Khor Virap, Noravank & Areni Birds Cave

Khor Virap, Noravank, Areni, Birds Cave

This familiarization tour is full of variety. ## Our tour group will have the opportunity to get acquainted with the Khor Virap monastery, where the first Catholicos of the Armenians, Grigor Lusavorich, was imprisoned, and then to Noravank, a beautiful medieval monastery complex surrounded by high reddish rocks. In the second part of the excursion, we will visit the Birds cave in Areni and the tour will end with a tasting of delicious Armenian wines in the Areni winery.

23 May, 01 May

Start | End time: 09:00:00 | 17:00:00

Language: English, Russian, Armenian, French, German

Duration: 1 day

Start | End point: 1a Sayat-Nova Ave, Yerevan 0001, Armenia | 1a Sayat-Nova Ave, Yerevan 0001, Armenia

Type of tour: Group

Group size: 12

Inclusions

Transport
Wine Tasting
Guide service (if there are foreign participants, the tour may be conducted in two languages)
Bottled water

Exclusions

Meal
Birds Cave entrance fee - 1500 AMD

Tour program

Day 1

Stop 1.Khor Virap Monastery

Many people know that Armenia is the first Christian country in the world. It was officially accepted in 301 when Grigor was released from the capital's prison, which was here before. He was imprisoned here for 13 years for his Christian faith. Being the last hope of the sick king, he cured him, after which the king accepted Christianity as the state religion. At the same time, the best view of Mount Ararat opens from here. Being very close to Ararat gives you the opportunity to see the entire structure of the mountain and admire its beauty.

Stop 2.Noravank

Medieval Armenian taste and architectural talent were interblended in Noravank, founded in the 9th century, this monastery developed in the 13th and 14th centuries. Surrounded by high red-coloured mountains and built from stones taken from those rocks, Noravank harmoniously complements the local landscape, remaining unique in its kind.

Stop 3.Birds Cave

The Birds' Cave (or Areni Cave) in Armenia, located near the village of Areni, is an important archaeological site where significant discoveries have been made, including the world's oldest known wine production evidence, dating back over 6,000 years. The cave also contains remains of birds and artifacts from the Bronze Age, highlighting the region’s early development in winemaking and culture. It is considered a key site for understanding the history of winemaking and ancient civilizations in the Caucasus.

Stop 4.Areni Winery

At the end of the tour, we visit the center of winemaking in the village of Areni, where we are hosted by the Areni Wine Factory. Our guests can taste different types of Armenian wines, including those made from Areni grapes. We will also see the cellar, where the wines are stored, and on the upper floor, there's a nice cafe.