Symphony of Stones

Basalt columns lining the Garni gorge like organ pipes

Area Kotayk
Type Nature
Time needed 45m

The Symphony of Stones is a wall of hexagonal basalt columns in the Garni gorge, formed as a lava flow cooled and cracked into regular prisms. The columns hang over the river in clusters that really do resemble a set of organ pipes.

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Getting there

About 27 km from Yerevan, roughly 29 minutes by road, down into the gorge below Garni village.

What you see

The best section is a tall overhanging face where the columns fan outward above the riverbed. The road runs along the bottom of the gorge, so you can walk beside the formation and look straight up at the column ends. Further along there are more scattered outcrops and a stretch of river suitable for a rest.

What to pair it with

Almost always combined with Garni Temple above the gorge and with Geghard Monastery further up the valley.

When to go

Morning or late afternoon, when low light picks out the columns. The gorge road can be icy or blocked in winter and the river is highest in spring.

What is hard about it

The access road into the gorge is narrow and rough in places, and not every hire car or driver will want to take it. It is a short stop with no facilities, and it gets busy with tour vehicles in the middle of the day.

Common questions

Can I drive down, or do I have to walk?

There is a road down from Garni to the gorge floor, but it is narrow and uneven. Some drivers refuse it and some visitors walk down instead.

How long does it take?

Around 45 minutes on the gorge floor, excluding the drive down and back up.

Is it suitable with children?

Yes, the walking is flat and short, though the riverbank is unfenced and the road has no pavement.