8–10 hours
Armenian Wine Experience in Areni
The cave where archaeologists found a 6,000-year-old winery, a tasting in Armenia's best-known wine village and Noravank in its red-rock gorge.
View tour →Price on request
Day trip · 8–9 hours
Khor Virap, Noravank & Areni Wine Region
The classic view of Ararat from Khor Virap, a 13th–14th century monastery in a red canyon, and the villages where Armenia's best-known red grape grows.
Overview
This is the day trip south from Yerevan, and it combines three things most travellers come to Armenia for: the view of Mount Ararat, medieval monasteries and wine. Khor Virap, 45 minutes from the city, stands on a low hill right under Ararat and marks the place where, by tradition, Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned before Armenia adopted Christianity. Further south, past the Tukh Manuk pass into Vayots Dzor, the road enters a narrow gorge of red cliffs that ends at Noravank, the masterpiece of the architect and sculptor Momik.
Areni, at the mouth of the gorge, gives its name to Armenia's signature red grape. Nearby is the Areni-1 cave, where archaeologists found what is often described as the world's oldest known winery. The day runs to about 8–9 hours. A winery tasting and the cave visit are both optional and can be added or skipped on the day.
Highlights
- Khor Virap Monastery with Mount Ararat directly behind it on clear days
- The pit at Khor Virap linked to Gregory the Illuminator
- Noravank Monastery in its red-rock gorge, including Momik's two-storey church of 1339
- Areni village and the vineyards of Vayots Dzor
- Optional Areni-1 cave visit and an optional winery tasting
Suggested itinerary · arranged on request
Suggested itinerary
09:00
Pick-up in Yerevan and drive south
Your driver-guide collects you from your hotel. The road runs south across the Ararat plain, through vineyards and orchards, with the mountain ahead on clear days.
09:45
Khor Virap and the Ararat viewpoint
Khor Virap stands on a hill close to the border with Turkey, and on a clear morning Ararat seems to rise directly behind it. Visit the 17th-century church and, if you like, climb down the ladder into the pit where, by tradition, Gregory the Illuminator was held for years before he converted King Trdat III. Walk up the hill behind the monastery for the classic photograph. Allow about an hour.
10:45
Over the pass to Vayots Dzor
The road climbs over the Tukh Manuk pass and drops into the province of Vayots Dzor. The drive to Areni takes a little over an hour.
12:00
Areni-1 cave (optional)
Excavations in this cave since 2007 have uncovered a winemaking installation about 6,000 years old and a leather shoe of about 5,500 years ago, now displayed at the History Museum of Armenia in Yerevan. The visit itself is short, usually under an hour.
12:45
Noravank Monastery
Turn into the narrow Amaghu gorge, where red and ochre cliffs close in on both sides. Noravank was the seat of the bishops of Syunik and the burial place of the Orbelian princes. Look for the carved tympana above the doors, and the church of Surb Astvatsatsin (1339), whose upper floor is reached by narrow stairs on the outside of the building. Allow about 1–1.5 hours.
14:15
Lunch and optional winery tasting in Areni
Back at the mouth of the gorge, Areni village has several places to eat. A tasting of local wines, often made from the Areni grape, can be arranged with a local winery, subject to availability. Tell us in advance if you would like this, and it will be confirmed in your quote.
16:00
Return to Yerevan
Drive back over the pass, arriving in Yerevan around 17:45–18:00.
Timings are indicative. The order, pace and stops are agreed with you.
Route
- 1Yerevan
- 2Khor Virap and Ararat viewpoint
- 3Areni-1 cave
- 4Noravank Monastery
- 5Areni village
Ways to take this tour
Half-day Khor Virap
Khor Virap and the Ararat viewpoint only, about 3–4 hours. Easy to fit before an afternoon flight or a city tour.
Wine-focused version
Skips the cave and allows more time in Areni for a tasting and a long lunch, subject to availability at a local winery.
Without Khor Virap
If you have already seen Khor Virap, the day can focus on Noravank, Areni and a winery, with a later start.
Main attractions
- Khor Virap Monastery and Ararat viewpoint
- Tukh Manuk pass
- Areni-1 cave
- Noravank Monastery and the Amaghu gorge
- Areni village and vineyards
Optional experiences
- Areni-1 cave visit
- Wine tasting, which can be arranged with a local winery, subject to availability
- Lunch in Areni village or in the Noravank gorge
- Continuing south to Goris and Tatev as the first day of a two-day trip (see the Tatev tour)
Practical notes
- Ararat is visible only in clear weather. Mornings are usually best, and haze often hides it on hot summer afternoons. It can never be guaranteed.
- Khor Virap and Noravank are active churches. Shoulders and knees should be covered, and women may wish to bring a scarf.
- The Areni-1 cave charges a small entrance fee and is an active archaeological site, so access can be limited at times. Third-party sources disagree on its hours (checked November 2026). We confirm it before your trip, but check before you travel if you plan it yourself.
- If you plan a winery tasting, the driver doesn't drink. Tastings are arranged with a local winery, subject to availability, and are confirmed in your written quote.
- Wear shoes with grip. The ladder into the Khor Virap pit and the outside stairs at Noravank are steep.
What's included
Inclusions such as vehicle, guide, entrance tickets and meals are agreed with you and confirmed in your written quote before anything is booked.
Who it suits
Suitable for most travellers, including families. Climbing down into the Khor Virap pit means a steep metal ladder and is optional. The stairs on the facade of Noravank's upper church are narrow and have no handrail.
Best season
All year. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable. Late September and October is harvest season in Vayots Dzor. Summer can be very hot on the Ararat plain, and clearer winter mornings often give the sharpest views of Ararat.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the Khor Virap and Noravank tour take?
About 8–9 hours door to door. Khor Virap is about 45 minutes from Yerevan, and Noravank about 2 hours, so most of the driving happens between the two.
Is wine tasting included?
No. A tasting is optional. It can be arranged with a local winery, subject to availability, and if you request it, it is listed in your written quote.
What is the Areni-1 cave?
It is an archaeological site near Areni village where excavations found a winemaking installation about 6,000 years old and one of the oldest known leather shoes. The visit is short and is optional on this tour.
Will I see Mount Ararat?
On clear days Khor Virap gives one of the closest views of Ararat in Armenia. The mountain is often hidden by haze or cloud, especially in summer afternoons, so mornings are your best chance.
Can this tour be combined with Tatev?
Yes. Areni and Noravank lie on the road south, so this route works well as the first day of a two-day trip with an overnight in Goris and the Wings of Tatev cableway the next morning.
Request a Quote
Request This Tour: Khor Virap, Noravank & Areni Wine Region
Every tour is tailored to your dates, group size and preferences. Send a request and we will reply with an itinerary and a written quote.
Sending a request is free and does not commit you to anything.
Thank you, your request has been sent.
We will reply by email, usually within one to two working days. Nothing is booked or charged until you approve a written quote.
You might also like
2 days, 1 night· Family-friendly
Tatev, Goris & Southern Armenia: 2-Day Tour
Noravank on the way south, a night in Goris, the long cableway ride over the Vorotan gorge to Tatev, and the cave village of Khndzoresk.
View tour →Price on request
5–7 hours· Family-friendly
Garni, Geghard & Symphony of Stones Tour
Armenia's only standing Greco-Roman temple, a gorge of basalt columns and a monastery carved into the cliff, all within 45 minutes of Yerevan.
View tour →Price on request
Plan with our travel guides
Places & sights
Best Places to Visit in Armenia: A Region-by-Region Guide
From Garni and Geghard on Yerevan's doorstep to Tatev in the far south and Haghpat in the north: where to go in Armenia, how far each place is from Yerevan and how to fit them into a realistic trip.
Read the guide →
Itineraries
Armenia 5-Day Itinerary: Yerevan, Sevan, Dilijan, the South and Gyumri
Five days lets you add Dilijan's forests and Gyumri, or an overnight in the south for Tatev, to the classic Yerevan day trips. Here is how to pace it, with honest drive times.
Read the guide →
Experiences
Best Things to Do in Armenia: Experiences by Theme, Time and Season
Monasteries on cliff edges, a 6,000-year-old winery cave, the world's longest reversible cable car and long Yerevan evenings. Here is what to do in Armenia, who each experience suits and how long to allow.
Read the guide →