Ararat, Angels Canyon and the Armenian Wine Road

A private tour through the Ararat and Vayots Dzor regions that brings together history, nature, an easy walk, canyons, medieval architecture and wine. You are picked up directly from your address in Yerevan and dropped off at the address of your choice. The price is calculated individually. The tour can be booked in two formats: with a professional driver, or with a professional driver plus a separate professional guide. Cars are available in the Standard, Comfort, Premium and Luxury categories, and professional drone filming can be added to the trip on request.

This route was created for those who want to see not only Armenia's famous sights but also places that far fewer tourists visit. In the morning, Khor Virap and the legendary panorama of Ararat. Then the unusual Angels Canyon with its red-orange rocks. After that we head to Vayots Dzor, where medieval Noravank lies hidden among huge cliffs. And we finish the day in Areni, one of Armenia's main wine regions, where the history of wine goes back thousands of years. In a single day, history, religion, geology, architecture and gastronomy all come together. At the agreed time, the Amaras Tour car arrives directly at your address in Yerevan, whether a hotel, an apartment or another place arranged in advance. There is no shared meeting point and no waiting for other participants: the tour is just for you and your companions. We set off south across the Ararat Valley, and our first stop is one of the most symbolic places in Armenia.

Before us stands Khor Virap Monastery. It sits almost at the foot of biblical Mount Ararat and is one of Armenia's best-known pilgrimage sites. The name Khor Virap means “deep pit”, and it is with this dungeon that one of the most important chapters of Armenian history begins. According to church tradition, the Armenian King Tiridates III ordered Gregory the Illuminator to be thrown into a deep pit for professing Christianity. Gregory spent about 13 years here, and tradition says that he miraculously stayed alive the whole time. Gregory was later released. His work is credited with the conversion of King Tiridates III and with Armenia's adoption of Christianity as the state religion at the beginning of the 4th century. Armenia's conversion is traditionally dated to 301, which is why Armenia is called the first country in the world to officially adopt Christianity as its state religion, and Khor Virap became one of the main symbols of that historic event.

On the grounds of the complex you can climb down into the underground pit that tradition links to Gregory the Illuminator's imprisonment. The dungeon is about 6 metres deep, and the way down is a narrow metal ladder. The descent is optional: guests who find it uncomfortable can explore the monastery complex without visiting the pit. The holiness of this place is far older than the buildings that survive today. In the 7th century a chapel built by Catholicos Nerses stood here, while most of the present-day monastery ensemble dates from later times. Khor Virap therefore unites early Christian tradition with the architecture of several historical periods.

But Khor Virap is famous for more than its history. It offers one of the most celebrated views of Mount Ararat. On a clear day, Greater and Lesser Ararat can be seen in almost all their grandeur, with the Ararat Valley stretching between the monastery and the mountain. This very panorama has become one of the most recognisable images of Armenia. On a private tour there is no rush, so we leave time to walk around the monastery, visit the dungeon, hear about Armenia's history, take panoramic photos and simply enjoy the view of Ararat. After Khor Virap we leave the classic tourist trail behind: a completely different Armenia lies ahead.

Not far from the town of Vedi and the village of Dashtakar lies one of the most unusual natural sites in the Ararat region: Angels Canyon. There is no ancient church or fortress here; the chief architect of this place is nature itself. Red and orange rock formations create a landscape that looks nothing like Armenia's familiar green or grey mountains. The rocks have rich hues and, depending on the sun, can look light brown, golden, rust, red or orange. Erosion gradually wore away the soft layers of rock, carving narrow passages, ridges, ledges and bizarre rock shapes, which is why some parts of the canyon look like a set from another planet. Photographers especially love the canyon. There is almost no architecture or urban setting, only rocks, dry landscape, sky and the play of light. On clear days the reddish walls stand out vividly against the blue sky, and the photos come out completely unlike the classic shots of Armenia.

The canyon can be visited in different ways. For the standard private tour we plan an easy walking option that covers the main scenic sections and photo spots. If guests want a proper hike, the programme can be extended: the full walking route around the canyon can take about 2–3 hours, in which case the overall length of the tour increases. The last stretch of road to Angels Canyon is less developed, and its condition can change with the season and the weather. That is why the format of the visit is chosen in advance, taking into account the car category, the state of the road, the weather, the guests' fitness and how long they would like to walk. If necessary, we cover part of the way on foot. For Amaras Tour, what matters is not just ticking a stop off the route but making the visit safe and comfortable. The canyon is at its most beautiful in spring and autumn. In summer it can get hot, as there is little open shade, so for a summer trip we recommend a hat, water, sunscreen and comfortable closed shoes.

After the walk we continue towards Vayots Dzor. Along the way the scenery changes again: the plain gradually gives way to mountains, and the road winds between rocky slopes and gorges. Soon we enter Vayots Dzor, one of the most beautiful regions of southern Armenia, and head for Noravank. To reach the monastery we turn off the main highway into a narrow gorge, the Gnishik Canyon. The towering cliffs grow redder and redder, the road runs right between them, and the drive to the monastery becomes a part of the excursion in its own right.

At the end of the canyon Noravank Monastery appears, as if hidden among enormous red cliffs. The name Noravank means “New Monastery”. The main architectural ensemble dates from the 13th–14th centuries, and in the Middle Ages Noravank was one of Armenia's major spiritual, educational and cultural centres. Noravank's history is closely tied to the powerful princely family of the Orbelians. In the 13th–14th centuries the Orbelians were the monastery's patrons, and under them the complex grew rapidly: new churches were built, khachkars were carved, manuscripts were copied and outstanding master craftsmen worked here. Noravank also served as the Orbelians' spiritual and family seat.

One of the central churches of the complex is the 13th-century Surb Karapet Church. Next to it stand a gavit, chapels, burial vaults and many khachkars, and each part of the complex tells its own chapter of Vayots Dzor's medieval history. Noravank's most recognisable building is the two-storey Surb Astvatsatsin Church, also known as Burtelashen, completed in the 14th century. Its most striking architectural feature is an unusual narrow staircase set right on the outer facade, which leads up to the church's upper level. The design is so unusual that it has become one of the symbols of Noravank.

The name of Momik is inseparable from Noravank. He was an architect, sculptor, miniature painter and master stone carver, and is considered one of the outstanding figures of medieval Armenian art. His works are remarkable for their precision and wealth of detail, and at Noravank you can see architecture, carvings and khachkars associated with him. Look closely at Noravank's facades and it becomes clear how high a level medieval Armenian masters reached. The stone is decorated with geometric ornaments, plant motifs, crosses, images of saints and relief compositions, and some elements are so delicate they seem carved not from stone but from wood or lace. Noravank cannot be separated from its surroundings: the reddish stone of the monastery is in harmony with the canyon cliffs. It is especially beautiful here in the afternoon, when the sunlight turns the surrounding mountains gold and red. After the tour of the monastery we leave time for photos and panoramic views.

After Noravank we move from medieval architecture to another ancient Armenian tradition and head to the village of Areni. Today Areni is one of the best-known wine places in the country, yet winemaking did not appear here a few decades or even a few centuries ago: its history spans millennia. The climate of Vayots Dzor is ideal for growing grapes, with plenty of sunny days, mountain air, a big difference between day and night temperatures and distinctive soils. One of the main local varieties is Areni Noir, used to make red and rosé wines; it has become one of the symbols of modern Armenian winemaking. Not far from the village is the famous Areni-1 Cave. Archaeologists discovered a winemaking complex here dating back about 6,100 years, including a vessel for pressing grapes, storage jars, grape remains, grape seeds and other evidence of wine production. It is one of the oldest known winemaking complexes in the world. Areni-1 is famous for more than wine: a leather shoe about 5,500 years old was found in the cave, preserved in remarkably good condition thanks to the dry microclimate, and it has become one of the best-known archaeological finds of modern Armenia. A visit to Areni-1 Cave is not part of the basic route, but it can be added to the programme on request.

In Areni we visit one of the region's wineries. The specific winery can be chosen according to guests' wishes and availability on the chosen date. The wine tour may include an introduction to the winery, a talk about local grape varieties and the history of Armenian winemaking, a look at how the wine is made, a visit to the cellar or production area, and a tasting; the exact programme depends on the winery chosen. The final part of the day is the tasting. After a full day on the road there is no need to hurry, so you can take your time sampling the wines of Vayots Dzor. Depending on the programme, the tasting flight may include red, white and rosé wines, dry wines, and reserve or special lines; the number and types of wines depend on the particular winery. The tasting is paid separately unless it has been included in the tour's individual quote in advance. After the tasting, guests can buy the wines they liked directly at the winery if they are on sale, which also makes a great gift from Armenia. Meals are not included in the base price of the private tour, but on request we can arrange lunch near Noravank, in Areni, at one of the wineries or at a local family restaurant. On a private tour you can also choose a more gastronomic option in advance, with Armenian dishes and Vayots Dzor wine.

After the tasting we begin the journey back, and in the evening the Amaras Tour car drops you off directly at your address in Yerevan. The trip takes approximately 10–11 hours; an extended walk in Angels Canyon, a longer tasting or a visit to Areni-1 Cave will make it longer. The defining feature of this day is its contrasts. In the morning we stand before Ararat. A little later we are walking among almost Martian rocks. Then we find ourselves in a medieval monastery. And we end the journey with a glass of wine in a region where people were making wine more than six thousand years ago.