Tours
Khor Virap – Noravank – Areni
South along the Ararat valley to Khor Virap, then to the red-rock gorge of Noravank and the wine village of Areni.
Itinerary
- Start: pickup in Yerevan
Khor Virap
A monastery on a hill in the Ararat plain, close to the border with Turkey. Tradition holds that Saint Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned here before Armenia adopted Christianity. It offers one of the closest views of Mount Ararat.
≈ 42 km≈ 45 min
Areni-1 Cave
A cave near Areni where archaeologists found one of the oldest known leather shoes in the world and remains of early winemaking.
≈ 109 km≈ 1 h 45 min
Noravank Monastery
A 13th-century monastery at the end of a narrow red-rock gorge near Areni, known for its two-storey Church of the Holy Mother of God.
≈ 117 km≈ 1 h 50 min
Areni & wine region
A village in Vayots Dzor known for its vineyards and wine, and for the Areni grape variety.
≈ 109 km≈ 1 h 45 min
- Return to Yerevan
Farthest stop ≈ 117 km from Yerevan. Approximate road distance and driving time from Republic Square, Yerevan, without traffic. Actual times on mountain roads are usually longer.
Known entrance fees on this route
- Areni-1 CaveAdult: 1,000 AMD · Partially verifiedSource · checked on 9 November 2026
Other stops: contact us for current information. (Khor Virap, Noravank Monastery, Areni & wine region)
Entrance fees are paid at the site and are not part of the tour price.
Good to know
- A wine tasting in Areni can be discussed when booking (extra cost; availability not confirmed).