Khor Virap & Noravank Monasteries Private Tour with Wine Tasting
Stand at Armenia's closest point to Mount Ararat, then walk through two thousand years of stone.
This private guided tour from Yerevan visits Khor Virap Monastery, Noravank Monastery, and Areni village over eight to nine hours, with hotel pickup and an air-conditioned vehicle included. The tour stops at the Bird's Cave, where archaeologists found a 5,500-year-old leather shoe and the world's oldest winery, and includes an optional wine tasting at an Areni winery. A professional guide speaks English or Russian. You choose whether to book with a guide or self-drive.
Options for this experience
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Step-by-step itinerary
Visit Khor Virap, Noravank, and Areni
- Drive to Khor Virap Monastery
- Explore Khor Virap and view Mt. Ararat
- Visit Noravank Monastery and cliffs
- Tour Bird’s Cave archaeological site
- Taste and purchase Areni wine
What’s included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Yerevan.
- air-conditioned vehicle with WiFi on board.
- bottled water throughout the day.
- professional guide in English or Russian (if you choose the guided option).
- access to Khor Virap Monastery, the Bird's Cave, and Noravank Monastery.
Times
- Every day 08:00 08:30 09:00 09:30 10:00 10:30 11:00
Before you book
Operated by Yerani Travel LLC
Prices and times updated today
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The experience
You start with a drive an hour outside Yerevan to Khor Virap Monastery, built on the site of an ancient royal prison where Saint Gregory the Illuminator spent thirteen years. The monastery sits at Armenia's closest point to Mount Ararat, the snow-capped peak that defines the country's skyline. From the grounds you can see why this spot matters: Ararat rises across the border in Turkey, and on clear days the view pulls your eye the moment you step out of the vehicle.
The route then turns toward the wine region and the Bird's Cave, where a leather shoe and a winery dating back 5,500 and 6,100 years were uncovered. The cave holds evidence of burial rituals and early agricultural practices, making it one of the oldest sites of human settlement in the region. From there you move to Noravank Monastery, a medieval Armenian structure surrounded by towering cliffs of red and orange volcanic rock. The main church has a rare two-story design: a narrow staircase connects the levels, symbolizing a link between earth and the divine. Inside is the only depiction of God the Father in Armenian religious art.
The day ends in Areni village, where you can taste and buy wine from a local winery. The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off, bottled water, and an air-conditioned vehicle throughout. If you book with a guide, they speak English or Russian and navigate the history and the stops. If you prefer to drive yourself, the same itinerary is available without one. Wine tasting and entrance tickets are optional add-ons you arrange at checkout.
Is this one for you?Book with a guide if you want the history and the connections between sites explained as you move through them. Choose the self-guided option if you prefer to set your own pace and spend longer at whichever monastery or village appeals to you most. The eight to nine hour commitment works best if you have a full day free from your Yerevan schedule, since the drive and the stops don't compress.
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Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English and Russian.
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
How far is Khor Virap Monastery from Yerevan?
Khor Virap Monastery is about an hour's drive from central Yerevan. It sits at the closest point in Armenia to Mount Ararat, making it one of the most visited spots in the country.
What is the Bird's Cave and what was found there?
The Bird's Cave, also called Areni 1 cave, is an archaeological site where excavations in 2008 uncovered a leather shoe nearly 5,500 years old and a winery dating back 6,100 years: the oldest known winery in the world. The cave also contains evidence of elaborate burial rituals and early agricultural practices.
What makes Noravank Monastery different from other Armenian churches?
Noravank is a medieval Armenian architectural gem with a distinctive two-story main church, rare in Armenian design. A narrow staircase connects the levels, symbolizing the connection between the earthly and the divine. The monastery is surrounded by high cliffs and deep valleys of red and orange volcanic rock, and it holds the only depiction of God the Father in Armenian religious art.
Can I book this tour without a guide?
Yes. The tour is available with a professional guide in English or Russian, or as a self-guided option where you drive the same route yourself. You choose which option suits you at checkout.
What is included in the tour price?
Hotel pickup and drop-off, an air-conditioned vehicle, bottled water, and WiFi on board are included. Wine tasting at the Areni winery and entrance tickets to the monasteries and cave are optional and arranged separately.
How long does the tour take?
The tour runs eight to nine hours from pickup to drop-off, covering the drive to Khor Virap, stops at the Bird's Cave and Noravank Monastery, and time in Areni village.
Khor Virap & Noravank Monasteries Private Tour with Wine Tasting
8h–9h · EN +1 · at your hotel
from US$ 140 per group
Next, you choose your date and number of travelers and see the final price.