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| Symphony of Stones, Armenia |
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| Geghard Monastery (UNESCO) Armenia |
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| Pagan Temple of Garni (UNESCO), Armenia |
Day 18 Sunday Nov 2 2025 (Yerevan, Armenia) - a very happy outcome for me, our group visited 2 UNSECO World Heritage sites (Geghard Monastery & Pagan Temple of Garni) & a natural wonder ie Symphony of Stones ! For dinner, our group has a home cooked style pork dish stir fried with preserved vegetable prepared by my travel buddy, Kam Ying. Super delicious !
Travel itinerary: Yerevan > Geghard Monastery > Symphony of Stones > Garni Temple > Yerevan (Holy Church, Armenian Genocide Memorial & Cascade Complex)
1) Cityscape of Yerevan as viewed from our guest house.
2) The start of our day outing from Yerevan to Geghard Monastery (UNESCO), Kotayk Province of Armenia
3) Geghard Monastery (UNESCO), Armenia - a medieval monastery in the Kotayk Province of Armenia, being partially carved out of the adjacent mountain by cliffs, now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site with enhanced protection status. The main complex is currently under renovation !
5) After the Geghard Monastery (UNESCO) visit, we headed to Symphony of Stones near Gami Village, a natural wonder in Azat Gorge, Armenia
5) Symphony of the stones, Armenia - located near Gami Village, in the Azat Gorge, one of the Armenia's natural monuments, it was formed by volcanic flows - cooling & crystallisation of lava under high pressure - stretching along the entire gorge, it is also called the Basalt Organ, because the column formations resembles the pipis of musical instruments, the formation consists of huge pentagonal & hexagonal basalt columns up to 50m high, so symmetrical they appear man-made, this breath-taking natural structure hangs over the Azat River, enhancing its dramatic appearance. The basalt columns in Armenia are akin to the basalt columns of The Giant's Causeway (a UNESCO World Heritage site) I visited in Northern Ireland in May 2014 !
6) Pagan Temple of Garni (UNESCO), Armenia - the Garni Temple is a classical colonnated structure in the village of Garni in Central Armenia, around 50km east of Yerevan, built in the ionic order, it is the best known structure & symbol of re-Christian Armenia. From far, a little look like the Acropolis of Athens, Greece when I made a solo visit in May 2010 !
7) A well known church (forgotten the actual name of this holy church ?) & a high visitor turnout our group visited in downtown Yerevan ! Old age problem for me (aged 75), tends to be forgetful as our group has a number of tourist attractions to visit daily from city to city in Armenia !
8) The Armenian Genocide Memorial, Yerevan, Armenia - Armenia official memorial dedicated to the victim of the Armenian genocide, built in 1967 on the hill of Tsitsernakaberd in Yerevan. The Genocide Museum was closed at the time of our visit. A moment of solemn when I showed up in this memorial ! May their souls rest in peace !
9) Cascade Complex, Yerevan, Armenia - an architectural & monumental complex in Yerevan, Armenia & consists of a multi-level staircase with terraces, fountains, sculpture & exhibition halls. A wonderful place to visit, our group walked up the staircase & waited till 18.30 to watch the sun set from the upper terrace ! There is a series of elevators inside the complex for you to use if you are too tired to walk up the terraces !
10) Enjoying a home cooked style pork dish stir fried with preserved vegetable as dinner, eating in the comfort of our guest house, a big thank you to my travel buddy Kam Ying for her culinary skill in cooking this special dish for our group members !
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