First, visit the Eastern part of Armenia and make a short stop at Charent's Arch, from where you can enjoy a wonderful view to the mount of Ararat. The next stop is the Garni Temple, the only example of a pagan temple left in Armenia. Admire the temple's unique blend of Greco-Roman and Armenian styles, and learn how it was built in the 1st century AD by King Trdat the First and dedicated to the God of Sun. Hear how, after adopting Christianity in 301AD, the pagan temple lost its significance and the fortress of Garni was transformed into a summer residence of the kings. The ruins of the royal palace, including some stunning mosaic works, can be found near the temple.
Continue to Geghard monastery, the unsurpassed masterpiece of 13th century Armenian architecture. Some of the churches of the complex are masterfully hewed in a huge rock, and you'll have chance to explore inside the cave monastery, with its rich sculptural embellishments and many khachkars (cross-stones).
