Duration is approximate. The order and timing of stops may change according to traffic, weather and site opening arrangements.
Included
Transport along the selected route in an agreed vehicle
Drinking water in every vehicle
Organisation of the visits and stops listed in the programme
The scheduled wine tasting in Areni for adult participants
Not included
Admission to Areni-1 Birds’ Cave
Additional winery production tours or a separate Momik visit, if added
Wine, local produce and souvenir purchases
Meals and other drinks along the route; drinking water in the vehicle is included
A separate guide or interpreter unless specifically confirmed in the package
Personal purchases and souvenirs
An additional service is included only when selected and confirmed in your final package. The vehicle, departure and return points, and access to sites are agreed before booking.
Tour itinerary
01
Khor Virap and Mount Ararat
Khor Virap is associated with Saint Gregory the Illuminator’s imprisonment and Armenia’s adoption of Christianity. Clear days reveal Ararat and the surrounding plain from the courtyard. Entering the underground chamber is optional and involves a narrow passage and ladder. Visit Khor Virap Monastery and its viewpoints. On clear days, the views extend towards Mount Ararat.
Khor Virap is associated with the Christian tradition of Gregory the Illuminator’s imprisonment. Descending into the underground chamber by its narrow ladder is optional. A clear view of Mount Ararat depends on cloud cover and atmospheric visibility.
02
Birds Cave · Areni-1
Areni-1, also called Birds’ Cave, is an important archaeological site for understanding ancient winemaking and daily life. Discoveries include wine-production installations and an ancient leather shoe. Visits stay within permitted areas to protect the archaeological remains. Visit the Areni-1 site, also known as Birds Cave. Interior access and guiding arrangements depend on opening hours and admission tickets.
The cave’s discoveries include evidence of ancient winemaking and the famous leather shoe. Visiting provides context for the excavation site; not every original artefact is displayed in the cave itself. Tickets and interior access are checked in advance.
03
Areni Wine Region
Areni is a wine-growing village in Vayots Dzor with vineyards and local winemaking traditions. An Armenian grape variety also bears its name. The Khor Virap–Birds’ Cave–Areni–Noravank package includes a wine tasting for adult participants. Its venue and format are confirmed when booking. In other tours, tastings and winery visits are arranged separately.
Areni connects wine with the landscape in which its grapes are grown. During a tasting, compare the colours, aromas and flavours of different wines. Momik is a separate choice and does not replace a package’s confirmed tasting without agreement.
04
Noravank
Noravank’s red-cliff setting is linked with the Orbelian princely family and medieval religious and scholarly life. The exterior staircase of the Holy Mother of God church and carved portals are highlights. Climbing the steep, narrow stairs is optional. Travel to Noravank Monastery, surrounded by red cliffs. Explore its grounds and pause at viewpoints in the gorge.
The reddish cliffs frame the carved façades and the church’s narrow exterior steps. Walk around the courtyard to examine the reliefs and the outline of the complex from several angles. Visiting the upper level is optional; much can be appreciated from the grounds.
