Garni, Geghard, Symphony of Stones and Lavash Baking Tour Yerevan
4.8 (1,262 reviews) from travellers who booked this experience
Overview
This half-day group tour from Yerevan visits Garni Temple, the basalt Symphony of Stones and Geghard Monastery, then adds a hands-on lavash baking class so you learn how Armenia's famous flatbread is made. A live guide and transport are included with the morning option. An evening group option is also offered, with a shorter trip to see Garni in the evening light. It suits couples, families and curious travellers who want history, scenery and a cultural activity in about six hours.
Highlights
- Garni Temple, the only standing Greco-Roman colonnaded temple in the region
- The Symphony of Stones, a gorge wall of basalt columns shaped like organ pipes
- Geghard Monastery, a UNESCO-listed church carved into the cliff
- A hands-on lavash baking class with the morning group tour
- A live guide and transport included in the morning option
- An evening option to see Garni Temple in the evening light, without the baking class
- A compact half-day that fits around other plans in Yerevan
Full Description
Garni Temple
Garni Temple is a first-century Hellenistic temple with a colonnade of slender columns, standing on a cliff above the Azat river gorge. It was probably built under King Tiridates I, and after an earthquake in the seventeenth century it was carefully rebuilt in the 1970s from the original stones. Next to it you can see a Roman bathhouse with a coloured mosaic floor.
A Garni Temple tour is among the most popular day trips from Yerevan, and the guide explains how a pagan temple stayed in a Christian country. Garni Temple tickets are not included in the morning option, so the entrance fee is paid on the spot, and opening hours change by season.
The Symphony of Stones
Beneath Garni, the wall of the gorge is formed of tall hexagonal basalt columns that hang like the pipes of a giant organ. They appeared when lava cooled slowly and cracked into regular prisms, and the local name, Symphony of Stones, describes both the look and, in a strong breeze, the sound.
The viewing area is a short walk from the road, and a path leads down towards the river for a closer look. The entrance fee for the Symphony of Stones is not included in the price. The best time to visit is in the morning, when the light shows the columns clearly and the gorge is calm.
Geghard Monastery
Geghard Monastery sits at the end of a narrow valley, with chapels cut deep into the rock. Its name means the Monastery of the Spear, after the lance said to have been kept here. The main church dates from the early thirteenth century, and together with the upper Azat valley it is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
A Geghard Monastery tour from Yerevan is often the atmospheric highlight of the morning. Cover your shoulders and knees, step into the dim rock-cut rooms to hear the echo and look at the khachkars, the carved cross-stones, on the walls and in the courtyard.
Lavash baking class
Lavash is the thin, soft flatbread of Armenia, and its preparation and meaning are recognised by UNESCO as part of the country's intangible cultural heritage. It is traditionally baked on the wall of a tonir, an underground clay oven, and many Armenian families still make it together.
In the class on the morning tour you roll out the dough, learn how it is stretched and slapped onto the oven wall, and see it puff and brown in minutes. The experience is hands-on and relaxed, and a good way to understand everyday life in the villages around Garni. The evening option does not include the baking class.
Itinerary
- Meeting in YerevanMeet your group at the point confirmed after booking, at 09:00 for the morning tour or 16:00 for the evening option.
- Garni TempleExplore the Hellenistic temple, the Roman bath ruins and the gorge viewpoint.
- Symphony of StonesSee the basalt column wall in the gorge below the temple.
- Geghard MonasteryVisit the rock-cut churches and chapels of the monastery.
- Lavash baking classIn the morning option, roll and bake lavash with a local baker.
- Return to YerevanDrive back to the city, finishing after about six hours on the morning tour.
What's included
- Live guide during the group tour
- Transport
- Lavash baking class
- Visit to Garni Temple
- Visit to the Symphony of Stones
- Visit to Geghard Monastery
Not included
- Entrance fee to Garni Temple
- Entrance fee to the Symphony of Stones
- Lunch
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Not suitable for
- Travellers who cannot manage steps and uneven paths
- Anyone who needs hotel pickup, which is not included in the group options
- Visitors who want a private, flexible schedule
Meeting point
This group tour does not include hotel pickup. You meet your group at a point in Yerevan, and the exact place and time are confirmed after booking. The morning tour starts at 09:00 and lasts about six hours; the evening option starts at 16:00 and is shorter.
Important information
- Wear comfortable shoes with grip for the steps and stone paths
- Cover shoulders and knees for the monastery
- Entrance fees for Garni Temple and the Symphony of Stones are not included, so bring a little cash
- Lunch is not included in the morning option, so plan a meal or bring snacks
- The lavash baking class is part of the morning option only
- Bring a light layer, because the gorge can be cool, and water in summer
- Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, and opening hours change by season
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to what travellers ask us most, before they book.
How much does the Garni, Geghard and lavash baking tour cost?
The price depends on the option you choose. The booking panel on this page shows the current price for the morning and evening options, so you can compare them before you book.
Is hotel pickup included?
No. You meet your group at a point in Yerevan, and the details are confirmed after booking.
How long is the tour?
The morning tour starts at 09:00 and lasts about six hours. The evening option starts at 16:00 and is a shorter trip.
What is the difference between the options?
The morning option includes a live guide, transport and the lavash baking class. The evening option is a shorter trip to see Garni Temple in the evening light and the gorge views, without the baking class.
Are entrance tickets included?
The visits are part of the route, but the entrance fees for Garni Temple and the Symphony of Stones are not included and are paid on the spot.
Is the lavash baking class suitable for children?
Yes, children usually enjoy rolling dough and watching the bread bake. The whole tour is also suitable for families, with some steps to plan for.
What should I wear and bring?
Comfortable shoes, modest clothing for the monastery, a light layer, water and some cash.
Can I book for today or tomorrow?
Often yes, depending on availability for the date. Choose the date in the booking panel to see what is open.
Is Garni Temple worth visiting?
Yes. It is the only surviving Greco-Roman style temple in the region, and its gorge setting is memorable, especially in morning or evening light.
Can I do the lavash baking in the evening option?
No. The baking class is available only in the morning group tour option.