Day Trip to Garni, Geghard, Charent's Arch, and Azat Canyon

24 Ratings

Yerevan

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Explore Garni, Geghard, and Azat Canyon on a guided tour. Marvel at Mount Ararat, delve into history, and enjoy nature with fellow travelers.

Duration: 6 hours

Cancellation: 1 day learn more

Highlights

Garni Temple - During this excursion, we’ll explore Garni, Geghard, and the Azat River Valley, home to numerous historical and natural landmarks. Our journey begins with a visit to Geghardavank, a renowned 13th-century monastery, followed by Garni village, which boasts a variety of well-known and lesser-known sites. A brief hiking excursion will lead us to the iconic Garni pagan temple and the Symphony of Stones. We’ll also pause near the Arch of Charents, offering a breathtaking vista of Mount Ararat.
The Monastery of Geghard - The Geghard Monastery, situated in the Kotayk province, is a medieval marvel partially carved into the adjacent mountain and encircled by cliffs. Its commonly used name, Geghard or Geghardavank, meaning “the Monastery of the Spear,” stems from the spear that wounded Jesus during the Crucifixion. According to belief, Apostle Jude, also known as Thaddeus in Armenia, brought the spear to the region, where it was safeguarded among various relics, now exhibited in the Echmiadzin treasury. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the monastery complex enjoys enhanced protection status.
Charent’s Arch - While driving along the Yerevan-Garni highway, you’ll spot the Charents Arch perched on a hill to the right side of the road. This monument pays homage to the esteemed Armenian poet and patriot, Yeghishe Charents. Legend has it that Charents frequented this spot, captivated by its breathtaking vistas. Although appearing simple at first glance, the stone arch holds significant historical and cultural value. Notably, it offers uninterrupted views of the majestic biblical Mount Ararat throughout the day, earning it the alternate name, the Arch of Ararat. This site is a beloved and widely visited attraction, drawing tourists to revel in its awe-inspiring panoramas and capture memorable photographs.
Symphony of Stones - The Symphony of Stones, also known as the “Basalt Organ,” stands as a natural marvel situated within the Azat River basin, near Garni village. Recognized as one of Armenia’s natural monuments, this site boasts massive hexagon and pentagon basalt columns, reaching impressive heights of nearly 50 meters. The remarkable symmetry of these stones gives the appearance of meticulous craftsmanship. Hanging against gravity, they form a resemblance to an organ, earning the alternate name “Basalt Organ Pipes.” As the Azat River flows through the gorge, the stones are accompanied by the soothing sound of water, enhancing the splendor of this geological wonder.
Yerevan - The journey from Yerevan to the Points of Interest and back, along with a stop for a meal and leisure time, will occupy the remainder of the day.

What's Included

In-vehicle air conditioning
Guides

What's Not Included

Entrance fee for Garni is 750 AMD for residents of RA and 1,500 AMD for foreigners.
Entrance fee of the Symphony of Stones: 200 AMD

Additional Information

Embark on a group tour to effortlessly delve into Armenia’s rich history. Enjoy comfortable transportation with a dedicated driver beyond Yerevan. Discover the Temple of Garni, Geghard Monastery, and Azat Canyon, gaining insights into their historical significance from your knowledgeable guide.

Pause at a scenic viewpoint to marvel at Mount Ararat in the distance. Immerse yourself in Armenia’s history, explore Garni and Geghard with your fellow travelers, and savor moments in nature at Azat Canyon.

Location

1a Sayat-Nova Ave

Sayat-Nova Avenue

Komitas Yerevan State Conservatory. Our tour guide will meet you exactly outside the Conservatory.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings

4.7

(24 Ratings)

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Wonseok_n

Jul 13, 2024

Must Do Day Tour while in Yerevan - Highly recommended day tour while in Yerevan. One of the most historical areas around Yerevan. Quite close to Yerevan, yet very scenic. Learned a lot about the history of Armenia, especially pre WWI era. The guide, Hasmik, was so professional. Perhaps, the most professional guide that I have ever met so far. So knowledgable and was able to explain patiently to everyone in the group almost like a teacher! Even sang a short song for the group at a cave church to demonstrate the sound quality in the place. Amazing.

Review provided by Viator

Inspire523072

Jul 8, 2024

Super Tour - A very nice tour, entertaining and informative. Our guide was super nice has given us lots of information and answered questions. Highly recommended!!

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Miketq6703kt

Jun 19, 2024

Amazing tour with an amazing team! - Due to a system error, our reservation was not recorded. However, the team worked quickly to provide us with alternate transportation. We were able to meet up with the group and spend the day touring all the sites and learning the history. We are so appreciative that they went above and beyond to ensure we had a great day and did not miss anything. Thank you so much to everyone involved in supporting us! We had an amazing tour!

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Minling_t

Jun 12, 2024

Trustworthy tour operator - We had a great time seeing the nature and culture of Armenia. Our guide Sati made great efforts to make sure we got all explanations in English! The tour was of great value of money. Also, the tour operator was great at communicating before and during the tour to make sure we had a great experience.

Review provided by Viator

Tanya_m

May 15, 2024

Beautiful Armenia - Very bad weather but the frost was worth it! The tour guide was fun and knowledgeable. A good experience to explore Armenia...

Review provided by Viator

Aryaanb2017

Feb 26, 2024

Our second trip with Tranquil Holidays - This was the second trip we took with Tranquil Holidays. Garni trip was super fun. The guides r super cute n fun to be with. Sanin is the best coordinator. Thank you again.

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858ilanl

Jul 9, 2024

6 Armenian touristy sites - The trip itself to 6 tourist sites was fine, but there was neither a tour guide (which I knew) nor were we given an audio guide (as promised in the booking voucher), which means that no information about the sites visited was provided.

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Carolina_p

Jul 9, 2024

My experience: Day Trip to Garni, Geghard, Charent's Arch, and Azat Canyon - I enjoyed the day trip. The sights were beautiful, and the tour guide was very knowledgeable and helpful. However, as a vegan, I struggled with food options. Despite mentioning my dietary preferences when booking, there were no proper vegan alternatives available, and I could only have small snacks for lunch. The guide did try to assist, but there wasn't really anything suitable for me. I hope they improve and become more inclusive in the future. Other than that, it's a good tour.

Review provided by Viator

Mervipaavola

Jun 15, 2024

Good day tour from Yerevan - The bus was clean and well air-conditioned. The guide knew a lot about the history and the sights. Unfortunately he spoke so fast that he was hard to follow. We booked an english speaking tour but we also had russian speaking customers in the same tour. Our guide did well with two groups.

Review provided by Viator

Anita_a