Khor Virap Noravank Tatev Tour: Cable Car Included

Three centuries of Armenian monasteries in one day, ending on the world's longest cable car.

A private full-day tour from Yerevan visits Khor Virap, Noravank and Tatev monasteries, with a ride on the Wings of Tatev: the world's longest reversible aerial tramway. The tour includes hotel pickup, an air-conditioned vehicle, a professional English or Russian-speaking guide (if selected), bottled water and insurance. The cable-car ticket is paid separately at the site.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Khor Virap Monastery1h
2. Tatev Monastery2h

Visit Khor Virap, Noravank, and Tatev

• Explore Khor Virap Monastery
• Admire views of Mount Ararat
• Travel narrow road to Noravank
• Visit Noravank monastery complex
• Take Wings of Tatev ropeway
• Explore Tatev Monastery

The experience

Khor Virap opens the day as Armenia's most famous pilgrimage site, built over the dungeon where Saint Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned before converting King Trdat to Christianity in 301. The monastery sits on a naturally defended hilltop overlooking Mount Ararat: the Biblical mountain that defines the Armenian skyline. From there the route winds through a narrow pass lined with hundred caves carved into rock faces, leading to Noravank, a 13th-century monastery complex set into the canyon itself. The Church of the Holy Mother of God here is the only two-storied monastery in Armenia, notable for its sculptural detail and how the architecture seems to grow from the stone around it.

Tatev monastery, the final stop, sits on a naturally fortified position that made it an impregnable stronghold for centuries. It was the wealthiest medieval monastery in Armenia and served as both a religious and political center for the Syunik kingdom. The 5.7-kilometer Wings of Tatev cable car (officially the world's longest reversible aerial tramway) carries 30 passengers at a time across a deep gorge of the River Vorotan, over forested hills, and between three support towers. The ride takes about 11 minutes and connects the village of Halidzor to the monastery complex. Two cabins operate simultaneously in opposite directions, each supported by three of the six cables engineered specifically for this project.

The tour runs 13 to 14 hours from pickup at your Yerevan hotel through drop-off. An air-conditioned vehicle and professional driver handle the route. Bottled water is provided. A guide in English or Russian is available as an add-on option. Extra stops along the way can be arranged on request. The cable-car ticket is purchased separately at Tatev (approximately 9,000 AMD per person).

What’s included

• The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off within Yerevan.
• air-conditioned transport with a professional driver.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• vehicle and passenger insurance.
• and a professional English or Russian-speaking guide (available as an option depending on group size). Extra stops along the route can be arranged on request.

Options for this experience

4 options

Unguided option for 1 to 3 peopleUp to 3 per booking · Guide in English or Russian · 08:00, 08:30, 09:00 and 09:30Bottled water and vehicle insurance are part of the price; pickup is included

Unguided option for 4 to 7 peopleUp to 7 per booking · Guide in English or Russian · 08:00, 08:30, 09:00 and 09:30Bottled water and vehicle insurance are part of the price; pickup is included

Guided option for 1 to 2 peopleUp to 2 per booking · Guide in English or Russian · 08:00, 08:30, 09:00 and 09:30Bottled water and vehicle insurance are part of the price; pickup is included

Guided option for 3 to 6 peopleUp to 6 per booking · Guide in English or Russian · 08:00, 08:30, 09:00 and 09:30Bottled water and vehicle insurance are part of the price; pickup is included

You pick the guide language when booking.

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

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday to SundayDepartures at 08:00, 08:30, 09:00 and 09:30Last departure this season: 15 Nov

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.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Hyur Service

Is this one for you?Book without a guide if you prefer to move at your own pace and explore each monastery independently. Add the guide option if you want the history and significance of each site explained as you move through them. The 13- to 14-hour day is full but manageable for all fitness levels, and the cable car is a passive experience: no physical exertion required once you board.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide 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.

What is Khor Virap monastery and why does it matter to Armenia?

Khor Virap is Armenia's most famous pilgrimage site because it marks where Saint Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned in a dungeon before he converted King Trdat to Christianity in 301: the moment Christianity became Armenia's state religion. A church was built over that dungeon in the 17th century, and the monastery overlooks Mount Ararat, the Biblical mountain central to Armenian identity.

Is the Tatev cable car included in the tour price?

The Wings of Tatev cable-car ticket is not included and is paid separately at the site, approximately 9,000 AMD per person. The tour includes transport to Tatev and access to the monastery complex. The cable car is an additional cost once you arrive.

Can I book this tour with or without a guide?

Yes. The tour is available without a guide, or with a professional English or Russian-speaking guide as an add-on option. Choose at checkout based on group size and preference.

How long does the cable car ride take?

The Wings of Tatev cable car takes about 11 minutes to travel the 5.7 kilometers from Halidzor village to Tatev Monastery, crossing a deep gorge and forested hills supported by three towers along the way.

What makes Noravank monastery unique?

Noravank's Church of the Holy Mother of God is the only two-storied monastery in Armenia, built in the 13th century with exceptional sculptural and architectural detail. The entire complex sits in a narrow canyon surrounded by hundred-meter rock faces, creating a harmony between the stone architecture and the natural canyon walls.

What is included in the tour price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off within Yerevan, air-conditioned vehicle, professional driver, bottled water, vehicle and passenger insurance are included. A professional guide in English or Russian is available as an option depending on group size.