Garni, Geghard, Symphony & Lake Sevan Small-Group Guided Tour
Description
Start at the scenic Arch of Charents, a panoramic viewpoint overlooking biblical Mount Ararat. Continue to the 1st-century Garni Temple, the only surviving pagan temple in the Caucasus, dedicated to the sun god Mihr. Nearby, marvel at the natural wonder Symphony of Stones, dramatic basalt columns formed by volcanic forces over millennia. Explore the UNESCO-listed Geghard Monastery, partly carved into rock in the Upper Azat Valley. End your journey at Lake Sevan and visit Sevanavank Monastery, where sweeping lake views and ancient khachkars complete the experience.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The Arch of Charents, is named in honor of Armenian poet Eghishe Charents, who wrote the best poem, dedicated to Armenia, full of true love and pride. From this place opens a breathtaking view to Ararat, probably the most stunning view of the Biblical mountain.
Garni Temple (77 A.D.) –it is the only standing heathen temple in the whole post-Soviet area. The temple gracefully stands on a high plateau overlooking the Azat river gorge. The surrounding area itself is incredibly beautiful. The greek-roman bath house with the mosaic, made out of 30,000 pieces of natural stones, as well as the ruins of the royal palace, will take you to 3rd century A.D.
The Garni Gorge is situated just below the village of the same name. Along the sides of the gorge are cliff walls of well-preserved basalt columns, carved out by the Goght River. This portion of the Garni Gorge is typically referred to as the "Symphony of the Stones.".
St. Geghard symbolizes the lance with which the Roman centurion pierced Jesus after crusifixion. Later the lance had been brought to Armenia and kept in Geghard Monastery for 5 centuries. The most astonishing part of this complex is its architectural solution churches drilled into the solid rock that were constructed in accordance to the rules of Armenian architecture. Geghard Monastery is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Lake Sevan is one of the largest high-altitude lakes in the world, rightfully called the "Pearl of Armenia".
The monastery, founded in the 9th century, sits on a small peninsula, offering stunning views of the lake and surrounding mountains.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- For security reasons the trip might be modified or cancelled in case of bad weather conditions.
Reviews(54)
Nice tour with many sightseeing without being overwhelming. The guide Gayane was nice amd welcoming
Thank you for your kind feedback. We’re glad to hear you enjoyed the tour and the balance of sightseeing throughout the day. It’s wonderful to know you felt welcomed and comfortable during the experience. We hope to see you again on another tour in Armenia.
We had a wonderful tour and our guide, Nektar, was absolutely excellent. She was very kind, professional and extremely helpful throughout the whole trip. I especially appreciated how attentive and supportive she was with my mother, who has some difficulty walking. She was very patient and made sure my mother felt comfortable during the tour. Thanks to her, the experience was even more enjoyable for us. Highly recommended!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that you had a memorable tour and that the guide made the experience so enjoyable for both you and your mother. It’s great to know that her kindness, professionalism, and attentiveness helped everyone feel comfortable and included. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you again for another amazing adventure in Armenia!
We had a wonderful tour and our guide, Nektar, was absolutely excellent. She was very kind, professional and extremely helpful throughout the whole trip. I especially appreciated how attentive and supportive she was with my mother, who has some difficulty walking. She was very patient and made sure my mother felt comfortable during the tour. Thanks to her, the experience was even more enjoyable for us. Highly recommended!
Thank you so much for your kind review! We’re thrilled that you enjoyed the tour and that the guide’s professionalism, kindness, and attentiveness made the experience even more special, especially in supporting your mother. It’s wonderful to hear that everyone felt comfortable and cared for throughout the trip. We truly appreciate your recommendation and look forward to welcoming you again for another amazing adventure in Armenia!
This small-group tour was absolutely amazing. Garni and Geghard are breathtaking, and Lake Sevan was the perfect end to the trip. Our guide was knowledgeable and friendly. Highly recommended!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! 🌟 We’re delighted to hear that you had an amazing experience exploring Garni, Geghard, and Lake Sevan. It’s great to know that the guide’s knowledge and friendliness made the trip even more enjoyable. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you again for another unforgettable journey!
I greatly enjoyed my day trip to Garni/Geghard/Lake Sevan. Having a historian on board, Tigran, as our guide was a big plus. We have never felt we were left without any interesting comments/information/insights with him and he was humorous too. Edgar, our driver, made sure we safely arrived to all sites. The small size of our group was pretty welcome, the whole atmosphere was intimate. We did enjoyed the sites, although at some points I wished we had more free time to discover each venue. I was happy we were able to beat the crowds at Garni. Both that and Geghard is a must if you are in Armenia and don’t miss out on the mesmerising views of Lake Sevan from Sevanavank as well. Maybe more traditional Armenian cuisine offered on the menu would be appreciated (but that’s a recommendation for all tours operated by Yerani Travel). Overall, I highly recommend taking both this tour and tour company.
Dear Guest, Thank you for your kind words! It’s wonderful to hear that your day with us was enjoyable and memorable. We always strive to create experiences that leave our guests with lasting impressions, and we’re glad this tour could do that for you. We look forward to welcoming you back to explore more of Armenia’s beauty and culture in the future!
The guide is incredible, the man loves his business, the places are cool and worth watching! I recommend everyone go with them.
Спасибо за тёплые слова! Нам очень приятно слышать, что экскурсия оставила яркие впечатления и что Вы оценили как места, так и подачу информации. Будем рады снова сопровождать Вас в путешествиях по Армении!
We were on tour Garney, Gegard, Sevanavanck with guide Samwell, everything is perfectly organized, nowhere to wait, everything is clear and in time. The guide spoke interestingly, clearly and concisely. The experience is the most stunning, the views and locations are magnificent. Thanks to the organizers, guide!!!
Благодарим за Ваш отзыв! Нам очень приятно, что экскурсия оставила такие яркие впечатления. Рады, что организация была чёткой, а подача информации интересной и доступной. Прекрасные виды и локации действительно делают поездку незабываемой. Будем рады снова видеть Вас на наших турах!
Unfortunately the stops were very short Every site deserves more time but I understand the distances but the Gaia guide was superb
Grazie per il tuo feedback! Siamo felici che la guida ti sia piaciuta e che abbia reso l’esperienza piacevole. Ci fa piacere sapere che hai apprezzato i luoghi visitati, anche se i tempi di sosta erano un po’ stretti. Speriamo di accoglierti nuovamente per altre escursioni in Armenia!
The 8-hour full-day itinerary was perfectly organized. Every stop, from Yeghishe Charents Arch and Garni Temple to Geghard Monastery and the "Symphony of Stones" gorge, was absolutely stunning. Ending the day with the scenic views of Lake Sevan and Sevanavank Monastery was so calming and rewarding. The guide provided clear explanations in English (and Russian too), and the pace was comfortable with no rushing. The small group size (1-19 people) made the experience even more enjoyable and intimate. This is definitely a fantastic tour to explore the best of Armenia!
Thank you so much for your detailed and wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the full-day itinerary and that each stop left a memorable impression. It’s great to know that the guide’s explanations, the comfortable pace, and the small group size made the experience even more enjoyable. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you on another tour soon to explore more of Armenia!
We chose this excursion for the first day in Yerevan, the result - our journey began unforgettably. Everything is very comfortable, nice, comfortable, human! Due to ignorance of the city was late for the start of the tour, but the guide, the tour driver and the taxi driver together helped to get to the tour stop and continue with everyone, which was unexpected, few places will act so understanding!:) Expensive, in general, is not only part of Armenia's collection of natural beauty and architecture, but also the people who organize it all. Thank you, I invited all my friends and relatives to Armenia.
Уважаемая Полина, Огромное спасибо за такой душевный отзыв! Нам невероятно приятно знать, что ваше знакомство с Ереваном началось именно с нашей экскурсии и оставило такие яркие впечатления. Спасибо за добрые слова в адрес нашей команды — это действительно очень вдохновляет. Будем рады видеть вас снова в Армении!
