Ararat Valley - history, beauty, and delicious hospitality

What to expect

Sacred places and magnificent landscapes
Road through the sunny valley with vineyards will lead us to the 7th-century monastery of Khor Virap. It is built on top of the pit where Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned at the twilight of paganism in Armenia. There is no better place to get acquainted with important chapters from the chronicles of our country, the first in the world to officially adopt Christianity. We will talk about this while enjoying the view of the biblical Mount Ararat.

Once again, picturesque valleys and gorges will unfold before you - and you will find yourself in the medieval monastery of Noravank surrounded by terracotta cliffs. I will explain the uniqueness of its architecture, show you traditional khachkars, and tell you the legend of architect Momik's love.

Best Armenian wines, homemade lunch, and shashlik master class
After the historical and cultural immersion, we will move on to the gastronomic part. In the village of Areni, the owners of the winery will talk about their business and, of course, invite you to taste different varieties of wines, including fruit ones.

Having worked up an appetite and appreciated the wine, it's time for the long-awaited feast. We will visit the locals, where the host will be waiting by the hot tandoor. You will participate in the preparation of Armenian shashlik, and while the hostess sets the table, you will get acquainted with the household and stroll in the garden.

How the tour goes

• I will conduct the tour for you or another guide from our team.
• Tours are conducted in comfortable cars of different sizes depending on the number of people. They start and end at the address specified by you in the center of Yerevan.
• At your request, you can stop by an ancient winery in a cave (specify in the correspondence) extra charge - 3000 drams per person.
• The tour can be conducted for a larger number of travelers (cost for each additional person - 22,000 drams (~44€), excluding lunch). No extra charge is required for 1 child up to 10 years old.
• The tour can start from the second half of the day, making good use of the morning in Yerevan, and rest on the way back.

What is included in the price, and what is not

• Included: transportation costs and wine tasting at the winery.
• Lunch and wine tasting will be organized at the locals' house and are paid for additionally before the start of the tour: 10,000 for an adult and 8,000 for a child under 18 years old.
• There is an opportunity to order the services of a professional photographer and videographer: take nice photos for memory or social media, shoot a trendy short video, or even have a creative photoshoot. You can discuss all the details with our photographer before the trip and ask questions. You will receive about 5 photos and a small video from each location. The cost of the service is 60,000 drams.