Garni

One of the most unusual places in Armenia, the village of Garni that bears the same name as the ancient pagan temple, is situated on 37 km from the center of Yerevan. Before the adoption of Christianity, the architecture in Armenia was interrelated with the Hellenistic style. This is evidenced by Garni, executed in this elegant manner with a characteristic colonnade on all sides and located on the top of a hill divided from the mountain range by a deep gorge. The temple was restored in 1976 and welcomes a multitude of tourists daily to this day. Since 2011, it has been awarded the UNESCO heritage award. The picturesque mountains, steep gorge and endless echo to be heard again and again, fascinate and ask to return.

Geghard

Once approaching Geghard, the tops of the crosses and the church itself will not be the first thing to notice, as that place will belong to music. The musicians are right the ascent to the church, always playing, welcoming guests with joy and loud national music. The air is filled with the aroma of national delicacies, such as dried fruit, sweet sujukh and honey, yet once you climb up the hill, you will be shocked by what you see. You will appear in front of the gates, leading to the temple of Geghard, completely carved out of the mountain.

This masterpiece of Armenian medieval architecture amazes with its detail and antiquity. Geghard is a complex consisting of the main chapel, two cave halls, and tombs. There is a cold spring in the first cave hall, which to this day captures the attention of the visitors. It is believed that its holy water heals diseases, rejuvenates and gifts beauty. Literally translated, Geghard means “holy spear” in memory of the spear kept in it, which had wounded Jesus Christ at the Crucifixion. It is also included in the UNESCO list of heritage since 2000. The nearby flowing Azat River hypnotizes with its murmur, pigeons hover over the church, and the coolness from the gorge gives strength to continue the path to new discoveries and impressions.

Where does Yerevan start from 

Yerevan is one of the most ancient cities in the world. Despite its history of centuries, the present and the past coexist in harmony inside its walls. This is evidenced by the spirit the city is filled with. New buildings, monuments, fountains, memorials and parks appear side-by-side with the architecture of centuries and complement the image of Yerevan together. Being a reminiscent of “sun rays”, the city itself disposes to long, yet never tiring walks. The weather will delight you with its lack of rains, hot summers, clear blue sky and multitudes of sun and color.

The city is literally saturated with bright light. You can see a magnificent panorama overlooking Mount Ararat from any height or elevation. This is the breathtaking view our capital begins with, always happy to host any newcomers with great love. Our tour offers you to get to know Yerevan from the side that the residents of the city themselves know.

Our tour will introduce you to such famous places as:

St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral, Republic Square, Marshal Baghramyan Avenue. A visit to the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex dedicated to the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide with a stop in Victory Park with an overview of the Mother Armenia monument and the famous panoramic view of the city center. Mandatory walk along the Northern Avenue and the open-air museum of the Cascade complex.

After this rich program, we offer our guests to relax in a unique place, namely, to visit the Ararat Brandy Factory - perennial barrels, an old cellar and a history of 120 years of brandy making. The key component of the tour is the tasting of such famous types of brandy as “THREE STARS” and “NAIRI” in the course of which you will learn about the famous medals decorating the cellar and about other secrets of the factory hidden from others.

We also suggest visiting another place that personifies Armenian culture, namely, the Megerian family carpet museum, where you will witness the creation of authentic Armenian carpets in real time, which are made according to the old technologies with special weaving machines just like hundred years ago. You will explore the secrets of masterpiece creations such as thread-dyeing with vegetable dyes, trimming, and furnishing. The factory also includes a museum where elegant antique carpets are exhibited, as well as carpets from the personal collection of the Megerian family itself.