Armenian Spiritual Tour Discovering Sacred Sites and Cultural
Description
A tour to enlighten the spirit. Visit the significant religious destinations of Armenia including St. Echmiadzin, the head church of Armenia and also the ‘sister’ church St Hripsime. See the breathtaking views of Mt. Ararat from Khor Virap monastery where the spark of Christianity started in Armenia. Descend and experience the underground dungeon pit. Visit a local artisan in Khor Virap village and enjoy a delicious homemade lunch with his hospitable family. Discover the unique two Storey structure of Noravank Church nestled in the stunning brick-red cliffs of a gorge. Sample the local homemade wine at a traditional winery in the heart of the Areni wine region before heading back to Yerevan.
Tour Options
Itinerary
This 7th century Armenia Cathedral listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the oldest surviving churches in the country. The cathedral was built on the spot where St Hripsime was martyred. Learn the tragic history of St Hripsime one of the first Christian Saints recognized by all churches.
Etchmiadzin Cathedral built in 4-5th centuries is the mother church of the Armenian Apostolic Church. It is considered the first cathedral built in ancient Armenia, and often regarded the oldest cathedral in the world. Also a UNESCO world heritage site in its ground there is the oldest university in Armenia as well as the seat of the Catholicos, the head of the Armenian Apostolic church.
See the breathtaking views of Mt. Ararat from Khor Virap monastery where the spark of Christianity started in Armenia. Descend and experience the dungeon pit of Saint Gregory the Illuminator who spent 13 years in captivity. Learn the fascinating history of Saint Gregory and the conversion of Armenia.
Visit a local artisan in Khor Virap village and enjoy a delicious homemade lunch with his hospitable family.
On your way to the monastery wonder at the magnificent Gnishik Canyon, with its redstone cliffs and peaks it got its nickname as the "Grand Canyon of Armenia". Built in 13-14th centuries Noravank Monastery is one of the most special monastic complexes in the whole country. With its two story design and open dome it is one of a kind. Learn the romantic story of Momik the architect of Noravank and his stonework heritage.
People of Areni have been making wine since the 4th millennia BC from the endemic Areni grape. Even 6000 years later people still make that same wine from the same grape using the same methods as their forefathers before. Sample the local homemade wine at a traditional wine cellar before heading back to Yerevan.
Drive through beautiful province famous for producing majority of agricultural products in Armenia.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Reviews(4)
I had the pleasure of joining the tours arranged by Envoy Tour in Armenia: Enlightened Armenia (which is this one that I am reviewing), Essential Armenia, and Enlinking Armenia. The tours were well organized, I saw a lot but the tours never feel rushed. Also, for lunch stops I dined at local families’ houses, and the whole experience felt much more authentic. If you want to visit Armenia, I highly recommend Envoy Tour to be your tour operator too.
Dear David Ye, Thank you so much for joining not one, but three of our tours — Enlightened Armenia, Essential Armenia, and Enlinking Armenia! We’re truly grateful for your trust and delighted to know you enjoyed each experience. It’s wonderful to hear that the tours felt well-paced and authentic — sharing local culture through family lunches is one of the experiences we value most. Your kind recommendation means a lot to our whole team. We hope to welcome you again soon to discover even more of Armenia and the region with us!
This tour took us out of a Yerevan to different corners of the country that would have been difficult to reach otherwise on our own. Marine did a fantastic job as our tour guide providing interesting information and keeping thé tour running on time. The stunning view of Mt Ararat and a climb into the dungeon where the story goes is where St Gregory was kept were memorable highlights of the trip. Other worthwhile stops include St Hripsine, Norovankh, a winery in Areni, and Echmiadzin. What sets this tour apart from the others is that lunch is at a local home. Envoy has worked with this family to provide a local experience for years. It is good to know an agency is supporting community development. In time, this family received support from UNDP to update its kitchen and put in indoor toilet facilities.
Dear Worlwanderer88, Thank you so much for your wonderful and detailed review! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed exploring Armenia’s hidden corners and iconic landmarks with Marine — she’ll be thrilled to know her guiding made your experience even more meaningful. We’re especially grateful that you noticed and appreciated our collaboration with local families. Supporting community development through tourism is at the heart of what we do, and we’re proud to see this partnership grow over the years. It’s fantastic that the views of Mount Ararat, Noravank, and Echmiadzin left such a strong impression. We hope to welcome you again soon for more authentic discoveries across Armenia!
This tour was amazing, the architecture of various churches was incredible. Noravank Monastery was a real gem, and the view on Ararat from Khor Virap is something special. Highly recommend pairing this with the other tour offered by Envoy to Garni/Sevan etc.. to really cover many great sites outside of Yerevan.
Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed the tour and were inspired by Armenia’s beautiful architecture — Noravank and Khor Virap truly are unforgettable highlights. We also appreciate your great suggestion to combine this tour with our Garni–Sevan route — it’s indeed a perfect way to experience even more of Armenia’s stunning landscapes and heritage. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we hope to welcome you again soon for more discoveries!
I really enjoyed the day! The places and the experience was great. Saten, the guide, was very friendly and passionate for her job and country. She made the difference. Super!
Dear Matteo Thank you for your write up of our Enlightened Armenia tour. We are so glad you enjoyed the tour with us. We agree with you - Saten is certainly super :) Thank you also for your 5 star rating - we really appreciate it and are encouraged by your feedback. Wishing you wonderful travel experiences
