If you need to choose only one field trip in Armenia, choose an excursion to Garni and Geghard. You will see an ancient monastery in a cave, a pagan temple, an arch overlooking Ararat, take a walk in the gorge of stone pillars.
The excursion to Garni and Geghard from Yerevan is an easy route for 4-6 hours with a visit to interesting historical and natural places of Armenia. It is only 40 km from Yerevan.
We went on a tour of Garni and Geghard — witnesses of the centuries in a small group by minibus, having previously read the reviews.
Ludmila
I really enjoyed the tour! The nature and temples are of amazing beauty. The guide and driver are real professionals. The information is very interesting and positive. There are a lot of impressions — from the delight of contemplating blooming gardens against the background of mountains to deep reverence for the shrine of Geghard. I recommend it to everyone.
The price of our group tour included everything except lunch (optional). The minibus had air conditioning, wi-fi, free water and the Armenian sweet gata.
Group tours in Armenia are usually conducted in two languages: Russian and English, our group was also international. On an individual excursion to Garni and Geghard, the guide will take into account your personal preferences.
The Arch of Charents (The Arch of Ararat)
The first stop on the way to Garni is located 15 km from Yerevan in the vicinity of the village of Vokhchaberd. The 5-meter-high Charents Arch was built in 1957 in honor of the 60th anniversary of the birth of the Armenian poet Yeghishe Charents.
Inside the arch are carved lines from his poem, in which he praises the greatness of Ararat: “There are no peaks grayer than Ararat, go around the world — there are no such…”
From the hilltop there is a beautiful view of Mount Ararat, which is why the Arch of Charents is also called the Arch of Ararat. We were lucky — Ararat was clearly visible on this day, but this does not always happen, it may be covered by clouds and haze.
Garni Temple
The Garni Temple is an architectural structure unique to Armenia. It is the only architectural monument of the late antique period preserved on its territory. At first glance, it seems as if he was transferred to Armenia from Italy or Greece.
The pagan temple of Garni was built by the Armenian king Trdat in the 1st century AD and stood until the earthquake of 1679. During the 1966-1976 restoration, the building was actually rebuilt.
The Garni Temple is surrounded by 24 columns along the perimeter, which are reached by 9 steps 30 centimeters high. The size of the interior is small, it was intended only for the tsar and his family. Previously, in the middle of the sanctuary there was a statue of the bull — the sun god Mithras. Armenian motifs can be traced by the carved patterns on the basalt walls of the temple.
The ruins of an ancient fortress and a royal bathhouse are located on the territory of the palace complex. The Church of St. Zion (VII century) stood right on the edge of a cliff with a dizzying view of the gorge of the Azat River. At the end of the tour, we will visit the most beautiful part of it.
The royal bathhouse is considered the most valuable building of Garni. It was built from the same materials as other structures of the palace complex and consisted of five rooms for various purposes. Under the canopy, you can see the floor arrangement and the preserved Hellenistic mosaic in the dressing room.
Geghard Monastery
Geghard Monastery was founded in the IV century on the site of a sacred spring in the gorge of the mountain river Gokht. It is also called Ayrivank — “cave monastery” and Geghardavank — “monastery of the spear”. The monastery and the surrounding cliffs are included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List.
Geghard Monastery embodies the golden age of Armenian architecture, it is known for its holy relics and is widely revered in Armenia. It is not customary to visit such places in shorts and open clothes, which is warned before the tour.
The Geghard monastery kept the spear with which centurion Longinus pierced the body of Jesus Christ crucified on the cross. Now the tip of the legendary spear is in the museum of the Echmiadzin monastery.
Together with the guide, we looked into the interior of the monastery. Narrow stone corridors lead to spacious vaulted rooms with columns, the walls are decorated with carved patterns, reliefs with images of birds, animals and human figures, khachkars crosses everywhere. All spaces are illuminated by natural light entering them through holes in the ceiling.
In one of the large halls with good acoustics (Upper zhamatun) Our guide Anastasia sang an old Armenian song with a traditional ascending intonation. It was very emotional. Through a round hole in the lower right corner of the jamatoon, we looked into the lower floor.
The sacred spring is located in the first cave church of Avazan, you can go to it and collect water. A beautiful bas—relief with animals is the family coat of arms, adorns the tomb of the princes of the Proshyans.
After visiting the Geghard monastery complex, we were given free time. Someone was buying souvenirs and gata from local merchants, and we walked to the cave in the rock. To get there, you need to cross a humpback bridge over a mountain river. Pyramids of stones are laid out at the entrance to the cave.
Master class on baking Armenian lavash
A master class on baking Armenian lavash was held in the same place where lunch was scheduled. Before the start, we all gathered in an open courtyard under a canopy.
Two Armenian women were cooking lavash under the comments of our guide. One rolled out the dough with a wooden rolling pin, the second twisted it and molded it with a beater cushion to the wall of the tandoor. In their execution, the process looked simple.
Several people from our group also decided to try to make their own Armenian lavash. It didn’t turn out as quickly and beautifully as the professionals, but it was fun. At the end of the master class, we tasted delicious freshly baked pita bread.
Lunch in the tour is included on request for an additional fee. We chose our own option out of the four proposed in advance, everything was already ready for our arrival. We sat at a common table, talked and quickly became friends.
Symphony of Stones
The Symphony of stones is a part of the gorge of the Azat River with an unusual shape of rocks. Physical exertion during the inspection of this natural landmark is minimal — a short stretch of the way runs along a smooth paved road. Those who wish can take a ride on a tourist train or on horseback.
As a result of volcanic activity and wind work, the stone slopes of the gorge have become similar to organ pipes, for which they are also called “Stone Organ”.
Huge hexagonal pillars with a height of 50 to 100 meters are located at different angles. In one part of the gorge, basalt pipes hang directly over the road. We wanted to get through this part of the way faster, and many are not afraid to take pictures right under the rock.
We reached the end of the hiking trail, saw the Garni temple at the top, sat on a bench, admired the view and listened to the noise of the mountain river. A great end to the tour!
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