Private Half-Day Garni Temple and Geghard Monastery Tour from Yerevan
Description
Explore the most amazing attractions of Armenia! First up visit Garni, the only pagan temple which exists in Armenia before moving onto Geghard monastery, a complex which is carved in a cave.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The monument "Arch of Charents" was created by architect Raphael Israelyan. One day on his way to Garni he stopped at this place and, noticing that a picturesque view opens from there to the Mount Ararat, he decided to build an arch as a "temple" to Ararat. The Arch was constructed in 1957, on occasion of the 60th anniversary of the great Armenian poet Yeghishe Charents. It is said, that the poet was also fond of walking around this place. It is like a picture frame, from where a mesmerizing view opens to the Ararat valley with Masis floating in distance. The following words completing Charents' famous poem are carved on the front aperture along the arch: "There is no summit as snow-white as that of lofty Ararat; Like an inaccessible path to glory, I love my Mount Masis!" You can make here stunning pictures against the backdrop of the Arch and Mountain Ararat, only the weather should be clear.
Garni temple, which towers over a triangular cape, is the unique survived example of heathen culture in Armenia. It is a blend of Greco-Roman and Armenian styles. King Trdat The First ordered building the temple in the first century AD and dedicated it to the God of Sun. After adopting Christianity in 301, the pagan temple lost its significance and the fortress of Garni became the summer residence of the kings. Nowadays the ruins of the royal palace and the bathroom with a stunning mosaic work can be found near the temple.
Geghard monastery is the unsurpassable masterpiece of the 13th century Armenian architecture. Some of the churches of the complex are masterfully hewn in a huge rock. From the outset the complex was called Ayrivank (cave monastery), later it was renamed Geghard (lance) as the lance, used by the roman soldier to sting Jesus Christ's side, had been kept in this monastery for many centuries. Due to its construction, Geghardavank serves the best place for singing spiritual songs. The complex is rich in subtle sculptural embellishments and many striking khachkars (cross-stones). The site is included in UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List.
Highlights
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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
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(269)
Excellent experience! Beautiful places, nature plus old construction. Very beautiful and unique. Likely, not something would have experienced in other parts of Europe. Do it as a private tour if you can - much better, not rushed, and lots of information/conversation with the guide. Our guide was Mariam and driver Arman - both were top!
Thank you for choosing us! We hope to welcome you back for another memorable trip!
My husband and I had the most wonderful experience on this tour! Arev was an excellent, kind, and knowledgeable tour guide. She made the history come alive, and made the subject matter impactful and interesting. Hearing her sing in the Geghard Monastery was a powerful moment that we'll remember forever. Aram was a professional and safe driver, and made the entire day enjoyable and comfortable. Lunch was also relaxing and delicious. I have a gluten allergy, and Arev kindly informed the hosts who made sure that there was plenty that I could eat safely. We highly recommend!
We’re so grateful for your warm review! We look forward to planning your next unforgettable experience in Armenia.
We are happy with this excursion. Our guide Rose presented us with the details, and our driver Taron helped us with our dogs. Both are kind and a good team, and the excursion was convenient with them. The direct contact with the agency was easy as well. Thank you for everything
Merci beaucoup pour votre avis positif. Nous serons ravis d'organiser votre prochain séjour en Arménie!
Arman was very gentle and welcoming. All locations are picturesque!
Thank you so much for the excellent feedback! We hope to see you on another of our tours soon!
Our tour guide Rose and the driver Aved accompanied us on a beautiful excursion. We were picked up by the comfortable limousine from the hotel and learned a lot about Armenia's history from Rose (by the way, very engagingly told). Aved drives very pleasantly and confidently; nothing disturbed his calm, and he accompanied us all day with a friendly smile. We visited the ancient temple of Garni, the Geghard Monastery, and the volcanic rock formations "Symphony of Stones." As a special surprise, Rose organized a small outdoor dinner for us featuring specialties of Armenian cuisine. The richly laid table was the crowning conclusion to a perfect day of excursions. On our very first day in Armenia, we experienced a wonderful welcome in this way: we arrived as tourists, and we left as guests and friends. We were so excited that we booked another tour on the same day! 😍
Vielen Dank für Ihre wundervolle Bewertung! Wir stehen Ihnen gerne zur Verfügung, um Ihren nächsten Urlaub zu organisieren.
We had an absolutely wonderful experience on our tour with Anna as our guide and Samvel as our driver. Anna was incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and engaging throughout the day. She shared fascinating information about the history, culture, and sites we visited, making the experience both educational and enjoyable. The destinations were truly breathtaking and created memories that our family will cherish for years to come. Every stop was beautiful and well worth the visit. We also thoroughly enjoyed the lunch that was selected for us—it was delicious and a great opportunity to experience local cuisine. A special thank you to Samvel for providing transportation throughout the tour. We highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting the area. The combination of stunning sights, excellent organization, delicious food, and outstanding service from Anna and Samvel made for an unforgettable experience!
Thanks a lot for the kind review! We’re excited to host you on your next visit to Armenia!
We had a wonderful day visiting Garni, Geghard, and the stunning Symphony of Stones. Rose is a very engaging and warm guide, and Arthur ensured a smooth and comfortable journey. Thank you both for an excellent day and a great experience of Armenia!
We are very grateful for nice review! It will be pleasure for us to host you in Armenia again!
Huge thanks to guide Anna and driver Araya for the delightful tour of significant places in Armenia. Our extended family has tested perfectly the time during which we learned a great deal of historical and cultural information about the stopover sites and about the Armenian people.
Спасибо за добрые слова! Мы будем рады принять Вас в Армении в будущем!
We booked our tour with Hyur based on a recommendation from friends, and we were very happy with the experience. Mariam and her driver, Hrach, arrived on time, and the comfortable car and complimentary water were a nice start to the day. The half day we spent with Mariam felt less like a formal tour and more like discovering the area with a local friend. She shared interesting stories and insights, answered all our questions, and gave us several useful recommendations for the rest of our stay in Armenia. She also kindly took some beautiful photos of us along the way, which was a lovely bonus and left us with great memories of the day. Both Mariam and Hrach were friendly, professional, and pleasant company throughout. We can see why Hyur was recommended to us and would happily recommend them to others as well.
We deeply appreciate your positive review! It would be an honor to host you again in the future!
Great experience. Well organized tour. The places are amazing. The bus was comfortable for our group of 8. Eduard our guide and Ashot our driver were really nice and made the trip great👍
It’s so nice to hear that you were satisfied with our services. You can surely rely on our company in future as well!
