Armenia Map and planner Guide Routes ENRU

The southern road to Tatev

Red canyons, spa towns and standing stones on the way to Tatev's cliff.

Open in the planner →
Khor Virap
Photograph: Diego Delso / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Day 1

Starts from Yerevan · 3h 20m at the sights, 2h 28m travelling · 136 km

Areas: Ararat, Vayots Dzor

  1. Khor Virap — Monastery on the plain with the classic view of Mount Ararat (1h)
  2. Areni-1 Cave — Cave where the world's oldest leather shoe and winery were found (45m)
  3. Areni Church — Momik's 14th-century church above the wine village (20m)
  4. Noravank — 13th-century monastery in a red cliff canyon (1h 15m)

Day 2

Starts from Yeghegnadzor · 4h 25m at the sights, 2h 47m travelling · 153 km

Areas: Vayots Dzor, Syunik

  1. Jermuk — Spa town known for its mineral water, gorge and waterfall (1h 30m)
  2. Gndevank — 10th-century monastery in the Arpa gorge (40m)
  3. Karahunj (Zorats Karer) — Prehistoric standing stones, sometimes called Armenian Stonehenge (45m)
  4. Vorotnavank — Fortified monastery on the Vorotan river (30m)
  5. Wings of Tatev — Record-breaking 5.7 km reversible cable car to Tatev (1h)

Day 3

Starts from Goris · 5h 15m at the sights, 1h 11m travelling · 65 km

Areas: Syunik

  1. Tatev Monastery — 9th-century monastery on a cliff above the Vorotan gorge (2h)
  2. Tatev Great Hermitage — Fortified hermitage in the gorge below Tatev (45m)
  3. Old Khndzoresk — Cave village linked by a swinging footbridge (1h 30m)
  4. Goris — Stone town ringed by cave-riddled hoodoos (1h)