Mystical revelation, love for the native land, enthusiasm, respect for the past, revival of the memory of an outstanding medieval thinker, a visual and tangible connection between history and modernity, enjoyment of the surrounding natural beauty - these are some of the components of the appearance of a new point on the tourist map of Armenia: the cave-fortress complex "Zarni-Parni."

The province is home to many ancient landmarks and tourist attractions in Armenia including the 8th-century Tanahat Monastery, the 10th-century Smbataberd fortress, and the 13th-century Noravank monastery. Vayots Dzor is also home to the spa-town of Jermuk. ARENI CAVE The world's oldest known wine-making facility has been discovered in southern Armenia, dating back more than 6,000 years (the beginning of the 4th Millennium BC. The excavations occurred between 2007 and 2014 by a team of Armenian, American and Irish archaeologists. The findings include numerous large storage vessels, wine-storage jars, associated pottery and metal implements. The remains of grape seeds found in the jars morphologically were close to domesticated grapevines providing evidence of vine cultivation. Wine storage clay jars combined with the chemical analyses of the organic residues by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) showed the presence of tartaric acid and the red pigment anthocyanin malvidin, left no doubt that the jars had contained red wine. THINGS TO DO AND SEE IN VAYOTS DZOR • Hiking Tours at Arpa protected landscape • Jeep Tours above Noravank, Jermuk hot water springs • Camping at Artavan (VR / AR) • Cycling and Horseback riding • Wildlife Observation (bears) in Shatin and Chiva • Wildlife Observation (Bezoar Goats) in Noravank area • Rock climbing and Rope jumping at Noravank Canyon • Bird Watching at Orbelian's Caravanserai, Gnishik, Smbataberd (April, May, September) •Areni Wine Fest (October) •Ecotourism festival (July) • Gata festival (September)

When traveling to a new country with an official currency different from the one used in your home country, it might be a bit daunting. The dram is the official currency used throughout Armenia, and therefore you’ll be paying in drams for attractions, sights, and public transportation. This guide is packed with all the necessary information about drams you’ll need to know while planning a visit here.

Tatev Monastery is a 9th-century historical monument. It is one of the oldest and most famous monastery complexes in Armenia. During medieval times Tatev Monastery was a vital scholastic, enlightenment and spiritual center and played a singular role in the country’s history.