Places

Khor Virap: the monastery by Ararat — sights and visit time

Khor Virap is a working monastery of the Armenian Apostolic Church on a hill in the Ararat Valley, near the village of Lusarat, 42 km from the centre of Yerevan: about 40 minutes by road without traffic. The present buildings are mostly 17th-century; under the chapel by the enclosure wall is a pit about six metres deep where, by tradition, Gregory the Illuminator spent thirteen years. Opposite, beyond the closed border with Turkey, stands Ararat, but it is not always visible. Entry is free. A trip with a private BarevTrip driver takes four hours, 75 minutes of them at the monastery: 27,000 AMD for a sedan and 38,000 AMD for a minivan, for the whole car.

Published November 9, 2026 · Facts checked November 7, 2026 · 9 min read · Mikayel Melkumyan

The reddish stone church of Khor Virap with its conical dome rises above the monastery walls and round towers, set against snow-capped Mount Ararat on a clear day, with a dry rocky hillside below

At a glance

Region: Lusarat village, Ararat Province
Opening hours: Not confirmed — check on site
Tickets: Free entry. Free, per the BarevTrip catalogue and 2026 guidebooks (Visit Hayastan, Enjoy Armenia; donations welcome); the monastery publishes no tariff, so there is no official document on entry
Time to visit: 45–90 min
Season: The monastery publishes no schedule or seasonal closures; 2026 guidebooks give closing at 18:00 in winter and up to 20:00 in summer, which is their data, not the monastery's. The view of Ararat depends on the weather on the day: there are no clear-day statistics by month
Restrictions: A working church: guidebooks advise covered shoulders and knees, and a scarf for women (the monastery's own rules were not found). A narrow vertical metal ladder leads down into the pit; the BarevTrip catalogue says it is not suitable for small children; access for a pushchair is not confirmed; the way to the gate is uphill by steps

checked November 7, 2026

Contents

What it is and where it stands
History by date
What to see on site
Hours and tickets
How to get there from Yerevan and how long it takes
When to go
What to combine in one day
By tradition
What to check on site

What it is and where it stands

Parameter	Value
Name	Khor Virap Monastery (Խոր Վիրապ); the name is translated as “deep dungeon” or “deep well”
Status	a working monastery under the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin; a place of pilgrimage
Where	Ararat Province, near the village of Lusarat, on the left bank of the Araks; elevation about 875 m
Protection	a monument on the state list of Ararat Province: the monastery complex (17th–19th centuries) and the Artashat site next to it
To Ararat	about 31 km in a straight line from the church to the summit of Greater Ararat (5,137 m)

Value

Name: Khor Virap Monastery (Խոր Վիրապ); the name is translated as “deep dungeon” or “deep well”
Status: a working monastery under the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin; a place of pilgrimage
Where: Ararat Province, near the village of Lusarat, on the left bank of the Araks; elevation about 875 m
Protection: a monument on the state list of Ararat Province: the monastery complex (17th–19th centuries) and the Artashat site next to it
To Ararat: about 31 km in a straight line from the church to the summit of Greater Ararat (5,137 m)

The monastery stands by the closed Armenian–Turkish border, with the Araks flowing alongside.

History by date

Date	Event
early 2nd century BC	Artashat, the capital of King Artashes I of Armenia, founded on the hills by today’s monastery; the monastery hill was part of its citadel
58	Artashat destroyed by the Romans under Corbulo
about 642	Catholicos Nerses III builds the first church over the pit
13th century	a school operates at the monastery; the historian Vardan Areveltsi (died 1271) writes and is buried here
1662	a chapel over the pit built on the site of the ruined first church, still standing
1666–1669	the enclosure wall with towers, vardapet David Virapetsi
before 1672	work on the complex, including the main Church of St Astvatsatsin in the middle of the courtyard
1679 · 1703	an earthquake destroyed the church and buildings; restoration completed
1765 · 1959–1961 · 1970s–1980s · 2001	repairs: Catholicos Simeon of Yerevan; roofs and cells; walls and buildings; work for the 1,700th anniversary of the adoption of Christianity
26 June 2016	Pope Francis prays at the monastery with the Catholicos and releases two doves towards Ararat

Event

early 2nd century BC: Artashat, the capital of King Artashes I of Armenia, founded on the hills by today’s monastery; the monastery hill was part of its citadel
58: Artashat destroyed by the Romans under Corbulo
about 642: Catholicos Nerses III builds the first church over the pit
13th century: a school operates at the monastery; the historian Vardan Areveltsi (died 1271) writes and is buried here
1662: a chapel over the pit built on the site of the ruined first church, still standing
1666–1669: the enclosure wall with towers, vardapet David Virapetsi
before 1672: work on the complex, including the main Church of St Astvatsatsin in the middle of the courtyard
1679 · 1703: an earthquake destroyed the church and buildings; restoration completed
1765 · 1959–1961 · 1970s–1980s · 2001: repairs: Catholicos Simeon of Yerevan; roofs and cells; walls and buildings; work for the 1,700th anniversary of the adoption of Christianity
26 June 2016: Pope Francis prays at the monastery with the Catholicos and releases two doves towards Ararat

What to see on site

Church of St Astvatsatsin — the main church in the middle of the courtyard, 17th century. On the east façade is a relief of Gregory the Illuminator, King Trdat and Queen Ashkhen. There is a sundial on the south wall. By the west façade stands a belfry with columns.
The chapel over the pit by the enclosure wall, 1662. The entrance to the pit is to the right of the altar: a narrow vertical metal ladder leads down. The pit is about 4.5 m across and about 6 m deep, with a domed roof. Next to it another small cell has survived.
The enclosure wall with towers of 1666–1669; Ararat is visible from the walls.
The hill beyond the wall. After your visit you can leave by the north exit and climb to the Armenian flag: from there you can see the monastery, Ararat and the valley.
The cemetery of the 18th–19th centuries is part of the protected complex.

Khor Virap Monastery seen from the hill above: the church of St. Astvatsatsin and its bell tower inside stone walls with round towers, with green fields of the Ararat Valley and a village beyond

Next to the monastery is the Artashat site. An Armenian-German expedition has been excavating it since 2018; in 2024 an octagonal 4th-century church about 30 m across was found here.

Hours and tickets

Entry is free. It is a working church, so a visit may coincide with a service.

What	How it works with BarevTrip
Entrance tickets	not included in the price of the trip — bought on site, separately; it is safer to have cash in drams. Entry to Khor Virap is free
Parking	included in the price of the trip, along with fuel and water in the car
Guide	an option for a fixed surcharge, shown on the tour page; the driver does not give a tour

How it works with BarevTrip

Entrance tickets: not included in the price of the trip — bought on site, separately; it is safer to have cash in drams. Entry to Khor Virap is free
Parking: included in the price of the trip, along with fuel and water in the car
Guide: an option for a fixed surcharge, shown on the tour page; the driver does not give a tour

How to get there from Yerevan and how long it takes

Leg	Value
Republic Square → car park below the monastery	41.9 km, about 41 minutes without traffic
Car park → main entrance	about 175 m in a straight line, uphill, part of it up steps
Time on site	45–90 minutes; 75 minutes on the BarevTrip tour
Tour Khor Virap Monastery	4 hours, 90 km, one stop, “Khor Virap Monastery and Ararat viewpoint”

Value

Republic Square → car park below the monastery: 41.9 km, about 41 minutes without traffic
Car park → main entrance: about 175 m in a straight line, uphill, part of it up steps
Time on site: 45–90 minutes; 75 minutes on the BarevTrip tour
Tour Khor Virap Monastery: 4 hours, 90 km, one stop, “Khor Virap Monastery and Ararat viewpoint”

Pickup is at your hotel or address in Yerevan at the time you choose, 09:00 by default. The route’s stops and waiting are included in the price; there is one surcharge only, at a rate known before booking, for an unplanned stop, a change of route or waiting beyond what is included. For a photo of the monastery against the mountain you can ask the driver to stop on the approach: the route has no such stop, under BarevTrip’s rules it is an unplanned stop, and whether it is covered by the price, ask the dispatcher when you book. How the whole trip works is on the how it works page.

A child seat is free on request and required for children under 7. The descent into the pit by a narrow vertical ladder is not suitable for small children — that is what the catalogue says for the tour Khor Virap, Areni & Noravank. The climb from the car park to the gate is uphill by steps.

Steep metal ladder with rusty handrails leading down a narrow stone shaft into the pit of Gregory the Illuminator at Khor Virap, a lamp glowing at the bottom

When to go

Tours with Khor Virap run all year, except the Grand South Loop: it runs from May to October because of the Selim Pass. The view of Ararat depends on the weather on the day; it is best to go in the morning — fewer people, and Ararat is more often clear before 10–11 o’clock. Time of day, season and cost for the sake of the view are in the answer “Khor Virap from Yerevan: when to go for the Ararat view and how much is a private car?”, and winter is in the answer “Where can you go from Yerevan on a winter day trip by car?”.

Khor Virap Monastery on its rocky hill below snow-capped Mount Ararat, a large white cloud resting on the summit, with a bright green field in the foreground and a deep blue sky

What to combine in one day

The full list of routes with hours, kilometres and prices is in the answer “Khor Virap from Yerevan: when to go for the Ararat view and how much is a private car?”. Here is what it does not have: how many minutes the catalogue leaves for the monastery on each route and what is nearby. The prices of three trips are for the whole car; the rest are on the trip pages.

Trip	Hours, km	Khor Virap on the route	Other stops per the catalogue	Sedan / minivan
Khor Virap Monastery	4 h, 90 km	the only stop, 75 min	none	27,000 / 38,000 AMD
Khor Virap, Azat, Garni & Geghard	8 h, 175 km	first, 60 min	Azat reservoir viewpoint · Garni Temple · Geghard Monastery · Charents Arch, view of Mount Ararat	42,000 / 56,000 AMD
Khor Virap, Areni & Noravank	8 h, 260 km	first, 60 min	Areni winery, tasting · Areni-1 Bird Cave · Noravank Monastery; the catalogue advises an 8:00 pickup — about 4 hours at the wheel	45,000 / 65,000 AMD
Echmiadzin, Zvartnots & Khor Virap	6 h, 120 km	last, 60 min	Zvartnots Cathedral ruins · Echmiadzin Cathedral, St. Hripsime, St. Gayane; the whole way across the plain, no passes	on the trip page
Khor Virap, Garni, Lavash & Geghard	8 h, 175 km	first, 60 min	as on the Azat route, plus a Lavash baking masterclass — paid on site, not included in the price of the car	on the trip page
Khor Virap, Noravank & Jermuk	10 h, 360 km	first, 45 min	Noravank Monastery · Jermuk waterfall and mineral water gallery	on the trip page
Grand South Loop: Khor Virap, Noravank, Tatev, Karahunj & Sevan	14 h, 600 km, May–October	first, 40 min	six more stops on the way to Tatev and Sevan	on the trip page

Hours, km

Khor Virap Monastery: 4 h, 90 km
Khor Virap, Azat, Garni & Geghard: 8 h, 175 km
Khor Virap, Areni & Noravank: 8 h, 260 km
Echmiadzin, Zvartnots & Khor Virap: 6 h, 120 km
Khor Virap, Garni, Lavash & Geghard: 8 h, 175 km
Khor Virap, Noravank & Jermuk: 10 h, 360 km
Grand South Loop: Khor Virap, Noravank, Tatev, Karahunj & Sevan: 14 h, 600 km, May–October

Khor Virap on the route

Khor Virap Monastery: the only stop, 75 min
Khor Virap, Azat, Garni & Geghard: first, 60 min
Khor Virap, Areni & Noravank: first, 60 min
Echmiadzin, Zvartnots & Khor Virap: last, 60 min
Khor Virap, Garni, Lavash & Geghard: first, 60 min
Khor Virap, Noravank & Jermuk: first, 45 min
Grand South Loop: Khor Virap, Noravank, Tatev, Karahunj & Sevan: first, 40 min

Other stops per the catalogue

Khor Virap Monastery: none
Khor Virap, Azat, Garni & Geghard: Azat reservoir viewpoint · Garni Temple · Geghard Monastery · Charents Arch, view of Mount Ararat
Khor Virap, Areni & Noravank: Areni winery, tasting · Areni-1 Bird Cave · Noravank Monastery; the catalogue advises an 8:00 pickup — about 4 hours at the wheel
Echmiadzin, Zvartnots & Khor Virap: Zvartnots Cathedral ruins · Echmiadzin Cathedral, St. Hripsime, St. Gayane; the whole way across the plain, no passes
Khor Virap, Garni, Lavash & Geghard: as on the Azat route, plus a Lavash baking masterclass — paid on site, not included in the price of the car
Khor Virap, Noravank & Jermuk: Noravank Monastery · Jermuk waterfall and mineral water gallery
Grand South Loop: Khor Virap, Noravank, Tatev, Karahunj & Sevan: six more stops on the way to Tatev and Sevan

Sedan / minivan

Khor Virap Monastery: 27,000 / 38,000 AMD
Khor Virap, Azat, Garni & Geghard: 42,000 / 56,000 AMD
Khor Virap, Areni & Noravank: 45,000 / 65,000 AMD
Echmiadzin, Zvartnots & Khor Virap: on the trip page
Khor Virap, Garni, Lavash & Geghard: on the trip page
Khor Virap, Noravank & Jermuk: on the trip page
Grand South Loop: Khor Virap, Noravank, Tatev, Karahunj & Sevan: on the trip page

What this means for the trip: the longer the route, the less time the catalogue leaves for the monastery — from 75 minutes on the standalone tour to 40 minutes on the south loop. At the Areni-1 cave, the Garni temple and Zvartnots, tickets are bought on site; at Khor Virap entry is free. The choice between Garni and Khor Virap is worked through in the article Garni or Khor Virap: what to choose with one day in Yerevan; the general logic of combinations is in the answer “Garni, Geghard and Khor Virap in one day from Yerevan: how to organise it and what does a private car cost?”, and trips with children are in the answer “Day trips from Yerevan with kids: where to go and how to get there?”. A different combination of stops goes through a custom route: a quote within two hours, a request, not a booking. Places nearby: the Garni Temple, the Geghard Monastery and Noravank.

By tradition

Everything in this section is church tradition.

According to Agathangelos, King Trdat III shut Gregory in the Artashat pit; by tradition he spent thirteen years there.
The king and his courtiers fell gravely ill; the king’s sister had a vision that only the prisoner could heal them. Gregory healed Trdat, and Christianity was proclaimed the state religion.
By tradition the Church dates Gregory’s release and the start of state Christianity to 301.
The Exit of St Gregory from the Pit is a feast of the Armenian Church: it is marked on the Saturday after the feast of the martyrs Hripsime and Gayane.
Ancient authors write that Hannibal advised King Artaxias on the site of Artashat, and Plutarch calls the city “the Carthage of Armenia”.

What to check on site

Hours and services. Usually open from 08:00 or 09:00 until 18:00 in winter and up to 20:00 in summer. A visit may coincide with a service.
Parking and waiting. Parking is included in the price of the trip; the driver will tell you on the day where he will wait.
The ladder into the pit. A narrow vertical ladder, 27 steps; it is better not to go down with small children.
Cash. Take drams for candles, souvenirs and small expenses at the gate.
Ararat and photography. Ararat is not always visible; the morning gives better odds. It is better not to fly a drone: the closed border is nearby.

Photos

Elevated view of Khor Virap Monastery with its church, stone walls and a curving road lined with khachkars, the green Ararat plain behind and both snowy peaks, Greater and Lesser Ararat, under a vast deep blue sky

The huge snowy massif of Mount Ararat fills the sky behind Khor Virap Monastery, whose stone walls, round towers and church glow in warm low sunlight

Khor Virap Monastery in golden light: the church of St. Astvatsatsin behind stone walls with round towers, the green Ararat Valley beyond and the snowy cone of Little Ararat on the horizon

Khor Virap Monastery from the hilltop: the church of St. Astvatsatsin, round towers and a carved stone cross by the wall, with the fields of the Ararat Valley under fluffy clouds

Khor Virap Monastery on its rocky hill, stone walls and a conical church dome set against snow-capped Mount Ararat, with green fields and shrubs below

Greater and Lesser Ararat above the green Ararat Valley under a clear blue sky, seen from the rocky hill of Khor Virap with sunlit boulders and dry grass in front

Khor Virap Monastery on its rocky hill beneath snow-capped Mount Ararat, with tourists on the paths and vineyards in the foreground

Questions about this trip

Can I cancel if Ararat is hidden by cloud in the morning?

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before pickup, and up to the same deadline you get one free reschedule to another date. There are no prepayments or non-refundable deposits. The morning of the trip is already inside those 24 hours: at that point the trip can no longer be cancelled or moved for free, so check the forecast a day or two ahead.

How should I dress to visit the monastery?

It is a working church, so it is best to cover shoulders and knees, and women should bring a scarf.

Will the driver tell us about the monastery’s history?

No. Under Armenia’s Law on Tourism, telling the history and culture of a place is a guide’s job. Tours that include Khor Virap have the option of a qualified guide for a fixed surcharge, shown on the tour page.

Is the trip suitable for small children?

The monastery, yes: entry is free. The descent into the pit is by a narrow metal ladder and is not suitable for small children. A child seat is free on request and required for children under 7; children count as passengers when the car is chosen.

Do I need cash on a Khor Virap trip?

On routes with Garni, Zvartnots or the Areni-1 cave, entrance tickets are not included in the price of the trip and are bought on site, so it is safer to have cash in drams. The trip is paid by card via a link after confirmation, or in cash to the driver after the trip.