Garni Temple, Geghard Monastery, and Lake Sevan
Head towards Garni Temple (77 AD), the only standing heathen temple in the post-Soviet area. The temple gracefully stands on a high plateau overlooking the Azat River Gorge, and the surrounding area itself is incredibly beautiful. The Greco-Roman bathhouse with its mosaic, made out of 30,000 pieces of natural stones, as well as the ruins of the royal palace, will take you back to the 3rd century.
Proceed to the monastery complex of Geghard with your Armenian tour guide. St. Geghard symbolizes the lance with which the Roman centurion pierced Jesus after the crucifixion. Later, the lance was brought to Armenia and kept in Geghard Monastery for five centuries. This site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Visit Lake Sevan, known as a blue gem of the Armenian mountainscape. The lake is situated at a height of 1900 m above sea level and is surrounded by a vast chain of mountains. Here, you will also be served a conventional Armenian lunch.
