Garni & Geghard: the perfect first day trip

If you have one free day in Yerevan, this is it. Garni is the only standing Greco-Roman temple in the former Soviet world, perched above the Azat gorge and its surreal Symphony of Stones basalt columns.

Twenty minutes further, Geghard monastery is half building, half cave: whole chapels are hewn into the rock, and the acoustics in the upper chamber will give you goosebumps if anyone starts to sing — someone always does.

Make it perfect

• Walk down into the gorge below Garni for the basalt organ pipes.
• At the village houses near Geghard, watch lavash being slapped into a tonir oven — then eat it warm with cheese and greens.
• Go Tuesday to Friday; weekends belong to wedding parties.