Route: Khor-Virap-Cave of Birds-Areni winery- Noravank
Rate includes: high qualified guide service, transport services, entrance tickets Cave of Birds, Wine tasting at the Areni Winery
Duration: 7-8 hours
Khor Virap is one of the symbols of Armenia, offering a magnificent view of the biblical Mount Ararat. This is where the baptism of Armenia, the first state to become Christian before Rome, began. The monastery was built in the period from VI to XVII centuries, over the dungeon where the Baptist of Armenia – Saint Gregory the Illuminator-languished for spreading Christianity, until king Trdat decided to accept this religion as the state one.
The cave of Birds is a complex of caves in the South of Armenia. The total area of the cave is more than 400 m2. The cave has given the world a wide range of finds: the remains of residential buildings, grape seeds, vines, and devices for wine production, which is another record – the oldest winery in the world was located here. A special place among them is occupied by a leather “boot”, which has become the hallmark of this archaeological monument. The oldest artifacts date back to VI-V t
Areni is a wine region of Armenia, where an annual wine festival is held. Areni winery was opened in 1994. In the tasting room, you can try red and white wines, fruit and berry. The most popular are pomegranate and apricot wines, but you can also try wine from quince, cherry, BlackBerry, raspberry, peach and others.
Noravank monastery complex-was built in the XIII century on the ledge of a narrow winding gorge of the Amagu river. The gorge is famous for its steep red rocks rising behind the monastery. During the reign of the Orbelyan princes, the monastery became a major religious center, and in the XIII-XIV centuries – the residence of the bishops of Syunik. The Noravank complex, thanks to the magnificent creations of medieval architects and its location against the backdrop of a beautiful landscape, leaves an indelible impression.