5 days / 4–5 nights· Family-friendly
5-Day Best of Armenia Tour
Five well-paced days covering the capital, the classic temple and cliff monastery, Lake Sevan and the Dilijan forests, the south and Etchmiadzin.
View tour →Price on request
Multi-day · 3 days / 3 nights in Yerevan
3-Day Armenia Highlights from Yerevan
Three nights in Yerevan and three well-paced days: the capital, the temple and cliff monastery of Garni and Geghard, and Ararat views at Khor Virap.
Overview
Three days is enough to see the essentials of Armenia without changing hotels. You stay in Yerevan the whole time and head out each morning on a day of manageable length, with no drive longer than about two hours each way.
Day one is the capital itself. Day two is the classic trip east to Garni Temple, the Symphony of Stones and Geghard Monastery. On day three you choose between the south, with Khor Virap below Mount Ararat, the wine village of Areni and Noravank in its red gorge, or a shorter day at Etchmiadzin, the centre of the Armenian Apostolic Church, and the ruins of Zvartnots. The second option suits a late-afternoon flight.
Highlights
- Yerevan's Cascade, Republic Square and the Matenadaran manuscript museum
- Garni Temple, the Symphony of Stones and rock-cut Geghard Monastery (UNESCO)
- Khor Virap Monastery with Mount Ararat rising behind it
- Noravank Monastery and the wine village of Areni, or Etchmiadzin Cathedral and Zvartnots (UNESCO)
- No hotel changes: three nights in Yerevan
Suggested itinerary · arranged on request
Day-by-day plan
Day 1
Yerevan: city of pink tuff
A walking and driving tour of the capital. Start at the top of the Cascade for the view over the city towards Ararat, then walk down through its sculpture garden to the Opera House and Northern Avenue. Visit the Matenadaran, which holds one of the world's largest collections of medieval Armenian manuscripts, and Republic Square. In the afternoon, Tsitsernakaberd, the Armenian Genocide Memorial and Museum, gives context to much of modern Armenian history. On a weekend you can add the Vernissage open-air market. Evening free for dinner in the centre.
Overnight: Yerevan
Day 2
Garni Temple, Symphony of Stones and Geghard
Drive about 40–50 minutes east, stopping at the Charents Arch for the view of Ararat on clear mornings. Visit Garni, the 1st-century Greco-Roman temple rebuilt from its original stones in 1969–1975, then walk or drive down to the basalt columns of the Symphony of Stones. Lunch in Garni village, where a lavash baking demonstration can be requested, subject to availability. Continue 15 minutes to Geghard Monastery, partly carved out of the cliff. Back in Yerevan by late afternoon. Lake Sevan can be added on the way back, but it turns the day into about 10–11 hours, so most travellers keep it for another trip.
Overnight: Yerevan
Day 3
Khor Virap, Areni and Noravank (or Etchmiadzin)
Drive about 45 minutes south to Khor Virap, the monastery where tradition says Gregory the Illuminator was held before Armenia became Christian, with Ararat close behind it. Continue through the Ararat plain and over the low pass into Vayots Dzor to Areni, home of the Areni-1 cave where the world's oldest known winery was found. A wine tasting can be arranged with a local winery once availability is confirmed. Finish at Noravank in the Amaghu gorge, about two hours from Yerevan, before driving back. Allow 9–10 hours. If you fly out that evening or prefer a shorter day, choose Etchmiadzin Cathedral and the ruins of Zvartnots instead, about 4–5 hours with an airport drop-off on the way back.
Overnight: Yerevan, or departure
Timings are indicative. The order, pace and stops are agreed with you.
Route
- 1Yerevan
- 2Cascade
- 3Tsitsernakaberd Memorial
- 4Garni Temple
- 5Geghard Monastery
- 6Khor Virap
- 7Areni
- 8Noravank Monastery
Ways to take this tour
South on day three
Khor Virap, Areni and Noravank. Best if you have a free evening or fly out the next day.
Etchmiadzin on day three
Etchmiadzin Cathedral and Zvartnots, about 4–5 hours, easy to finish at Zvartnots International Airport.
Sevan instead of the south
Swap day three for Lake Sevan and Dilijan, about 8–9 hours, if you prefer lakes and forests to monasteries in red rock.
Main attractions
- Cascade complex and Republic Square, Yerevan
- Matenadaran (Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts)
- Tsitsernakaberd Armenian Genocide Memorial and Museum
- Garni Temple and the Symphony of Stones
- Geghard Monastery and the Upper Azat Valley (UNESCO)
- Khor Virap Monastery
- Areni-1 cave and Areni village
- Noravank Monastery
- Etchmiadzin Cathedral and Zvartnots archaeological site (UNESCO, alternative day 3)
Optional experiences
- Lavash baking in Garni village (on request, subject to availability)
- Wine tasting in Areni, arranged with a local winery once availability is confirmed
- Brandy tasting at the Yerevan Brandy Company (on request, subject to availability)
- Lake Sevan on day two (makes for a 10–11 hour day)
Practical notes
- Hotels are not part of the plan by default. We can suggest options in Yerevan, and anything we book is confirmed in your written quote.
- Garni Temple, the Matenadaran, the Areni-1 cave and Zvartnots charge entrance fees. Current fees are confirmed with your quote.
- Geghard, Khor Virap, Noravank and Etchmiadzin are active religious sites. Cover shoulders and knees.
- Ararat views depend on haze and cloud. Mornings are usually clearer, which is why Khor Virap comes first on day three.
- Museum opening days vary, and some Yerevan museums close one day a week. We arrange day one around the actual schedule for your dates.
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
Good for first-time visitors, couples, families and older travellers. Walking is easy to moderate, and every night is spent in the same Yerevan hotel.
Best season
All year. May–June and September–October are the most comfortable. In midsummer, plan the long day south early to avoid the heat; in winter, roads to the main sites on this route are normally kept open.
Frequently asked questions
Is 3 days enough for Armenia?
It is enough for Yerevan and the two most popular day trips. You won't reach Lake Sevan, Dilijan or Tatev without making the days very long, so for those consider the 5-day or 7-day itinerary.
Why stay in Yerevan every night?
All three days work as return trips of two hours or less each way, so staying in one hotel saves packing and check-in time without costing you sights.
Can we add Lake Sevan?
Yes, but only by making day two about 10–11 hours long, or by replacing day three with Sevan and Dilijan. Most travellers enjoy Sevan more as a separate day.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Yes. Drives are short, and the Symphony of Stones, the Cascade and lavash baking usually go down well with children. Child seats can be requested in advance.
Can the tour start at the airport?
Yes. We can meet you at Zvartnots International Airport on arrival and drop you there at the end, if your flight times allow. Times are confirmed in your quote.
Request a Quote
Request This Tour: 3-Day Armenia Highlights from Yerevan
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.
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Plan with our travel guides
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Places & sights
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