Private tour: Cultural treasures of Armenia and Georgia in 2 days
Haghpat Monastery, Sanahin Monastery
1. Haghpat Monastery
50-60 min
To the northeast of Sanahin, cradled by the lofty peaks of Lori, stretches the monastery of Haghpat – a masterpiece of Armenian medieval art, where stone speaks the language of centuries. Founded in the 10th century under King Ashot III of the Bagratuni dynasty, it rose at a time when Armenia blossomed in culture and spirit. The weathered walls of Haghpat still carry the resonance of that golden age, bearing silent witness to the passage of time.
Within its sacred grounds stand the Church of the Holy Mother of God, erected in 1025, the Church of Surb Nshan, the library and many other edifices that together shape the monastery into a miniature city of faith. In the late 18th century, the great troubadour Sayat-Nova lived and created here, weaving verses and songs that captured the soul of the Caucasus. Even now, one feels his echo within these walls, as if the strings of his instrument still tremble in the air.
But Haghpat was never just a monastery. It was a haven of thought and learning: manuscripts were penned, books safeguarded and ideas exchanged that nourished both faith and intellect. Today, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, Haghpat continues to remind the world of Armenia's golden spiritual era.
Standing at the foot of its ancient walls, one senses how time folds upon itself – the silence of the monastery filled with an eternal chant, where prayer and song weave into a single, timeless harmony.
Within its sacred grounds stand the Church of the Holy Mother of God, erected in 1025, the Church of Surb Nshan, the library and many other edifices that together shape the monastery into a miniature city of faith. In the late 18th century, the great troubadour Sayat-Nova lived and created here, weaving verses and songs that captured the soul of the Caucasus. Even now, one feels his echo within these walls, as if the strings of his instrument still tremble in the air.
But Haghpat was never just a monastery. It was a haven of thought and learning: manuscripts were penned, books safeguarded and ideas exchanged that nourished both faith and intellect. Today, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, Haghpat continues to remind the world of Armenia's golden spiritual era.
Standing at the foot of its ancient walls, one senses how time folds upon itself – the silence of the monastery filled with an eternal chant, where prayer and song weave into a single, timeless harmony.
2. Sanahin Monastery
40-50 min
Not far from Haghpat, in the heart of the Lori region, rises Sanahin Monastery – a true marvel of Armenia's medieval architecture. Its construction began in the second half of the 10th century, during the reign of King Ashot III and from the very beginning the complex was conceived as both a spiritual and educational center.
The first structures built here were the Church of the Holy Mother of God and the Church of Amenaprkich (All-Savior), around which other chapels and utility buildings gradually appeared. Between the two churches, architects originally left a narrow passage, but soon realized the risk: in the event of an earthquake, both might collapse. The solution turned out to be not only practical but ingeniously creative – the passage was filled with a new building, the Academy, which not only strengthened the seismic stability of the complex but also transformed Sanahin into a flourishing hub of science and enlightenment.
Here, prominent scholars worked, manuscripts were copied and created and traditions of Armenian intellectual thought were shaped. The stone vaults and austere architectural lines still impress with their harmony and grandeur, preserving the breath of centuries.
Today, included on the UNESCO World Heritage List, Sanahin stands not only as a monument of architecture but also as a living symbol of the power of knowledge, faith and art that defined medieval Armenia.
The first structures built here were the Church of the Holy Mother of God and the Church of Amenaprkich (All-Savior), around which other chapels and utility buildings gradually appeared. Between the two churches, architects originally left a narrow passage, but soon realized the risk: in the event of an earthquake, both might collapse. The solution turned out to be not only practical but ingeniously creative – the passage was filled with a new building, the Academy, which not only strengthened the seismic stability of the complex but also transformed Sanahin into a flourishing hub of science and enlightenment.
Here, prominent scholars worked, manuscripts were copied and created and traditions of Armenian intellectual thought were shaped. The stone vaults and austere architectural lines still impress with their harmony and grandeur, preserving the breath of centuries.
Today, included on the UNESCO World Heritage List, Sanahin stands not only as a monument of architecture but also as a living symbol of the power of knowledge, faith and art that defined medieval Armenia.
Overnight stay
Tbilisi, Mtskheta, Jvari Monastery, Yerevan
1. Tbilisi
140-150 min
280 kilometers north of Yerevan stretches Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia – a city where the past and the present beat in the same vibrant rhythm. At its heart runs the Kura River, an artery that unites centuries, mirroring in its waters church domes, bridges and the sparkling lights of the metropolis. In its narrow alleys whispers of history can still be heard, while the wide avenues breathe with the pulse of a modern city.
Tbilisi keeps treasures of time: old quarters, majestic cathedrals and half-ruined fortresses, where centuries seem to pause, standing beside shining business centers and bold contemporary architecture. The Narikala district, with its winding medieval streets leading to the ancient fortress overlooking the city, adds a special charm. Meanwhile, Rustaveli Avenue astonishes with its grandeur – a cultural stage lined with theaters, museums and palaces, embodying Georgia's artistic spirit.
The city is a living contrast: ornate balconies and courtyards of the past neighbor with Soviet-era monuments and glass-and-steel towers of today. From the cable car, Tbilisi unfolds like an open palm – a breathtaking panorama where history and modernity merge into one harmonious pattern.
Tbilisi is more than a capital; it is the soul of Georgia, a city where everyone discovers a reflection of their own story and carries away its living breath.
Tbilisi keeps treasures of time: old quarters, majestic cathedrals and half-ruined fortresses, where centuries seem to pause, standing beside shining business centers and bold contemporary architecture. The Narikala district, with its winding medieval streets leading to the ancient fortress overlooking the city, adds a special charm. Meanwhile, Rustaveli Avenue astonishes with its grandeur – a cultural stage lined with theaters, museums and palaces, embodying Georgia's artistic spirit.
The city is a living contrast: ornate balconies and courtyards of the past neighbor with Soviet-era monuments and glass-and-steel towers of today. From the cable car, Tbilisi unfolds like an open palm – a breathtaking panorama where history and modernity merge into one harmonious pattern.
Tbilisi is more than a capital; it is the soul of Georgia, a city where everyone discovers a reflection of their own story and carries away its living breath.
2. Mtskheta
60-70 min
At the meeting point of the restless Kura and the calm Aragvi, the ancient city of Mtskheta unfolds – the first Christian capital of Georgia and the cradle of its spiritual heritage.
Tradition attributes its founding to Mtskhetos, son of Kartlos, the legendary forefather of the Georgian people. From that moment, the fate of this place became inseparable from the destiny of the nation itself. It was here that Saint Nino arrived, escaping the slaughter of the "Ripsimean" martyrs, carrying in her heart the fire of the new faith. Her prayers and wonders – the healing of the king's son and later Queen Nana – inspired King Mirian to embrace Christianity. Following her counsel, he raised a modest wooden church in the 4th century. Centuries later, King Vakhtang I Gorgasali replaced it with a stately stone basilica. When the 11th century brought its destruction, the great Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, the "Life-Giving Pillar", rose in its place, forever inscribed in the spiritual memory of the land.
Beside it stands the Samtavro Monastery complex, born of King Mirian's vision and reshaped under George I.
Today, Mtskheta is not just an open-air chronicle – it is a living prayer, where the breath of ancient walls mingles with the heartbeat of the present.
Tradition attributes its founding to Mtskhetos, son of Kartlos, the legendary forefather of the Georgian people. From that moment, the fate of this place became inseparable from the destiny of the nation itself. It was here that Saint Nino arrived, escaping the slaughter of the "Ripsimean" martyrs, carrying in her heart the fire of the new faith. Her prayers and wonders – the healing of the king's son and later Queen Nana – inspired King Mirian to embrace Christianity. Following her counsel, he raised a modest wooden church in the 4th century. Centuries later, King Vakhtang I Gorgasali replaced it with a stately stone basilica. When the 11th century brought its destruction, the great Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, the "Life-Giving Pillar", rose in its place, forever inscribed in the spiritual memory of the land.
Beside it stands the Samtavro Monastery complex, born of King Mirian's vision and reshaped under George I.
Today, Mtskheta is not just an open-air chronicle – it is a living prayer, where the breath of ancient walls mingles with the heartbeat of the present.
3. Jvari Monastery
30-40 min
High above the ancient city of Mtskheta, where the waters of the Kura and Aragvi rivers meet in an eternal embrace, a rocky cliff crowned by centuries of wind holds the Jvari Monastery – the "Holy Cross". Its walls preserve the memory of the distant 6th century, when, according to tradition, Saint Nino the Equal-to-the-Apostles erected a cross here to mark the triumph of the new faith over paganism. Legend says that a miraculous light shone from that cross, visible for miles around, guiding travelers not only to the city but to God Himself.
The monastery rises 150 meters above its surroundings, offering a majestic panorama of Georgia's ancient capital and the silver ribbons of the two rivers. The church's exterior, shaped like an elongated cross, captivates with the harmony of its forms, while its dome, resting on an octagonal drum, seems to reach for the heavens.
Everything here is steeped in the spirit of time: the wind whispering through the grass seems to echo the monks' prayers and the stones underfoot quietly tell the stories of centuries past. Even today, Jvari stands as a guardian of faith and tradition, not only an architectural masterpiece but also a living symbol of Georgia's spiritual grandeur.
The monastery rises 150 meters above its surroundings, offering a majestic panorama of Georgia's ancient capital and the silver ribbons of the two rivers. The church's exterior, shaped like an elongated cross, captivates with the harmony of its forms, while its dome, resting on an octagonal drum, seems to reach for the heavens.
Everything here is steeped in the spirit of time: the wind whispering through the grass seems to echo the monks' prayers and the stones underfoot quietly tell the stories of centuries past. Even today, Jvari stands as a guardian of faith and tradition, not only an architectural masterpiece but also a living symbol of Georgia's spiritual grandeur.
Inclusions
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Professional drivers
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Air-conditioned vehicles
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Bottled water
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Free pick-up & drop-off within Yerevan
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Vehicle & passengers insurance
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Extra stops on the route upon request
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Driver/Guide accommodation & meals
Exclusions
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Hotel accommodation
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Significant deviations from the route
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Alcoholic beverages if lunch option selected
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Audio guides
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Wi-Fi in the vehicles
What to expect
- Explore incredible UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites
- Experience the art of 10th century Armenian architecture
- See the most popular sites of the capital of Georgia
- Stroll along the cozy streets of the old town
- Feel the incomparable Georgian flavor
- Marvel at the 7th & 11th centuries' Georgian architecture
*Residents of some countries (please, check the details at the office) may need to apply for the visa in advance to enter Georgia or/and to obtain one more entry visa to come back to Armenia
*Entry visa to Georgia or/and entry visa to come back to Armenia is NOT included
*Kindly have your Valid Passport with you for crossing the border & hotel check-in
Booking conditions
Cancellation & modification
Meet our Guides
Nelly Poghosyan
HY
EN
Hi! I'm Nelly, a certified tour guide. With work experience since 2012 and a unique set of skills – including deep patience, adaptability, and a sense of humor – I invite you to visit Armenia and explore this wonderful part of the world with me!
Poghos Varzhapetyan
RU
HY
My name is Poghos Varzhapetyan. I've been working in tourism since 2016. I love traveling. As a tour guide, my goal is always to make guests fall in love with Armenia so much that at the end of the tour they don't say goodbye, but instead say, "See you again, Armenia!".
Roza Hovhannisyan
RU
EN
Hi! My name is Roza, and I've been working as a tour guide since 2019. Why did I choose this profession? It's very simple: I love Armenia, I love people, and I love introducing people to Armenia. But not just introducing them – I do my best to make them fall in love with my country, too.
Ani Mshecyan
RU
Good afternoon, dear friends! I'm a Russian-speaking tour guide since 2023, offering tours around Armenia. My main priority is the interests and preferences of our guests. Each tour is customized individually and takes place in a pleasant, friendly atmosphere. The excursions are as engaging, creative, and informative as possible. I'll be happy to meet you and share my knowledge about our beautiful country.
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