Khor Virap, Gorge of Angels, Tapi Fortress

• Khor Virap
• Gorge of Angels
• Tapi Fortress

We will start our tour from Khor Virap Monastery. It was here, in the underground dungeon under the Monastery, that Gregory the Illuminator spent 13 years in a prison thrown here by the Armenian King Trdat III for the preaching of Christianity. Here we will go down to the underground dungeon, which is located inside the chapel of St. Gregory the Illuminator. Here we will also admire the view of Mount Ararat from the territory of the monastery.

Our next stop is the Gorge of Angels, a very popular direction today, which is located near Dashtakar village. The Gorge of Angels is surrounded by the Dakhnak, Yeranos and Urts mountain ranges. The rock layers formed in the early geological period having peculiar open cuts that allow geologists to carry out appropriate researches are of great interest in the gorge. There is also mineral water with healing properties in this area. It should be also noted that the Gorge of the Angels is also of great interest to photo amateurs, as it differs greatly from others in its color, structure and appearance.

And, finally, the last stop of the tour is the Tapi Fortress (X century). Fortress Tapi or Gevorg Marzpetuni Fortress is located 6 km northwest of Urtsadzor village, on the right bank of the Khosrov River, on a hill surrounded by mountains. It is of great architectural value. The fortress is surrounded by a rectangular wall with round towers at the corners. The southern and eastern walls are adjoined by vaulted residential and utility constructions dated back to the 10th- 13th centuries. There is a church dated back to the 13th century inside the fortress walls.

Departure: 10:00

Arrival: 19:30

Place of departure: Hakob Hakobyan str. 1/ next to Mergelyan Institute