Two-Day Private Tour: Explore Khor Virap, Areni, Noravank, Goris, and Tatev in Armenia
5.0
9 Ratings
Embark on a two-day private tour in Armenia and discover the stunning beauty of Khor Virap, Areni, Noravank, Goris, and Tatev. With a modern car and experienced driver, explore hidden corners and capture breathtaking photographs. Enjoy delicious meals at recommended stops along the way.
Duration: 2 days
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights

Travel to the south with stops: Khor Virap, Areni Winery, Areni-1 cave, Noravank, Jermuk, Shaki waterfall, Zorats Karer

Khor Virap - The Khor Virap monastery is less than an hour’s drive from Yerevan and offers a stunning view of Mount Ararat, the oldest and most famous mountain in the Armenian Highlands. “Khor Virap” means “deep dungeon” or “deep pit” and was once a prison and fortress near the historic town of Artashat. According to legend, Gregory the Illuminator, the first Armenian Catholicos, was imprisoned here for 14 years, making it a sacred site for Armenians and Christian pilgrims worldwide.

Areni Wine Factory - Areni village, known as the village of wine, is situated on the banks of the Arpa River. The wine-making tradition here dates back over six thousand years. Wine tasting and sales points for wine and oghi (homemade fruit vodka) are available on every corner. Locals joke that they drink wine like water. You will have the opportunity to taste wine at one of the oldest wine factories in Areni.

T’rchuneri (Bird) Cave - The Areni-1 or Birds’ Cave complex is a multi-component site and a late Chalcolithic/Early Bronze Age ritual site and settlement near Areni village along the Arpa River. In 2010, the earliest known shoe was discovered here. In January 2011, the world’s oldest known winery was found at the site. Also in 2011, a straw skirt dating back to 3,900 BCE was discovered. In 2009, the oldest known brain was found here.

Noravank Monastery - Noravank, meaning “new monastery,” is a 13th-century Armenian monastery located 122 km from Yerevan in a narrow gorge carved by the Amaghu River, near Yeghegnadzor. The gorge is famous for its tall, sheer, brick-red cliffs opposite the monastery. The monastery is best known for its two-story Surb Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God) church, which has a narrow stone staircase leading to the second floor.

Jermuk Waterfall - Jermuk is a mountain spa town and the center of the urban community of Jermuk in Vayots Dzor Province, southern Armenia, 53 km east of the provincial capital Yeghegnadzor. It was a popular destination for medical tourism during the Soviet era. The Jermuk waterfall on the Arpa River is 70 meters high.

Shaki Waterfall - Shaki Waterfall, located in Syunik Province, Armenia, has a height of 18 meters. It is situated 6 km from the town of Sisian. On the left side of the Vorotan River gorge, basalt lava flows have solidified to form an 18-meter-high ledge from which the waterfall cascades. It is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Armenia.

Karahundj (Armenia’s Stonehenge) - Among the many unsolved mysteries surrounding Armenia’s remarkable prehistoric structures is the megalithic site of Karahunge (“Karahundj”), which is covered with hundreds of vertical megaliths ranging from 1 to 2.8 meters in height and varying greatly in form.

Aregak B&B - Settle in Goris city for the night.

Travel back to Yerevan with stops: Khndzoresk Swinging Bridge, Khndzoresk cave settlement, Tatev ropeway, and monastery.

Khndzoresk Swinging Bridge - The bridge was inspired by a local entrepreneur’s passion for showcasing a unique Armenian village. His goal was to preserve the village’s past and allow future generations to discover their roots. The suspension bridge is a labor of love by the villagers, built with their own hands and horses, without modern machinery. It spans 160 meters across a rugged yet scenic gorge. It’s worth stopping to catch your breath and take amazing pictures of the cliffside dwellings.

Old Khndzoresk - The historic cave village, located on the steep slope of a gorge, consists of both natural and manmade caves. At its peak, the community’s population may have reached up to 15,000 people. Many dwellings were carved out over and around each other, requiring a complex system of ropes and ladders to access various parts of the community. The village even had two churches and three schools.

Wings of Tatev - Wings of Tatev is a 5.7 km (3.5 mi) cableway between Halidzor and the Tatev monastery in Armenia. It is the longest reversible aerial tramway built in a single section and holds the record for the longest non-stop double-track cable car. Construction was completed on October 16, 2010.

Tatev Monastery - The Tatev Monastery is a 9th-century Armenian Apostolic monastery located on a large basalt plateau near Tatev village in Syunik Province, southeastern Armenia. The term “Tatev” usually refers to the monastery. The monastic ensemble stands on the edge of a deep gorge of the Vorotan River. Tatev is known as the bishopric seat of Syunik and played a significant role in the region’s history as a center of economic, political, spiritual, and cultural activity.

What's Included
  • Private transportation
  • In-vehicle air conditioning
  • All fees and taxes included
Additional Information

A private tour with a modern vehicle is the perfect way to experience Armenia’s beauty. Our skilled driver will guide you through less-visited parts of Armenia and highlight ideal photography locations. In addition to the places listed in the itinerary, you’ll have the chance to explore many more. We will also recommend superior spots for lunch and dinner along the route.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(9 Ratings)
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1 star
Rafal_z
May 19, 2024
Great to see the beautiful mountain ⛰️ regions of Armenia 🇦🇲 - Great tour. We saw a lot in 2 days. It was great to see the country outside of Yerevan. Arman was a great guide and driver.
Review provided by Viator
Lilla_g
May 15, 2024
Two fantastic days filled with highlights - Arman was a great host/driver/tour guide. We enjoyed all parts of the trip and were excited to discover Armenia as we went. The package included a great mix of sites, they were all hits. Would love to see the rest of the country the same way.
Review provided by Viator
Achala_b
Jan 2, 2024
Wonderful Southern Armenia with amazing driver - I went on this adventure recently in last week of December and ohh man it was amazing! Special thanks to our driver Arman who took us everywhere became our friend and guide and safely drove us around the country. He is a star and very humble human being! Looking forward to meet him again on another adventure!
Review provided by Viator
Hansgeorgw292
Oct 14, 2023
Everything was great, a fantastic, highly recommended trip. - It was a very nice tour, we learned a lot about the country, the people and the history. The guide was a very good driver and gave us good and comprehensive information and took our wishes into account.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Voyager779021
Jul 25, 2022
Best tour operator - Tigran, Arman and the others are so nice, friendly and Good drivers and tour coordinators. Also arranged airport transfer though Flyone Armenia was delayed 6 and 5 hours.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
294ramk
Jan 15, 2020
Travelling experience - It was my first experience of travel with gira travel. i enjoyed my stay in Armenia very much. They offered me almost every kind of travelling related facilities under my budget. I enjoyed ski and snow tour, eco tour, night life, food tours etc. I will personally recommend to travel with gira travel in Armenia. Thanks gira travel to make my trip memorable for long time.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
483naveenp
Jan 13, 2020
Enjoy the trip! - We went with the Gira travels. All was good, we’re satisfied with their service and it was very wonderful experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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June 2024
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