Aparan, a small town that is as severe as it is picturesque, lies at the foot of Mount Aragats, Armenia's roof. A small town in the high plateaus, buffeted by the winds, dry and freezing in winter, it is an ideal point of departure for climbing Aragats.

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If someone were to ask you what Steve Jobs, Kim Kardashian and Princess Diana have in common, what would you answer? They are all of Armenian origin... of course! Sometimes more known for its famous expatriates than for itself, Armenia is a multifaceted country still widely unexplored and seldom frequented by Western tourists. But what riches are hidden there! From the capital Yerevan to the emblematic and legendary mountains (Mount Ararat, Mount Aragats), Armenia boasts churches and monasteries listed in the UNESCO list of world heritage sites, a thousand-year-old culture of incredible variety. With a rocky landscape of canyons and high plateaus, 90% of the land is situated above 1000 metres altitude to delight the soul of the lost wayfarer. Traveling in Armenia also means meeting a proud, hospitable and warm people, always overjoyed to be able to share with passing visitors and to assist them in discovering their country and its resources forged over several millennia more intimately. Don’t wait a moment longer, you too can create your tailor-made trip to Armenia. Բարի գալուստ Հայաստան (Bari galust Hayastan or Welcome to Armenia)!

Armenia

Aparan

The symbol of a country which recalls the riches of its history and the bitterness of its defeats.

Mount Ararat

Areni's excellent red wines  are produced in a small village in the south west of the country on the border with Azerbaijan

Areni

The ruin of the Amberd Fortress is 2300 m above sea level; it is a symbolic monument perched on top of a stony setting and at the foot of Mount Aragats. Just next to the Vahramashen church (11th century) is another architectural and scenic gem.

Amberd

A monastery on the Turkish border, at the foot of the emblematic Mount Ararat, Khor Virap is one of the most photogenic Armenian monasteries. 

Khor Virap

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I spent a day at Khor Virap, which was enough time to visit the monastery and take a little stroll around the religious building with Mount Ararat in the background. Try to go on a Sunday morning, because you'll get the chance to attend a religious ceremony, knowing that Armenia is mostly Apostolic. This is an opportunity to experience the country's religious aspect more. According to one study, Armenia is considered the 3rd most religious country in the world. For the more fun part of your visit, there are dungeons to check out, and you get there by going down numerous underground ladders. Beware: you shouldn't go down if you're claustrophobic... Don’t forget to try the local cuisine during <a href="/armenia/">your stay in Armenia</a>, a real treat. Carnivorous friends rejoice, because barbecue is the country's main dish, and finish your meal with a glass of cognac, renowned here for its quality.

Khor Virap is an Armenian monastery, located 45 minutes from Yerevan by minibus. This place is considered to be the first holy place in Armenia.

It would be a shame to not go to the Khor Virap monastery during a <a href="/armenia/">stay in Armenia</a> because this place alone is the symbol of the country. The simple silhouette of the monastery built in the more pure Armenian architectural style distances itself from Mount Ararat, located a few miles away on the Turkish side of the border. A mountain and a monastery - not much else could be more Armenian. Aside from that, you have to admit that the monastery itself isn't very big, and its architecture is relatively simple. The trip is worth taking, however, especially for the view. Nevertheless, for Armenians, it is a significant pilgrimage site, where Saint Gregory the Illuminator (the founder of the Armenian Apostolic Church) was imprisoned for 12 years. Since Khor Virap is located near Yerevan, the monastery can be the destination of a half-day excursion from the capital.

Khor Virap is an Armenian monastery against the backdrop of Mount Ararat.

Imagine a desert landscape, a moon like plain from which emerges an arid mountain, a volcano with a snow covered summit that is more than 5,000 m high, and, in the foreground, a stone monastery, looking dwarfed by such immensity. Well, that's what you can expect from Khor Viap monastery! Obviously, the site's beauty is not completely unknown because the monastery is a much prized pilgrimage site for Armenians, who also go there to get married, to have their children baptized, or to make traditional animal sacrifices, especially at the weekends when the site is quite busy. But if you can go there on a week day and outside high season during your <a href="/armenia/">trip to Armenia</a>, you are likely to be more or less alone, like I was lucky enough to be, with the magnificent landscape around you.

A monastery on the Turkish border, at the foot of the emblematic Mount Ararat, Khor Virap is one of the most photogenic Armenian monasteries.

Khor Virap Vacations

Khor Virap: How to get there?

Khor Virap: See when to go ?

Khor Virap: For how long?

Khor Virap: What to see nearby?