b

Garni Temple and Symphony of Stones

Kotayk  >  Armenia

Garni Temple sits above a canyon with basalt cliffs. The river and trees attract many birds, making it a great spot for birdwatching.

Added* by Anna Yargina
Most recent update 13 marec 2025

Description

The canyon’s basalt cliffs are called the Symphony of Stones. Together with the Azat river, green bushes and trees, they create a perfect habitat for various birds. You can see birds of prey soaring above like beloglavi jastreb, egiptovski jastreb, kanja, songbirds in the trees (vrbji kova ek , mlinarček), and water-associated birds (povodni kos , siva pastirica) near the river. The mix of landscapes makes it an exciting and rewarding spot for birdwatching.

Details

Access

Garni village is located just 30 km from Yerevan, making it easily accessible for a short trip outside the city.

By Car: The fastest and most convenient way to reach Garni temple is by car, which takes around 40 minutes from the center of Yerevan via the H3 highway. You can leave a car near the entrance of Garni temple and at the paid parking near Symphony of Stones entrance.

By Public Transport: You can take bus 5 or 36 (Yerevan city center) then change it to bus 266 or Marshrutka 52 on Mega Mall stop and go to Garni temple stop. After that you should go 8 minutes by foot to Garni temple or 20 minutes - to Symphony of Stones. Keep in mind that the descent to the Symphony of Stones is quite steep.

By Taxi/Ride-hailing Services: Apps like GG or Yandex.GO are a quick and affordable way to reach Garni from Yerevan.

Time Needed for a Visit: A short visit can take 1–2 hours if you just want a quick nature escape. A half-day (3–4 hours) is recommended for birdwatching.

Terrain and Habitat

Forest , Canyon/cliff , River , Scattered trees and bushes

Conditions

Hilly

Circular trail

No

Is a telescope useful?

Can be useful

Good birding season

All year round

Best time to visit

Spring migration

Route

Paved road , Unpaved road

Difficulty walking trail

Average walk

Accessible by

Foot

Birdwatching hide / platform

No

Extra info

On the map, I suggest a walking route from the Symphony of Stones to Garni Temple (about 3 km one way). However, it is also possible to travel by car or taxi between the locations and avoid the steep climb.

Links

View other birding spots in the area that are published on Birdingplaces

Map

Top 5 birds

Other birds you can see here

Show more birds Show less birds
Show more images Show less images

Comments & Tips

Post comment, tip or bird sighting
Rate this area
Add to my favourites
Remove from my favorites