10 Armenian Monasteries in 5 Days

10 Armenian Monasteries in 5 Days

This is a 5 days tour around Geghama Mountains. You will get acquainted with the history of Armenia. Also you will enjoy armenian hospitality and friendly atmosphere.

Itinerary

Day 1: Yerevan - Khor Virap - Noravanq - Tsakhats Kar - Smbataberd - Yeghegnadzor

Stop At: Khor Virap, Artashat, Lusarat Armenia
The Khor Virap is an Armenian monastery located in the Ararat plain in Armenia, near the closed border with Turkey, about 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) south of Artashat, Ararat Province, within the territory of ancient Artaxata.The monastery was host to a theological seminary and was the residence of Armenian Catholicos.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Noravank Monastery, Areni Armenia
Noravank (literally "new monastery") is a 13th-century Armenian monastery, located 122 km from Yerevan in a narrow gorge made by the Amaghu River, near the town of Yeghegnadzor, Armenia. The gorge is known for its tall, sheer, brick-red cliffs, directly across from the monastery. The monastery is best known for its two-storey Surb Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God) church, which grants access to the second floor by way of a narrow stone-made staircase jutting out from the face of building, one of the earliest examples of cantilever architecture.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Areni Wine Factory, Areni Armenia
Areni village is located about 120 km from Yerevan on the banks of the river Arpa. At the entrance to the village, right at the road on the left side a private smal wine factory "Areni" is located, which you can visit to get acquainted with the production process, taste the local wines.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Tsakhats Kar Monastery, 6 km Northeast from Yeghegis, Yeghegis Armenia
Tsaghats Kar Monastery is a monastic complex located along the mountain foothills overlooking the Yeghegis River, between the villages of Yeghegis (6 km northeast) and Horbategh in the Vayots Dzor Province of Armenia. The monastery is located within walking distance of the fortress of Smbataberd.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Smbataberd Fortress, Yeghegis Armenia
Smbataberd ( meaning Fortress of Smbat the Prince of Syunik) is a fortress located upon the crest of a hill between the villages of Artabuynk and Yeghegis in the Vayots Dzor Province of Armenia.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Lunch: Lunch at restourant called "Mheri Mot" with wine dicustation.
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Yeghegnadzor.

Day 2: Spitakavor - Tanahat - St. Sion - Jermuk

Stop At: Spitakavor Monastery, Spitakavor Rd. 7 Km To The North From The Village, Vernashen Armenia
Spitakavor Monastery, is a 14th-century Armenian monastic complex, 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) north of Vernashen village, near the town of Yeghegnadzor of Vayots Dzor Province, Armenia.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Tanahati Monastery, H47, Vernashen Armenia
Tanahat ( also Romanized as T’anahat; formerly, Dzhomardlu and Jomardlu) is a village and rural community (municipality) in the Syunik Province of Armenia. The National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia (ARMSTAT) reported its population as 76 in 2010, up from 42 at the 2001 census.

Prior to the Nagorno-Karabakh war, Tanahat was home to 70 Azerbaijani families and had a regular bus service to Baku.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Surp Sion Monastery, Along the Herher River, Herher Armenia
From the peak of an extinct volcano, Vayots Sar (2581), the breathtaking scenery of unique landscapes can be enjoyed. It is covered with a colorful carpet of wild flowers, reddish and green stones and khachkars (cross-stones). After a fifteen-minute hike in the deep volcanic crater, one discovers the ruins of a small chapel. To the south of the mountain range, in the distance, there are the ruins of the Armenian ″Pompeii″ - Mozi. The ″Pompeii″ was completely destroyed by the volcano of 735. Close to Herher, there is Saint Sion Monastery (1655)
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Jermuk.

Day 3: Ukhtasar - Zorac Karer - Sisian

Stop At: Ughtasar Petroglyphs, Armenia
The Ughtasar Petroglyphs are rock-carvings found on Mount Ughtasar "Camel Mountain", near the town of Sisian in Armenia's southern province of Syunik.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Karahunj, Sisian, Armenia
Zorats Karer, also called Karahunj, Qarahunj or Carahunge and Carenish is a prehistoric archaeological site near the town of Sisian in the Syunik Province of Armenia. It is also often referred to in international tourist lore as the "Armenian Stonehenge".
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Sisian.

Day 4: Vorotnavank - Tatev Monastery - Satanayi Kamurj - Goris

Stop At: Vorotnavank Monastery, Vorotan Armenia
Vorotnavank is a monastic complex located along a ridge overlooking the Vorotan gorge, between the villages of Vaghatin and Vorotan in the Syunik Province of Armenia. The complex is surrounded by a high stone wall for defense against foreign invasions and once housed workshops, stores, a seminary, resort, cemetery and an alms-house. A pillar stood in the yard of the monastery symbolizing that there were monks entering into religious service and kings inaugurated at this location.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Tatev Monastery, Tatev Armenia
The Tatev Monasteryi s a 9th-century Armenian Apostolic monastery located on a large basalt plateau near the Tatev village in Syunik Province in 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 history of the region as a center of economic, political, spiritual and cultural activity.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Satanayi Kamurj (Satan's Bridge), Across the Vorotan River, Tatev Armenia
The Devil Bridge natural monument is located in the Syunik region, in the deepest part of the Vorotan gorge, some 2.5km east of Tatev village. The natural bridge is about 30m long and 50-60m wide.

This natural miracle was formed over hundreds of years through the warm mineral waters and sediments of calcium salts. Accumulating on the both sides of the river, the sediments formed an arch-type natural bridge across the Vorotan river.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Goris

Day 5: Khndzoresk - Selim pass - Noratus - Hayravank - Yerevan

Stop At: Old Khndzoresk, Khndzoresk, Near Goris Armenia
Khndzoresk is a village and rural community (municipality) in the South-East of Armenia, in the province (marz) of Syunik. The village is located to the right of Goris - Stepanakert highway, on the steep slopes of Khor Dzor (Deep Gorge), from which, according to tradition, it got its name. Crossing the bridge at the entrance of the village, the road continues towards the towns of Lachin and Stepanakert. New Khndzoresk (the current inhabited area) was built in the 1950s. The village is located at 1580m above sea level and occupies 6772,8ha.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Selim Caravanserai, Vardenyats Pass, Aghnjadzor Armenia
Orbelian's Caravanserai (also known as Sulema Caravanserai and Selim Caravanserai), is a caravanserai in the Vayots Dzor Province of Armenia. It was built along the Vardenyats Mountain Pass (also known as the Selim Mountain Pass) in 1332, by prince Chesar Orbelian to accommodate weary travelers and their animals as they crossed from, or into, the mountainous Vayots Dzor region. Located at the southern side of Vardenyats Mountain Pass at a height of 2410 meters above sea level, Orbelian's Caravanserai is the best preserved caravanserai in the entire country. Ruins of a small chapel may still be seen adjacent to the vestibule, across the road from a spring.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Noratus Cemetery, Noratus Armenia
Noratus cemetery, also spelled Noraduz, is a medieval cemetery with a large number of early khachkars located in the village of Noratus, Gegharkunik marz near Gavar and Lake Sevan, 90 km north of Yerevan.

The cemetery has the largest cluster of khachkars in the Republic of Armenia.It is currently the largest surviving cemetery with khachkars following the destruction of the khachkars in Old Julfa, Nakhichevan by the government of Azerbaijan.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Hayravank Monastery, Hayravank Armenia
Hayravank is a 9th to 12th century Armenian monastery located just northeast of the village of Hayravank along the southwest shores of Lake Sevan in the Gegharkunik Province of Armenia. The monastic complex consists of a church, chapel, and gavit.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
No accommodation included on this day.