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First time in Armenia? This 1-day tour is the perfect introduction to Armenian culture and history.
You’ll visit two of Armenia’s most important historical sites, the Temple of Garni, built in the first century and dedicated to the Armenian sun god Mihr, and Geghard Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site partially carved into a mountain, where the spear that pierced Christ’s side during the crucifixion is said to have been brought from the Holy Land. To end your 1-day tour, you’ll venture high into the Yeranos Mountains in an off road vehicle, where you’ll enjoy a traditional BBQ feast prepared in the wild by professional local hosts!
Throughout the day, you’ll experience other cultural delights like a massive natural cliff-face that resemble the pipes of an organ, as well as learn how to make lavash [lah-vash] bread, Armenia’s national bread, the traditional way – in an underground oven called a tonir [toh-neer]. We’ll pick you up and drop you off in Yerevan at the end of your experience, taking care of all the details. All you have to do is show up!
Here’s a rundown of all the local sites, sounds, smells, tastes, and feelings you’ll experience on this tour:
Pick up from Yerevan
Stop 1. Arch of Charents, a local monument with the best view of Mt. Ararat in Armenia
Stop 2. Geghard Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site partially carved into a mountain and one of Armenia’s most important religious sites, constructed in the fourth century
Stop 3. Symphony of Stone, massive hexagonal basalt columns that resemble the pipes of a musical organ
Stop 4. Traditional lavash making class and light lunch break
Stop 5. Garni Temple, the only standing Greco-Roman temple in Armenia and the former Soviet Union, built in the first century in honor of the Armenian sun god Mihr
Stop 6. Mountaintop Eats dining experience, a traditional outdoor BBQ in the Yeranos Mountains consisting of 3.
Drop off in Yerevan
If you or someone in your group has any food allergies or other travel-related requirements, please do let us know during the confirmation process after completing your booking on this platform. Our team will reach out over email to confirm your booking and finalize all the details.
Here’s why this experience stands out:
Cultural heritage preservation: This experience is all about Armenia’s cultural heritage. Your 1-day trip shows other travelers and local people that the sites you’ll visit are worth preserving and sharing.
Cultural exchange and education: You’ll learn a whole lot about the religious and cultural significance of the sites you’ll visit during this experience directly from a local, professional storytelling guide, who will help you connect to local ways of life and the history of Armenia.
Local, seasonal ingredients: All the dishes you’ll enjoy on this experience are cooked using seasonal ingredients sourced from local communities.
Native, authentic recipes: With the support of an expert Armenian food historian, the hosts of your dinner have created a menu that is true to the culinary and cultural traditions of the Ararat region, where the Yeranos Mountains are located and where you will experience a staple of the Armenian kitchen, BBQ in a traditional underground oven called a tonir.
Expertly trained community hosts: Your guides, chefs, and hosts have all been trained in hospitality, storytelling, first aid, the culinary arts, food hygiene, waste management, and environmental protection, so that you can enjoy your experience in comfort.
Untouched natural landscapes: Your BBQ dinner will take place in an area of outstanding natural beauty. A donation of 2,000 AMD from your trip will go to the Caucasus Nature Fund, who will double that amount and send it to the nearby Khosrov Forest State Reserve, one of the oldest protected areas in the world! In the 4th century the area was designated as a royal reserve by King Khosrov Kotak specifically with the aim of maintaining the natural climatic conditions of neighboring regions. Your donation, included in the price of booking, will ensure that the Reserve team is able to continue doing their valuable conservation work. Additionally, your hosts have been trained in environmental protection and waste management to keep these landscapes untouched.
Transforming the lives of local people through meaningful and sustainable experiences like this one is why we do what we do at 2492. We believe that Armenia can be a wonderful place to both visit and live in, which is why each of the experiences on this platform were thoughtfully built not only to connect you with local people and ways of life, but also positively impact the lives and communities that you encounter. Learn more about how we do this by visiting ONEArmenia, our nonprofit arm advancing sustainable travel in Armenia.
