Garni,Geghard,Charent's Arch, Symphony of Stones and LavashBaking
Description
Embark on a group tour to effortlessly delve into Armenia's rich history. Enjoy comfortable transportation with a dedicated driver beyond Yerevan. Discover the Temple of Garni, Geghard Monastery, and Azat Canyon, each offering a glimpse into Armenia’s fascinating past. Pause at a scenic viewpoint to marvel at Mount Ararat in the distance. Immerse yourself in Armenia's history, explore Garni and Geghard with your fellow travelers, and savor moments in nature at Azat Canyon.
Tour Options
Itinerary
During this excursion, we'll explore Garni, Geghard, and the Azat River Valley, home to numerous historical and natural landmarks. Our journey begins with a visit to Geghardavank, a renowned 13th-century monastery, followed by Garni village, which boasts a variety of well-known and lesser-known sites. A brief hiking excursion will lead us to the iconic Garni pagan temple and the Symphony of Stones. We'll also pause near the Arch of Charents, offering a breathtaking vista of Mount Ararat.
The Geghard Monastery, situated in the Kotayk province, is a medieval marvel partially carved into the adjacent mountain and encircled by cliffs. Its commonly used name, Geghard or Geghardavank, meaning "the Monastery of the Spear," stems from the spear that wounded Jesus during the Crucifixion. According to belief, Apostle Jude, also known as Thaddeus in Armenia, brought the spear to the region, where it was safeguarded among various relics, now exhibited in the Echmiadzin treasury. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the monastery complex enjoys enhanced protection status.
While driving along the Yerevan-Garni highway, you'll spot the Charents Arch perched on a hill to the right side of the road. This monument pays homage to the esteemed Armenian poet and patriot, Yeghishe Charents. Legend has it that Charents frequented this spot, captivated by its breathtaking vistas. Although appearing simple at first glance, the stone arch holds significant historical and cultural value. Notably, it offers uninterrupted views of the majestic biblical Mount Ararat throughout the day, earning it the alternate name, the Arch of Ararat. This site is a beloved and widely visited attraction, drawing tourists to revel in its awe-inspiring panoramas and capture memorable photographs.
The Symphony of Stones, also known as the "Basalt Organ," stands as a natural marvel situated within the Azat River basin, near Garni village. Recognized as one of Armenia's natural monuments, this site boasts massive hexagon and pentagon basalt columns, reaching impressive heights of nearly 50 meters. The remarkable symmetry of these stones gives the appearance of meticulous craftsmanship. Hanging against gravity, they form a resemblance to an organ, earning the alternate name "Basalt Organ Pipes." As the Azat River flows through the gorge, the stones are accompanied by the soothing sound of water, enhancing the splendor of this geological wonder.
The journey from Yerevan to the Points of Interest and back, along with a stop for a meal and leisure time, will occupy the remainder of the day.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(64)
We went on this trip, but the guide was super rude and impolite; I don't remember her name, but I am attaching a photo. Aside from the fact that there were no seats (could you check first?), one of us 2 had to sit in the front with the guide and the driver. I didn't want to roll the window all the way down (I was on the window side), she started talking in Armenian with the driver while laughing; I pointed out my disapproval, and she started yelling and talking into the microphone, screaming for at least half an hour. Pretty crazy, I strongly advise against it. Great, it won't let me attach the photo 😅 female guide, long dark hair. Definitely worth reporting; the others who got off the bus also agreed on the lack of professionalism and rudeness. Someone like that cannot work in a customer-facing job, absolutely not! For those reading, avoid booking with these local guides. Better to choose competent guides
Gor was a very good guide. Knowledgeable and fun. It was a demanding day due to the 38c heat, but it was worth it to explore outside of Yerevan. The monasteries were fabulous to see as well as learning about the ancient history of the country. The trip was very good value for money
Check when booking the approximate time of return. On the day, check if there are any changes to the booked itinerary. The program feels rushed at times. We had an extra visit to Khor Virap, included in our tour, which could have been a bonus, but as we had already seen this the day before added an unnecessary 2 hours to the tour and impacted our evening plans.
The tour packed a lot of things into one day (and charged surprisingly little money for it). I think the operators might be surprised to hear that sometimes "less is more", but it might make sense to remove one or two of the stops and have a bit more time at the others as sometimes it all felt a bit rushed. Our guide certainly tried hard to provide all the information for all the stops, and she was easy to understand. The place where we had lunch also had the lavash making demonstration, which was interesting, and the bread tasted good. Unfortunately, the rest of the lunch food was rather dry and not that good. Overall, the tour is certainly great value for money and a good way to experience more of Armenia.
Exciting things to see. The guide was okay in English. We had good time for our self to explore the things.
Be careful when booking with this company. They changed the itinerary of the tour without notification. I purposely booked a tour without Khor Virap or Lake Sevan as I would see them on other tours but got put on a bus with these stops, adding 2+ hours of driving. The business rep stopped responding and the tour guide suggested I could just leave the tour, despite already paying. Visit times at each site are very short but lots of driving time
While visiting Armenia in June, I took a wonderful tour from Tranquil Holidays Armenia that visited several historical sites. Our tour guide, Jasmine, was amazing, kind, and helpful. She had incredible knowledge of Armenian history and sites and was a lot of fun to take a tour with. Our driver, Artyom, was super fun also. Together, they made an amazing experience that was the highlight of my trip. The cost of the tour was very affordable. It lasted all day, but was worth every minute. The atmosphere was a ton of fun; I made quick friends with the other strangers on the tour. The crowd size was not too big; it was a perfect little group for a fun day excursion. Jasmine made the experience so informative and fun.
This is one of the worst tour companies I’ve ever traveled. I’m referring strictly to customer service and management (the tour guide and the tour itself was decent). I arrived about 20 minutes early to the meetup location and the bus was nowhere to be seen. Upon reaching out to the tour company on WhatsApp, they said that they messaged me last night about a change in the pickup location. However, I didn’t get any messages (I proved this to them step by step through logic of deduction). They kept insisting that I’m mistaken, and said I should take a taxi to the right place. I asked for compensation as it’s 100% their fault I’m in this situation, and they refused. No accountability. Upon arrival to the new pickup location, other guests confirmed they got an email for the location change at around 1am in the morning, a joke to begin with (many guests did not see this email as expected and didn’t show up at the new pickup location). To make clear, I check my emails religiously and did not have an email either way. After running through the guest list, it was discovered that I wasn’t even on the list. A master class on incompetence on display from this tour company. I reported this back to customer service on WhatsApp and instead of addressing this or offering an apology or compensation, they simply decided to ghost me with no further messages. Avoid this tour company like the plague.
Good experience overall. Good price. Length of visit is good but most stops are very rushed and you don't really have much time to explore anything. Atmosphere was fine. Crowd size good. Staff friendly and helpful. Lunch was horrible. Spending one week in Armenia, it was the only bad meal I experienced. Better to take a sandwich from the supermarket.
It was good,and the tourguide is very energetic. However, there is nobody is yhere when we arrive the the lavash making area.
