Private Tour: Above the Clouds — Tsaghkadzor, Mountain ATVs and Lake Sevan

This route is completely different from classic sightseeing programs. There are fewer long drives between monasteries here, and much more movement, fresh air and impressions. First we climb into the mountains above Tsaghkadzor and see the town from the height of the cable car. Then we switch to ATVs and head out on mountain routes that an ordinary tourist car can never reach. After the active part of the day we drive to the vast high-altitude Lake Sevan, and the final historical stop is the ancient Sevanavank monastery. Cable car → mountains → ATVs → high-altitude panoramas → Sevan → Sevanavank. This day is for those who don't want to just watch Armenia go by through a car window.

At 09:00 the Amaras Tour car arrives directly at the address you specify in Yerevan — a hotel, an apartment, or any other agreed meeting point. No shared pick-up points. No large groups. Just you, your company, and a day built entirely around you. From Yerevan we head toward the mountain resort of Tsaghkadzor.

The name Tsaghkadzor translates as "gorge of flowers." The town lies in the Kotayk region roughly 50 kilometers from Yerevan, at an altitude of about 1,840 meters above sea level, on the eastern slopes of Mount Teghenis. Today Tsaghkadzor is considered one of Armenia's leading mountain and tourist resorts.

Back in the Soviet period Tsaghkadzor already developed actively as a mountain resort: rest houses, sports facilities and training complexes were built here, and in 1967 a large sports complex opened in the town, making Tsaghkadzor known far beyond Armenia. Today the town remains one of the country's main centers for skiing, active recreation, mountain walks, cycling and off-road routes, and family holidays. Tsaghkadzor is worth visiting all year round: people come for snow in winter, for cool air and green mountains in summer, for golden forests in autumn, and for fresh mountain air and blossoming slopes in spring.

Mount Teghenis rises above Tsaghkadzor — its slopes carry the main cable car lines and ski runs. The higher we climb, the wider the panorama becomes: the town is left below, and beyond it open mountains, forested slopes and the wide expanse of Kotayk appear, with visibility reaching very far on a clear day.

The next part of the journey is Tsaghkadzor's famous cable car, today one of the town's main tourist attractions. It doesn't run only in winter — the cable car operates year-round and lets even those who don't ski rise higher into the mountains. During the ascent, panoramic views open onto the town of Tsaghkadzor, forested slopes, mountain ridges, the valleys of Kotayk and the slopes of Teghenis. The higher the chairlift climbs, the more the sense of space changes: the town gradually stays far below, the noise of the roads disappears, and only the mountains and the air remain.

Every season has its own character here: in winter everything is covered in snow, in spring the slopes gradually turn green, in summer it's noticeably cooler here than in Yerevan, and in autumn the forests and mountains take on golden shades. That's exactly why this route isn't tied only to the winter season. After the ascent we leave time for a walk and photos — there's no need to rush here, you can simply stop and look at the mountains. It's in places like this that you really understand why Tsaghkadzor remains one of Armenia's most popular resorts.

After the cable car the most active part of our journey begins — we switch to ATVs. This is a completely different way of seeing Tsaghkadzor: not along the central streets and not through a car window, but directly along mountain roads and natural trails. The route is chosen individually and depends on the season, weather conditions, the state of the mountain roads, the length of the ride, guests' skill level and the number of participants. Beginners can choose a calmer route, while guests who already have experience can go for longer and more active options.

ATVs make it possible to reach open areas with almost no city traffic. Depending on the chosen program, the route can run through mountain roads, forest sections, open plateaus, panoramic viewpoints, high-altitude areas around Tsaghkadzor and the slopes of Teghenis. The main goal isn't just to "go for a ride" — we want to show a different Tsaghkadzor, the one you can't see from the town center.

An ATV ride is a combination of motion and nature. One moment you're riding through a forest, a few minutes later you find yourself on an open slope, and beyond it a huge mountain panorama already opens up ahead of you. That's exactly why the ATVs become one of the most emotional parts of the tour.

Previous experience usually isn't required: before starting, guests get a briefing that covers how to operate the ATV, how to brake, how to behave on climbs and descents, how to keep a safe distance and how to move safely along the route. The use of protective gear is set by the rules of the specific operator. Mountain routes always depend on the weather: in heavy rain, thick fog, heavy snowfall, ice or other unsafe conditions, the route may be shortened, changed, or moved to a safer section. For a private tour, what matters most is real impressions without unnecessary risk.

It's precisely the mountain section of the route that suits beautiful video especially well. If professional filming is added, it can capture the ATVs starting off, riding along mountain roads, panoramic stops, wide shots of Tsaghkadzor, the mountain ridges and beautiful passages of the car on the road to Sevan. Where conditions allow, part of the filming can be done by drone.

After the active part of the trip the mood changes: we leave Tsaghkadzor and head toward the Gegharkunik region. After the mountain road, a vast blue expanse gradually appears ahead — this is Lake Sevan, Armenia's largest lake and one of the country's main natural symbols. It lies at an altitude of about 1,900 meters above sea level, and because of its huge size and open expanse, Armenians often call it the "Armenian sea."

The color of the water is constantly changing: on a clear sunny day the lake can be blue, turquoise or deep blue, in cloudy weather the water turns a grey-blue and more dramatic, and in the evening Sevan takes on soft silvery tones. The altitude of about 1,900 meters strongly affects the climate — even in summer it's often cooler near the lake than in Yerevan, and the wind here can rise very quickly, so for this route we almost always recommend bringing a light sweater or windbreaker.

On the peninsula above the lake stands the famous Sevanavank monastery. To reach the complex you need to climb a staircase, but at the top a view opens up that makes the climb worthwhile: ancient stone churches → a huge lake → mountain ridges. The main surviving churches of the complex — Surb Arakelots, the Church of the Holy Apostles, and Surb Astvatsatsin, the Church of the Holy Mother of God — were built in 874, and their construction is linked to Princess Mariam, daughter of Ashot Bagratuni, the future King Ashot I. Today the monastery stands on a peninsula, but historically it was a true island: water surrounded the monastery on every side, and in the 20th century the level of the lake dropped significantly, joining the former island to the shore. The remote, island position suited monastic life perfectly — it was easier here to escape the bustle of the city and focus on spiritual life, while the elevated position also allowed good control over the surrounding area.

After visiting the monastery we leave time for panoramas — a fitting finale to an active day. In the morning we were in Tsaghkadzor among the mountains, then we were driving ATVs, and now we simply stand above a huge lake. The contrast makes the route especially beautiful.

Meals are not included in the base price of the private tour. On request, a stop can be arranged in Tsaghkadzor, after the ATV ride, at one of the restaurants along the way, or on the shore of Lake Sevan. If guests wish, the active part of the trip can be finished with lunch by the lake, trying dishes made from local fish.

After Sevanavank we begin the drive back — the Amaras Tour car takes you directly to the address you specify in Yerevan. The estimated duration of the whole trip is 8–9 hours. With a longer ATV program, a full lunch, or extra stops, the tour may take longer.