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 among the mountains and forests of the Kotayk province.

The first stop is the Tsaghkadzor cable car, which runs along the eastern slope of Mount Teghenis. The cable car has been in operation since 1967, and its upper sections rise to more than 2,800 metres above sea level. The ascent opens up wide mountain panoramas, and in clear weather you can see distant peaks and Mount Ararat.

Next we visit Kecharis Monastery, one of the most important medieval monastic complexes in the region.

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

From Tsaghkadzor we continue to Lake Sevan, one of Armenia's main natural symbols and one of the largest high-altitude freshwater lakes in the region.

Here we climb the Sevan peninsula, which offers a panoramic view of the lake and the surrounding mountains. At the top stands Sevanavank Monastery.

The surviving churches of the monastic complex date from the 9th century. Sevanavank was founded on the site of an earlier monastery and remained an important spiritual centre of the region for centuries. Today it is one of the most recognisable historical landmarks of Sevan.

We end 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 take a walk through the historic part of the town, with its traditional houses, wooden balconies, small workshops and the distinctive architecture of old Dilijan. It is a calm close to a full day, after the mountains of Tsaghkadzor, the medieval monasteries and the vastness of Sevan.

The route suits anyone who wants to see several different Armenian landscapes in a single day. You will go up into the mountains of Tsaghkadzor, discover medieval Kecharis, see Lake Sevan from the heights of the Sevan peninsula, and finish the journey with a walk through Old Dilijan.

It is an especially good option for a first introduction to northern Armenia, for family trips, and for travellers who love mountains, lakes, monasteries and beautiful old towns.