One year ago, I was invited to participate in a test run of 2492 Travel’s Wild Food Adventures to provide feedback on the experience. 2492 is the recently launched travel brand of ONEArmenia, and organizes themed excursions throughout Armenia.

My Wild Food Adventure was set to take place in Gnishik Canyon, overlooking the Noravank Monastery in Areni village. Although I’ve been to Areni multiple times (see my write up of the Areni Wine Festival here) I was really looking forward to the experience. It would also be another opportunity to try and see one of my favourite animals, the elusive bezoar goat. 

Ameer, who worked on 2492’s product development let me know the day would be a “unique experience for travelers to enjoy high quality Armenian cuisine served up by expertly trained hosts.” In fact, when speaking with ONEArmenia’s Chief Storyteller Kyle before the Wild Food Adventure took place, he let me know that 2492 works with local ethnographer and food historian Ruzanna Tsaturyan, keeping the foods authentic while presented in a modern way. An added bonus? Kyle passed on my Pomegranate Sangria recipe from The Vegan Armenian Kitchen Cookbook to the 2492 team to be included in the welcoming refreshments table—made with local Areni wine, of course!

The test run was scheduled for May 25, 2022, with pickup at 1PM and a return to Yerevan around 9PM. I would be joined by three other participants, plus two members of the ONEArmenia team. A few days before our trip I was informed that the pick up time would be 11AM as the team decided to include a tour of Noravank Monastery and Areni-1 cave, at the request of one of the participants who had not been to either location yet (they are both in close proximity to the final destination). 

The introductory email let us know that our day would include:

• Welcome drink and snacks
• Three-course meal cooked by local chefs using local ingredients, paired with locally-made wine
• Drinking water
• Return transportation between Yerevan and Areni
• Return off-road transportation between Areni and the final location (slightly bumpy)
• Short visits to Noravank and Areni-1 cave before the Wild Food Adventure (Bonus)
• Tour guide services
• Beautiful nature!

While I had my own expectations and hopes of what the day would be like, the above was basically all I knew, so all the specifics would be pleasant little surprises along the way. 

ONEArmenia’s main goal with 2492 is responsible travel, with a mission to “make [Armenia] the #1 destination in the South Caucasus by incubating new experience-based travel products in rural Armenia that are responsible and showcase the country’s cultural intrigue.” This type of responsible tourism seeks to always give back to the communities it works with. ONEArmenia notes:

“Experiential travel is all about doing and learning, not just sightseeing as a tourist. It also benefits local communities – 66% of profit from experiences stays in local communities, compared to just 20-33% with other forms of tourism. That’s why we work to shift Armenia’s travel offering from sightseeing to travel experiences that give back positively to rural communities.”

We met up at Sasuntsi Davit station and loaded on the nice spacious bus to head out for the day. I packed the boringest last-minute attempt of a trail-mix for the journey there:

Luckily, for one of our short breaks we were able to enjoy piroshki (fried dough stuffed with potatoes) and pet some cute dogs.

We arrived at Noravank Monastery for a tour before heading to the Areni-1 Cave, where the world’s oldest winery and shoes were found. I’ve been to both of these sights, multiple times, but never with Jor Martirosyan, ONEArmenia’s incredible Tourism Product Development Coordinator. My only regret of the trip was not having my packed notebook handy when Jor was giving us the tour. I learned a lot during the “pit-stop” and tried to scribble down everything after getting back onto the bus.

To call the rest of the journey, as 2492 put it, a “slightly bumpy” road, was the understatement of the year. It was non-stop bumpy, with views that were marvelous (that included sightings of adorable animals like foals)…or borderline frightening (when we got close to cliffs).

Our driver was clearly experienced and had no problem making all swerves and last-minute turns necessary to keep the journey just bumpy, rather than altogether dangerous. He was also very calm, which does make a world of difference—even when he would laugh at us all gasping!

Arriving at our destination, the heights of the Noravank Canyon (within the Arpa Protected Landscape), was definitely one of those times where you needed to pause to take it all in. I could see our beautiful table set up in the distance, but the view itself was genuinely spectacular – I could not have dreamed up a better location for this experience.

After fawning over the scenery and our beautiful table set up, we were soon greeted by one of our hosts, Mariam, at the refreshment table, who, to my terribly-veiled excitement, served us all Pomegranate Sangria, along with some delicious snacks. I soon learned that Mariam is trained in culinary arts, and was part of the menu-building team for this experience—with some of the recipes coming from her own family. The wine being generously served throughout the day/evening was also produced by Mariam’s husband and brother-in-law in Areni village, called Sar Wine (mountain wine).

While we enjoyed our drinks and snacks, I also became better acquainted with Arpine, who told our group more about the protected area and surrounding nature. I was able to chat with her about the animals and local preservation projects, and she encouraged me to use the binocular set up to look for bezoar goats, giving me a lot of helpful tips.

I’ve had very bad luck spotting bezoar goats in the wild, and even missed them on an excursion designed specifically to see them as some barking dogs had scared them off about 20 minutes before we arrived. I was nervous to lose my chance again, but stayed glued to that binocular for dear life. In a wonderful display of teamwork—with Arpine and some of the wildlife rangers adjusting the view and telling me where to look, I spotted one female climbing along, and thought I could die happy right there. (Though I still need to see the ultimate metal head of a male bezoar goat one day, with their spectacularly curled horns and impressive beards.) I saw some cute foxes later as well.

While most of the table was already set up, I was so happy to see that part of the experience included Mariam preparing some of the mains right then and there, where we could watch, learn, and ask questions. 

The menu, inspired by the “grape-growing and culinary traditions of the Vayots Dzor region”, was spectacular, with all ingredients being seasonal and locally sourced, and included vegetables, fruits, and fresh and cooked greens and herbs available in abundance.

The starters included a pumpkin hummus with cute mini pitas, grilled red pepper puree with dried lavash, and a very memorable tarragon salad I hope to recreate soon.

The main menu had both meat and vegetarian/vegan options: trout wrapped in lavash, tolma, and a fantastic lentil and vegetable medley cooked in lavash and served with greens. The red and white wines were both delicious as well, and our host was very knowledgeable about which one went best with what we were currently eating.

The dessert was grilled seasonal fruit with thyme and lemon, served alongside strained yogurt and fruit preserves, with tea or coffee. 

I loved learning about new Armenian foods and enjoyed everything I ate, but somehow the tarragon salad stood out the most for me. 

We spent most of our time at the table, talking, eating, snacking some more, and getting to know the local hosts better. The surrounding nature was absolutely stunning so every now and then it would be a little shock to realize exactly where we were.

As the experience itself was slowly coming to an end and we had to head back before it got dark (I certainly didn’t want to be on those “slightly bumpy” roads in pitch black!), most of us kept trying to get a few more breaths of fresh mountain air, a few more peeks through the binocular, and a few more seconds to digest the landscape and nature.

The journey back was not as alarming (perhaps the wine numbed our reflexes a bit) and we enjoyed being entertained by Seta, a participant from Australia, and our driver’s banter. She gifted him a cross she bought at Noravank for his car to keep him safe.

Although it was a bit hard to come back to reality in Yerevan, I was so grateful for the experience and to have spent the day with such lovely people, delicious food, and surrounded by breathtaking beauty!

With the trial runs complete, 2492 now offers the opportunity to book their travel experiences on their website. The Winemaker’s Table: Areni Cliffs is described as follows:

“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. You won’t just learn about Armenia’s rich culinary traditions and wildlife; you’ll be a part of them.”

The experience per person is priced at 70,000 AMD (approximately $180 USD or $240 CAD), with 2000 AMD of that amount donated to the Caucasus Nature Fund. On the form, you can specify any preferences for vegetarian and vegan food, as well as notify the team of food allergies.

Is the experience on the pricier side, especially in a country like Armenia? You bet! And you can certainly discover and enjoy similar aspects on planned or impromptu hikes, which is part of the beauty and accessibility of Armenia. But the Wild Food Adventure is a curated experience, getting the best out of those journeys—without all the inconvenience, delays, planning, etc.—and putting it all together in one package that could be a genuinely unforgettable experience for a group visiting Armenia, especially for a shorter period of time.

To me, Armenia is one of the most charming destinations imaginable, and while it may be a huge feat to capture the magic of this country in a single experience, 2492 gets it pretty close.

There are also beautifully made videos of the experience (featuring some appearances from yours truly) if you want to take a peek!