from 9 reviews
5 hours
Daily Tour
Armenian, English, Russian
Discover three of Armenia’s most iconic landmarks on one unforgettable private tour from Yerevan. Visit the ancient Garni Temple, walk among the spectacular basalt columns of the Symphony of Stones, and explore the UNESCO-listed Geghard Monastery. Travel at your own pace with a private guide and comfortable transportation while discovering Armenia’s history, nature, and breathtaking landscapes.
This is a private tour, which means the vehicle, the guide, and the schedule are yours alone. If you want to spend an extra twenty minutes at the Symphony of Stones or skip down to the riverbank, you can. No group waiting, no fixed pace.
1.Our first stop is the Arch of Charents, also known as the Arch of Ararat. This is a unique sightseeing spot from where one can have a breathtaking view of the biblical Mount Ararat.
2.The second stop is the Garni Pagan Temple. Garni is the only preserved Greco-Roman temple in Armenia. Built in the 1st century AD, it was dedicated to the sun god Mihr before Armenia adopted Christianity. Later, it served as a summer residence for Armenian kings. Perched above the dramatic Azat Gorge, the temple offers breathtaking panoramic views and remains one of the country’s most iconic historical landmarks.
3. After visiting Garni Temple, we’ll descend into the Azat Gorge to explore the Symphony of Stones. This remarkable natural monument consists of thousands of perfectly shaped hexagonal basalt columns formed by volcanic activity millions of years ago. Rising up to 50 metres high, the formations resemble the pipes of a giant organ, which is why the site is also known as the Basalt Organ. A walk through the gorge along the Azat River is one of the highlights of this tour.
4. Our final stop is the Geghard Monastery, a partly cave-carved monastery dating back to the 13th century. “Geghard” means “spear” – a reference to the spear that pierced the body of Jesus during the crucifixion. The monastery was named after this sacred relic, which was once kept here. Today, the spear is preserved in the religious center of Armenia, the Holy See of Etchmiadzin.
Geghard is set among dramatic cliffs and rivers, and its uniqueness lies in its architecture – a large portion of the complex is carved directly into the rock. The monastery is renowned for its exceptional acoustics, and visitors are often fortunate enough to hear traditional Armenian spiritual hymns performed inside its rock-cut chambers.
Visit Armenia’s only surviving Greco-Roman temple
Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Geghard Monastery
Walk among the spectacular basalt columns of the Symphony of Stones
Armenia’s most popular first-time itinerary
Enjoy a flexible itinerary tailored to your pace
Private guide and comfortable transportation
Hotel pick-up and drop-off from Yerevan
All private tours can be changed upon request.
Looking for a more immersive cultural experience? Explore our Garni, Geghard & Lavash Baking Private Tour, which includes a traditional Armenian lavash baking masterclass in addition to the classic sightseeing route.
Garni Temple is 28 km from central Yerevan, about 40 minutes by car. Geghard Monastery is another 7 km up the gorge from Garni.
Yes, Geghard has no entrance fee. Garni Temple costs 1,500 AMD and the Symphony of Stones costs 300 AMD — both can be added as extras when booking your tour.
Yes. The tour runs approximately 5 hours, making it a comfortable morning trip from Yerevan. You will be back in the city by early afternoon.
Wear comfortable shoes — the path to the Symphony of Stones involves a downhill walk on uneven ground. Women are asked to cover their shoulders and knees inside the monastery. Scarves are usually available at the entrance.
The Symphony of Stones is one of Armenia’s most remarkable natural attractions. Located in the Azat Gorge beneath Garni Temple, it consists of thousands of perfectly shaped basalt columns formed by cooling volcanic lava millions of years ago. Because the formations resemble the pipes of a giant organ, the site is also known as the Basalt Organ.
This private tour is an excellent choice if you:
Whether you’re travelling as a couple, with family or friends, this itinerary combines Armenia’s rich history with spectacular scenery, making it one of the country’s most rewarding private excursions.
Your private driver and guide meet you at your hotel in Yerevan. Garni is just 28 km from the city — one of the closest great half-day trips available from any capital in the region.
First stop at the most iconic pagan monument in Armenia — the only surviving Hellenistic colonnaded temple in the entire former Soviet Union. Built in the 1st century AD by King Trdat I, dedicated to Mihr the sun god, and funded in part by the Roman Emperor Nero. Destroyed by earthquake in 1679 and meticulously reconstructed between 1969 and 1975. Inside the complex you can also see the royal bathhouse with its extraordinary mosaic floor made from 30,000 individual stones — including one of the only surviving inscriptions in Armenian that reads: we worked and got nothing, believed to be the complaint of the craftsmen who built it. Views from the cliff edge across the Azat River gorge are spectacular.
Walk down into the Azat River gorge to the Symphony of Stones — a dramatic natural formation of thousands of hexagonal and pentagonal basalt columns up to 50 meters tall, created by slowly cooling lava flows millions of years ago. The columns are so geometrically perfect they look like the pipes of a giant cathedral organ, rising from the riverbed. One of the most photogenic natural phenomena in Armenia and one of the most striking geological sites in the entire Caucasus.
Drive 7 km up the gorge to Geghard — one of Armenia's most extraordinary monuments and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Part of the monastery is carved directly into the living rock of the cliff face — chambers, chapels and khachkars cut from the stone itself. Founded in the 4th century and rebuilt in the 13th century, Geghard once held the spear that pierced Christ's side at the crucifixion, brought here by the Apostle Thaddeus — giving the monastery its name Geghardavank, Monastery of the Spear. The acoustics inside the rock-cut chambers are extraordinary.
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