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Offered languages
- German
- English
- Italian
- French
- Spanish
- Visit some of world’s oldest and most beautiful remote Christian monasteries and churches tucked away in remote forested mountain settings, abandoned cave villages frozen in time.
- Ride the world's longest cable-car “Wings of Tatev” built by the Swiss (5.7km) to see the 9th century Tatev Castle-Monastery
_ Visit the oldest winery in the world in Areni - 6100 years old
- Visit Karahunj - The Armenian Stonehenge which is 1500 years older than the Stonehenge in UK
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
Itinerary
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1Khor Virap
Today is a long but fascinating day! It is dedicated to exploration of Southern Armenia combining the magic of Armenia's finest medieval architecture with stunning landscapes. Our first stop is at Khor Virap Monastery, one of the most popular destinations in Armenia for a number of reasons, primarily because it is where St. Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned for 13 years before curing King Trdat III of a disease. This caused the conversion of the king and Armenia into the first officially Christian nation in the world in the year 301. Its location, near the closest point to biblical Mount Ararat within Armenian borders, offers a spectacular view of the mountain, the national symbol of Armenia. We continue to the south driving through the agricultural heartland of Armenia, Ararat Plain offering fantastic scenery of fruit orchards, endless vineyards at the foothills of Ararat Mountain. As soon as we pass the Ararat Valley we can experience the untamed beauty of Southern Armenia - surreal red rocks providing an eerie echo, honey-colored villages sandwiched between them.
50 minutes • Admission ticket free -
2Noravank Monastery
Our next stop is the Monastery of Noravank, an architectural gemstone nestled among brick-red cliffs, just above a deep gorge. It’s only here where you can see a bas-relief with the representation of Father God with almond-shaped eyes which look far ahead.
50 minutes • Admission ticket free -
3Areni
Visit Areni, the village of winemakers. We will tour of the world-class archaeological site, the cave complex Areni-1 to see the oldest winery in the world (6100 years old)!
40 minutes • Admission ticket free -
4
Overnight in Goris
1 minute • Admission ticket free -
5
Explore Goris town, one of the most beautiful towns in Armenia. It’s a town in orchards where the houses have the same unique architecture with red tile roof. See old Old Goris cave town from the viewpoint.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free -
6Tatev Monastery
Riding the world’s longest aerial tramway (5.7 km) you’ll reach the miraculous Tatev Monastery, a formidable monastic complex founded in the 9th century. It’s the biggest monastery in Armenia located on a rocky peninsula more than 100 meters above the Vorotan River.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket not included -
7Karahunj
On our way we visit Karahunj known as the “Armenian Stonehenge”, the oldest observatory in the world which is 7500 years old. There are 223 vertically standing stones 84 of which have holes. The ancients were gazing the stars using them as telescopes.
40 minutes • Admission ticket free -
8
Afterwards we hike in Old Khndzoresk cave village frozen in time with thousands of caves, where people were living until the beginning of the 20th century
1 hour • Admission ticket free
Yerevan - Khor Virap - Noravank - Areni - Goris
Goris - Khndzoresk Cave Town - Tatev Monastery (Longest cable car in the world) - Karahunj - Yerevan
Additional info
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
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Cancellation Policy
If you cancel at least 6 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel between 2 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.
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Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 6 full days before the experience’s start time.
- For a 50% refund, you must cancel 2–6 full days before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 2 full days before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
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