Lan Wandered

“Nestled in the Hidden Valley River of Amaghu, Noravank Monastery is by far one of the best kept architectural and cultural treasures of Armenia.” 

Hey, are you looking for a unique and historical place hidden in the middle of mountains and valleys in Armenia? Then, Noravank Monastery is probably the best destination for you to visit. It is one of the best-kept paradises, featuring a medieval monastery surrounded by a red cliff valley and stunning mountains. It is one of the most beautiful sites in Armenia and a top tourist destination. I am absolutely sure that you will be amazed once you reach this location. Even today, I still consider it to be one of the best places I’ve visited so far. So, what are you waiting for? It’s about time to discover this stunning place.

About Noravank

Noravank is a medieval Armenian monastery built in the 13th century, located 122 km from Yerevan in a narrow gorge made by the Amaghu River, near the town of Yeghegnadzor. The monastery was founded by Bishop Hovhannes, the father superior of Vahanavank which is a monastery in the vicinity of the city of Kapan. It is famous for its two-storey Surb Astvatsatsin, also called “Holy Mother of God” Church, which grants access to the succeeding floor using a narrow stone-made staircase in the front of the monastery. It has a lot of khackars (An Armenian carved cross-stone) around the complex. The Surb Astvatsatsin was erected by an architect named Momik and considered to be one of his best works. The church is considered as one of the most significant religious, cultural, and educational centers.  Today, it is one of the most visited sites in Armenia.

How to get to Noravank from Yerevan?

DIY, Public Transportation:

Unfortunately, there is no direct bus or van going to Noravank Monastery. So, your option is to stop first in the nearby town of Spa in Jermuk, and from there you can take a taxi heading to Noravank. But I don’t think it’s a good option anyway, it still depends on how adventurous you are.

Alternatively, a second option for public transportation is to ride a taxi from Yerevan directly to Noravank, with a fare of around 18 USD. You can download the GG or Yandex Taxi App in case you have difficulty finding one.

Private Vehicle: If you have your own car, you can drive directly from Yerevan going to Noravank for about one and a half hour. If unsure of the location, use Google Maps for a route guide.

Renting a Car in Armenia: 

Cars for rent are available in Yerevan, Armenia and most of them have air conditioning, letting you to travel comfortably. The vehicle rent is around 20 USD per day for economy class. This option is great if you are planning to explore many places in Armenia and would like to travel at your own pace and time. This also an excellent option for a group, just ensure that at least one or two of you have driver license that is accredited in Armenia.

Tours with transfer:

For convenience, join a day trip from Yerevan available in any travel agency tours offering this experience to reduce your cost. It is by far the easiest way to travel to Noravank Monastery. The cost is around 40 USD which includes other tourist attraction like Khor Virap, Areni Winery & Cave. Highly recommended especially for someone who is traveling alone and would like to join a group tour. You also have an option to do private tour for 100 USD with driver only and around 120 USD with tour guide.

By the way, I visited here in the month of February, still winter and I join a group tour.

If you are curious, I book my tour in G7 Euro Travel & Tours or known in Filipino community as Kabayans and Pinoys in Tbilisi, Georgia, highly recommended. It’s my second time doing a transaction with them, so I can confidently say that they are one of the best Travel & Tour agency providers in Georgia & Armenia.

Is Noravank worth visiting?

Definitely yes, it is one the most beautiful tourist spot in Armenia and for sure will satisfy and perhaps exceed your expectation. It is a distinctive combination of history, architecture, art, and a wonderful background of nature. If you are lucky, you might see fox in the area which we experience.

How many days required to visit this historical place?

A day trip from Yerevan is already sufficient to explore and experience the beauty of Noravank Monastery.

When is the best time to visit Noravank?

Noravank Monastery can be visited all year round, however, if you want to visit with much fewer group, then come in winter. Depending on your choice of view and ambience, you can choose from different season month in Armenia.

December to March– Winter season in Armenia and provides a magical, mysterious and tranquil atmosphere in the surroundings Noravank.

April to May– (Spring) If you want to see Noravank Monastery with blooming flowers around, then visit on this month.

June to September– The Peak season in Armenia is usually during summer. If you want to Noravank with lush green surrounding, and a clear view of brick-red cliff then visit this month.

October to November– the autumn season is a colorful month in Armenia, giving a yellow and reddish vibe background in Noravank.

As for me, Since I am a Filipino who lives in a country with a tropical climate, it has been a dream of mine to experience snow during the winter. Thus, I opted to visit here in the month of February.

My journey going to this Hidden Cultural Treasure of Armenia

Saving the best for last is really true, as Noravank Monastery didn’t disappoint me. It is everything I hope for when I arrive at the place. As you know, when I was searching for the best place to visit in Armenia, Noravank was really one of the top contenders. Subsequently, it was one of the other considerations in selecting the best tour package from Yerevan. I joined a group tour since I am traveling alone and want to reduce my cost on the last day. Hence, along with Khor Virap, Areni Winery, Areni Cave, and Noravank, this was the last spot for this day trip.

Again, I am an Overseas Filipino Worker in Saudi Arabia, so from Dammam International Airport, I traveled to Yerevan, Armenia. On the third day of my stay in this beautiful country, I joined a group tour with eight of us, excluding the driver and tour guide. From Yerevan, we traveled in the morning first to Khor Virap Monastery, then to Areni Winery and Cave, then to Noravank Monastery. But before that, we took our late lunch at a restaurant near Areni Cave. By the way, thanks to one of our group members who treated us to that lunch; he was really a good guy. I forgot what the celebration was, though, since it was not disclosed to us officially. Anyway, we are grateful to him. Ok, let’s go back to our travel journey. So from the restaurant, we travel for 15 minutes to Noravank Monastery. The road going there looks amazing, especially in winter, as you are traveling on a road in between tall cliffs with snow giving off a mysterious vibe. Once you reach the end of the road, you will see the monastery above, in the middle of a hill. The location is superb, as it is surrounded by beautiful brick-red cliffs and mountains. On top of that, since in the month of February, the snow is about to end in this area, you will witness the cliff view divided by snow and a pure red cliff on the other side (just look at the photo below). I believed that photos and words were not enough to explain how magnificent it was, you had to see it for yourself. It was really mesmerizing; we roamed around and tried to climb on the other side of the cliff to capture stunning photos. Lastly, we were also fortunate to see a wild fox during our visit.

Overall, my travel journey to Noravank was impeccable, and I couldn’t ask for more. It is truly a wonder to behold and one of the places that you should not miss visiting in Armenia. And if you like to experience the same vibes as what my photos are showing, I suggest visiting here in the first week of February. Otherwise, depending on your vacation time, personal interests and weather preferences, you can visit Armenia at any time of the year.

Travel Tips when planning to visit Noravank Monastery

Here are some tips you should consider when heading to this amazing monastery.

• It’s very cold here especially in Winter, so prepare yourself accordingly.
• In case of traveling by public transportation, please note that Minibuses in Yerevan is leaving hourly from 9 am until 7 pm.
• Don’t forget to hike up the red cliff at the side of the Monastery and takes amazing videos and photos.
• Try to drink water on the small spring near the gate of the monastery.

• Remember that summer is the peak season in Armenia, so it is best to schedule your trip on weekdays to avoid many crowds. 
• To enjoy your day trip, I suggest joining a group tour to save money. This way you can visit not only Noravank but also other popular tourist spot in Armenia.
• Please note there are parking facilities in Noravank

• Bring bottled water to stay hydrated.
• Be a responsible traveler and help keep Noravank clean.
• Take only memories, leave only footprints. 

Budget when going to Noravank

The cost of traveling to Noravank Monastery is considerably budget-friendly, especially if you join a group package tour. Based on my experience, most tourists spend around 40 to 50 USD from Yerevan if you join a group tour including the food. This is already a package tour with other tourist spots.

If only Noravank, and you do it DIY. You might spend below 20 USD if you follow the public transportation option. But I do not recommend it though.

Suggested Itinerary from Yerevan if DIY

Day 1

9:00 am – Take Minibus/Minivan from Yerevan to Spa Town, Jermuk

10:00 am- Ride a taxi from Spa town in Jermuk to Noravank

10:30 am- Arrive at Noravank, inform your taxi driver to wait for you.

11:00 am- Wander and roam around Noravank Monastery

11:30 am- Return back to Yerevan.

In case of joining a group tour, follow your time schedule in order to visit all tourist spot.

Tip: I suggest taking a day trip from Yerevan for convenience.

Essential things to bring

• Money in Cash (Armenian Dram)
• Comfortable shoes depends on the season you will visit
• Sunscreen for summer season
• Bottle of water
• Sun glass
• Light Snacks
• Cap for head & face sun protection
• Jacket applicable for summer or winter depends on season
• Power bank

Tip: “Be at the moment”. Use this time to enjoy and reconnect with your friends or if traveling solo, relax your mind and make the most of the time to reassess your own life. You can also bond with new people if you are joining a group tour and build friendship.

So, have you been to Noravank? Please share your thoughts, I would like to know your experience.

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