Armenian Heritage and Wine Tour
About this activity
Highlights
- Explore Khor Virap Monastery with panoramic views of Mount Ararat
- Discover the ancient Noravank Monastery nestled in a red canyon
- Visit the prehistoric Birds Cave, home to ancient artifacts
- Experience traditional wine-making at Hin Areni Wine Factory
- Enjoy a scenic drive through Armenia's picturesque landscapes
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Private transportation from Yerevan
- Guided tours of Khor Virap Monastery, Noravank Monastery, and Birds Cave
- Wine tasting at Hin Areni Wine Factory
- Meals and personal expenses
Itinerary
Khor Virap is the most famous pilgrimage site in Armenia, as it is directly connected with the adoption of Christianity. As a state religion, Christianity in Armenia was adopted in 301 due to endeavors of Saint Gregory The Illuminator, who, before converting King Trdat The 3rd to Christianity, was imprisoned in the dungeon, over which a church of Khor Virap monastery was built in the 17th century. From the monastery one can admire the stunning view of the Biblical Mount Ararat.
Passing a narrow road, surrounded by rocks of hundred caves, one discovers a scene of harmony of architecture with nature. The monastery, enshrined with fine architectural solutions and luxurious embellishments, is one of the brightest examples of Armenian architecture of the 13th century. Noravank consists of St. Karapet, St. Gregory The Illuminator churches and St. Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God) two-storey church, which is notable for its ideal constructive and sculptural work.
Vayots Dzor and Areni village in particular has been the cradle of Armenian winemaking for millennia. "Hin Areni" wine factory opens up the doors of this region to the world to showcase the historic and indigenous Armenian grape varietals. At the winery the historic traditions of winemaking are well combined with state-of-the-art modern equipment. "Hin Areni" wine factory has the capacity to process over 250 tonnes of grapes.
The cave is situated 12 km from Yeghegnadzor, on the left bank of river Areni. It consists of 3 halls, has approximately 500 m² area, the large part of which still hasn’t been explored. As a result of studies, metal knives, fruit seeds, grain residues, rope, dishes, clothing, dried grapes and plums, dated to 4200-3500 BC, were found in the cave. The oldest leather shoe of the world was found right here. It is more than 5500 years old. Also, in the same area, there were found world’s oldest women’s skirt (3900 BC), as well as the first winery in the whole world. Nowadays the mentioned winery is considered to be the ancient one and it is referred to 4th millennium BC. No one has lived inside the cave, at the meantime, wine consumption was of ritual meaning for people.
Important information
Know before you book
- The tour is conducted in English; ensure you understand the language.
- Confirm your hotel pickup location and time at least 24 hours in advance.
- Be prepared for a full day of activities; plan accordingly for meals and personal needs.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes suitable for uneven terrain.
- Bring a hat and sunscreen to protect against sun exposure.
- Carry a refillable water bottle to stay hydrated throughout the day.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Stroller Accessible
- Easy Public Transport
- Infants Required On Laps
- Infant Seats Available
Traveler reviews
The Khor Virap Tour is Exceptional!
Where do I begin? First off, our guide Rose is an absolute gem! We were lucky enough to be randomly assigned to her for two separate tours. She’s extremely knowledgeable not only about the sites we visited but all of Armenia and was able to answer all of our random questions. It was an absolute delight to spend 2 full days with her learning about the history of Armenia. Our driver Harout was an added bonus for the tour. He was careful and caring and made sure we were comfortable every step of the way. Can’t thank both Rose and Harout enough for making us feel right at home.
Excellent Service
Hyur Services did an excellent job with pairing us up with our driver/tour guide, Arakel. He was very informative and helpful. We enjoyed our scenic tour and learned so much about Armenia. I highly recommend booking your tour with Hyur.
Khor Virab Tour
We just took a private tour to Khor Virap in Armenia and had a wonderful experience. Tamara, our guide, was knowledgeable, warm, and brought the history of the monastery to life with great stories and insights. David, our driver, was professional, friendly, and made the whole journey smooth and comfortable. The views of Mount Ararat from Khor Virap were breathtaking, and having such a great team made it even more memorable. Highly recommend Tamara and David for anyone visiting Armenia!
My Armenian Summer
They visited Armenia with their friends in June 2026. On the advice of acquaintances booked 4 tours with this agency. Three tours were with departure from Yerevan and one sightseeing tour of the city. The tour operator worked on great. Everything was well organized, all tours started without delay, the minibus was comfortable, the announced tour program was fully implemented. It was nice to have water and umbrellas in the car. A special big thank you to our tour guide Mariam and a driver named Ara. In addition to being a very professional tour leader, Mariam proved to be a remarkably attentive, caring and soulful person. All our requests and wishes, even those not related to the tour programme, were not ignored. Thank you very much again for being able to show us Armenia in all its cultural, natural, historical and human brilliance! The trip and the interaction with Mariam will stay in our hearts for a long time!
Fantastic tour
Fantastic day exploring Khor Virap, Noravank, seeing the birds and enjoying a wonderful wine tasting. Rose was an incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and answered all of our many questions. Arthur was an excellent driver throughout. Thank you both for a memorable experience in Armenia!