Full Guide to Visiting Khor Virap in Armenia (+ Quick Tips)
Before I knew much about Armenia, I had seen the iconic photo of Khor Virap Monastery standing in front of Ararat Mountain. So, naturally, on my first trip to Armenia, it was one of the landmarks I sought out first!
In this guide, I discuss everything you need to know before visiting Khor Virap in Armenia… including how to get there, what to see, and some tips for your visit. You’ll also learn a little history about the famous monastery and why it is so beloved today!
Quick Yerevan to Khor Virap Guide
If you’re traveling to Khor Virap from Yerevan last minute, be sure you have tours booked ahead of time. Below are some of my top picks:
🇦🇲 Best group day tours to Khor Virap:
- Khor Virap, Noravank, and Areni 9-hour tour (most popular; starts at $40/pp)
- Khor Virap, Noravank, Jermuk, and Areni 12-hour tour (starts at $40/pp)
- Khor Virap, Noravank, and Tatev 15-hour tour (starts at $69/pp)
🇦🇲 Best private day tours to Khor Virap:
- Private Khor Virap 3-hour tour (starts at $80 per group up to 3 people)
- Private Khor Virap, Garni, Geghard, Zvartnots Cathedral, and Echmiadzin 8-hour tour (starts at $135 per group up to 3 people)
🚗 Planning to travel around Armenia independently? Find and compare the cheapest rental car rates here!
Khor Virap is a must on every Armenian itinerary if it is your first time in the country, and I hope this guide helps you plan an epic trip there.
I also give information about how to visit Khor Virap alongside some other famous destinations in the country on a tour. This will help you maximize your time and get around the main sights with ease.
Do you have any questions? Let me know in the comments. Thanks!
In this guide, I’ll walk you through the following:
About Khor Virap Monastery in Armenia
Khor Virap was originally built as a royal dungeon by King Artashes, the founder of the ancient capital of Armenia, Artashat (180 BC). Directly translated to ‘deep dungeon’, Khor Virap was used mostly for King Artashes’ enemies… which eventually landed Gregory the Illuminator there.
He was the founder of the Armenian Apostolic Church and one of the primary reasons that Armenia became the world’s first Christian country in 301 AD.
Fast forward several years, and by the 5th century, a chapel was built at Khor Virap. And in 1662, a larger one was built and it started defining the site we now know today.
Good to Know
As of 1923, Mount Ararat is located in Turkey. This is a holy mountain for Armenians and still remains a symbol of the country despite its location across the border following the Armenian Genocide.
Over the years, Khor Virap was used as a seat of the Catholicos of Armenia and served as an educational center during the Middle Ages. And despite the many earthquakes the region has had, such as a devastating one in 1679, Khor Virap has remained a beacon of Armenian history, culture, and religion.
How to Get to Khor Virap from Yerevan
You can read my more detailed guide about how to get from Yerevan to Khor Virap here. But here are some quick notes to help you if you don’t want the extended version!
Taking a Tour to Khor Virap
The best way to really see Khor Virap, in my opinion, is with a tour. If you have a rental car, ignore this! But if you’re arriving in Armenia and don’t plan to get behind the wheel, joining a tour allows you to see Khor Virap and a lot of other sites on the same day and on the same tour.
Some tours are cheap, while others will cost you! But all of them are worthwhile and will take you to some of the bucket list spots worth checking out. Here are my top picks, including what other sites you will see throughout the adventure:
Group Tours
- Khor Virap, Noravank, and Areni 9-hour tour (starts at $40/pp)
- Khor Virap, Noravank, Jermuk, and Areni 12-hour tour (starts at $40/pp)
- Khor Virap, Noravank, and Tatev 15-hour tour (starts at $69/pp)
Private Tours
- Private Khor Virap 3-hour tour (starts at $80 per group up to 3 people)
- Private Khor Virap, Garni, Geghard, Zvartnots Cathedral, and Echmiadzin 8-hour tour (starts at $135 per group up to 3 people)
Public Transportation by Bus
Bus 467 leaves the Southern Bus Station (at Sasuntsi Davit Train Station) in Yerevan for 250 AMD (about $0.65) one way. They leave at 9am, 2pm, and 6pm and leave Khor Virap back for Yerevan at 7:23am, 10:23am, and 3:23am. The journey is just under one hour each way.
Do note that if you take this bus to the stop ‘Khor Virap’, it is still around a 20-minute walk to the monastery.
Another thing to make note of is that other marshrutkas/buses will take you toward Khor Virap, toward Ararat town. I would avoid this option as you will have a lot of walking to do to reach the monastery. It also may not run on a schedule, but rather when the bus fills up.
Taxi from Yerevan
You can also take a taxi from Yerevan to Khor Virap. I prefer GG Taxi (an app) over Yandex, but both are options! It will be around 6000 AMD one way (about $15), depending on demand, but you will need to pay a wait fee or get back to Yerevan with a wild taxi if you don’t want your cab waiting for you at the monastery.
Please note that taxi drivers may not have a great command of English, which may make things slightly more difficult if you’re trying to negotiate or factor in wait time.
Rental Car
If you are comfortable renting a car in Armenia, that is a good option for adventuring around the country.
I rent cars through Discover Cars, a platform that excels in finding the cheapest deals by comparing thousands of rental cars! Click here to compare rental car rates in Armenia.
Khor Virap Practical Information for Visitors
Khor Virap Opening Hours
Khor Virap opens at 8am daily for visitors and closes at 6pm during the winter months (November until March) and 8pm during the summer months (April to October). However, you can usually arrive a bit before 8am and it is already open.
There is no official website for Khor Virap, and everyone reports the opening times differently. These are from my own experience and after confirming with others who have made a recent visit.
Khor Virap Entrance Fee
It is free to enter Khor Virap. This includes the pit where Gregory the Illuminator was held for 13 years.
What to See at Khor Virap
There are a few things to see and do at Khor Virap. Here are some of the most popular:
- See the views of Ararat from the hill behind the monastery.
- Go into the dungeon where Gregory the Illuminator was held captive (you will need to go down a ladder/stairs)
- Check out the Holy Mother of God (Surb Astvatzatzin) Chapel
The ‘pit’ or ‘dungeon’ where Gregory the Illuminator was held for thirteen years is located in the southwestern corner of the St. Astvatsatsin Church and can be reached by stairs so steep they are like a ladder!
It can be a bit claustrophobic, but an important part of the experience to go down if you can. It is 6 meters (or 197 feet) deep. This dungeon dates back to 180 BC!
Tips for Visiting Khor Virap
Here are a few useful things to know before your trip to Khor Virap:
- Bring sunscreen and wear a hat. The area is very open (if you’re not inside the structure) and it is good to be prepared. This is one of the hotter parts of Armenia and is scorching during the summer months.
- Early bird catches the worm! There are fewer people there in the early morning hours, so if you can control your visiting schedule, opt for a morning visit if you can.
- Bring cash. If you want to purchase souvenirs, water, ice cream, coffee, or anything else… cash is best.
- Dress modestly if you go inside the chapel. If you’re a woman, it is expected that you dress modestly if you go inside any religious buildings. A scarf placed over your head is usually enough.
Do you have any questions about visiting Khor Virap? Let me know in the comments. Thanks!
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