Group Tour: Haghpat, Zarni-Parni Caves, Akhtala, Aramyants Castle, Sanahin
Description
During this long-lasting and engaging group tour first visit is foreseen at the majestic 10th century monastery Haghpat. On your next stop visit Zarni-Parni cave castle complex in a forest canyon with a magnificent view of the Kayan fortress and nice restaurant. After lunch visit magnificent Akhtala monastery, comprised of three churches, located in the territory of the eponymous fortress. Visit Aramyants Castle, one of the jewels of Swiss architecture in Armenia. And last you are going to see the Sanahin monastery. Both Haghpat and Sanahin are included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List and are considered as "gems" of Lori provice. After this trip true inspiration is never going to leave you!
Tour Options
Itinerary
starting and returning point
Situated not far from Sanahin, Haghpat monastery has its significant place in the historical and cultural life of Armenia. It was built during the reign of king Ashot Bagratuni. Numerous valuable manuscripts and miniature paintings have been produced in the scriptorium of Haghpat for many centuries. In the 18th century the famous Armenian bard Sayat-Nova u sed to live and create in this monastery. The belfry with its unique architectural composition is of stunning interest. The site is included in UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List.
Zarni-Parni is a cave castle complex in Lori region. It is located in a forest canyon with a magnificent view of the Kayan fortress, which is close to the village of Haghpat, famous for its monastery. The complex consists of the "Zarni er" and "Parni er" castles, as well as the "Tsak er" cave. Some historical records note, that renowned scholar and philosopher Hovhannes Imastaser used to live and work in this cave. Currently the area is turned into a historical museum, where one can find number of rare ancient agricultural tools and household items. Near the cave there is a tavern and winery to enjoy local drinks and dishes of Armenian cuisine.
The Akhtala fortress and monastery are situated in Lori district. It is constructed on a plateau resembling a peninsula, surrounded with deep gorges from three sides. In the 10th century the masons could exactly derive benefit from the nature in order to make the fortress more fortified. The fortress is strengthened with huge ramparts and there are two pyramid-shaped watchtowers, rising above from both sides of the main entrance. The monastery of Akhtala, comprised of three churches, is in the territory of the fortress.
The Aramyants castle, one of the jewels of Swiss architecture, is situated in the town of Akhtala in Lori region. It is distinguished for its magnificent appearance and interesting history of 120 years. The castle belonged to Mikael Aramyants, a prominent Armenian businessman, living in Tbilisi. It was built for his daughter with pneumonia, since Akhtala has the best climate in the entire Caucasus region. Many famous people used to spend their holidays in the town, among them opera singer Fiodor Shalyapin, Armenian poet Hovhannes Tumanyan, spiritual and cultural figure Khrimyan Hayrik and others. The castle of Mikael Aramyants has its own place in the pages of Armenian history, as the declaration of the First Republic of Armenia was adopted here.
The monastery of Sanahin is on the right bank of Debed river. This architectural complex consists of several churches, seminary, book depository. The building of the seminary, which connects St. Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God) and Allsaviour churches, was from the outset built to make the edifices more earthquake-resistant. The site is included in UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- May be operated by a multi-lingual guide
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- The duration is approximate
- Seats will not be known in advance
Reviews(334)
A comprehensive review of UNESCO and other sites. Karen's signing to demonstrate the acoustics of one of the chambers was particularly unique. The driver also did a great job on such a long tour with difficult roads.
A well worth trip. Our guide Karen was very knowlegeable. He delivered valuable informaion and insights about all venues we visited. In spite of the rough terrain and long distance, driver Ashot took good care of our group. Highly recommended.
This was our third tour with Edward, and once again he made it an excellent experience. The itinerary was fantastic, with beautiful stops at Haghpat, the Zarni-Parni Caves, Akhtala, Aramyants Castle, and Sanahin. Every location had something unique to offer. Edward was as knowledgeable, friendly, and engaging as ever, making the day both fun and informative. A special thank you to Samuel, our driver, who provided a safe and comfortable journey throughout the trip. We highly recommend this tour—and if you have the chance to tour with Edward, you won’t be disappointed!
We truly appreciate your heartfelt feedback! You’re always welcome to explore Armenia with us again!
Ashot was a very safe and efficient driver! Samvel did a great job, explained everything very detailed and it was another grandiose day in beautiful Armenia! Thank you very much! For me - but thats maybe only my opinion - there could be one less stop for eating and one more stop for making pictures when for example mount aragats shows a very nice view ;-)
We are deeply thankful for your kind feedback! We’re ready to organize more wonderful experiences for you!
It was an exellant expwroence! Perfect guide and a very nice and friendly driver! I would go for a tour again.
We’re so happy to hear you enjoyed your time with us! Hope to welcome you back to Armenia soon!
Magnificent trip, with a knowledgeable and friendly tour guide Nina and experienced driver Maverick. Spectacular scenery starting from the plains to the hills to the lush forests. Stone built monasteries where even as an atheist your spirit is lifted by their beauty, history and architecture, unlike anything else I’ve ever seen. Pleasant lunch stop perched up with a view of mountains and valleys covered with forests. A/c in the bus was very welcome, as it was hot and humid outside. No one pushed us to purchase anything. Overall a very pleasant experience.
We are so pleased with your warm feedback! Hope to have another chance to host you in future!
it was an amazing and magical experience the guide, samuel, was very professional and explained everything clearly and with precision we were amazed by the beauty of the monasteries and the story behind them and also the story behind aramyants castle zarni parni was spectacular and the lunch spot was perfect , we enjoyed armenian food with a breathtaking view would absolutely recommend this tour ! dont miss it!
We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed your experience! We’ll be more than happy to host you again anytime!
We had an amazing time, and so much to see. Sam was an insightful and helpful guide, we got a lot to know and he incorporated every bodies need. Our driver was Ashot. Only improvement could be if the microphone system would be renewed, sometimes it was hard to hear what our guide is saying, which was a bit frustrating.
Thank you so much for the excellent feedback! We hope to see you on another of our tours soon!
I absolutely loved this trip and would 100-% recommend it to anyone visiting Armenia! The places we visited were stunning and made for unforgettable experience. A big thank you for our guide, Samuel, who was kind and passionate about what he doe. He explained the history and the significance of every place so clearly. He was also very friendly and made the entire tour enjoyable. I also want to thank our bus driver Ashot, who drove very safely and professionally during the entire trip. His carful driving made us feel very comfortable allowing us to relax and fully enjoy the journey. Overall, everything was very well organized, and i couldn’t have asked for a better experience. I highly recommend this tour to anyone looking for a stress-free day exploring Armenia!
Your kind words mean a lot to us! We look forward to welcoming you again in Armenia!
The trip was exciting with many interesting places and a lot of insights about the Armenian culture. Nina was a great guide,full of positive energy and indeed with a lot of knowledge and passion. We enjoyed the trip and recommended it.
We truly appreciate your heartfelt feedback! You’re always welcome to explore Armenia with us again!
