from 9 reviews
11-12 hours
Daily Tour
Armenian, English, Russian
This Haghpat Sanahin Akhtala tour from Yerevan is a private day trip that takes you to three of Armenia’s most remarkable historic and architectural sites and lasts about 12 hours.
1. Our first stop is Sanahin Monastery, built in the 10th century on the site of a pagan temple, which was most likely dedicated to the Armenian goddess Anahit. Some historians believe that the name Sanahin may have originated from Anahit’s name.
2. Second stop – It’s hard not to fall in love with Haghpat. The monastery is perched on top of a hill, offering marvelous views that you simply can’t get enough of. Like Sanahin, Haghpat is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
3. The third and final stop of the tour is Akhtala Monastery – an unbelievably beautiful fortress and monastery, and one of the rare Armenian sites where frescoes have been so well preserved.
The individual tour to Haghpat, Sanahin, and Akhtala is definitely one of the favorites among our visitors, thanks to the sites’ rich architectural styles, deep history, and breathtaking scenery.”
All private tours can be changed upon request.
Choosing this private tour from Yerevan means discovering Armenia’s medieval monasteries and dramatic landscapes in a relaxed, personal setting.
Your private driver and guide meet you at your hotel in Yerevan. The drive to the Debed Canyon in northern Armenia takes approximately 2.5 hours. The canyon road itself is one of the most beautiful drives in the country - deep gorges, forested slopes and medieval bridges glimpsed from the road.
First stop at the magnificent Haghpat Monastery - a UNESCO World Heritage Site founded in the 10th century under King Ashot III of the Bagratid dynasty. Haghpat was one of medieval Armenia's most celebrated centers of learning, producing manuscripts, miniature paintings and scientific works for centuries. In the late 18th century the legendary Armenian troubadour Sayat-Nova lived and created here. The complex includes the Cathedral of Surb Nshan, the Church of the Holy Mother of God, the library and a beautifully carved bell tower.
A short drive to Sanahin - the second UNESCO World Heritage Site on this route, sitting on a plateau on the opposite side of the Debed Canyon from Haghpat. The two monasteries were founded by the same Kiurikian dynasty and their very names reflect an ancient rivalry - Sanahin literally means this one is older than that one in Armenian. Sanahin was equally celebrated as a center of science, astronomy and medicine. Its architectural masterstroke - connecting the two main churches with a single seminary building - was designed specifically to make the complex earthquake-resistant, a remarkable feat of medieval engineering.
Optional lunch at a local restaurant in Alaverdi or the Debed Canyon area. Can be added in Extras when booking.
Drive to Akhtala - a 10th-century monastery fortress perched on a plateau surrounded by deep gorges on three sides, making it one of the most strategically dramatic sites in Armenia. Akhtala's distinction is its frescoes - painted between 1205 and 1216 in a unique fusion of Byzantine, Armenian and Georgian styles, they cover almost the entire interior of the main church in extraordinary detail. Deep blues, rich golds and vivid biblical scenes that have survived 800 years with remarkable clarity. These are among the finest medieval frescoes in the entire Caucasus, yet Akhtala remains far less visited than its famous neighbors.
Breathtaking views