Group Tour | Garni Temple, Geghard Monastery, Lavash Baking Masterclass

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. Not far from Yerevan, near Vokhchaberd village there is this usual at first glance arch. But when you climb the stairs and stand under it, this breathtaking view of Ararat opens to your eyes. It is Arch of Charents by famous architect Rafael Israelian. The arch is dedicated to famous Armenian poet Yeghishe Charents, who liked to walk near these places and admire the incredible view of Mount Ararat. This place is one of the favorite stops for practically all kinds of tourists, - one cannot just resist the temptation not to take few photos against the backdrop of the mountain.

   15 min

2. One of the most unusual places in Armenia, the village of Garni that bears the same name as the ancient pagan temple, is situated on 37 km from the center of Yerevan. Before the adoption of Christianity, the architecture in Armenia was interrelated with the Hellenistic style. This is evidenced by Garni, executed in this elegant manner with a characteristic colonnade on all sides and located on the top of a hill divided from the mountain range by a deep gorge. The temple was restored in 1976 and welcomes a multitude of tourists daily to this day. Since 2011, it has been awarded the UNESCO heritage award. The picturesque mountains, steep gorge and endless echo to be heard again and again, fascinate and ask to return.

   1.5 hAdmission included

3. Once approaching Geghard, the tops of the crosses and the church itself will not be the first thing to notice, as that place will belong to music. The musicians are right the ascent to the church, always playing, welcoming guests with joy and loud national music. The air is filled with the aroma of national delicacies, such as dried fruit, sweet sujukh and honey, yet once you climb up the hill, you will be shocked by what you see. You will appear in front of the gates, leading to the temple of Geghard, completely carved out of the mountain. This masterpiece of Armenian medieval architecture amazes with its detail and antiquity. Geghard is a complex consisting of the main chapel, two cave halls, and tombs. There is a cold spring in the first cave hall, which to this day captures the attention of the visitors. It is believed that its holy water heals diseases, rejuvenates and gifts beauty. Literally translated, Geghard means “holy spear” in memory of the spear kept in it, which had wounded Jesus Christ at the Crucifixion. It is also included in the UNESCO list of heritage since 2000. The nearby flowing Azat River hypnotizes with its murmur, pigeons hover over the church, and the coolness from the gorge gives strength to continue the path to new discoveries and impressions. Try baking real Armenian lavash. In Tondir, rolling the dough on a special device for the form of lavash, smelling the fresh bakery in the air. We are sure that such a flat cake will be enjoyed by everyone, and the lavash baked with your own hands will remain a vivid memory for a long time, the smell of which warms the nostrils and gives cozy warmth in memory of Armenia.

   1 h

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Reviews

Ratings come from 1 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Know before you go

How it compares in Yerevan

• Its from-price is 61% below the median of the 337 day trips we list in Yerevan.
• It is shorter than most of them.
• By number of reviews it ranks 215 of 337.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Yerevan

Yerevan is Armenia's pink-stoned capital, a city of wide squares, café terraces and museums, with Mount Ararat standing on its southern skyline.

The city grew around Erebuni, a fortress founded in 782 BC, though most of today's centre was built in the Soviet era from the soft pink and orange tuff that earned Yerevan its nickname, the Pink City. Republic Square is the hub, framed by government buildings and museums. The Cascade, a giant stairway of terraces and sculpture, climbs a hillside, and the Matenadaran holds a famous collection of medieval manuscripts.

Top-ranked sights in Yerevan: Republic Square, Tsaghkadzor Ropeway, Matenadaran (Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts).

See all 769 experiences in Yerevan