Yerevan to Tatev Monastery, Noravank & Shaki Waterfall Day Trip

Free cancellation

1/17

Duration12h

GroupUp to 17

Mobile ticketAccepted

Red cliffs, a ropeway across a gorge, and a waterfall in one day from Yerevan.

A 12-hour day trip from Yerevan visits three of southern Armenia's most significant sites: Noravank Monastery set against towering red canyon walls, Tatev Monastery reached by the Wings of Tatev Ropeway gliding above Vorotan Gorge, and Shaki Waterfall cascading into a natural basin. An English-speaking guide and air-conditioned vehicle handle the route and timing; you choose whether to add the ropeway ticket at checkout.

12h

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore southern Armenia's highlights

Drive from Yerevan to Noravank Monastery
Visit Noravank Monastery and canyon views
Enjoy lunch break
Ride Wings of Tatev Ropeway over gorge
Visit Tatev Monastery and explore site
Visit Shaki Waterfall and take photos
Stop for dinner before returning

The Experience

The day starts with a drive south from Yerevan toward Noravank Monastery, where the building itself sits against sheer red cliffs in a narrow canyon. The monastery is an architectural landmark—centuries old, built into the landscape rather than simply placed on it. After time to walk the grounds and photograph the stone work against the cliff face, you break for lunch before the longer leg of the journey continues toward Tatev.

The Wings of Tatev Ropeway is the access point to Tatev Monastery. The cable car spans Vorotan Gorge, and the ride itself—roughly 5.7 kilometers—is the moment most travelers remember: you're suspended above deep canyons with mountains and valleys visible in all directions. Tatev Monastery sits on a plateau edge and is one of Armenia's most historically significant religious sites. The architecture and the vantage point from the plateau are the draw; the ropeway ticket is optional and priced separately, so you can add it or skip it when you book.

The final stop is Shaki Waterfall, where water drops from volcanic rock into a clear pool in a quieter, more intimate setting than the morning's canyon views. The waterfall is smaller and more intimate than Noravank or Tatev—a place to stand in the spray and breathe mountain air. Before the return to Yerevan, the group stops for dinner. The drive back takes roughly six hours of the 12-hour total, so the day is built around travel time; most of the daylight goes to the three sites themselves.

What’s included

English-speaking guide.
air-conditioned vehicle for the full 12-hour day.
transport to and from Yerevan.
access to Noravank Monastery, Tatev Monastery, and Shaki Waterfall.
lunch and dinner stops.

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Tranquil Holidays

Is this one for you?The 12-hour commitment means you leave early and return late, so plan this as your main activity for the day—it does not fit alongside a morning flight or an evening engagement. If you want to add the ropeway ticket, the choice is yours at checkout; the tour reaches Tatev Monastery either way, though the cable car crossing is the more dramatic approach.