Private Tour to Khor Virap, Echmiadzin, St. Hripsime and St. Gayane, Zvartnots

5.0 (4 reviews) 7 hours Free cancellation Private tour

out of 5

4 reviews

5.0

Private Tour to Khor Virap, Echmiadzin, St. Hripsime and St. Gayane, Zvartnots — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Private Tour to Khor Virap, Echmiadzin, St. Hripsime and St. Gayane, Zvartnots, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

This tour will take you to the amazing historical and spiritual places where you will get acquainted with the most interesting stories and legends, Armenian architecture in different ages. Khor Virap Monastery has over a thousand-year history steeped in biblical events, mysticism. This monastery is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Armenia. According to a legend St. Gregory the Illustrator has been imprisoned there by King Tridates III for fourteen years. The ancient Armenian Monastery was built in the 5th century and is located near the Mount Ararat. Next we will visit the spiritual city of Echmiadzin where we will discover the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, St. Hripsime and St. Gayane churches. The next stop will be the Zvartnots Temple – located 5 km from Echmiadzin. It is the brightest landmarks of medieval Armenian architecture. Unfortuatly it survived only in ruins, but even the ruins will give you the splendid energy of majestic beauty.

Day Trips Full-day Tours Bus Tours Private and Luxury Private Sightseeing Tours Cultural Tours Historical Tours Car Tours

At a glance

Duration: 7 hours
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–15
Guide: Russian, English
Operated by: Jan Armenia Tours

What is included

Included

Included: Private transportation
Included: Hotel pickup and drop-off
Included: Bottled water
Included: On-board WiFi: WiFi on board
Included: Professional guide (if the guide option is selected)
Included: In-vehicle air conditioning: Air-conditioned vehicle
Included: Professional driver

Not included

Not included: Food and drinks
Not included: Lunch
Not included: Entrance fees: Echmiadzin treasury museum
Not included: Entrance fees: Zvartnots cathedral
Not included: Anything not mentioned in the “Inclusions” section

Itinerary

Khor Virap

45 min

Khor Virap – Armenian monastery, built in 642, translated from Armenian means “deep hole”. Khor Virap is one of the shrines of the Armenian Apostolic Church, a place of pilgrimage. The most interesting fact of this monastery is the fact that it was built on the site of the royal prison, where Gregory the Illuminator was previously imprisoned – the patron saint and the first official head of the Armenian Apostolic Church by the Armenian king for 13 years. From the territory of the monastery there is an unusual view of the biblical mountain Ararat.
Saint Hripsime Church

30 min

The Temple of Saint Hripsime was founded in the 7th century by Catholicos Komitas I Aghtsetsi in the place of a sepulcher of Saint Hripsime. Since 2000 Saint Hripsime Temple has been included in UNESCO World Heritage List. Two prominent Armenian Cathlicoses are buried in the court yard of Saint Hripsime Temple. They are Catholicos Astvatsatur (1715-1725) and Catholicos Garaped II Oolnetzi (1725-1729).
Alex and Marie Manoogian Treasury House Museum

1 min Admission not included

he Treasury House Museum is a fine example of modern Armenian Architecture which encompasses the original and distinctive features of classical Armenian architecture.
Saint Gayane Church

30 min

St. Gayane Temple was built in honor of St. Gayane in the VII century on the place of IV century chapel, which is one of the best monuments of Armenian architecture. The relics of Saint Gayane are kept in the southern wall of the temple, next to the altar niche. Above the western entrance, there was preserved the murals of the 17th century on the theme of the birth of Christ. Near the Saint Gayane Temple there is a special room where animals are sacrificed and stabbed from the time of St. Gregory the Illuminator. This rite is called – matah, which is customary to perform for any occasion: weddings, birth of a child, etc.
Armenian Apostolic Holy Church Mother See Holy Etchmiadzin

45 min

The first Christian cathedral of Echmiadzin was founded in the IV century BC, whose name means “place of the descent of the Only Begotten.” A feature of the Cathedral is that in addition to the main altar in the eastern part, there is another altar in the middle, at the site of the descent of Christ. In the right-hand boundary of the Etchmiadzin Cathedral there is the Treasury Museum, where are kept relics, church clothes, embroidered with gold and pearls, catholicos’ staffs and crosses, numerous ritual objects made of gold, silver and ivory. On the territory of the monastery complex is also the residence of the Armenian patriarch – the Catholicos of all Armenians. Also here you will see many cross-stones, of which “Amenaprakich” (1279), and the cross-stone devoted to the victims of the 1915 genocide.
Zvartnots Temple

45 min Admission not included

Тhe magnificent Zvartnots Temple, which mean “Temple of Vigil Forces”, was built in the VII century. The temple was built for 20 years. Unfortunately, Zvartnots was destroyed by a powerful earthquake in the XX century and only its ruins remained. But even the ruins of this temple give us an idea of its rare and majestic beauty. Today the Zvartnots Temple is an archaeological reserve and museum founded in 1937, where you can see model-versions of the reconstruction of the temple, numerous sculptural fragments, impressive in size. The ruins of Zvartnots Temple are included in UNESCO as World Heritage Site.

Meeting point and pickup

You can be picked up from your accommodation or go straight to the meeting point.

Meeting point

End point

Pickup points

Panorama Yerevan Resort
Silachi Hotel
Hotel Maison Yerevan
Venice Hotel Yerevan
Chateau Gabriel
Ararat hotel
Nice Hotel
Ani Plaza Hotel
Bonjour Boutique Hotel Yerevan
City Centre Apartments
President Hotel by Hrazdan Hotel CJSC
Aviatrans

and 87 more pickup points

Cancellation

Free cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

If you cancel	You get back
At least one day before	100%
Less than a day before	0%

The operator may cancel if the weather does not allow it; you then get another date or your money back.

Good to know

Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Specialized infant seats are available
Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Options

3-6 travelers, with a guide

Private Tour to Khor Virap, Echmiadzin, St. Hripsime and St. Gayane, Zvartnots

Duration: 7 hours

Car, minivan

Pickup included
7-15 travelers, with a guide

PRIVATE TOUR: Khor Virap monastery, St. Hripsimeh and Gayaneh churches, Echmiadzin Mother Cathedral, Zvartnots temple

Duration: 7 hours

Car, Minibus

Pickup included
8-15 travelers, without guide

PRIVATE TOUR: Khor Virap monastery, St. Hripsimeh and Gayaneh churches, Echmiadzin Mother Cathedral, Zvartnots temple

Duration: 7 hours

Car, Minibus

Pickup included
1-2 travelers, with a guide

Private Tour to Khor Virap, Echmiadzin, St. Hripsime and St. Gayane, Zvartnots, with a guide

Duration: 7 hours

Car, Sedan

Pickup included
4-7 travelers, without guide

Private Tour to Khor Virap, Echmiadzin, St. Hripsime and St. Gayane, Zvartnots, without guide

Duration: 7 hours

Car, Minivan

Pickup included
1-3 travelers, without guide

Private Tour to Khor Virap, Echmiadzin, St. Hripsime and St. Gayane, Zvartnots, without guide

Duration: 7 hours

Car, Sedan

Pickup included