Experience Ancient Christian Holy Sites

Do you want to touch ancient Christian holy sites located among the picturesque mountains of Armenia? We invite you to tours to Geghard Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site that attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world. We have been providing tourist services since 2016, offering interesting routes as part of single-day and multi-day tours departing from Yerevan, Tsaghkadzor, and Dilijan. Our clients value and choose the high level of service we provide.

Geghard Monastery: Where Stones Breathe Legends and History

One of the most beautiful Christian sanctuaries of the Armenian land is the cave monastery of Geghard, located in a mountain gorge through which a river flows. Only 40 km from here pulses the nonstop life of the capital, Yerevan, while under the ancient vaults of the Christian temple, time seems to pause, and the worn stones keep the memory of hundreds of years and thousands of long-gone faces and destinies.

History

Geghard Monastery, or Geghardavank, was founded by the legendary Gregory the Illuminator, who baptized Armenia in 301 AD. Earlier, this site was a sacred place of the oldest local pagan inhabitants.

Monastic Complex

The monastery complex, which includes churches, a chapel-mausoleum, cells, and other buildings, is partially located in natural caves where the first monks lived. Ayrivank is the original name of the monastery, meaning “cave monastery.” Geghard, which means “spear” in Armenian, has been the monastery’s name since the 13th century, in honor of the greatest Christian relic—the Spear of Longinus, which pierced the body of Jesus Christ on the cross. The relic was kept here for 400 years before being transferred to Etchmiadzin Monastery. Today, Geghard Monastery is active, and visiting it requires tourists to follow appropriate dress codes.

Bright History and Architecture of Geghardavank

The Christian sanctuary is called the Monastery of the Spear, the place of seven churches and forty altars. Geghardavank, in its more than 1,600-year history, has experienced raids and destruction by Arab and Seljuk invaders and restoration from almost complete ruin. The oldest monastic buildings, erected before the 12th century, remain in ruins, while structures from the 12th–13th centuries have survived to this day.

In the first half of the 13th century, the monastery was under the patronage of the noble Zakarid family, who built the Church of Surb Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God) and its magnificent narthex on the eastern side. Later, the monastery became the property of the Proshyan princes, who established a family mausoleum here. Under the Proshyans, Geghardavank became a center of education and culture: the Ayrivank school and the monastery scriptorium (manuscripts were copied, the earliest dating back to 1190) operated here.

Harmony of Man-Made and Natural Structures

Geghard Monastery captivates with the harmony of human-made structures and natural surroundings. Ancient builders skillfully carved large rooms in the rock at different heights, combining them with natural caves. As a result, the complex blends organically into the surrounding landscape.

Visitors can wander for hours through the halls, churches, and cells of Geghard Monastery, marveling at the stone carvings on the walls, columns and vaults growing smoothly out of the rock, the flicker of candles in the darkness, worn steps and passages, and outside—the stone guardians of centuries—khachkars.

Book Tours to Geghard Monastery at the Best Prices

We have prepared individual and group (5–18 people) one-day tours for guests with visits to Geghard Monastery and other attractions: Ararat Gate, the ancient temple of Garni, the Stone Symphony natural monument, Lake Sevan, the ski and climate resort Tsaghkadzor, and more. Departures are from Yerevan and Tsaghkadzor.

Transportation and Guides

We provide comfortable sedans and minivans with Russian-speaking drivers. Upon request, professional guides fluent in Russian are available. The price includes excursion services and vehicle rental; all other expenses are paid by tourists.

Check tour prices on the website and submit a request; you can also contact us via messengers or by phone.