Khor Virap, Garni, Geghard with Symphony & Lavash Baking
Description
Discover Armenia’s most iconic landmarks in one unforgettable journey. Start at Khor Virap Monastery, where breathtaking views of Mount Ararat create the perfect photo moment. Continue to the serene Azat Reservoir, surrounded by the rolling Yeranos Mountains. Explore the 1st-century Garni Temple, the only standing pagan temple in the Caucasus, dedicated to the sun god Mihr. Marvel at the nearby Symphony of Stones, a spectacular basalt formation shaped by nature over millennia. Visit the rock-carved Geghard Monastery and experience traditional Lavash baking in a Tonir. History, nature, and authentic culture — all in one inspiring day.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Your adventure will begin with a visit to the Khor Virap Monastery, located at the foot of the majestic Mount Ararat. Saint Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned here before bringing Christianity to Armenia, making it the first country to adopt Christianity as its state religion.
Here you can enjoy Azat Reservoir's serene and scenic surroundings and have great photos.
Garni Temple (77 A.D.) 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 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 Symphony of Stones is a stunning natural wonder. It features tall, column-like volcanic rock formations that create a breathtaking landscape.
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.
Charents Arch is a spectacular place to view Mt. Ararat and her valley.
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
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
Reviews(73)
Had a great time exploring Khor Virap, Garni, and Tsaghkadzor with Yerani Travel; Surenavan Village , Noravank Monastery ; Symphony of Stones & Azat River Bridge; Everything from the pickup to the drop-off was well-coordinated. The destinations themselves are breathtaking, and having a guide explain the history made a huge difference. It's a busy itinerary, but perfect if you want to maximize your time.
Top experience! The guide was professional, very kind, and well-prepared. 100% recommended for those who want to discover Armenia!
Thank you for your kind feedback. We are very pleased to hear that you had a great experience and appreciate your recommendation. We hope to welcome you again in the future.
I had a wonderful time exploring Khor Virap, Azat Reservoir, Garni Temple, the Symphony of Stones, and Geghard Monastery. Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable and took the time to share the fascinating history behind each location. He was also very inclusive, thoughtfully alternating the order of explanation in Russian and English so that everyone felt equally engaged throughout the tour. The experience was made even more memorable with a delicious lunch at a beautiful restaurant overlooking the Azat River — truly the cherry on top.
Thank you very much for your kind feedback. We are happy to know you enjoyed the tour and had a memorable experience throughout the day. We truly appreciate your thoughtful comments and hope to welcome you again in the future.
We had such a wonderful experience on this tour with our family! Our guide Anahit was incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and made every stop so interesting and enjoyable. The scenery at every location we visited was absolutely breathtaking, and our driver made the journey smooth and comfortable the entire time. Everything was well organized and enjoyable from start to finish. We highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Armenia!
Thank you very much for your kind feedback. We are glad to hear you had a wonderful experience with your family and enjoyed the tour. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you again in Armenia.
We were absolutely delighted with the trip. The program is incredibly busy, and the views of Choir Virap and Mount Ararat are mesmerizing. Everything is organized at the highest level, time has flown under the radar, and we have enjoyed every moment. Special thanks to our driver Edgar for driving very carefully, comfortably and safely throughout the route. And a special, huge thank you to our guide Nectar! She's an amazing storyteller, very thoughtful, positive and in love with her business. Thanks to her, we learned so many interesting things and literally fell in love with Armenia. We definitely recommend this tour to all travelers! Thank you for a memorable day.
Большое спасибо за ваш тёплый и подробный отзыв. Мы очень рады, что поездка оставила у вас такие яркие впечатления и подарила положительные эмоции. Будем счастливы видеть вас снова на наших турах.
One would have to be senseless to come to Armenia and miss these highlights: 1. Anastasia, my English speaking guide 2. the fabulous views of Mt. Ararat 3. the ancient monasteries 4. Garni Temple with Roman baths and the short video explaining in many different languages how the baths operated with such Roman ingenuity 5. the delicious lunch served at a restaurant with stunning views (extra fee but well worth it) 6. the UNESCO monastery, Geghard, carved partly out of the rocky hillside 7. The Symphony of stones, my absolute favorite part of the day. I have been to similar volcanic basalt columns in Iceland, Northern Ireland, El Salvador, and Mammoth, California, but they pale in comparison to these. The entire valley is surrounded with these unique and stunning naturally formed columns. I could have spent hours wandering among them. Truly a sight to see, even if you have been awed by basalt columns before. Even if this was the only sight today, the tour would have been worth it. I was the only English speaker out of the full van of 18 tourists, and Anastasia clearly narrated to me separately.
Dear guest, Thank you very much for your wonderful and detailed review! We’re thrilled to hear that the highlights of Armenia — from Mount Ararat to Garni Temple, Geghard Monastery, and the stunning Symphony of Stones — left such a strong impression on you. We’re especially happy that Anastasia made sure you felt fully included and well taken care of throughout the tour. Thank you for choosing us, and we hope to welcome you again in Armenia!
It was a great time. Very thankful to have Anastasia as a guide.
Thank you very much for your kind words. We are delighted to hear that you had a great time during your tour. It is especially nice to know that the guide contributed positively to your experience. Providing engaging and memorable tours is always our goal. We truly appreciate your feedback and hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you again in the future.
Great experience, rich and well thought out itinerary, combining historical and natural sites. Knowledgeable and engaging guide Sam. Nice little touches such as traditional sweets and lavash tasting.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the rich and well-planned itinerary combining both historical and natural sites. It’s great to know that the guide made the tour engaging and informative for you. We’re also happy that you appreciated the small traditional touches like the sweets and lavash tasting. Thank you for your kind words, and we hope to welcome you again for another memorable experience in Armenia!
We loved this tour. Very comprehensive and well organized. Gaia is an amazing tour guide, she makes sure you get an interesting overview of the unique culture and history Armenia. We were some of the non-Russian speakers but she still make us feel included by making sure to translate everything. The stops were well timed and planned, car is comfortable with WiFi and Marat is a great driver. We felt very safe even though it was snowing heavily. Thank you for a great experience.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that you loved the tour and found it comprehensive and well organized. It’s great to know that the guide helped you discover Armenia’s unique culture and history while making sure everyone felt included. We’re also glad that the comfortable vehicle and safe driving made your journey enjoyable, even during the snowy weather. Thank you for your kind words — we truly appreciate it and hope to welcome you again for another memorable experience in Armenia!
Such a great experience! So well organized, they provided water, sweets and wifi on the bus. But the best part was our driver Marat and our guide Gaia. They were so sweet! Gaia told us so many things about Armenian history and culture, not only the stops on the trip, but everything. She was caring, patient and so kind and helpful. The restaurant where we stopped by was also very nice; with a spectacular view. It was such a good value for the price, would definelty recommend again!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re truly happy to hear that you had such a great experience and appreciated the organization of the tour, as well as the small comforts like water, sweets, and Wi-Fi on the bus. It’s fantastic to know that the guide’s stories about Armenian history and culture made the journey even more interesting, and that the safe driving and comfortable ride added to your enjoyment. We’re also glad you liked the restaurant and its beautiful view. Thank you for your kind words and recommendation — we hope to welcome you again for another memorable adventure in Armenia!
