Day Trip to Khor Virap, Areni Winery, and Noravank

This day trip from Yerevan runs south to three of Vayots Dzor's best-known sites in one loop, the monastery at Khor Virap, the cliffside Noravank monastery, and a wine tasting at Areni Winery.

A hotel pickup in Yerevan starts the drive south, through Ararat Province and into Vayots Dzor Province, tracing a route toward the foothills near the Armenian-Turkish border, with the Ararat plain opening up along the way.

The first stop is Khor Virap. Mount Ararat, Armenia's most recognisable symbol, actually stands just across the border in Turkey, but Khor Virap offers one of the closest and best views of the mountain from Armenian territory, with the monastery's walls and the plain below sitting in the same view. The monastery marks the site where, according to Armenian tradition, Gregory the Illuminator was held before going on to convert the Armenian king to Christianity, a turning point that made Armenia the first state to adopt Christianity as its official religion.

From there, the tour continues to Noravank, whose name means 'New Monastery' in Armenian. The site sits at the end of a narrow gorge, framed by red rock cliffs, and is known for the intricate stone carving on the facades of its churches, built into the cliffside itself. Much of what stands today dates from the 13th century, including work attributed to the architect and manuscript illuminator Momik.

The day finishes at Areni Winery, in a region that has produced wine for thousands of years and is home to some of the world's oldest evidence of wine-making, uncovered in nearby cave sites. A tasting here covers 15 varieties of Armenian wine, alongside a short film on the winery's history and the country's wine-making tradition. Afterward, you're free to walk through the cellars where the wine is aged before the drive back to Yerevan.

Rayna's own local team runs the day from pickup to drop-off, so there's one point of contact if anything about the schedule needs to change.

• Discover the ancient winemaking traditions of Armenia at Areni Winery.
• Learn about Armenia's early Christian heritage at Khor Virap Monastery.
• Marvel at the dramatic red rock cliffs and intricate stone carvings of Noravank.
• Enjoy a wine tasting session featuring some of Armenia's finest varieties.
• Get one of the best views of Mount Ararat from Armenian territory at Khor Virap.

• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• Professional English-speaking driver-guide
• Entrance fees to Areni Winery

• Personal expenses such as shopping, drinks and dining during the tour
• Attraction and entrance tickets other than Areni Winery
• Bird Cave entrance ticket (optional add-on)

1. Download the voucher from your Rayna Tours dashboard before the tour date.
2. Keep a soft copy of the voucher on your phone, or print it.
3. Show the voucher to your driver-guide at pickup for verification.

• Wear comfortable walking shoes, as there's a moderate amount of walking at each stop.
• Check the weather forecast and dress appropriately.
• Bring a hat, sunscreen, a camera, water and cash for the day.
• Smoking and eating are not allowed inside the vehicle.
• This tour is not suitable for guests with back problems or wheelchair users.
• Be ready in the hotel lobby 15 minutes before the scheduled pickup time.
• Provide accurate hotel address details at the time of booking to avoid delays.
• Carry a valid ID or passport for identification during the tour.
• Arrive on time; failure to report at pickup is treated as a no-show, with no rescheduling or refund.
• Tour timings can shift depending on traffic and road conditions.