Tatev & Goris
A medieval monastery above a canyon in southern Armenia, reached by the world's longest reversible aerial tramway; use Goris as a base to see cave villages and a prehistoric stone circle.
Tatev and Goris are in Syunik, Armenia's southernmost province, about 240–250 km from Yerevan, and are the core of travel in southern Armenia. Goris is a tidy stone town, with volcanic tuff pillars and cave dwellings on the hillside to the east and plenty of guesthouses and restaurants, making it a good base; Tatev Monastery stands above the Vorotan Gorge about 30 km southwest of Goris, and riding the Wings of Tatev tramway across the gorge is one of the country's most classic experiences. The surrounding area falls into three routes: the Tatev route (the tramway, the monastery, the Devil's Bridge hot springs, the Great Hermitage and the hike to Old Khot village); the Goris route (the rock forest caves and the Khndzoresk swinging bridge); and the Sisian route (the Zorats Karer stone circle, Shaki Waterfall, Vorotnavank, and in summer a 4WD trip up to the Ughtasar petroglyphs); if you have time, continue south to Kapan to see Vahanavank and Halidzor Fortress. May–October is the best time to visit, and autumn brings the gorge's best red foliage; in winter the mountain roads are snowy and the tramway may stop running. From Yerevan it is about 4–5 hours by car or minibus, via Khor Virap, Areni and Noravank. We suggest staying 2–3 days. Syunik borders Azerbaijan, and part of the old road between Goris and Kapan runs close to the border; please take the newly built bypass and check the latest safety advisories.
Top sights
- Tatev Monastery – A 9th-century monastery on the cliffs of the Vorotan Gorge in southern Armenia, once a medieval center of learning. You reach it by flying…
- Wings of Tatev – A reversible aerial tramway that flies over the Vorotan Gorge from Halidzor village to Tatev Monastery. At about 5.75 km long, it is listed…
- Khndzoresk Cave Village & Swinging Bridge – An old village whose residents carved cave dwellings into both sides of a gorge. It was inhabited until the 1950s and is spanned by a 160-m…
- Devil's Bridge (Satani Kamurj) – A natural stone bridge carved by the Vorotan River through tufa rock, with mineral hot spring pools beneath it where you can soak your feet…
- Great Hermitage of Tatev – A 17th-century hermitage in the gorge below Tatev Monastery. It is walled, well preserved and far less crowded than the main monastery.
- Goris Stone Forest & Old Goris Caves – Cone-shaped and tower-like volcanic tuff pillars on the hillside east of Goris. Ancient cave dwellings were carved into the pillars, and th…
- Aksel Bakunts House Museum – The former home of Goris-born writer Aksel Bakunts, preserved with its 19th-century stone house and orchard. It is a small museum that offe…
- Zorats Karer (Carahunge) – A prehistoric site on a plateau near Sisian, made up of more than 200 standing stones, some with round holes. It is known as 'Armenia's Sto…
- Shaki Waterfall – A basalt waterfall about 18 metres high near Sisian. Its broad curtain of water is among the most beautiful in Armenia.
- Vorotnavank – A fortress-like monastery from the 10th to 11th centuries on the edge of the Vorotan River gorge, built by royal women of the Syunik kingdo…
- Sisavank Church, Sisian – A 7th-century domed church on a hill above the town of Sisian, a leading example of early medieval Armenian architecture. The town below ha…
- Ughtasar Petroglyphs – Thousands of prehistoric petroglyphs beside a high mountain lake at about 3,300 metres, depicting hunting, animals and celestial scenes. Re…
- Aghitu Memorial – A two-storey 7th-century memorial tomb near Sisian. Its design is extremely rare in Armenia, and it stands right beside the road.
- Old Khot Village – An abandoned stone village on the cliffs of the Vorotan Gorge, and the highlight of the classic Tatev–Khot–Shinuhayr hiking route.
- Shinuhayr Kusanats Anapat – A 17th-century nuns' hermitage on the gorge edge outside the village of Shinuhayr. The quiet ruins overlook the Vorotan Gorge and the direc…
- Vahanavank – A 10th-century monastery on a forested hillside near Kapan, once the religious centre and royal burial ground of the Syunik kingdom.
- Halidzor Fortress – A 17th–18th-century fortress on a hill west of Kapan, where the national hero Davit Bek once held out against Persian forces.
Where to eat
- Takarik Eatery – The most-reviewed traditional eatery in central Goris, serving freshly made herb pies and grilled meats with local wine…
- Old Goris Restaurant – A homey restaurant in an old stone house, with generous portions of pilaf, stews and homemade halva. Highly rated but w…
- Khoreayi Dzor Restaurant – Barbecue restaurant at the hotel of the same name, serving very large portions of grilled pork skewers at low prices. I…
- Tatevatun Restaurant – The only restaurant at the lower Halidzor station of the Wings of Tatev cable car, with a terrace overlooking the Vorot…
Itineraries
- Southern Silk Road & Tatev Loop – Drive south to Areni, Tatev, and Jermuk, then return via the Selim Pass and Lake Sevan.
- Grand Armenia Loop – From Tatev in the south to Debed and Gyumri in the north, cover all the main regions of the country in one loop.
- Georgia & Armenia Combo – Head north from Tbilisi to Kazbegi, cross the border into the Debed Canyon, and travel south to Tatev.