Things to do in

Tatev

After departing from Yerevan, you will venture towards the Tatev Monastery, which was once the educational and spiritual center of Armenia. It’s built on a high plateau in the Vorotan River gorge, and is surrounded by breathtaking mountains and dense forests. From here you can reach world’s longest cableway Wings of Tatev. Throughout your ride, you will enjoy a spectacular view over one of the most beautiful spots in Armenia. Jermuk is positioned within the forests and mountains of Aragatsotn, on a little plateau 2,080 meters above sea level. Jermuk is widely recognized with its curable water, with these waters a reliable means of treatment for numerous illnesses for hundreds of years. Following this, you will arrive at the longest airway tramway in the world (6 kilometers long), which was registered in the Guinness Book of Records in 2010. The Wings of Tatev will take you straight to the 9th-century Tatev Monastery, which was once the educational and spiritual center of Armenia. It’s built on a high plateau in the Vorotan River gorge, and is surrounded by breathtaking mountains and dense forests.

Although there are various historical landmarks in Armenia, the oldest and most well-known is probably the Biblical Mount Ararat. This tour promises spectacular views from the closest spot possible. The Khor Virap Monastery is located about an hour’s drive away from the capital Yerevan, and offers an amazing view of Armenia’s defining symbol – the majestic Ararat. The Monastery is one of the most sacred spots for Armenians around the world. Another place that cannot be missed whilst in Armenia is Tatev Monastery, which once was the educational and spiritual center of Armenia. It’s built on a high plateau in the Vorotan River gorge, and is surrounded by breathtaking mountains and dense forests. You can reach it by riding the world’s longest cableway, the Wings of Tatev. During your ride, you will enjoy a spectacular view over one of the most beautiful spots in Armenia (if not in the world). As the finishing touch of this tour, you will be given the chance to taste and even purchase Armenia’s renowned Areni wine. Made from the oldest grape variety in the whole world, the wine is available in several wineries in the town of Areni itself.

The tour starts early in the morning at 7:00 am. After breakfast, you'll be on the road. The first destination is Khor Virap which is the closest stop to mount Ararat. Then, you'll continue the trip to Areni Wine Factory. After some wine tastings and even some shopping, you'll head to Halidzor village where you'll hop on the longest cable car in the world covering a distance of almost 6km. While enjoying breathtaking views from above Vorotan gorge, you''ll reach Tatev monastery complex, which is one of the largest monasteries in Armenia. Then, you'll return to Halidzor village with cable car again and continue the tour to Noravank monastery, the only only place where you can see father God's face carved. Enjoy lunch with fantastic views of red cliffs and then return to Yerevan.

The South of Armenia is stunning and very different from the North, plus it only takes about 2 hours to drive from Yerevan to Areni. The town is known for its spectacular history in wine making, bearing the name of one of the oldest grape varieties in the world. So if you are a wine connoisseur, don’t miss out on the opportunity to visit Areni and all of its vineyards. Your first destination will be one of the numerous vineyards, where you will have a wine tasting. Afterwards, continue your drive to arrive at the longest airway tramway in the world, which was registered in the Guinness book of records in 2010. The Wings of Tatev will take you straight to the 9th Century Tatev Monastery, which once was the educational and spiritual center of Armenia. It is built on a high plateau in the Vorotan River gorge, and is surrounded by breathtaking mountains and dense forests. During your ride, you will enjoy a spectacular view over one of the most beautiful spots in Armenia (if not in the world). You will see the Harsnadzor Watchtower and Devil’s Bridge, which is a natural viaduct formed on the river. Khndzoresk is another spot included in this tour. Right up until the 20th Century, this network of manmade caves was the biggest village in Eastern Armenia. You are welcome to explore the cave system as well as a 5th Century church and the Spring of the 9 Orphans in old Khndzoresk. To do all of this, you will first have to go through a 160-meter long suspension bridge that was built in 2012, connecting Old Khndzoresk and New Khndzoresk, literally bridging Armenia’s history with the present day.

Join this private tour to immerse yourself in Armenia's heavenly sites. In the morning, you will be picked up from your hotel in Yerevan, in order to uncover three magical structures and panoramas of the country. Enjoy your first exploration on the list: Khor-Virap Monastery. One of the most visited pilgrimage sites in Armenia which held a saint in a hole for 13 long years. Also here, you will be gifted a unique opportunity to have a closer look at splendid Mount Ararat, together with an ancient Monastery in the foreground.   Later, continue your exploratory mission to the Monastery of Noravank, located in the magnificent Amaghu gorge, which attracts visitors with a fascinating view over the canyon and exceptional architectural solutions. Afterwards, you will depart to the province of Syunik to take the longest cable car in the world and reach Tatev Monastery – the masterpiece of Armenia. This is an absolutely mind-blowing beauty, with an ancient religious complex and divine natural surroundings.

Head for the heart of Southern Armenia, the region of Goris and explore its traditional character with many sites of interest. On the way, unfold the monastery of Khor Virap, with a rewarding breathtaking view of Mount Ararat. Your first discovery in Syunik will be the precious Tatev Monastery, perched on the mountain outcrop above the Vorotan Canyon. After the visit, take the trail of Tatevi Anapat, leading you to the ancient medieval monastery of Tatevi Anapat, which used to be a Tatev Monastery's annex and former defensive seminary. Later, descend to Satan's bridge, where the natural pools of warm water with healing properties will be revealed. At the end of the day, continue to Goris where you will settle in a comfortable guesthouse with a hospitable and friendly atmosphere. The second day is a very long thirteen hours and will be devoted to Goris, the town of tradition, good zest for life, troubadours and poets. Take a tour of the city and discover the old Goris, its fairy chimneys, St-Hripsime chapel and take the trail to climb the Lasti Khout hill where a fabulous panorama will greet you. After the lunch, reach the old village of Khndzoresk, its suspended bridge, medieval chapel, and troglodyte houses. After lunch, return to Yerevan with a stop at Karahunj, which was an observatory of megalithic stones that is considered older than Stonehenge.

At the beginning of the day, Your guide will be waiting for you at your accommodation to take you to the town of Kapan, located in the South of Armenia. On the way, you'll have the opportunity to stop and explore the Monasteries of Khor Virap, Noravank or Tatev and the megalithic complex of Karahunj. At Tatev, feel to take the cable car at your expense. The journey from Yerevan to Kapan takes about six hours. When you arrive at Kapan, settle in to a hotel to rest before starting a day full of adventures. You can also stroll through the streets of Kapan or taste delicious specialties of the region. The next day, a Jeep will drop you off at the starting point of your ascent, located about 2000 meters above sea level. The climb will last about 6 to 7 hours depending on your promptitude (breaks included). The landscapes will change in front of your eyes, from the verdant meadows to the luxuriant forests. Then, you will see the imposing rocky summit of Mount Khustup from which you will have a celestial view of the whole region. Afterwards, you will take the same path to descend. The Jeep will be waiting for you at the bottom of the mountain, which will deliver you to comfortable transfer vehicle that will take you to Yerevan.

On this day tour you will visit the Cave Areni I, a Chalcolothic archaeological site. Areni I dates back to the second half of the Chalcolithic age, approximately between 4500 and 3400 BC. The cave complex was used for ritual purposes related to mortuary activities. The dry environment of the cave together with a stable temperature provided excellent conditions for the preservation of organic materials. Desiccated grains, fruits, textiles, leather, and even grass, which usually are not found at other sites, open a window onto an unknown world of perishable arteficts produced and used by Chalcolithic civilizations. Especially noteworthy is the discovery, deep in the cave, of the world’s oldest presently known wine pressing installation, dating back to around 4000 BC.  Also enjoy a wine tasting in Areni Wine Factory, which was was founded in 1994 on the initiative of the Simonyan family in the village of Areni with the aim to continue and enrich wine making traditions. In a short amount of time, the company was able to expand its production capacity and to offer the customers two different types of high-quality wine. Then visit Noravank, a 13th-century Armenian monastery, located 122 kilometers from Yerevan in a narrow gorge made by the Amaghu River, near the town of Yeghegnadzor. Also ride the Wings of Tatev, the longest reversible cable car in the world (5752 meters long)! This cable car will take you to Tatev Monastery, a 9th-century historical monument, a pearl of Armenian architecture, one of the oldest spiritual centers and the largest university of medieval Armenia.