Date: 19th May 2026
Travelled: 30 kms around Yerevan in Armenia
Visited:ย Ararat Valley. Garni Temple, Geghard Monastery ย
Stayed: Hayasa Hotel, Yerevan
After dinner our first evening in Yerevan passed quietly. The hotel is well appointed but the breakfast a little ordinary without a toaster.
At the appointed time our guides explains she will not be following the script this morning, Our city tour will start outside the city, so off we go into the morning traffic. The day is chilly but the sun makes appearances as we drive on.
The road taken starts to rise quickly as the city turns to suburbia. 15 minutes later the bus stops at Charente Arch a viewing point overlooking the Ararat Valley. Beyond the valley a snow capped Mount Ararat stands large. Cloud rolling over the summit. Whilst we cannot see Noahโs Ark from here itโs one of the most amazing vistas weโve enjoyed travelling.
Our guide states the Ararat valley is the bread basket of Armenia. The mountain summit itself now stands in Turkey, thanks to the Russians. Off to the left side stands Little Ararat which we catch a glimpse of occasionally, is in Iran. The complexity of the borders undoubtedly adds to the politic tensions in the region.
If we were to see nothing else today I would still be satisfied.
But we do, back on the coach, another 10 minutes and we arrive at the Garni Temple.
Our guide explains the Garni Temple, a pre Christian pagan temple built in the 1st century AD that was devoted to the god Mihr, who was the god of cleanness. In 1679 it was destroyed by anearthquake however was restored in 1975.
The temple entrance has lots of tat, as weโve come to expect. But once inside and passed the WC the obviously re-constructed temple is impressive. The photo below of a large black of stone has script in Greek which is how itโs age was established.
Below the photo of the alter inside of the temple gives the impression that a lot of new stone was required in the reconstruction. In any case it is impressive, reminding us of many similar temples weโve visited in Greece and Sicily.
The final photo above captures the gorge the temple overlooks, it adds some drama to the seen.
Back on the coach another 10 minutes and we stop at Abelyans House to watch the traditional method making of lavish bread. It may seem a bit touristy but it was amazing to watch how quickly these woman can prepare the doe and bake lavish bread. Lavish bread is the basis of Armenian fast food.
Once cooked add some salad herbs, a slice of cheese and roll it up, delicious. Add some rough red wine served from a giant plastic bag and it was party time.
Our next stop the Geghard Monastery. Our guide explains the monastery was named after the legendary lance that was used to pierce the body of Christ during the crucifixion. We are told it has been kept here for centuries but the exact date the original monastery was founded is unknown. The spear is now in a museum not here. It is thought that the present church named the Katoghike was built in the midโ13th century.
Pictured above some images from within the church, the final looking up at quad vaulted dome.
Just outside the church a small doorway leads to the zhamatun or mausoleum. Astonishingly it has been cut and decorated out of solid rock. The was no direct lighting so we explore by the torches on our phones.
Eventually we escape the church load onto the coach and turn for the city. Our next stop is a famous Armenian brandy maker, but the traffic is diabolical the last couple of kilometres taking an hour. Everyone is a bit tired needs a toilet and something to eat.
We are supposed to do a walking tour in the city but our guide reads the room or in this case the bus.
The brandy distillery is interesting but where not really brandy drinkers. Back on the coach we make for the hotel which takes another 40 minutes for a kilometre or so.
We have dinner with another couple from our tour in a restaurant next door to the hotel. The food excellent and reasonably priced once again.
So another long day slides through to the keeper.
Michael + Pam
