5-6 hours
Daily Tour
5 people
Armenian, English, Russian
This personalised tour includes the most popular sights of Armenia. First you visit the pagan temple of Garni (1st century), dedicated to the sun god Mitra. On the way, admire the splendour of the monastery complex…..
This personalised tour includes the most popular sights of Armenia. First you visit the pagan temple of Garni (1st century), dedicated to the sun god Mitra. On the way you will be amazed by the splendour of the 13th century Geghard Monastery complex, partly carved into the rock and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The next stop is the Garni Gorge, known as the ‘Basalt Organ’. Finally, you will have the opportunity to watch the process of making lavash (Armenian thin bread), one of the most beautiful and widespread Armenian national traditions.
Charents Arch was created by the architect Rafael Israelyan. Once on his way to Garni, he stopped at this place and noticing that there was a beautiful view of Ararat from here, he decided to build the arch as a 'temple' to Ararat. The arch was built in 1957, the year of the 60th anniversary of the birth of the great Armenian poet Yeghishe Charents. It is said that the poet also liked to walk through these places. The arch is really placed in such a way that it opens up, like a picture in a frame, a picturesque view of the Ararat valley with Masis floating in the distance. On the front opening, along the arch of the arch, are carved the words that conclude Charents' famous poem: There is no mountain older than Ararat, there are no whiter peaks in the world; Like the glory of the inaccessible way, I love my harsh Masis! It is a great temptation to go to the Garni and not stop here! After all, you can take stunning photographs against the backdrop of the Arches and Mount Ararat. If the weather is clear.
The pagan temple of Garni is the only Hellenistic monument preserved in Armenia. It is located 28 kilometres from Yerevan, in the picturesque gorge of the Azat River. In the 1st century AD, Tiridates I ordered a magnificent temple dedicated to the sun god Mithra to be built in the fortress on a triangular hill. After the adoption of Christianity, the temple became the summer residence of the Armenian kings. As a result of a violent earthquake in 1679, the temple was almost completely destroyed. Restoration began in 1966 and took almost 10 years. Today, around the temple, one can see the remains of an ancient fortress, a royal palace and, of great interest, a royal bath with multi-coloured mosaics and a mysterious inscription - 'They worked without getting anything'.
In the Garni Gorge you will be amazed by the magnificent basalt columns formed by volcanic lava. This peculiar natural monument is called the "Basalt Organ" because of its incredible symmetry.
The famous Geghard Monastery is located in the Kotayk district, 9 km from the Garni. The monastery complex was built in the 12th-13th centuries. It was first called Ayrivank ('cave monastery') and then renamed Geghard ('spear'), with which, according to legend, a Roman legionary pierced Christ. The complex consists of the main church of Katolike, a narthex, two rock-cut churches, a chapel and the Church of the Virgin Mary, which is considered to be the oldest monument in the complex. The site is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
As the saying goes, 'bread is the staff of life'. Lavash is one of the most popular culinary highlights of Armenia and is an integral part of Armenian cuisine. It is a traditional thin flatbread baked in a tondyr (a special earthen oven). Although the process of making lavash requires a great deal of skill, it is still the prerogative of women. For centuries, lavash has been consumed by all strata of Armenian society, appreciated for its unique flavour and ability to be stored for long periods without losing its beneficial properties. In 2014, 'The preparation, meaning and appearance of traditional Armenian pita bread as an expression of Armenian culture' was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. During this masterclass you will learn the ancient technique of lavash making and of course taste it with fresh herbs and delicious local cheeses. Once you smell freshly baked lavash, you will remember it for the rest of your life.
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