About this experience
Embark on a journey from Yerevan to the southeast, to the Vayots Dzor region. In the gorge of the Arpa River and its tributary Gnishik, you will visit two special caves - Magelana and Bird's. In one of them, the oldest winery in the world was found, and in the other, six species of endangered bats inhabit! You will explore mysterious labyrinths and then visit the iconic monastery and learn about its valuable reliefs.
What to Expect
Magelana Cave
This is one of the largest caves in the country. It is among the top ten in the world in terms of length and top three as an excursion site. The total length of the route is over 1.7 km. In the cave's labyrinths, you will see clusters of stalactites and stalagmites. You will also learn about the local bats - eight species inhabit here, six of which are included in the Red Book of Armenia!
Bird's Cave
In the village of Areni, you will visit the second amazing cave. The guide will talk about valuable findings discovered during archaeological excavations: the oldest winery and leather shoes in the world. Nearby, you can taste local wine from ancient indigenous grape varieties. Here, you can also have lunch in one of the private houses with Armenian traditional cuisine.
Medieval Noravank Monastery
A complex from the 11-12th centuries - one of the iconic monuments of architecture and sculpture in Armenia. You will get acquainted with the masterpiece of world art. Explore valuable reliefs depicting the main Christian saints, including the first image of God the Father in the Christian world. The monastery grounds are rich in symbolic details - some of which you will learn about from the guide, as well as numerous mysterious burials, which you will also hear about during the tour.
Organizational Details
- The cost of the tour includes transportation in a comfortable car and the guidance of a guide
- Additional expenses: tickets to Magelana Cave - 3000 drams (~8 euros), to Bird's Cave - 1000 drams (~3 euros), lunch - 10-20 euros per person
- Wine tasting in the village of Areni - 5000 drams per person. The tasting includes 6 types of wine and an assortment of snacks.
- It is recommended to bring suitable footwear for mountainous terrain, comfortable clothing, sunscreen, and sunglasses
- We can conduct the tour for a larger number of participants - inquire with the guide for details
- Your tour will be conducted by one of the guides from our team
