Armenia · UNESCO Heritage Sites

4-Hour Garni Temple and Geghard Tour from Yerevan with Charents Arch

4 Hours Round trip from Yerevan Easy pace

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The journey

Trip highlights

01 See Mount Ararat from Charents Arch in appropriate weather
02 Visit Garni Temple, a symbol of pre-Christian Armenia
03 Explore Geghard Monastery, partially carved into the mountain
04 Enjoy a guided trip through the highlights of the Armenian countryside

Get out of the city and experience the highlights of the Armenian countryside on this guided tour. Depart from your Yerevan hotel in an air-conditioned vehicle and travel with your guide to Charents Arch, where, in appropriate weather, you can see Mount Ararat. Continue to Garni Temple and Geghard Monastery for a short but rewarding introduction to some of Armenia's most iconic landmarks.

Geghard Monastery is a medieval monastery in the Kotayk province, partially carved out of the adjacent mountain and surrounded by cliffs.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 4 Hours

Tour type Private

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Not included

Transport Included

Wheelchair access No

Cities Vagharshapat, Yerevan, Garni, Geghard

Languages Armenian, English, Russian

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Start in Yerevan

At your request, the start of the tour is possible from any point in Yerevan.

Day 02

Charents Arch and Views of Mount Ararat

On the way to Garni, near the village of Vokhchabert, there is an unremarkable arch. You would probably miss it unless you knew what is hidden behind it. Architect Rafael Israelyan dedicated the monument to the Armenian poet Yeghishe Charents, who loved and admired the beauty of Mount Ararat.

The place was chosen with precision: from the arch, you will have one of the best views of Mount Ararat. The Arch of Charents was one of the poet's favourite places, where he used to spend time in search of inspiration.

Day 03

Garni Temple, Armenia's Hellenistic Landmark

The Temple of Garni is a classical Hellenistic temple in Garni, Armenia. It is perhaps the best-known structure and symbol of pre-Christian Armenia. The temple was dedicated to Mythra, a deity popular in the Near East who became the patron goddess of the Roman Empire in the period before Christianity.

Day 04

Geghard Monastery UNESCO World Heritage Site

Geghard Monastery is a medieval monastery in the Kotayk province, partially carved out of the adjacent mountain and surrounded by cliffs. The name commonly used for the monastery today, Geghard, or more fully Geghardavank, meaning "the Monastery of the Spear", originates from the spear that wounded Jesus at the Crucifixion.

It is believed that the spear was brought to Armenia by Apostle Jude, called here Thaddeus, and stored among many other relics. It is now displayed in the Echmiadzin treasury. The monastery complex is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site with enhanced protection status.

Day 05