Garni and Geghard — sun temple and cave monastery
1 day · a classic first day in Armenia
The pagan temple of Garni, the Garni gorge with its basalt «Symphony of Stones», and Geghard — a 4th-century monastery carved into the rock. Lunch with lavash baking in a tonir.
Route stop by stop
- Yerevan
- Garni
- Symphony of Stones
- Geghard
- Yerevan
This is the base route — different partners may have their own nuances (order of stops, length of stops, lunch). The specific plan comes from the partner in their offer.
Main highlights
- Bake your own lavash
- Basalt columns
- Cave sacristies
What's usually included
Transport along the route, Russian-speaking guide, entry tickets to main objects, lunch at a local cafe. Not included: accommodation (if multi-day), individual wishes (wineries, safari, weddings). Full list — from the specific partner in their offer.
Catalog prices are «from» — the starting price of the most economical partner. The actual one depends on group size, dates and season. Partners offer their price in response to your request.
When to go
May and October — the golden mean: clear visibility, moderate temperatures, few tourists. June—August — peak season, we recommend booking at least 2 weeks in advance. In winter most mountain tours turn into «here's the place — look at it in snow», which is also beautiful.
Group meeting — in Yerevan. Individual pick-up from Zvartnots airport or your hotel is possible. Requests from 2 partners arrive within an hour after sending.
Weather forecast for Hrazdan
7-day forecast — plan your trip
- Wed12.0821°12°☂ 55%
- Thu13.0821°12°☂ 55%
- Fri14.0820°12°☂ 55%
- Sat15.0822°13°☂ 55%
- Sun16.0821°12°☂ 65%
- Mon17.0821°10°☂ 55%
- Tue18.0820°11°☂ 55%
Things to see nearby
Makravank Monastery
A medieval monastery on a wooded slope in Kotayk, known for the delicate stone carving that lends its churches a quiet, intricate beauty.
Open
Dzagavank
A weathered monastery in the hills of Kotayk, a listed heritage site that has outlasted the centuries in silence.
Open
Neghuts Monastery
A medieval monastery above the village of Arzakan in Kotayk, where old stone churches stand half-hidden in the surrounding greenery.
Open
Kaptavank Monastery
A stone monastery near the village of Kaputan, where Armenian monastic tradition keeps watch over the Kotayk hills.
Open
Holy Mother of God Church in Jrvezh
A stone sanctuary at Jrvezh near Yerevan, listed among Armenia's protected cultural monuments.
Open
Surb Kiraki Church of Arzni
A stone church in the spa village of Arzni, listed among Armenia's cultural heritage monuments — a quiet stop beside the Hrazdan gorge.
OpenIf this one doesn't fit — look at these
Winter Tsaghkadzor and Sevan under ice
A winter trip: a 1-day ski pass in Tsaghkadzor, a spa evening, an overnight at a mountain hotel. Day two — Sevan with its ice ridges and a hot dolma lunch.
- Lifts and slopes
- Spa in the mountains
- Sevan in winter
Sevan and Dilijan — mountains, lake, trout
Sevanavank on the peninsula, a lakeside lunch with ishkhan trout, then forested Dilijan, Goshavank and the old part of town.
- Grilled Sevan trout
- Forest trails
- Old Dilijan
Tatev + the cableway
A one-day tour from Yerevan to Tatev Monastery, riding the world’s longest cableway. Lunch in Khot and a guided tour of the monastery.
- World’s longest cableway
- 9th-century monastery
- Lunch in a mountain village
On a tour you also often need other services
We have other partner categories too — requests work the same. We forward them to several partners with availability at once.
Where to stay in mountains and cities
Family guesthouses, boutique hotels, glamping, cave suites. Across Armenia.
From airport or between regions
Fixed price, no meter. Econom, comfort, minivan or premium.
A car for a self-drive trip
SUV for Syunik mountains, sedan for highways, minivan for groups. Full tank, insurance.