Unique Monasteris of Northern Armenia Tour from Yerevan

This private tour will help you discover the unique monasteries of one of the most beautiful regions of Armenia - Kobayr, Odzun, Horomayr and Haghpat monasteries. 

Highlights: 

• explore Lori region departing from Yerevan

• visit Kobayr, Odzun, Horomayr and Haghpat monasteries

Includes: 

• a driver (guide)

• Yerevan pick-up and drop-off

• private minivan transportation

Not included: 

• entrance fees to attractions
  

• meals

• professional English-speaking guide ($65)

The tour departs from Yerevan. Your driver (guide) will pick you up, and you will head to see another beautiful side of Armenia. Lori region is one of the picturesque regions of Armenia which has many hidden treasures. 

On the way you will see many small villages, local people, beautiful landscapes. Reaching the amazing Debed Canyon, your first stop will be at Kobayr monastery, nestled atop a cliff on the western slope of the Debed Canyon. This 12th century monastic complex of Kobayr is famous for its mesmerizing frescoes. It can be reached on foot through a steep, narrow path within 15 minutes.

The next monastery you will be visiting is Odzun monastery, overlooking the Debed Canyon. According to Christian tradition, in the 1st century Thomas the Apostle, one of the twelve apostles of Christ, had priests ordained here, thus the name of the village. It is believed that before his departure to India, Thomas the Apostle had buried the Christ’s swaddling clothes, above which a small church was built. Later, in the 4th century, King Tiridates the Great and Gregory the Illuminator built a basilica on the site, which was gradually enlarged in the coming centuries, obtaining its present look in the 8th century, except for the bell towers added in the late 19th century.

Continuing this spiritual journey, you will reach Horomayr monastery, located about 3 km southeast of the village of Odzun. Today’s surviving structures of the monastery were built through the late 12th-early 14th centuries. This unique monastery consists of two parts – the lower monastery, also known as the “Monastery in the gorge,” is situated just below the sheer cliffs on the left slope of Debed Canyon, and the upper one, known as the “Monastery on the edge of the canyon,” sits on the edge of the plateau above.

Your last stop is a true masterpiece called Haghpat, included in UNESCO World Heritage list. Founded in 976 AD, it represents a unique fusion of traditional architecture of the region and the ecclesiastical architecture of the Byzantine Empire. You will head back to Yerevan filled with unforgettable memories.