The trip to Tatev Monastery from Yerevan is one of the longest, but the trip to the south of Armenia is worth it! You will see the most beautiful natural places, fly on a cable car over a mountain gorge, visit an ancient monastery, learn the legend of the Shake waterfall and taste Armenian wine.
We went on a day trip to Tatev: history, landscapes and wine from Yerevan by minibus. We went on three tours of Armenia with this agency and were satisfied with everything.
Group tours in Armenia are conducted in two languages: Russian and English. We were lucky — all the members of our small group spoke Russian, so the guide did not switch to another language.
If the road to Tatev seems tedious to you, you get seasick or you just want to travel at a calm pace with your company — consider going for 2 days. An extended version of an individual tour to Tatev with an overnight stay in the city of Goris is conducted by the guide Victoria: Traditions of medieval Armenia in the Tatev monastery.
Review of a 2-day trip to Tatev
The best trip in Armenia! See not only the monasteries of Khor Virap, Noravank, Tatev, Vorotnavank, the cave city of Khndzoresk, the Shaki waterfall, drink mineral water in Jermuk, but also admire the blooming apricots and almonds, the Shambh reservoir, the beautiful Ararat. And the bonus was a picnic under a flowering dogwood tree, thank you, Victoria! Svetlana
The road to Tatev from Yerevan
The road from Yerevan to Tatev Monastery is not long — about 250 km in one direction. We left Yerevan at 8 a.m. and returned after 22:00. On the way there, we had one stop for coffee, in the afternoon we stopped for lunch (optional).
The tour route passes through the Syunik region, the southernmost territory of Armenia. A scenic road leads through rivers and meadows with panoramic views of the mountain ranges.
The day of our excursion was October 14th, it turned out to be warm and sunny, which allowed us to fully enjoy the magnificent landscapes and take beautiful photos.
We learned from our guide Anna that the Syunik region is engaged in the cultivation of grain crops and livestock. Previously, there was a large poultry farm and copper mining and processing was carried out here. Production has remained so far, but on a smaller scale.
Tatev Monastery is the end point of the route. It stands on a cliff above the Vorotan Gorge. There are two ways to get to the monastery: drive along the mountain serpentine (about 40 minutes) or take a ride on the cable car (12 minutes). We rode a cable car — it’s both fast and spectacular.
Tatev Wings Cable Car
The Wings of Tatev cable car was opened in 2010. Wings of Tatev is the world’s longest reversible cable car — 5,752 meters. It is listed in the Guinness Book of Records and won the nomination “The best cable car in the world” according to the World Travel Award 2021.
A one-way ride on the Wings of Tatev Cable Car takes 12 minutes. The movement interval is 15-30 minutes, depending on the month. Ticket prices and schedules are available on the website.
Our round-trip tickets for the cable car were purchased in advance by the organizer. It is necessary to do this during the season, the main thing is to calculate the time correctly so as not to miss your flight.
We arrived at Alidzor station 40 minutes before departure. The station has a gift shop, a cafe, a toilet and a viewing platform with binoculars. Tourists who come to Tatev without a guide can rent an audio guide in five languages, including Russian.
Flying over the Vorotan Gorge is one of the most vivid impressions of our trip. The celestial highway passes at an altitude of 320 meters, but I was not afraid at all (modern designs of Austrian-Swiss production inspire confidence).
The guide drew our attention to the sights located below: the serpentine road winding into the gorge, the ancient villages, the Devil’s Bridge. On the other side stands the Tatev Monastery.
Tatev Monastery
Tatev Monastery is one of the most famous in Armenia. It was built in the IX century, the name translates from Armenian as “Will give wings”. Tatev Monastery is a part of the Tatev Monastery Complex, which was the most important center of science and education in Armenia. Philosophers, musicians, writers and artists lived within its walls.
The restoration of the Tatev Monastery and the surrounding area is carried out within the framework of the Tatev Renaissance project by Ruben Vardanyan and Veronika Zonabend. All funds from the sale of tickets for the Krylia Tateva cable car go to this non-profit foundation.
There are 3 medieval churches on the territory of the Tatev monastery complex:
- Church of St. Pogos-Petros (Holy Apostles Paul and Peter)
- St. Grigor Lusavorich Church (St. Gregory the Illuminator)
- Church of St. Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God)
The central architectural structure of the Tatev monastery is the Church of St. Pogos—Petros (895-906). The temple was the main cathedral of the Syunik principality.
A swinging Gavazan pillar is installed next to the bishop’s residence. The octagonal stone column is topped with a khachkar. The pillar is an accurate celestial compass, which can be used to calculate the light and earth years.
To the left of the entrance to the Tatev Monastery is the Dzit An Oil Mill. The monks themselves made vegetable oil, used it for food, for the production of myrrh, for defense purposes. There is a huge millstone in the restored halls of the creamery.
Before the return trip by cable car, we took a walk in the garden around the monastery and admired the green slopes of the gorge — an amazingly beautiful place!
If you go to Tatev on your own, stay overnight in one of the small hotels in Goris (20 km from Tatev). For example, at the Hotel Kirch with mountain views and homemade breakfast.
After visiting the monastery, we had lunch. We chose the food in advance from four suggested menu options, and everything was ready for our arrival.
Shaki Waterfall
Shakinsky Waterfall is located in the gorge of the small river Shaki, which flows into the Vorotan River. The road to the Shaki Waterfall passes under a high ridge with stone pillars — a frozen stream of ancient lava.
The height of the Shaki waterfall is 18 meters. In addition to its natural beauty, it is known for its legend and unusual working principle.
The legend of the Shaki Waterfall tells about the beautiful Shaka, who, unwilling to obey foreigners, rushed down the cliff. The girl’s dress opened in the wind and turned into streams of a waterfall.
Part of the Shaki waterfall is used for the operation of the Shakinskaya hydroelectric power station. The director of the dam turns the waterfall on and off according to the schedule. The guides are aware of this and adjust to the time of his work.
When we arrived at the place, the sun had almost left the gorge, but its rays illuminated the waterfall. We took pictures downstairs and climbed up. It was interesting to look at the Shaki Waterfall and the gorge from a different angle.
It was rapidly getting dark on the way back. The guide Anna played Armenian music and songs for us on request. That’s how we got to the village of Areni.
Wine tasting in Areni
Areni village is located exactly in the middle of the route to Tatev (120 km from Yerevan). Areni is the center of Armenian winemaking, and on excursions to Tatev, one must stop at one of its wineries for tasting.
We were immediately invited to the wine cellar, where the owner of the winery told us about her wine and held a tasting. We tasted several varieties of local red and white wine, and cheese and bread were offered as an appetizer. You could buy the wine you liked.
If you want to learn more about Armenian winemaking, see vineyards and wine cellars, I recommend a tour of Khor Virap, Noravank and Areni — the best in the south of Armenia. The route is not as long as to the Tatev Monastery (Areni is the final point). On this tour you will also visit Areni caves, Khor Virap and Noravank monasteries, and admire the view of Ararat.
Our excursion to the Tatev Monastery ended late in the evening in Yerevan. We have never regretted that we have come this long way. Of all the excursions in Armenia, the trip to Tatev was the most vivid and memorable. Be sure to go!
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