From the nomadic steppes of Kazakhstan to the frenetic streets of Hanoi, Asia is a continent so full of intrigue, adventure, solace, and spirituality that it has fixated and confounded travelers for centuries.
Our last stop in the beautiful World Heritage-listed Azat Valley was Garni Temple and the Symphony of Stones rock formation. Garni Temple (🎫1500 AMD) was built by Armenia’s King Trdat I in the 1st century AD. This Hellenic-style temple on the edge of a gorge overlooking the Azat River was...
Our first stop in the beautiful World Heritage-listed Azat Valley was Gerhard Monastery. Named after the lance that pierced Christ’s side at the crucifixion, this monastery is carved out of a cliff alongside the Azat River Gorge. Founded in the 4th century, the monastery’s...
We woke up early to get a view of the twin peaks of Mount Ararat (Ağrı Daği). Mount Ararat is a snow-capped and dormant compound volcano in the extreme east of Turkey. It has figured in legends since time began, most notably as the supposed resting place of Noah’s ark. The western...
We arrived at the monastery located on a hillock close to the Araks River at the border with Turkey. It overlooks river pastures, stork nests, vineyards, and Mt Ararat majestically towers above it. Khor Virap monastery has been repeatedly rebuilt since the 5th century. Legend says the...