Armenia Highlights: Garni, Geghard, Tsaghkadzor & Sevan

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

• 1
  Garni

  Garni Temple is situated in the village of Garni, in the heart of Armenia, and was constructed in the Ionic style. It is the most well-known building and representation of pre-Christian Armenia. The building was most likely constructed by king Tiridates I as a temple for the sun god Mihr in the first century AD. It was transformed into a royal summer residence of Khosrovidukht, the sister of Tiridates III, following Armenia's conversion to Christianity at the beginning of the fourth century. Some academics contend that it was a mausoleum rather than a temple, which is why it managed to withstand the destruction of pagan buildings.

  1 hour • Admission ticket free
• 2
  The Monastery of Geghard

  Geghard, which translates to "spear," is a medieval monastery in Armenian. It is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The spear that wounded Jesus at the Crucifixion was allegedly brought to Armenia by Apostle Jude, known here as Thaddeus, and kept among many other relics. It is now on exhibit in the Treasury of Echmiadzin.

  1 hour • Admission ticket free
• 3
  Tsaghkadzor

  Tsaghkadzor is a very hospitable city, where the beauty of nature is displayed in all its glory. Everything here is designed for high-quality rest, and a very big role in it has the cable car, which was built with high European standards. A 6175m long ski-lift takes skiers from an altitude of 1966m to 2819m above sea level

  1 hour • Admission ticket free
• 4
  Lake Sevan

  Lake Sevan is the largest body of water in both Armenia and the Caucasus region. It is one of the largest freshwater high-altitude (alpine) lakes in Eurasia. The lake is situated in Gegharkunik Province, at an altitude of 1,900.44 m above sea level. It is fed by 28 rivers and streams. The lake provides some 90% of the fish and 80% of the crayfish catch of Armenia. Sevan has significant economic, cultural, and recreational value. Its sole major island (now a peninsula) is home to a medieval monastery.

  30 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 5
  Monastery Sevanavank

  Sevanavank is a monastic complex located on a peninsula at the northwestern shore of Lake Sevan in the Gegharkunik Province of Armenia, not far from the town of Sevan. Initially, the monastery was built at the southern shore of a small island. After the artificial draining of Lake Sevan, which started in the era of Joseph Stalin, the water level fell about 20 metres, and the island transformed into a peninsula. At the southern shore of this newly created peninsula, a guesthouse of the Armenian Writers' Union was built. The eastern shore is occupied by the Armenian president's summer residence, while the monastery's still active seminary moved to newly constructed buildings at the northern shore of the peninsula.

  45 minutes • Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

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