Armenia tour: Tatev monastery, Hin Areni winery & cave city

Winery tasting, a ropeway crossing, a fortress monastery, and a swinging bridge above a gorge

This private tour of Armenia covers four major sites in the southeastern region over 13 to 14 hours, starting with wine tasting at Hin Areni winery in the old village of Areni, then a flight on the Wings of Tatev ropeway, a visit to Tatev monastery complex, and a walk across the swinging bridge at Khndzoresk cave city. Pickup and drop-off within Yerevan are included. A professional guide in English or Russian is available as an add-on. The tour operates in all weather and can include extra stops on request.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit winery, monastery, ropeway, caves

• Tour Hin Areni winery
• Wine tasting at Hin Areni
• Ride Wings of Tatev ropeway
• Visit Tatev monastery complex
• Explore Khndzoresk cave city
• Walk swinging bridge in Khndzoresk

The experience

The day begins in Areni village, where a 6000-year-old winery was discovered. At Hin Areni wine factory, you'll taste wines made from indigenous Armenian grape varieties and tour the facility, which blends traditional winemaking methods with modern equipment and can process over 250 tonnes of grapes annually. Wine tasting is separate from the tour cost.

From there, you travel to the Wings of Tatev, a 5.7-kilometer reversible ropeway: the longest non-stop aerial tramway in the world. The cable car passes over a deep gorge of the River Vorotan and through hills covered with forest, delivering you directly to Tatev monastery. The monastery complex sits on naturally defended terrain and was once the wealthiest medieval monastery in Armenia, serving as both a religious center and strategic fortress for the Syunik kingdom. Secret passages once connected the monastery to the canyon below. The ropeway ticket is paid separately.

The final stop is Khndzoresk, located 8 kilometers from Goris, a village built into cave dwellings across two mountainous slopes. A 160-meter swinging bridge, 1.5 meters wide and 63 meters above the gorge, connects the two sides of the old settlement and can support 700 people at once. The bridge offers views across the valley and passes near the burial site of Armenian commander Mkhitar Sparapet. The village is known for its natural "stone carpets" and served as a stronghold during the national liberation movement of Syunik in the 1720s.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle with professional driver and insurance.
• bottled water.
• free pickup and drop-off within Yerevan.
• professional English or Russian speaking guide (if selected at checkout).
• extra stops on the route upon request.

Options for this experience

4 options

Without a guide, for 1 to 3 travelersUp to 3 per booking · Guide in English or Russian · 08:00 and 08:30Without a guide, for 1 to 3 travelers, pickup is included

Without a guide, for 4 to 7 travelersUp to 7 per booking · Guide in English or Russian · 08:00 and 08:30Without a guide, for 4 to 7 travelers, pickup is included

With a guide, for 1 to 2 travelersUp to 2 per booking · Guide in English or Russian · 08:00 and 08:30With a guide, for 1 to 2 travelers, pickup is included

With a guide, for 3 to 6 travelersUp to 6 per booking · Guide in English or Russian · 08:00 and 08:30With a guide, for 3 to 6 travelers, pickup is included

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesThursday to SaturdayDepartures at 08:00 and 08:30Last departure this season: 31 Oct

Book up to4h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Russian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 17

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Hyur Service

Is this one for you?Choose the guided version if you want to understand the monastery's history and winemaking heritage. Go unguided if your group prefers to explore Areni's ancient winery and Tatev monastery at your own pace.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

72 verified traveler reviews

5 ★72

4 ★0

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Russian.

What's included in the tour price for a private group?

The tour includes air-conditioned vehicle transport, a professional driver, vehicle and passenger insurance, bottled water, and free pickup and drop-off within Yerevan. A professional guide in English or Russian is available only if you choose the "with a guide" option at checkout. Wine tasting at Hin Areni and the Tatev cable-car ticket are paid separately.

How long is the Wings of Tatev ropeway ride?

The ropeway spans 5.7 kilometers and passes over the River Vorotan gorge and forested hills. It is the longest non-stop aerial tramway in the world and takes you directly to Tatev monastery.

Can I walk the swinging bridge at Khndzoresk if I'm not comfortable with heights?

The swinging bridge at Khndzoresk is 160 meters long, 1.5 meters wide, and 63 meters above the gorge. The tour description notes it is for "the bravest" seeking adrenaline, so it is optional. You can visit the cave city and explore the old settlement without crossing it.

What's the physical fitness level required for this tour?

Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness. The tour involves walking at multiple sites, including the monastery complex and the cave village, and crossing the optional swinging bridge at Khndzoresk.

Does the tour operate in bad weather?

Yes, the tour operates in all weather conditions. You should dress appropriately for the season and weather forecast. The duration of 13 to 14 hours is approximate and may vary depending on conditions and traffic.

How many people can book this tour together?

The tour is private and available for groups of 1 to 7 travelers. You choose your group size at checkout: 1–2 travelers, 3–6 travelers, or 4–7 travelers. A guide is available as an option for groups of 1–2 or 3–6 travelers.