from 4 reviews
7-8 hours
Daily Tour
Armenian, English, Russian
The private tour to Khor Virap, Areni Winery, Noravank, and Bird’s Cave is one of the most popular destinations in Armenia. The duration is around 8 hours.
1. Our first stop is Khor Virap Monastery, which is located in the Ararat region and is the closest site to Yerevan—about an hour’s drive away. It is a pilgrimage site because the first Armenian Catholicos, Gregory the Illuminator, was imprisoned here for 13 years by the pagan king Tiridates III. When he was released, he illuminated Tiridates, and together they adopted Christianity as the state religion of Armenia in 301.
2. Next stop is Noravank, a white monastery nestled among red cliffs. Noravank is famous for its two-story church built in 1105. Other buildings of the monastery complex were constructed between the 12th and 14th centuries. Noravank is a stunning site, known for its unique cross-stones, bas-reliefs, and intricate carvings—many of which are the work of the medieval genius artist Momik.
3. The tour continues with a wine tasting at Hin Areni Wine Factory, located in one of Armenia’s oldest winemaking regions. Celebrating the iconic Armenian grape varieties Areni Noir and Voskehat, Hin Areni combines the millennia-old traditions of Armenian winemaking with modern European expertise and state-of-the-art equipment.
4. Next is Areni-1 Cave, also known as Areni Bird’s Cave, which was discovered in 2008 during archaeological excavations. This is the famous cave where a 5,500-year-old leather shoe was found. The cave also revealed the world’s oldest known winery, dating back to the 5th millennium BC. Bird’s Cave is open to visitors, and many of the artifacts found here are now displayed in the History Museum of Armenia in Yerevan.
This private tour lets you spend a full day outside the city, combining rich history with natural scenery. You’ll visit the spiritual site of Khor Virap, the striking Noravank monastery, enjoy the culture of Areni village and see the Bird’s Cave.
All private tours can be changed upon request.
Your private driver and guide meet you at your hotel in Yerevan. The route heads south through the Ararat Valley - one of the most historically significant plains in the ancient world, where Armenia's earliest kingdoms rose beside the slopes of the biblical mountain.
First stop at the most famous pilgrimage site in Armenia, just 44 km from Yerevan. Khor Virap - meaning Deep Pit - was once a royal prison where Gregory the Illuminator was held captive for 13 years before converting the Armenian king to Christianity in 301 AD, making Armenia the first Christian nation in the world. The monastery sits just 8 km from the Armenian-Turkish border, giving the closest view of Mount Ararat on Armenian soil. On clear days the snow-capped peak rises above the plain in extraordinary detail.
The route continues south through wine country into the Vayots Dzor region - through vineyards and rocky gorges as the landscape transforms dramatically.
Arrive at one of Armenia's most photographed sites - Noravank Monastery set inside a narrow canyon of deep red volcanic cliffs. The monastery dates from the 13th century and its unique two-storey Church of the Holy Mother of God, reached by a narrow external staircase on the facade, is unlike anything else in Armenian architecture. The views of the canyon walls from inside the complex are simply stunning.
Optional lunch at a local restaurant in the Areni area. Can be added in Extras when booking.
Visit the extraordinary Areni-1 archaeological cave where excavations since 2007 have uncovered the world's oldest known winery, dating back 6,000 years. The same cave also yielded the world's oldest leather shoe - 5,500 years old. Three halls of the cave system contain ancient fermentation vats, storage jars, grape seeds and pressing equipment that rewrote the history of winemaking. An unforgettable and genuinely significant stop.
Finish with a wine tasting at Hin Areni Winery - one of the leading producers of the native Areni Noir grape variety, grown in the same valley where wine was first made millennia ago. Taste several varieties in the modern tasting room before heading home.
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