Garni Geghard Symphony of Stones Lavash Baking Tour from Yerevan
Description
Garni temple, one of the most famous historical and architectural monuments among tourists, is located in Kotayk province. It is the only structure preserved in Armenia from the pagan period, dedicated to the god Mihr. Before reaching the temple, we will have a stop on the way to Charents Arch, from where a wonderful view of Mount Ararat opens. Then we will visit Geghard Monastery (Ayrivank), where according to the legend, from the XIII century the spear with which Christ was pierced was kept here. As a part of the tour, we will visit the Azat River gorge, where we will see the “Symphony of Stones՛”, a miracle of nature. The natural monument, also known as the ՛՛Basalt Organ՛՛, is famous for its magnificent, seemingly artificial rocks.
Tour Options
Itinerary
While passing through the village of Voghjaberd, the architect Rafael Israelyan often noticed that a wonderful view of Mount Ararat opens from the nearby hill. And here, in 1957, Israelyan completed the structure he designed, which is called the Mount Ararat Temple. The last line of Yeghishe Charents's poem is engraved in visible large letters on the front entrance. "Go to the world; there is no white peak like Ararat, like the path of unripe glory; I love my Masis mountain." Very soon the place got its new, popular and more widespread name - The Arch of Charents. We start the tour with the viewpoint of Mount Ararat, the symbol of Armenia.
Geghard Monastery is a medieval monastery in the Kotayk province, being partially carved out of the adjacent mountain, surrounded by cliffs. The name commonly used for the monastery today, Geghard, or more fully Geghardavank, meaning “the Monastery of the Spear”, originates from the spear which had wounded Jesus at the Crucifixion. It is believed, that the spear was brought to Armenia by Apostle Jude, called here Thaddeus, and stored amongst many other relics. Now it is displayed in the Echmiadzin treasury. The monastery complex is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site with enhanced protection status.
The next stop is the basalt organ, the Symphony of Stones. The accumulation of naturally cut stones with wonderful symmetry is a true natural wonder and also part of the UNESCO World Heritage. The hexagonal stones, stretched one after the other across the canyon, look like an organ, hence the name.
The temple, built in the first century and had been around for centuries, was destroyed and stood up again. It tells about pre-Christian Armenia and the Armenian people. The temple dedicated to Mithra, the God of the Sun, is the only preserved pagan temple both in Armenia and in the territory of the former USSR. The temple was destroyed by a devastating earthquake in 1679 and was restored for about 8 years, 1968-75.
The familiarization tour ends with a lavash master class, where you will see how the famous Armenian bread, lavash, is baked.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(681)
Very very good trip and good drive we enjoy beautiful time Good experience And I will come next year to make it again Thank you very much
Well organized tour with plenty of time at each stop. Harout, our guide, was extremely knowledgeable in numerous areas, from history to climate, to geology. He is a gem of an asset to the operation and should be held on to and appreciated for his dedication and commitment. My only thought was in regards to the van, whose air conditioning system could not keep up with the heat of the day. Restaurant stop was good. Value was sufficient and tasty. Lavash baking class on site at the restaurant was appreciated by all! Thanks for a great tour and we already have another one booked.
The day trip was excelent moment to explore important points are armenian culture. Everithing was fine.
Great experience overall! Really enjoy visiting Geghard monastery , symphony of stones as well the Garni temple. Driver Vahag was very safe and got us to locations in an enjoyable way with music! And special thanks to Anna Our tour guide she did an amazing job making me feel comfortable the whole trip and went out of her way to explain the history of each location we visited. I would definitely book again with one way tours!
We had a wonderful time on the Garni and Geghard tour. Both sites were beautiful and full of history, making this a great day trip. Symphony of Stones was magical. Our guide, Meri, was friendly, knowledgeable, and shared fascinating information throughout the tour. She made the experience enjoyable and kept everything well organized. A big thank you to Micha, our driver, who made the journey safe and comfortable. We really enjoyed this tour and would highly recommend it to anyone visiting Armenia!
Very attentive guide. Interesting places.
We’re so grateful for your positive review! It’s great to know that we were able to make your trip memorable. We can’t wait to help plan your next getaway!
Mary and Armin made sure that we had an unforgettable time touring Armenia! The scenery was fantastic, and our tour guide was very kind and hospitable. We were able to take some fantastic pictures while learning all about Armenia’s history along the way.
We’re so grateful for your positive review! It’s great to know that we were able to make your trip memorable. We can’t wait to help plan your next getaway!
Very interesting facts about Armenia by Meri and very comfortable ride by nice drive Armen
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience! We’re so glad to hear that everything went smoothly and that you enjoyed your travels. Looking forward to helping you with your next vacation!
Great experience. Great driver: Armen. Great for guide: Meri! Great way to see more of Armenia from Yerevan and learn more about the country
We’re so grateful for your positive review! It’s great to know that we were able to make your trip memorable. We can’t wait to help plan your next getaway!
Well organized tour, guide spoke well English and explained a lot about the places and transportation in good condition.
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience! We’re so glad to hear that everything went smoothly and that you enjoyed your travels. Looking forward to helping you with your next vacation!
