From the Mountains of Tsaghkadzor to Old Dilijan

The journey begins in Tsaghkadzor — one of Armenia's best-known mountain resorts. The town's name translates as "valley of flowers," and Tsaghkadzor itself lies amid the mountains and forests of the Kotayk region.

The first stop is the Tsaghkadzor cable car, which runs along the eastern slope of Mount Teghenis. The cable car has been operating since 1967, and its upper sections climb to more than 2,800 meters above sea level. The ascent opens up broad mountain panoramas, and on a clear day you can see distant peaks and Mount Ararat.

Next we visit Kecharis Monastery — one of the region's most important medieval monastic complexes.

Kecharis dates back to the 11th–13th centuries. In the Middle Ages the monastery was not only a spiritual center but also a place of education and cultural life. Its stone churches, set against the mountains of Tsaghkadzor, create a completely different atmosphere after the panoramas of the cable car.

After Tsaghkadzor we head to Lake Sevan — one of Armenia's main natural symbols and one of the largest high-mountain freshwater lakes in the region.

Here we climb the Sevan Peninsula, from which a panoramic view opens over the lake and the surrounding mountains.

At the top stands Sevanavank Monastery.

The surviving churches of the monastery complex date back to the 9th century. Sevanavank was founded on the site of an earlier monastery and has remained an important spiritual center of the region for centuries. Today it is one of the most recognizable historical landmarks of Sevan.

We finish the journey in Old Dilijan.

Dilijan is often called one of the greenest towns in Armenia. Here the mountain landscape gradually changes: the open spaces of Sevan give way to the forests of Tavush.

We will stroll through the historic part of town, with its traditional houses, wooden balconies, small workshops and the distinctive architecture of old Dilijan.

It is a calm end to a full day — after the mountains of Tsaghkadzor, the medieval monasteries and the great Lake Sevan.

Who this tour suits

This route suits those who want to see several different Armenian landscapes in a single day.

You will climb into the mountains of Tsaghkadzor, get to know medieval Kecharis, see Lake Sevan from the heights of the Sevan Peninsula, and end the journey with a stroll through Old Dilijan.

Especially good for a first introduction to northern Armenia, for family trips, and for travelers who love mountains, lakes, monasteries and beautiful old towns.