9 Hours Armenian Tour Garni Geghard Noratus Sevan Lake
Description
Get into the Essence of Armenia by doing the Essential Armenia tour. Visiting the most important and distinct sites in the country. If you have limited time in the country, this tour is just for you. It is a great way to explore Armenia, by not only, visiting its main sites but also meeting local people, eating in their house and getting to know rural life in Armenia. Our English-only guides will make your journey unforgettable Start your morning by admiring the magnificence of Azat gorge and the stunning rock formation known as the Symphony of Stones. Explore the amazing Geghard monastery carved within a mountain and the iconic Garni temple. Visit a local family and learn about life in the Fantan village over a home cooked lunch. Be amazed by the sheer number of “khachkar'' (stone etched headstones) at the Noratus cemetery and discover the history behind them. Appreciate the serenity of Lake Sevan from the picturesque Sevanavank perched on top of a hill overlooking the lake.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Start your morning by admiring the magnificence of Azat gorge and the stunning rock formation known as the Symphony of Stones. Unique to Armenia the symmetric basalt columns of the Symphony of Stones are a great start to the tour. Enjoy the sounds of nature as the magnificent river Azat creates the symphony in the stones.
Built in 66 AD by King Tirdates I Garni temple is the only surviving pagan temple in Armenia. The temple is done in a typical Greco-Roman style similar to many temples in Greece and Italy. Learn about the history of this one and only temple, how it got to the modern times and how it survived the Christinazation of Armenia. In the temple grounds marvel at the unique roman style bathhouse and its original mosaics that are 2000 years old.
This UNESCO world heritage site is one of a kind. Geghard Monastery is partly carved into the mountain side and the caves that is surrounded by. Marvel at exquisite carvings of pomegranates, grapes and Saints. Learn about the mystical history of the spear that wounded Jesus during the crucifixion and how it got to Geghard Monastery. Enjoy classical Armenian snacks just before heading out for lunch.
Get to know the local rural life of Armenia and specifically the life in the village of Fantan over a home-made lunch. The Essence of Armenia cannot be understood without stepping into the house of typical family. All dietary requirements can be catered to. After lunch coffee/tea and deserts are provided.
Be amazed by the sheer number of “khachkar”‘s (stone etched headstones) at the Noratus cemetery and discover the history behind them. Learn about the customs of the locals and the legends they have by exploring this medieval cemetery.
Sitting on top of the hill of Sevan peninsula this Monastery has the best views of Lake Sevan. Built in 10th century Sevanvank has been an important cultural and spiritual century for Armenia.
Appreciate the serenity of Lake Sevan from Sevan peninsula. Lake Sevan is one of the largest and highest freshwater lakes in the world. In the summer time by the agreement of the whole group it is also possible to swim in the lake and cool yourself.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Reviews(11)
We had a fantastic day, the sights were beautiful, and we learned so much about the sights and the history of the country. We also had a delicious, varied lunch served at a family home (which was a consistent highlight in all tours we joined Envoy).
Dear PC, Thank you so much for your kind review! We are delighted to hear that you had such a fantastic day exploring Armenia and enjoyed both the beautiful sights and the stories behind them. It's especially wonderful to know that the lunch at the family home was one of the highlights of your experience. Supporting local families and sharing authentic Armenian hospitality is something we truly value. Thank you for choosing to join multiple tours with us. It was a pleasure to have you, and we hope to welcome you back to Armenia—or to Georgia—for more memorable adventures in the future!
We went on a private tour with our friends. The car was very comfortable. I communicated with Marine about our reservation since November, we got all information in time and she also kept in touch before the departure (we were in two different hotels). Marine gave us lot of interesting facts not only about the sites we visited, but also about life and current affairs in Armenia. We'd like to appreciate home made lunch in family house in the countryside. It was very authentic experience and food was delicious. It gave us opportunity to talk about armenian cuisine. Without Envoy tours it would be very difficult to visit all the places in one day and for sure we wouldn't learn that much. The whole tour was perfect and we were happy to visit all these beautiful places with Marine.
Dear 944linb, Thank you very much for your detailed and thoughtful review. We’re glad to hear that you enjoyed the experience from the initial planning stages through to the tour itself. It’s especially rewarding to know that the cultural insights, the home-hosted lunch, and the overall journey made a meaningful impression. Creating seamless, well-rounded experiences like this is exactly what we aim for. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you again for another journey in the region.
Excellent tour to a selection of Armenian tourist attractions: Stone Symphony, Garni Temple, Geghard Monastery, Novatus, Lake Sevan and Sevansvank. Very good guide Aida and great food in a family home in Fantan
Dear Angel D, Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We’re so glad you enjoyed exploring Armenia’s highlights — from the Stone Symphony and Garni Temple to Lake Sevan and Sevanavank. It’s great to hear that Aida made your experience even more special with her guiding, and that you enjoyed the homemade lunch in Fantan — always a guest favorite! We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back soon to discover even more of Armenia with us.
My husband and me spent a week in Armenia this October. All our day tours and accommodation were organised by Envoy tours. We had a memorable trip thanks to Envoy's smooth organization and friendly guides. Thank you Zara, Aida and Nina
Dear Thanooja, Thank you so much for sharing your experience! We’re thrilled to hear that you and your husband had a memorable week in Armenia and that our team helped make your trip smooth and enjoyable. Zara, Aida, and Nina will be so happy to read your kind words — they truly put their hearts into every tour. We hope to welcome you back again soon to explore even more of Armenia with us!
The tour was amazing! It was a long day and we covered a lot of ground. This region of Armenia is so beautiful and I learned a ton of history. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable, and lunch at a family's home was a real highlight. Highly recommend.
Dear aaronsG3995WU, Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed the tour and found the day both enriching and memorable. That region of Armenia truly is stunning, and it’s wonderful that you appreciated the history and local hospitality — the family lunches are always a guest favorite! Your recommendation means a lot to us. We hope to welcome you back soon to explore even more of Armenia!
Well organised tour of the main sights around Yerevan with a knowledgable tour guide and a friendly bunch of fellow tourists. My second tour through Envoy Hostel - both excellent - benefitted from an exceptional lunch from a local family as part of the experience. Great value.
Dear blakelockb, Thank you for joining us again — we’re truly grateful for your continued trust! It’s wonderful to hear that you enjoyed another well-organized and friendly tour, and that the local family lunch added to the experience. We’re proud to have such knowledgeable guides and welcoming hosts who help create memorable moments for our guests. Your kind words and recommendation mean a lot to our team. We hope to see you again soon for more adventures in Armenia!
Great tour and greater the guide! Saten was always clear, never boring, super friendly and enthusiastic. You can feel her passion in her job and her love in her county.
Dear Matteo, thank you so much for your right up of your tour experience with us. We certainly love our country and even more, love showing it off to our dear guests. Thanks for choosing envoy (more than once!) and for your 5 star rating. Hope to see you again soon!
The tour was very well organized: on time, right pace, and a safe driver. Our guide, Saten, was very knowledgeable about Armenia's history and passionate about it. I really liked her positive attitude. The tour included a homemade lunch in a local family's home, which was absolutely delicious.
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback. Your 5 star rating means a lot to us. Thank you for choosing Envoy Tours for your travel around our region - hope to see you again one day so make more travel memories together :) Greetings from our friendly team, especially Saten
This small group day tour was fantastic. The local guide was very knowledgeable and the number of stops was perfect and they were also different. The scenery in this part of Armenia is outstanding. The tour also included lunch at a local families home and we sat at their dining room table with so much home-made food. It was so delicious.
Dear Sasha, thank you so much for taking the time to write us a review of our tours (and hostel too! <3). We are simply thrilled to know you had a great time with us. We agree that the lunch experience is a highlight and we are glad you enjoyed the authenticity of it. We hope you have taken many wonderful (and tasty :) ) travel memories with you. Hope our paths cross again in your travels. Sending you warm regards from our Crew.
It was an amazing experience! Tour truly offers great value for money. Our guide was fluent in English and shared a lot of information and interesting facts about each location we visited. The small group size of just six people made the experience even more enjoyable. We were also fortunate that there weren't many tourists at the spots we visited, likely because the tour was on a Monday. One of the highlights was the homemade lunch at a local family's home, which added a wonderful, authentic touch to the trip. Highly recommended!
Thank you so much for your amazing review and wonderful comments. We are so glad you enjoyed our tours which are designed to go beyond the standard tours. We aim to provide cultural insights and authentic experiences through our village family hosted lunches (and create much needed employment and opportunity for cultural exchange and growth in the regions). Thank you for choosing envoy tours. We trust you have taken many wonderful travel memories with you and hope to see you again one day. Greetings from our Crew.
