Individual / Shaki Waterfall, Cave-Town Old Khndzoresk, Swinging Bridge, Tatev, Halidzor Observation Deck

Program

530 km 

Shaki Waterfall

Cave-Town Old Khndzoresk

Swinging Bridge

Tatev Monastery

Rope Way

Halidzor Observation Deck

Devil's Bridge

The first stop of the tour is the picturesque Shaki waterfall, whose height is 17 m. It is one of the most famous waterfalls in Armenia. The place, where the waterfall is located, is a deep gorge with many rocks and caves.

 Then we will go to cave-town Old Khndzoresk, which once consisted of 11 historical districts. In the past, most of the houses in Khndzoresk were cave houses, and later stone houses began to be built. From a distance Khndzoresk resembles a huge multi-storey building. The local residents climbed into cave dwellings located at a height of 20-30 m with the help of ropes. Over time, terraced dwellings were attached to the facades of the caves located on steep slopes: the roof of one dwelling served as a yard for another one.

We should also pay attention to the Khndzoresk fortress, which in 1728-1730 served as a camp of the troops of Mkhitar Sparapet.

Four churches were built in the territory of Khndzoresk village in different historical periods. The one-nave Surb Tadevos church (XVII-XVIII centuries), the three-nave Surb Hripsime basilica (1666) and the Cave Church (the 9th-10th centuries) in the south-east of the village have been preserved. The Anapat Church (Desert Church) was destroyed. One of the manuscript centers, where numerous manuscripts were created and stored,  was  at the Anapat Church at one time. The grave of Mkhitar Sparapet is in the yard of the church. 

During the tour we will also see a unique swinging bridge of 160-m length and 63-m height,  which has been operating since 2012.

The next point of the tour is the Tatev Monastery complex. The Tatev Monastery is a historical monument of the 9th century, an exceptional example of the Armenian architecture, one of the ancient spiritual centers, as well as the largest university of  medieval Armenia.

Those who wish can enjoy «Wings of Tatev» ropeway. «Wings of Tatev» is the longest pendulum-type ropeway in the world (the length is almost 6 km), which is recorded in the Guinness Book of Records; it connects Halidzor and Tatev Monastery. The ropeway is one of the most famous attractions in Armenia today.  We will enjoy twelve minutes of unforgettable flight above the ravine of the fierce Vorotan River, during which a magnificent view of the gorge opens from a height of more than 300 m.

On the way we will stop at the Devil's Bridge (IV-II millennium BC). This miracle-construction is a natural bridge of travertine. Limestone deposits have been accumulated here over the centuries, and as a result a powerful stone arch has been formed, from the edges of which stalactites hang down, and picturesque waterfalls flow from the rocky pits under the natural bridge.

Departure: 08:00

Arrival: 23:00

Departure place: Hakob Hakobyan street 1 / next to the Mergelyan Institute

1 person - 85.000 AMD,

2-3 persons - 52.000 AMD,

4-10 persons - 40.000 AMD,

11-20 persons - 25.000 AMD,

21-30 persons - 17.000 AMD