fall months grazing their herds. They’ll greet you with welcome wine and some light bites, while your main courses are prepared right there before your eyes. You can help cook and get to know local food traditions, or sit back and enjoy the beauty of your natural surroundings. All the menu items at the Nomadic Kitchen are based on local recipes and use only seasonal ingredients. You’ll learn about the ways of life of Armenia’s shepherds, and enjoy a hearty authentic meal high above the clouds on this Wild Food Adventure.

  • Starting at 30,000 AMD per person for groups of 7 guests. Pricing varies according to group size.

  • With the support of an expert Armenian food historian, your hosts have created a menu that is true to the culinary heritage of the region, preserving and sharing local food traditions with travelers like you. Your hosts have also been trained in the culinary arts, hygiene, food and waste management, environmental protection, first aid, and hospitality at the Yeremyan Academy, Armenia’s top culinary school, so that you can enjoy this experience in comfort.

Dilijan Woodland Feast $$

  • Haghartsin, Tavush Province

  • Starting from your local hosts’ guest house near Haghartsin Monastery, you’ll go off-roading to your wild dining location, set in the thick forests of Dilijan National Park and with stunning views of the sheer rock cliffs of the Ijevan Mountains. Your dining experience will begin with welcome cocktails made from local honey wine and wild edible herbs, followed by 3 carefully created courses based on the culinary traditions of Tavush, which your hosts will prepare right there in the forest using local, seasonal ingredients. While you dine and soak in the fresh mountain air, your hosts will share stories behind each dish, including where they come from and what they mean for the local people of Tavush. You’ll go home with both a full tummy and heart.

  • Starting at 35,000 AMD per person for groups of 6 guests. Pricing varies according to group size.

  • This experience takes place in Dilijan National Park, one of four national parks in Armenia. Your hosts take all the necessary steps to ensure that the natural environment is left as it was before your experience. Plus, a donation of 2,000 AMD from each individual’s booking in your group goes to the Caucasus Nature Fund, which will double the amount and donate it to Trails For Change, a local nonprofit that builds trails in Armenia and promotes environmentally friendly ecotourism.

Wild Table by Odzun $

  • Odzun, Lori Province

  • Starting from your local hosts’ bed and breakfast in the village of Odzun, you’ll go on a short off-road ride to the Wild Table location, from where you’ll get beautiful panorama views of the surrounding mountain ranges. Your culinary adventure will begin with welcome wine and light hors d'oeuvres. While your hosts prepare the main 3 courses of your experience, you’re more than welcome to join them in the outdoor kitchen and cook. Throughout the experience, they’ll share with you local stories and lore about the dishes you’ll enjoy and the ingredients used to cook them.

  • Starting at 19,000 AMD per person for groups of 8 guests. Pricing varies according to group size.

  • With the support of an expert Armenian food historian, your hosts have created a menu that is true to the culinary heritage of the region, preserving and sharing local food traditions with travelers like you. Your hosts have also been trained in the culinary arts, hygiene, food and waste management, environmental protection, first aid, and hospitality at the Yeremyan Academy, Armenia’s top culinary school, so that you can enjoy this experience in comfort.

Riverside Grill Station $

  • Marmashen, Shirak Province

  • Come hungry for this 3 course dining experience set on the banks of the Akhuryan River, near the beautiful 10th century Marmashen Monastery, where your local host will share with you a delicious meal from the grill. You can choose from local steak or traditional kyalla [kyah-llah] for your main dish. Kyalla is a lamb’s or cow’s head that’s slowly cooked in a closed, smokey oven. It’s a local delicacy here in Shirak Province that we’d love to share with you (available only during the winter months)! But if you choose to stick to a familiar steak we’ll understand completely. Aside from your main course, you’ll also enjoy other tasty dishes from the grill. You’re welcome to join in the outdoor kitchen and cook with your host, or kick back with a cold local beer and enjoy the views and the fresh air – the choice is yours!

  • Starting at 15,000 AMD per person for groups of 5 guests. Pricing varies according to group size.

  • With the support of an expert Armenian food historian, your hosts have created a menu that is true to the culinary heritage of the region, preserving and sharing local food traditions with travelers like you. And, this experience takes place on the bank of the Akhuryan River, where your host will take all the necessary steps to ensure that the natural environment is left as it was before your experience.

3 – 5 hours

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8 people max

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3 course meals

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Vegetarian friendly

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Untouched nature

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Professional local chefs

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3 – 5 hours • 8 people max • 3 course meals • Vegetarian friendly • Untouched nature • Professional local chefs •

“

Walking from the car towards the dinner table with the surrounding view and then seeing Noravank Monastery was incredible. I loved learning about the park and wildlife and then getting to see for myself. The food and wine was great, especially the tarragon salad, tolma, pumpkin hummus, trout and the herb tea and cooked fruit dessert – a perfect finish!

”

– Mary Batmasian
Read All Reviews

Your table is ready, book now.

Use this form to send a booking request and our team will get in touch with you to confirm the details of your adventure, including pricing. Final cost per person depends on your group size. If you have any dietary restrictions or food allergies, we will be sure to ask during the confirmation process after you have submitted your booking request form through this site. Transportation from Yerevan to each Wild Food Adventure location is also available at extra cost. We’ll confirm all the details after you have booked.

*Free cancellation up to 72 hours before each adventure.

Adventuring for Good

Transforming the lives of both travelers and local people through meaningful and responsible experiences is why we do what we do at 2492. We believe that Armenia can be a wonderful place to both visit and live in, which is why each of our experiences are thoughtfully built not only to connect you with local people and ways of life, but also positively impact the lives and communities that you encounter. For our Wild Food Adventures, that means: 

  • Local, seasonal ingredients: All our dishes are cooked using seasonal ingredients sourced from local communities.

  • Native, authentic recipes: With the support of an expert Armenian food historian and our nonprofit arm ONEArmenia, your hosts have created a menu that is true to the culinary and cultural traditions of each location while preserving its cultural heritage with local and near-forgotten recipes.  

  • Expertly trained community hosts: Your hosts have been trained in the culinary arts, hospitality, customer service, hygiene, food waste management, first aid, and environmental protection at the Yeremyan Academy, Armenia’s top culinary school, so that you can enjoy the Armenian Highland in comfort and feel good knowing that your experience has little to no impact on the environment. 

  • Untouched natural landscapes: Our Wild Food Adventures are set places of outstanding natural beauty, and to ensure that we not only keep them beautiful but also contribute to their wellbeing, every booking supports local wildlife organizations. We are proud to collaborate with the Caucasus Nature Fund, the Arpa Protected Landscape, the Khosrov Forest State Reserve, and Trails For Change NGO to protect Armenia’s natural environments.

FAQ

Questions? Concerns? Burning existential queries on life? We can help (with the first two).

  • Unfortunately not, as our menu is fixed.

  • If you are a vegetarian then absolutely yes. Some dishes in the lineup are already vegetarian-friendly. For dishes that are not, we have prepared vegetarian alternatives. Simply make sure to inform us if you or someone in your group is vegetarian when submitting your booking request. Unfortunately though, not all our vegetarian alternatives are vegan and dairy products are used extensively in Armenian cuisine so at this point we are unable to cater to vegans.

  • It will depend. Please let us know of any allergies and/or dietary restrictions anyone in your group may have using the booking request form, and we will see if we can remove/replace ingredients affected, though we cannot guarantee that there won’t be cross contamination.

  • No, however do bear in mind that some of our experiences include off-road driving on bumpy roads in order to reach the final location. If you have any physical impairments like back problems that might be affected, please inform us and we can advise on whether or not your desired experience is suitable.

  • Unfortunately, our regular itinerary is not. However, we aim to make our trips as accessible as possible so please let us know if you have any special requirements and we will try to find a solution within our means.

  • For safety reasons, children under 12 are not able to participate in the Winemaker’s Table: Areni Cliffs and Mountaintop Eats experiences. However, children are welcome in the Winemaker’s Table: Areni Vineyards experience.

  • English, Russian, and Armenian.

  • There are no pets allowed at the Winemaker’s Table: Areni Cliffs or Mountaintop Eats experiences, as both are set at high altitudes with rough terrains, and the former is also set within a protected area. As for Areni Vineyards, pets are welcome so long as they remain on their best behavior.

  • No, Armenian cuisine is not very spicy by nature. But that doesn’t mean it lacks flavor!

  • Of course! A fixed amount is included in the price of your experience and you can order additional alcohol during the experience itself, depending on what is available in the location. Note that we are unfortunately not able to provide an extensive menu given the wild nature of the experience. If you do not drink alcohol, don’t worry – a non-alcoholic alternative will be provided.

  • Though we cannot control the exact conditions on the day of your experience, insect repellent will be available for you to use in case of insects. We have done our best to select locations where there are few such critters but there is a chance you will come across other animals such as snakes (though they generally avoid people anyway). Our guide and local partners will advise you what to do in such situations.

  • We will notify you 48 hours before the experience start time if we need to postpone or cancel, in the case of a heavy rain forecast. Still, we recommend you bring a raincoat anyway in case of unexpected rain. Otherwise, the Armenian sun can be quite strong and while your dining area is arranged under a canopy, we recommend bringing a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen in case. As the evenings can get quite cool, we also suggest bringing warm layers.

  • There are no fixed toilets, however your hosts will of course show you a safe, comfortable and private place to “go in the wild.” Hand washing equipment will be provided. In case you need a fixed toilet, these will be available at the start and end points of your experience.

  • Not at all. The ride to Areni takes around 2 hours and transportation is easy to arrange. You can contact us for more information. As for Yeranos, transportation from Yerevan is included in the price of your booking.