“Geghard Monastery is undoubtedly one of the most remarkable religious sites I’ve seen in Armenia, with a rich culture and history as well as a dramatic landscape of the Azat valley.”
Another masterpiece of religious architecture in Armenia that you should not miss visiting is the Geghard Monastery. It is one of the most renowned medieval monasteries in the country and serves as an important educational, cultural and a religious site. The monastery has a unique architecture and an amazing landscape, situated on a rocky mountain in a mysterious forest with springs.
About Geghard Monastery
Geghard Monastery is a medieval monastery complex listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is situated in the advent of Azat Valley in the Kotayk Province of Armenia. During the 4th century, Gregory the illuminator founded the monastery, which started as a small cave chapel with a sacred spring, hence, called “Ayrivank” the monastery of cave. Later on, the whole monastery complex was erected following the adoption of Christianity as the state religion in Armenia, thus, completed in the 13th century. Some parts of the monastery complex are entirely carved out of rocks, while the others are little more than caves.
The name Geghard was derived from the Armenian word Geghardavank which means the monastery of the spear. The spear was a renowned relic that pierced Jesus Christ in the cross. It was allegedly brought here by one of the apostles. For 500 years the spear was kept here, until such time it was transferred to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin Museum. Today, Geghard monastery still preserve its natural beauty serves as a cultural and educational center in Armenia. It is also one of the most popular tourist attractions and visited site in the Country.
How to get to Geghard Monastery?
Geghard is about 40 kilometers away from Yerevan and takes about an hour or less to travel and reach this place.
Below are the some of the options in order to get to this medieval monastery.
DIY, Public Transportation:
Take a Marshrutka/minivan/minibus to the Gai Bus station in Yerevan (look for Bus #22, #26 or #36). The fare is around 250 AMD and mostly takes around 40 minutes to an hour.
Alternatively, a second option for public transportation is to ride a taxi from Yerevan directly to Geghard, with a fare of around 12 to 15 USD. You can use the Yandex Taxi App in case you have difficulty finding one.
Private Vehicle: Drive directly to Geghard Monastery from Yerevan. If you are unsure of the location, use Google Maps for route guide.
Renting a Car in Armenia: There are many cars for rent to select in Yerevan, Armenia and most of them have air conditioning, allowing you to travel comfortably. The 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 is also a great option for a group. Just ensure that at least one or two of you have an international driver license that is accredited in Armenia.
Tours with transfer: For convenience, join a day trip from Yerevan available at any travel agency offering this experience to reduce your cost. The cost is around 40 USD. You also have the option to do a private tour for 100 USD with a driver only and around 120 USD with a tour guide.
By the way, I visited here in the month of February, still in the winter. Hence, I opted to book a private tour with transfer. The package includes a day tour to Garni Temple, Geghard Monastery, Tsaghkadzor ski resort and lastly, Lake Sevan. I highly recommend this one, especially if you are traveling solo and want to wander alone, otherwise join a group tour if you want to reduce your cost.
If you are curious, I booked my tour with G7 Euro Travel & Tours, known in the 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.
You can check out my blog for the awesome places to visit in Armenia for more details. Otherwise, check Viator.com for tours option.
My Experience
As mentioned, I booked a private tour with a driver only, hence, after visiting Garni Temple in the morning, my next stop was the Geghard Monastery. From Garni Temple, we travel around 30 minutes to this place. Upon arriving, my driver informed me to roam around the monastery for 30 minutes while he waited in the parking lot. There is no entrance fee here, hence, open to everyone. The monastery during that time was under minor renovation, as some scaffold was seen inside. Regardless of the repair, you can still appreciate the beauty of the monastery.
I was fortunate because I visited here during winter son very less crowd. My favorite part here was the back side, where you can see the small bridge and the river. It was also amazing to see the spring and some part of the church that were carved out of rocks, and the passage that looked like a cave. I have seen also a collection of manuscripts written in Armenian and khachkar which is also known as Armenian cross-stone. Overall, my experience here is amazing. Thanks by the way to my Filipino kababayan from the UAE that I saw inside for taking this photo.
When is the best time to visit Geghard Monastery?
The Monastery complex is exceptional in spring, summer, autumn or winter. In my case, I visited this medieval church in the winter, in the first week of February. It was cold, but sunny. The whole complex still has snow and looks fantastic, especially on the back side near the river. The weather for me is just right, and I am looking forward to this kind of vibe. Since it was winter, the number of tourists was also less, hence, you can enjoy the view and take great photos and videos.
Below are the months season in Armenia for reference:
- Spring: March to May
- Summer: June to August
- Autumn: September to November
- Winter: December to February
How many days required to visit this historical place?
A day trip from Yerevan is already plenty to explore and experience the beauty of Geghard Monastery.
Travel Tips when planning to visit Geghard Monastery
Below are some tips should consider when visiting to this medieval monastery.
- Entering to Geghard monastery is free, however, donations are welcome.
- Please dress conservatively and note that you are visiting a religious site, make sure to cover your shoulders and knees before entering the monastery.
- Geghard monastery opens around 10am to 9pm in summer, while 10 am to 5 pm in winter
- Parking lot in the monastery complex is available and cost around 250 AMD.
- Remember that Sunday is the busiest day in the church, so if you are coming as a tourist, better to avoid this day and schedule in weekdays instead.
- Remember to bring small bill/coins to be used for paying in Comfort Room/Washroom.
- If you are traveling solo, bring your own selfie stick stand to capture solo video and photos. I was alone in this tour, so, I know how difficult it was to capture good photos and videos including myself.
- Be updated of the weather forecast before traveling to this place.
- Be a responsible traveler and keep Geghard Monastery clean.
- Take only memories, leave only footprints.
Budget when travelling to Geghard Monastery.
The cost of traveling to Geghard 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 in Yerevan if they join a group tour, including the food. This is already a package tour where you can visit four tourist spots like Garni Temple, Geghard Monastery, Tsaghkador Ski Resort and Lake Sevan
If only Geghard, and you do it DIY. You might spend below 20 USD if you follow the public transportation option.
You can also check viator.com or tripadvisor.com for other tour options.
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. Their tour package is well organized, so I can confidently say that they are one of the best Travel & Tour agency providers in Georgia. One more advantage is that they pick you up and drop in your hotel, so no hustle.
If you plan to book here, you can use my code: “LAN Wandered with G7 Kabayans in Georgia & Armenia
And get 3% to 20 % discount depending on length of stay or number of people booking at same time. You can message their FB page: Kabayans and Pinoys in Tbilisi, Georgia or their whatsapp number +995579128007.
3 Steps to avail discount:
- Mention the code above when booking.
- Screenshot this blog where you read my article.
- Simply like their Facebook Page: Kabayans and Pinoys in Tbilisi, Georgia
What to bring.
- Money in Cash (Armenian Dram)
- Comfortable shoes depends on the season you will visit
- For foreigners always bring your passport and kept it in safe bag.
- Sunscreen for skin protection
- Bottle of water, always stay hydrated during your travel.
- Sun glass
- Light Snacks
- Cap for head & face sun protection
- Jacket applicable for summer or winter depends on season
- Power bank for your phone
So, have you been to Geghard Monastery? Please share your thoughts, I would like to know your experience.
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