Tour program for 5 days / 4 nights
Have you ever felt like a bird? Our tour to Tatev will help you feel far from civilization and in complete harmony with nature. The longest cable car in the world (5752 m.) will surprise you with its grandeur and uniqueness.
Twelve minutes of a unique flight over the Vorotan River and you will remember these sensations and feelings for a long time...
A miracle of nature and you... Solitude and beauty, colors of nature and the murmur of water! Tatev will leave an indelible impression in your memory!
The hermitage and the natural bridge Satani Kamurj, which means "the devil's bridge" is spiritual healing and indescribable emotions...
"Tatev" - let there be wings! The translation of the word corresponds to reality.
Day 1. Yerevan – Evening City tour
Arrival in Yerevan. Meeting at Zvartnots airport. Transfer to the hotel. After accommodation and rest at the hotel - City tour of Yerevan. You will see the sights of our city: the building of the Opera and Ballet Theater named after Spendiaryan, the Cascade - a unique architectural composition with modern sculptures and a park. Next, we will go up to the Mother Armenia statue, from where an incredible view of the entire city opens up. You have the opportunity to take great photos.
The excursion will continue to the Megeryan carpet weaving factory. At the end of the tour, you will have a cognac tasting at the Ararat Cognac Factory. Do not miss the chance to try the famous varieties of Armenian cognac. After the tasting, a welcome dinner awaits you in one of the taverns in the city center. Return to the hotel.
Day 2. Yerevan – Khor Virap – Noravank – Karahunj – Goris
Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast, a fascinating journey into the past of Armenia awaits you.
First stop - Khor Virap.
Khor Virap - a monastery-fortress - is located on a hill, from where a majestic view of the biblical Mount Ararat opens. In ancient times, the historical city of Artashat, one of the ancient capitals of Armenia, was located here. Khor Virap is one of the shrines of the Armenian Apostolic Church and a place of pilgrimage.
The next attraction is the Noravank Monastery.
Translated from Armenian, Noravank means "new monastery". It was built in the 13th century among beautiful red rocks. Noravank Monastery is famous for its two-story church of St. Astvatsatsin. Narrow stone steps on the facade of the church lead to the second floor of the church. Medieval Armenian architects and sculptors showed all their skill and talent in decorating the walls of the church of St. Astvatsatsin. Once you are high above the gorge where the monastery is located, you will feel like you are in heaven, as if you could reach out and touch the sky.
Then our excursion will continue and we will arrive at Zorats Karer or Karahunj. Karahunj means “sound of stones” in Armenian (“kar” means “stone” and “hunj” means “sound, voice”).
This archaeological site, which dates back to the second millennium BC, is located on a rocky outcrop near the town of Sisian in Syunik Province, 1770 meters above sea level. Thanks to it, we can boast that the oldest astronomical observatory ever founded in history, even older than Britain’s Stonehenge and even the pyramids in Egypt, was with us. This is another evidence of the primitive civilization in Armenia, which has existed since time immemorial. On the huge stones, which are arranged with incredible precision, you can see special holes with a diameter of 1.57-1.97 inches, which were used to observe the stars. The inside of the holes is clean and smooth. According to scientists, these stone compositions have a mysterious meaning. We finish the second day of our program, arriving in the city of Goris, where we will spend the night in a local hotel.
Day 3. Goris – Tatev walking tour
Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast we will leave Goris for the cable car to get to Tatev Monastery. "Wings of Tatev" is the name of the cable car, which is considered the longest (5.7 km) in the world. Flying over the gorge, you will feel like a bird, and below - breathtaking beauty.
The cable car offers a fascinating journey. All this really makes Tatev Monastery a world-class tourist destination. After 12 minutes of flying over the fabulous gorge, we will find ourselves at Tatev Monastery.
A powerful and impregnable stronghold rises Tatev Monastery on a cliff that drops into the gorge of the Vorotan River. The strategically advantageous location on a cape formed by the deep, rocky slopes of the river gorge favored the creation of a powerful defensive complex here. The Tatev ensemble fills the magnificent landscape around it and makes it more picturesque. The architectural and artistic center of the ensemble, visible from afar, residential and service premises, are located in one row and stand out on multifaceted rock foundations, thus giving the fortified monastery its original appearance. The church of Surb Grigor Lusavorich (St. Gregory the Illuminator), built in 848, adjoins the southern side of the main cathedral. Among the unique works of architectural and engineering art of Armenia is the “Gavazan” (Staff), erected in 904 in the courtyard, near the residential premises of the monastery. This is an octagonal pillar made of small stones, 8 m high, ending with an ornamented cornice, above which rises a khachkar. Under the influence of seismic vibrations of the soil and even from a simple touch of a human hand, the pillar, thanks to a hinged joint, tilts and returns to its original position.
After visiting Tatev Monastery, we begin a walking tour (approximately 5 km) to the bridge called Satani Kamurj. The Vorotan River itself created the famous Satani Kamurj (Devil's Bridge), which is visible from the cable car cabin. Legend has it that people fleeing from the enemy to Tatev were blocked by a nearby flowing river. And before the invaders could attack them, the river magically covered itself with a stone bridge, saving the desperate people. For thousands of years, water and wind created this miracle of nature, polishing and cutting through solidified lava. The width of this natural bridge, along which the road to Tatev Monastery passes, is 60 meters, the length is 30 m. Not far from the bridge, you can plunge into warm healing springs surrounded by stalactites of bizarre shades. The bravest can go down to the river to look into the mysterious grottoes under the springs.
Along the edges of the bridge, huge icicles-stalactites of bizarre shapes hang down to the water; streams of pure mineral water fall from the rocky ledges. In some places they form natural baths, turning it into an ideal place for spa treatment.
After an interesting walk from Tatev to the bridge, we hurry to have lunch in one of the amazing places in this region, in Harsnadzor, in the bosom of nature at the very edge of the gorge. An unforgettable experience of the beauty of nature and a delicious lunch.
Return to Goris. Night at the hotel.
Day 4. Goris - Khndzoresk - Yerevan
After breakfast at the hotel, our journey will continue to the ancient settlements of people in Armenia.
Have you ever wondered how people lived in ancient times without central heating, without electricity, without any modern places to spend time? Have you ever wanted to appear in the houses of ancient people?
Here, in the breathtaking nature of Syunik, not far from the city of Goris, you will find yourself in the past and see the caves where primitive people lived. Surprisingly, even 50-60 years ago people lived there, despite the achievements of science and technology.
This place is called Khndzoresk, where visitors can feel as if time stopped at some point in the past just for us to admire all this wild beauty. The name Khndzoresk literally translates from Armenian as “apple-like”, as many varieties of apples were grown here. According to another version, the village was called Khor Dzor or Khordzoresk (deep gorge) due to its location. This village is also known for its participation in the liberation struggle of David Bek.
Nowadays, the cave dwellers have left Old Khndzoresk, and the old cave village is under state protection. The beautifully carved caves look great against the backdrop of the gorge, with rocks and greenery around. And the suspension bridge or "Chochvogh Kamurj" (swinging bridge) connects the old and new Khndzoresk.
Look around - enjoy the beauty of the Syunik region. Our journey in the Syunik region ends - We return to Yerevan. Night at the hotel in Yerevan.
Day 5. Yerevan - Zvartnots - Airport
Breakfast at the hotel. Depending on your flight, we offer you to see the ruins of the Zvartnots temple on the way to the airport. Transfer to the airport for your flight.
The tour price includes:
The tour price does NOT include: