Apart from the smooth experience of our border crossing from Tbilisi to Yerevan by overnight train, getting around outside Yerevan using public transportation seemed quite challenging, at least for me.
As much as I wanted to see more of Armenia, our short Caucasus backpacking trip from Azerbaijan and Georgia to Armenia wasn't long enough for us to figure out the best way to get around Armenia on our own.
So, to make the most of our limited time, my friend and I decided to book a day tour from Yerevan instead. Better to see at least a few of Armenia's beautiful places without having to worry about transportation and logistics than spend our short trip trying to figure everything out ourselves, right?
💡 Traveling to the Caucasus? Check out these guides:
- Travel Story/Itinerary: Backpacking the Caucasus Region (Azerbaijan, Georgia & Armenia) – 8 Days Itinerary & 2026 Travel Guide
- Train Travel & Border Crossing: Baku to Tbilisi via Azerbaijan Railways & Tbilisi to Yerevan & Border Crossing Experience (with Armenian Visa on Arrival)
- Hiking Guide: Gergeti Glacier of Mount Kazbek via Gergeti Trinity Church
- Sightseeing: Yanar Dag & Mud Volcanoes and Gobustan National Park in Azerbaijan, and Chronicles of Georgia in Georgia
Day Tour Overview:
- Location: Southern Armenia (Ararat & Vayots Dzor Provinces)
- Duration: Full Day (approximately 9–10 hours)
- Cost: AMD 13,000 per person (at the time of our visit; prices may vary)
- Difficulty: Easy
- Best Time to Visit: Spring (April–June) and Autumn (September–October) for pleasant weather and clear views of Mount Ararat
- Highlights: Stunning views of Mount Ararat from Khor Virap, the dramatic red cliffs of Noravank Monastery, a visit to the historic Areni Cave, Armenian wine tasting at Hin Areni Winery, and a traditional Armenian lunch included in the tour
How to Visit Khor Virap, Areni Cave, and Noravank from Yerevan?
While it is technically possible to visit several attractions independently, doing so requires a bit more planning. Public transportation in Armenia is limited outside Yerevan. So visiting multiple attractions in a single day can be challenging. Especially if you're short on time or visiting Armenia for the first time.
Some travelers choose to rent a car and drive themselves, while others hire a private guide or driver to explore Southern Armenia. These options offer more flexibility and allow you to travel at your own pace. However, you'll need to be comfortable navigating unfamiliar roads or finding a reliable guide at a reasonable price.
If you're traveling solo, this can also be a more expensive option since you'll be covering the full cost of the vehicle, fuel, and guide or driver services yourself.
Easiest & Most Practical: Join a Day Tour from Yerevan
For travelers with limited time, joining an organized day tour is the easiest way to visit these attractions. Most tours combine Khor Virap Monastery, Areni-1 Bird Cave, Noravank Monastery, and a winery visit into a single itinerary. This will allow you to see several of Armenia's most popular landmarks without worrying about transportation or logistics.
Many tour operators also include:
- Transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle
- English-speaking guide services
- Entrance fees
- Wine tasting experiences
- Lunch (depending on the package)
This was the option we chose during our trip. And it was the best decision to make the most of our limited time in Armenia without having to figure out the transportation on our own.
Looking for a day tour from Yerevan? Check out the available options below:
Southern Armenia Day Tour: Highlights & What To Expect
After picking us up from our hotel, we were initially grouped with Russian-speaking travelers. Fortunately, we discovered it early enough and were transferred to another vehicle for the English-speaking tour. Once everyone was settled, we left Yerevan and officially began our day trip through Southern Armenia.
Our lovely tour guide (unfortunately, I can no longer remember her name) was incredibly knowledgeable. She shared insights about Armenian history, religion, geography, politics, and even the cost of living in Yerevan. There was so much information that it was honestly a little difficult to absorb everything. Even so, she remains one of the best tour guides I've ever met, even years later.
Khor Virap Monastery
Our first stop was Khor Virap Monastery, a landmark that appears in almost every Armenia itinerary—and for good reason. True enough, the monastery was every bit as impressive as the photos, with the majestic Mount Ararat dominating the background.
Although Mount Ararat is technically located in modern-day Turkey, it remains Armenia's national symbol. Armenians also believe that Mount Ararat is where Noah's Ark came to rest after the Great Flood, giving the mountain significant cultural and religious importance.
During our visit, our guide shared plenty of information about the monastery's history, and of course, I was not listening the whole time, sorry! I was too distracted by the views and photo opportunities to absorb most of it. After the briefing, we were given free time to walk around, admire the scenery, and take as many photos as we wanted before returning to the bus.
After taking countless photos, this remains one of my favorites to this day. The photo was taken from a nearby vineyard, a popular viewpoint where you can see Khor Virap Monastery framed perfectly against Mount Ararat. How photogenic is that?
Areni-1 Bird Cave
From Khor Virap, we continued deeper into the Vayots Dzor region toward Areni-1 Bird Cave, also known as Birds' Cave. This archaeological site is famous for its discoveries dating back to the Copper Age and Bronze Age, including some of the oldest artifacts ever found in Armenia.
If I remember correctly, excavations were still ongoing during our visit. To reach the cave entrance, we first had to climb a few sets of stairs before entering the site.
Once inside, we followed a series of passageways leading to different sections of the cave where archaeological discoveries have been preserved and displayed.
I'm probably the worst person to explain archaeological findings in detail, but standing inside a cave that contains artifacts thousands of years old was fascinating. It's incredible to think that people once lived, worked, and stored their belongings here long before modern civilization existed. For me, it felt like a small glimpse into a distant past that is difficult to imagine today.
Noravank Monastery
Our next stop was Noravank Monastery, one of Armenia's most famous religious sites, nestled within a dramatic gorge of red rock cliffs in Vayots Dzor Province.
Even before reaching the monastery, the scenery was already impressive. The combination of reddish cliffs, rugged mountains, and semi-arid landscapes made this one of the most scenic parts of the tour. The monastery itself looked tiny compared to the towering rock formations surrounding it.
Unfortunately, during our visit in the summer of 2019, the site was packed with tourists. It was peak season, and the monastery grounds were crowded to the point that I struggled to take decent photos without people appearing in every frame. Most of the photos I took included strangers, so I decided not to publish them here.
Despite the crowds, I still enjoyed visiting Noravank Monastery. However, this is one place that I would love to revisit someday. The scenery alone deserves more time, and I feel like I wasn't able to fully appreciate the monastery and its historical significance during such a busy day.
Wine Tasting at Hin Areni Winery
The final stop of our day tour was Hin Areni Winery, where we joined a wine-tasting experience before heading back to Yerevan.
Our visit began with a short tour of the winery, where we learned about the wine-making process and saw parts of the production facility. Afterward, we were invited to sample several wines, including red, white, and rosé varieties.
Since I'm not much of a wine drinker (yet!) during our visit, I'm probably not the best person to judge the quality of the wines we tasted. However, as someone experiencing a winery tour and wine tasting for the first time, I genuinely enjoyed it. It was a fun way to end the day and a nice introduction to Armenia's wine culture.
After a full day of monasteries, mountain scenery, archaeological sites, and wine tasting, we made our way back to Yerevan feeling that we had made the most of our limited time in Armenia.
Day Tour Cost & Booking Experience:
Before our trip, I came across the packaged tours offered by Yerani Travel while researching online. Their itineraries looked well-organized and highly rated, but at the time, I wasn't ready to book in advance because it was slightly above our planned budget.
After arriving in Yerevan, we spent some time exploring the city and comparing different tour operators around Republic Square and the Cascade Complex. While there were plenty of agencies offering similar day tours, we were hesitant to book immediately. As we made our way back to the hotel, we unexpectedly spotted the Yerani Travel office. Since it was a company I had already researched before the trip, we took it as a good sign and decided to book our tour for the following day.
We paid 13,000 AMD per person for the full-day tour, which included:
- Transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle
- English-speaking guide services
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off at the Cascade Complex
- Traditional Armenian set lunch*
- All entrance fees
- Wine tasting at Hin Areni Winery
- Free Wi-Fi on board
*The Armenian set lunch was served at a local restaurant after we visited Noravank Monastery. It included a salad, side dishes (fries and white rice), a main course with chicken and pork, bottled water, and coffee or tea. We found it to be a filling meal before continuing the rest of the tour.
Considering everything that was included: transportation, guide services, lunch, entrance fees, wine tasting, and Wi-Fi, we found the tour to be good value for money and a convenient way to visit several of Armenia's most popular attractions in a single day.
Personal Thoughts:
At first, I thought the tour was a bit expensive, especially since we were travelling on a budget. But after spending the entire day visiting Khor Virap, Areni Cave, Noravank Monastery, and Hin Areni Winery, I felt that it was worth it.
Everything was well-organized, our guide was amazing, and we didn't have to worry about transportation, tickets, or where to eat. All we had to do was show up and enjoy the experience.
If you're visiting Armenia and want to see some of the country's most famous attractions without the hassle of planning everything yourself, I can definitely recommend this tour with Yerani Travel. We had a great time and it remains one of my favourite experiences from our trip.
