Garni, Geghard & Symphony Small-Group Day Trip with Lavash Baking
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, admire the breathtaking Symphony of Stones, dramatic basalt columns formed by volcanic forces over millennia. Explore the UNESCO-listed Geghard Monastery, partly carved into the cliffs of the Upper Azat Valley. Complete your experience with a traditional Lavash baking ceremony in a Tonir oven — Armenia’s iconic bread, recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The first stop is near the Arch of Charents, which 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.
The next stop is 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. Not far from the temple of Garni (about 10 minutes’ walk), there is a cozy local restaurant with an amazing view of the temple, where you can relax and take part in master-class of tasting of freshly baked lavash – traditional Armenian flatbread.
This majestic natural monument isn’t only a “must see” place in Armenia, but also “must have photos in” place. Please note* The guests will be able to visit the "Symphony of Stones" until the first snowfall.
The Monastery complex of Geghard is another historical site included to this tour. 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 complex presents Armenia of 13th century, which is considered to be the Golden Age of the country’s architecture. However, 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.
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(281)
A great tour to Garni and Geghard. Our guide, Nectar was absolutely great, very knowledgeable, very fluent in English and Russian. We learned a lot about Armenian history and culture. I’ll really recommend this tour.
Very interesting tour, highly recommend
Drove on June 14. We're very pleased. The tour is interesting - a lot of information on history, religion, traditions - and it's all accessible, easy to perceive. Guide Rubina talked all the way, answered all the questions exhaustively. The driver was driving us carefully. The car had air conditioning, the water in the fridge - the conditions were perfect. The route was thought out in detail. Despite Sunday and the crowds everywhere, there were no delays or expectations. A nice bonus in the form of local sweets. Definitely recommend travel agency and itinerary.
Большое спасибо за ваш отзыв и за то, что выбрали Yerani Travel! Мы очень рады, что экскурсия оставила у вас такие положительные впечатления и что вы остались довольны организацией поездки и работой нашей команды. Ваши рекомендации для нас очень ценны и вдохновляют нас продолжать делать всё возможное для комфорта наших гостей. Будем рады видеть вас снова в Армении! С наилучшими пожеланиями, Команда Yerani Travel
Well organized and informative. The guide was very helpful and with passion to Armenian history
Thank you very much for your kind feedback and for choosing Yerani Travel! We are delighted to know that you enjoyed the tour and appreciated the organization and guidance. Your words mean a lot to our team and motivate us to keep delivering high-quality experiences. We hope to welcome you again in Armenia! Warm regards, The Yerani Travel Team
Very good tour. Not too long but still enough to see Armenia's most important spot. Nektar was very interesting to listen to and very engaging with the group. Definitely recommended!
Thank you very much for your kind feedback and for choosing Yerani Travel! We are happy to know that you enjoyed the tour and had a pleasant experience with our team. Your recommendation is greatly appreciated and motivates us to continue providing high-quality service. We hope to welcome you again in Armenia! Warm regards, The Yerani Travel Team
Great day trip to hit a couple of interesting sites in Armenia. Good value. The tour guide was knowledgeable, helpful, and willing to answer all questions.
Thank you for your kind feedback. We are pleased to hear that you enjoyed the experience and found it informative and valuable. We appreciate your support and hope to welcome you again in the future.
Really enjoyed the tour with driver Arthur and guide Nectar. The places visited are incredibly beautiful, the trip is thoughtful to the minute, the guides are soulful, know many interesting facts, professionals with love of their business
Спасибо за ваш отзыв. Мы очень рады, что экскурсия вам понравилась и вы остались довольны организацией и работой команды. Будем рады видеть вас снова.
Had a fantastic day with NEKTAR. Great charming active guide full of love for Armenia and Hayes people. Got to know various different details about the city and places we've been to. Thank you and and keep on GREAT WORK! Masha from Mallorca
Thank you for your kind feedback. We are very pleased to hear that you had a fantastic experience and appreciated the information and care provided during the tour. We truly value your support and hope to welcome you again in the future.
Superb visit that truly deserves 5/5; nothing to complain about. We do not particularly like guided tours under normal circumstances, but this one was different from the others. First, there is the visit to the arch with a view of Mount Ararat, then the Garni temple, and we had enough time to visit it on our own and with the guide. Then, you visit the symphony of stones: a pleasant little walk along the very nice path. Then the lavash with the ladies who cook it and let us taste it, and at the same place, the guide suggests a cheap restaurant; we paid €14 for two, and there are 4 options, including one vegetarian. It was the birthday of one of the visitors, so we were treated to a cake for dessert! Finally, we went to see the monastery: magnificent! I absolutely recommend this visit as it is perfect for all ages and very dynamic. Thank you to Anastasia the guide who was truly lovely and very pleasant, always with a touch of humor. She also taught us to dance an Armenian dance. Everything was perfect 5/5!! (You might want to take a light jacket for the trip as it can be a bit cold at higher altitudes)
Thank you for your kind feedback. We are very pleased to hear that you had such an enjoyable experience and appreciated the organization, variety of sites, and overall atmosphere of the tour. We truly value your recommendation and hope to welcome you again in the future.
The tour guide was super nice and really knows her stuff. The pacing of the tour was just right, it didn’t feel rushed
Thank you very much for your kind feedback. We are glad you enjoyed the tour and appreciated the experience. We hope to see you again in the future.
