Sanain - Zarni-Parni - Akhpat - Akhtala

Route

Sanain Monastery • Zarni-Parni Cave and Fortress Complex • Akhpat Monastery • Akhtala Monastery

Check-out: 08:00

Duration: 11-12 hours

Cost: 20,000 AMD per person

Excursion language: English | Russian

Tour description

This tour is a deep journey through the north of Armenia, to the Lori region - one of the greenest and historically rich corners of the country, where ancient monasteries and fortresses are organically inscribed in the harsh beauty of gorges and mountains.

Our day begins with the Sanain Monastery - one of the most important spiritual and educational centers of medieval Armenia, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. In the X-XI centuries, a famous school operated here, where philosophers, theologians and scientists studied. Sanain was the intellectual and spiritual heart of the region, and today its atmosphere remains calm and concentrated.

Further, the route continues to Zarni-Parni - a rare cave and fortress complex of the X century, hidden among the rocks of the Lori Gorge. During the period of enemy raids, there was a secret fortification of local princes here, where manuscripts and valuables of the Akhpat Monastery were stored. Caves, fortress walls and stone trails create a feeling of a hidden world where history and nature have come together.

The next point is the Aghpat Monastery - a monumental spiritual center of the X-XIII centuries, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Its strict architecture, ancient khachkars and powerful walls create a sense of strength, stability and inner peace.

We complete the route in the Akhtala Monastery - one of the most unusual monastic complexes in Armenia. Akhtala is known for its magnificently preserved frescoes of the XIII century, made in the Byzantine style. In the past, it was an important spiritual and defensive center surrounded by fortress walls, and still amazes with a combination of Armenian, Georgian and Byzantine cultural traditions.

This tour is for those who appreciate the depth, history and authentic atmosphere of northern Armenia, without haste and tourist bustle.