Garni Temple & Geghard Monastery tour: Lavash baking included

Three centuries of Armenian stone, one morning's route

A group tour of Armenia visiting Garni Temple, the Garni canyon's basalt formations, and Geghard Monastery, with a professional guide in English or Russian and time to participate in traditional lavash baking. The tour runs 5 to 6 hours and includes an air-conditioned vehicle, entry tickets, water and pastries, and WiFi. When winter closes the canyon road, a visit to Symphony of Stones or a sujukh-making class replaces that stop.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Garni Temple1h 30m · entry included
2. Geghard Monastery1h

Explore Garni, Geghard, and Lavash baking

• Start at meeting point
• Visit Garni Temple
• Participate in Lavash baking
• Explore Garni canyon basalt columns
• Tour Geghard Monastery

The experience

Garni Temple sits on a triangular cape overlooking a valley, the only surviving pagan shrine in Armenia. Built in the first century AD by King Trdat the First and dedicated to the sun god, it blends Greco-Roman columns with Armenian construction: a style that vanished after Armenia adopted Christianity in 301. The ruins of the royal palace and a bathroom decorated with mosaic work still stand nearby. Before leaving Garni, you'll watch lavash (Armenian flatbread) being baked in a traditional stone oven, and you can try your hand at making it yourself.

The route passes through Garni canyon, where columnar basalts rise in geometric columns: the result of ancient lava flows broken into polyhedral shapes so regular they're called the Basaltic Organ. In winter, when the canyon road closes, the tour visits Symphony of Stones instead, or you join a sujukh-making master class and tasting. An air-conditioned vehicle carries the group, and the driver provides WiFi and bottled water throughout the day.

Geghard Monastery closes the tour. Carved partly into a massive rock face, the complex dates to the 13th century and was originally called Ayrivank (cave monastery) before being renamed Geghard after the lance (the Roman soldier's spear that pierced Christ), which the monastery housed for centuries. The churches are masterpieces of Armenian stone carving, surrounded by khachkars (cross-stones) with intricate sculptural detail. The site is on UNESCO's World Cultural Heritage List, and the rock-hewn chambers are known for their acoustic properties, making them ideal for singing spiritual songs.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle with WiFi and passenger insurance.
• professional guide speaking English and Russian consecutively.
• entry tickets to Garni Temple and Geghard Monastery.
• participation in lavash baking at Garni.
• bottled water and pastries throughout the day.
• visit to the Basaltic Organ viewing point in Garni canyon (or Symphony of Stones or sujukh-making class if the canyon road is closed).

Options for this experience

2 options

Group tour from Yerevan covering the Garni Temple, Geghard, and lavash bakingGuide in English or Russian · 10:00

Holiday optionGuide in English or Russian · Available from 26 Dec · 10:30Lasts 7 hours. A holiday sweet-making master class is included, and guests take part in its preparation. Lunch stop costs 10-13 USD.

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 timesMonday, Thursday and SaturdayDepartures at 10:00 and 10:30

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (8 to 80 years) · Child (3 to 7 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 49

Live guideEnglish and Russian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Hyur Service

Is this one for you?Book this group tour if you want a guided route through Garni and Geghard with transport and entry handled for you. Choose the winter option if the canyon road is closed and you'd prefer a craft class over the stone monument site.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Russian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 7 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What is Garni Temple and why does it matter in Armenian history?

Garni Temple is a first-century pagan shrine built by King Trdat the First and dedicated to the sun god: the only surviving example of pre-Christian Armenian architecture. After Armenia adopted Christianity in 301, the temple lost religious significance, though the royal palace and mosaic-decorated bathhouse nearby remain as evidence of its former importance as a summer residence for kings.

Can I actually bake lavash myself, or do I just watch?

You have the chance to participate in the lavash baking procedure at Garni, not just observe it. The baking happens in a traditional stone oven using methods that have been part of Armenian culture for centuries.

What are the columnar basalts in Garni canyon?

The Basaltic Organ is a geological formation of columnar basalts in Garni canyon: polyhedral columns created by ancient lava flows that broke into regular, geometric shapes. The tour includes a viewing point to see this natural monument.

What makes Geghard Monastery different from other churches?

Geghard Monastery is partly carved directly into a rock face, making it a masterpiece of 13th-century Armenian architecture. The rock-hewn churches and chambers have exceptional acoustic properties for singing, and the complex is decorated with intricate khachkars (cross-stones) and sculptural details throughout.

What happens if the canyon road is closed in winter?

When winter weather closes the road to Garni canyon, the tour replaces that stop with either a visit to Symphony of Stones or a sujukh-making master class with tasting, so the itinerary adapts to conditions while keeping the day's structure intact.

Is lunch included in this tour?

Lunch is not included. The tour provides bottled water and pastries. You'll need to arrange a meal stop separately or bring your own food.