Tour to Garni 2

Yerevan – Garni – Gorge of the Azat River (Symphony of Stones) – Geghard – Sevan – p. Artsvakan (cheese tasting) – Yerevan

A trip to the Garni fortress and Geghardavank monastery, which are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

On the way, stop at the Charents arch, from where a beautiful view of Mount Ararat opens.

Excursion around the territory of the Garni fortress (II century BC – XIII century AD) – the summer residence of the Armenian kings. Acquaintance with the pagan temple of the Sun, built by the Armenian king Trdat I in the 1st century BC. AD, as well as with other monuments of the fortress.

Symphony of stones. The symphony is represented by huge hexagonal and pentagonal basalt pillars (almost 50m high), which, with their amazing symmetry, seem to be man-made. Nature has created columns hanging over the river, which give the impression of a huge musical instrument – ”Basalt Organ”
Inspection of the unique cave (carved into the rock) monastery of Geghard (XII-XIII centuries) – the monastery of the spear, some rooms of which have unsurpassed acoustics. The name of the Geghard monastery is associated with the spear kept here, which, according to legend, Christ was pierced on the cross by one of the Roman legionaries guarding him. The diamond-shaped plate-tip of this spear is stored in the museum of the Cathedral of St. Etchmiadzin.

A trip to the blue pearl of Armenia – the high-mountain lake Sevan (1900m). Inspection of the Sevanavank monastery (IX century) on the Sevan peninsula.

Lunch on the shore of Lake Sevan.

Excursion and cheese tasting in the village of Artsvakan. The Mikaelyan family produces exclusive types of cheeses in the Gegharkunik region of Armenia. They have two “alcoholic” cheeses, as well as cachotta, a cheese wrapped in grape leaves, and a kind of parmesan called “Armesan”.

Return to Yerevan.