Goris & Southern Armenia

Comprising the provinces of Vayots Dzor and Syunik, southern Armenia is one of the country’s least-visited regions. It’s an area of outstanding natural beauty with rugged landscapes, lush wine-growing valleys, waterfalls and hot springs, medieval monasteries and ancient cave dwellings, and those who visit southern Armenia will be rewarded with a memorable off-the-beaten-track travel experience. As in neighbouring Georgia, Armenia is one of the world’s oldest wine-producing regions; according to folklore, Noah planted the first grapevine near Mount Ararat following the Great Flood. 

Southern Armenia’s rich soil and temperate climate are ideal for producing fine, quality wines. The Areni wine region, where the annual Wine Festival is held, is an excellent place to sample Armenian wine. In support of Armenia’s wine-making claim, in 2007, archaeologists unearthed a 6,000-year-old cave complex where they found a wine press, fermentation vats and storage jars. The Areni-1 Cave Complex (often called Bird Cave) also revealed a 5,500-year-old leather shoe known as the Areni shoe, now on display in the History Museum of Armenia in Yerevan. Southern Armenia has some of the country’s most spectacular monasteries, including the 13th-century Noravank Monastery. Reached via a picturesque valley flanked by sheer, red-rock cliffs, the complex is noteworthy because of its intricately carved facades and two-storey church featuring stone-cut cantilever steps. The spa town of Jermuk was a popular destination for medical tourism during Soviet times due to its healing mineral waters and hot springs. These sanatoriums are still popular for spa breaks, and Jermuk is a peaceful place to enjoy nature. Crossing the Voratan high mountain pass (2,344 metres), the road snakes down to Armenia’s most southerly province of Syunik. 

A little further east is the archaeological site of Zorats Karer, a group of over two hundred stone monoliths dubbed the Armenian Stonehenge. Also known as Karahunge, almost half of the standing stones have holes near their tip, conjecturing the theory that Zorats Karer is an ancient astronomical tool. Near Armenia’s ‘tail’ is Goris, a small town teeming with natural and historical wonders. 

Goris is surrounded by dramatic scenery, including 5th-century cave dwellings hidden in pinnacled rock formations that stretch skywards. Not far is the medieval cave village of Khndzoresk, reached by a 160-metre-long swinging bridge. Inhabited until the mid-20th century, this huge complex of rock-dug dwellings was once home to a large community. A community of schools, churches, craftsmen and shops supported it. An indisputable highlight of southern Armenia is the magnificently-located 9th-century Tatev Monastery. Perched on a broad plateau with stunning views across the valley, the most dramatic way to reach the monastery is by cable car. Listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest non-stop double-track cable car, the Wings of Tatev aerial tramway spans 5.7 kilometres and takes eleven minutes to complete the journey.