Mount Ararat Tours

Geghard is an incredible ancient Armenian monastery carved out of solid rock. It dates back to the 7th century. The acoustics in the church is amazing - the sound can last for 30-40 seconds. The secret of this old building has never been found. Inside the temple there is a natural spring with wonderful tasty water. A visit to Geghard is truly a spiritual experience.

Tsakhkadzor is one of the nicest places of Armenia. It is a mountain resort in spring, summer and autumn and a ski resort in winter. A new 2500 m ropeway is operating there, which corresponds to the European standards. Tsakhkadzor resort is situated on the eastern slope of Mount Teghenis and is famous for its sport facilities. Tsakhkadzor's Kecharis monastery was a religious and cultural center of medieval Armenia built in the 11th century. Fresh air and wonderful nature will make your summer holidays unforgettable.

The Byurakan observatory is located on the slopes of Mt. Aragats. It is considered to be the cradle of astronomical achievements of the Armenian nation. It was headed by the world famous astronomer Victor Hambardzumyan. The surrounding of the sight is very picturesque and beautiful.

No trip to Armenia can be considered complete without a visit to Lake Sevan. It is the “emerald? of Armenia at about 1900 meters above sea level. The Akhtamar peninsula is the most popular place to visit. The water is about 18-22 Celsius in summer, so one can have a very refreshing swim after a hot week in Yerevan. It is a sweetwater lake, so you won’t have any salt sediment after swimming. A tasty fish barbeque on the shores of Sevan will complete your rest.

The mother cathedral of Ejmiatsin is the first Christian cathedral in the world, the seat of Catholicos of all Armenians. It was established by St. Gregory the Illuminator in 303 A.D. Ejmiatsin means the coming of the only Begotten, because according to the tradition Jesus himself has shown where He wanted a church built in the vision of St. Gregory the Illuminator. Here are kept the treasures of Armenian churches, the most precious of which are the golden letters of the Armenian alphabet.

Khor Virap is situated in the Ararat Valley and it seems that you can touch the Biblical Ararat. The remarkable place of the sight is the underground prison of St. Gregory the Illuminator. For spreading Christianity he was imprisoned there for 13 years without bread and water by King Trdat. Trdat got ill and in his dream he was told that only Gregory would be able to help him. It was a great astonishment that he was alive; he was freed and cured the king. In 301 he baptized the nation, and Armenia adopted Christianity as a state religion.

Garni is the only pagan temple preserved in Armenia built in the 1st century A.D. It is a splendid example of ancient architecture. The Garni fortress is situated in a picturesque mountain locality. It was well known for its royal baths, where now you can see the remnants of the beautiful mosaic.

During archaeological excavations in the 1950s a rock was found, which had the information: "King Argishti the 1st in 782 B.C. built a fortress and called it Erebuni". Later Erebuni was renamed into Yerevan. Now only the remnants of the fortress have remained. The scripts found here tell many details about all stages of the temple's construction. In 1968 on the slope of the hill a museum was built telling the history of foundation of Yerevan. All excavated remnants collected here make you feel the atmosphere of the period.

If you admire hiking you may take the opportunity to visit Garni gorge. It is only possible for those who can walk down, since cars do not go down to the bottom of the gorge. At the bottom you will see some magnificent sheer cliffs, which look manmade, but no human hand have touched these cliffs. You can enjoy your picnic in the picturesque and green sight with a stream flowing by. From here, if you are in good shape, you can take the hike to Havuts Tar, which is a very rewarding trip that very few people know about and even fewer reach.

Amberd. Choosing this walking trip you will have a chance to discover the medieval fortress and castle Amberd (10-13th centuries). It is one of the few castles in Armenia that has been preserved. You can also walk down the gorge and enjoy the beauty of nature. Beyond the fortress there is a fortified three-story castle made of basalt for blocking invaders’ access. Water supply system of the castle and a secret passageway to the gorge are preserved . You will also be able to observe the ruins of the wall and gates of Amberd.

Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, is the pride of Armenians. The streets are arranged in a very comfortable and compact way that makes it easy to walk just about everywhere. Yerevan is sometimes called pink city, because almost all buildings are made of pink tuf. In the evening it is the right time to relax. You can enjoy a glass of Armenian beer for a dollar in one of the numerous cafes situated around the town and Armenian cuisine will amaze you by its tasty and delicious meals.

Matenadaran is Armenia's most famous museum named after Mesrop Mashtots. It is a treasury of old manuscripts and is considered to be one of the world's oldest and reachest museums. 13000 hand written books and fragments are kept there, some of which are singular copies of the given editions.

Tsitsernakaberd is a memorial complex to the victims of the Armenian Genocide in 1915. Every year on the 24th of April thousands of people of Armenia and abroad come to this place to put a flower and show their respect to the innocent victims. The eternal flame symbolizes that Armenian people are immortal. In spite of so many trials they have not lost their optimism and love of life.

The hospitable doors of Yerevan Brandy Factory are open for all visitors, who would like to taste armenian brandy, the first in the world, which has been already produced for two centuries. The visitors may get acquainted with the brandy factory and brandy-making in Armenia.