The Road to Ancient Khndzoresk

"The Road to Ancient Khndzoresk" is a grand journey through southern Armenia that, in a single day, connects the Ararat Valley, the wine-growing Vayots Dzor, medieval Noravank, and the astonishing caves of Syunik.

This is a route where history gradually changes shape — from monasteries and winemaking traditions to an entire settlement carved among cliffs and caves.

The first stop will be Khor Virap — one of Armenia's most famous historical and spiritual sites.

According to church tradition, it was here that Gregory the Illuminator spent about 13 years in a deep dungeon. After his release, he played a key role in Armenia's adoption of Christianity in the early 4th century.

Khor Virap lies right beside Mount Ararat. On a clear day it offers one of the country's most famous views — the ancient monastery set against the majestic Ararat.

Next we head to Areni — the heart of wine-growing Vayots Dzor.

Here a winery tour and tasting await us.

You will get acquainted with the traditions of Armenian winemaking, learn more about the wine production process, and be able to taste local wines.

After Areni we continue on to Noravank Monastery, set among the red cliffs of the Amaghu gorge.

The monastery complex developed especially actively in the 13th–14th centuries and is closely linked to the princely Orbelian family.

One of the complex's main landmarks is the two-story Surb Astvatsatsin Church, associated with the name of the outstanding Armenian architect and sculptor Momik.

Red cliffs, medieval architecture, and the church's unusual exterior staircase have made Noravank one of Armenia's most recognizable monasteries.

After Noravank, a long but very scenic road to Syunik awaits us.

The main point of the journey will be Old Khndzoresk — a historic cave settlement set among deep gorges and bizarre rock formations.

For centuries, local residents used natural and man-made caves as dwellings, outbuildings, and shelters. A large settlement took shape here, with its own churches, paths, and life among the rocks.

Walking through Old Khndzoresk, you can see numerous caves and imagine just how unusual everyday life was for the people who lived here.

One of the most impressive parts of the route is the Khndzoresk hanging bridge.

The bridge stretches over a deep gorge and connects its two sides. Walking across it reveals a completely different view of the cliffs, caves, and surrounding landscape.

It is here that the scale of Khndzoresk is felt most vividly: before you is not a single landmark but an entire historical landscape where people lived among the rocks for centuries.

After visiting Khndzoresk, we head back to Yerevan.

In a single day, the route takes us from the foot of Ararat, through the wine valleys and red cliffs of Vayots Dzor, to the caves and gorges of ancient Syunik.

Who This Tour Is For

"The Road to Ancient Khndzoresk" will suit travelers who want to see an unusual side of Armenia and are ready for a long excursion.

The route is especially interesting for lovers of history, nature, ancient architecture, winemaking, unusual landscapes, and hiking.

Khndzoresk involves descents, climbs, and walking over natural terrain, so the tour is best chosen by those who feel comfortable with active walking.

This journey is for those who want to cover a great distance in a single day — from Ararat to one of the most unusual historical settlements of Syunik.