Above the Clouds — Tsaghkadzor, Mountains by Quad Bike and Sevan

A private active tour through Kotayk and Gegharkunik provinces: mountains, a ropeway, quad bikes, outdoor adventure, panoramas, a lake and history. You are picked up directly from your address in Yerevan and brought back to the address of your choice. The tour can be booked in two formats: with a professional driver, or with a professional driver plus a separate professional guide. Cars are available in Standard, Comfort, Premium and Luxury categories, and professional drone filming can be added to the trip on request.

This route is completely different from classic sightseeing programmes. There are fewer long drives from monastery to monastery and more movement, fresh air and experiences. First we head up into the mountains of Tsaghkadzor and see the town from the height of the ropeway. Then we switch to quad bikes and set off along mountain trails to places an ordinary tourist car cannot reach. After the active part of the day we travel to vast, high-altitude Lake Sevan, and the final historical stop is ancient Sevanavank. This day is for those who don’t want to simply watch Armenia through a car window.

At the agreed time, an Amaras Tour car arrives directly at the address you give in Yerevan — your hotel, apartment or another place arranged in advance. No shared meeting points, no big groups — just you, your companions and a day built around you. From Yerevan we set off towards the mountain resort of Tsaghkadzor.

The name Tsaghkadzor means “gorge of flowers”. The town lies in Kotayk Province, about 50 kilometres from Yerevan, at around 1,840 metres above sea level on the eastern slopes of Mount Teghenis. Today Tsaghkadzor is considered one of Armenia’s leading mountain and tourist resorts. It was already being developed as a mountain resort in the Soviet era, with rest houses, sports bases and training complexes built here. In 1967 a large sports complex opened in the town, making Tsaghkadzor known far beyond Armenia. Today it remains one of the country’s main centres for skiing, outdoor activities, mountain walks, cycling and off-road routes, and family holidays. Tsaghkadzor is worth visiting all year round: people come for the snow in winter, for cool air and green mountains in summer, for golden forests in autumn, and for fresh mountain air and blooming slopes in spring.

Mount Teghenis rises above Tsaghkadzor. Its slopes carry the main ropeway lines and ski runs. The higher we climb, the wider the panorama becomes: the town stays below, and beyond it open up mountains, forested slopes and the wide expanse of Kotayk. On a clear day you can see a very long way. The next part of the journey is Tsaghkadzor’s famous ropeway, today one of the town’s main attractions. It doesn’t only run in winter — the ropeway operates all year round and lets you get higher into the mountains even if you don’t ski. On the way up there are panoramic views over the town of Tsaghkadzor, forested slopes, mountain ridges, the valleys of Kotayk and the slopes of Teghenis. The higher the chairlift climbs, the more your sense of space changes. The town gradually falls far below, the noise of the roads fades away, and only the mountains and the air remain.

Each season has its own character here. In winter everything is covered in snow, in spring the slopes slowly turn green, in summer it is much cooler than in Yerevan, and in autumn the forests and mountains take on golden hues. That is why this route isn’t tied to the winter season alone. After the ride up we leave time for a walk and photos. There is no need to hurry — you can simply stop and look at the mountains. It is in places like this that you really understand why Tsaghkadzor remains one of Armenia’s most popular resorts.

After the ropeway comes the most active part of our journey — we switch to quad bikes. This is a completely different way to see Tsaghkadzor: not along the main streets and not from a car window, but right along mountain roads and nature trails. The route is chosen individually and depends on the season, the weather, the condition of the mountain roads, the length of the ride, the guests’ experience and the number of participants. Beginners can choose a calmer route, while guests with experience can opt for longer and more active variations. Quad bikes let you reach open areas with almost no town traffic. Depending on the programme you choose, the route may pass along mountain roads, through forest sections, across open plateaus, to 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 you a different Tsaghkadzor — one you can’t see from the town centre. A quad bike ride combines motion and nature: one moment you are riding through a forest, a few minutes later you are out on an open slope, and then a huge mountain panorama spreads out in front of you. That is why the quad bikes become one of the most thrilling parts of the tour.

Previous experience is usually not required. A safety briefing is given before the start, explaining how to drive the quad bike, how to brake, how to handle climbs and descents, how to keep your distance and how to move safely along the route. The use of protective gear is determined by the rules of the specific operator. Mountain routes always depend on the weather: in heavy rain, thick fog, heavy snowfall, icy conditions or other unsafe situations the route may be shortened, changed or moved to a safer area. On a private tour, what matters most is a great experience without unnecessary risk. The mountain part of the route is especially good for beautiful video. If you add professional filming, it can capture the quad bikes setting off, riding along mountain roads, panoramic stops, wide shots of Tsaghkadzor, mountain ridges and striking shots of the car on the road to Sevan. Where conditions allow, part of the footage can be shot by drone.

After the active part of the journey, the mood changes. We leave Tsaghkadzor and head towards Gegharkunik Province. After the mountain road, a vast blue expanse gradually appears ahead — this is Lake Sevan. Sevan is Armenia’s largest lake and one of the country’s main natural symbols. It lies at roughly 1,900 metres above sea level, and for its huge size and open expanse Armenians often call it the “Armenian sea”. The colour of the water is always changing. On a clear sunny day the lake can be light blue, turquoise or deep blue; in cloudy weather the water turns grey-blue and more dramatic, and in the evening Sevan takes on soft silvery tones. The altitude of about 1,900 metres has a strong effect on the climate: even in summer it is often cooler by the lake than in Yerevan, and the wind can pick up very quickly. That is why for this route we almost always recommend bringing a light sweater or windbreaker.

The famous Sevanavank monastery stands on a peninsula above the lake. To reach the complex you need to climb a flight of stairs, but at the top you are rewarded with a view worth the climb: ancient stone churches, the vast lake and mountain ridges. The complex’s main surviving churches — Surb Arakelots (Church of the Holy Apostles) and Surb Astvatsatsin (Church of the Holy Mother of God) — were built in 874. 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, surrounded by water on all sides. In the 20th century the level of the lake dropped significantly, and the former island joined the shore and became a peninsula. Its remote island location was ideal for monastic life: here it was easier to escape the bustle of towns and focus on spiritual life. At the same time, its elevated position made it possible to keep watch over the surrounding area.

After visiting the monastery we leave time to take in the panoramas. It is a fine ending to an active day: in the morning we were among the mountains of Tsaghkadzor, then we rode quad bikes, and now we are simply standing above a vast lake. That contrast is what makes the route so beautiful. Meals are not included in the base price of the private tour. On request, a stop can be arranged in Tsaghkadzor, after the quad bikes, at a restaurant along the way or on the shore of Sevan. If guests wish, the active part of the trip can end with lunch by the lake, with the chance to try dishes made from local fish. After Sevanavank we begin the journey back, and the Amaras Tour car drops you off directly at the address you give in Yerevan. The whole trip takes approximately 8–9 hours; with a longer quad bike programme, a full lunch or extra stops it may take longer.

In a single day we rise above Tsaghkadzor, head into the mountains, get on quad bikes, ride along mountain roads, descend to Sevan and climb up to ancient Sevanavank. This route isn’t about ticking off sights. It is about a sense of freedom, mountain air, the road and speed — and that moment when, after an active day, a vast blue lake opens up in front of you. Amaras Tour — above the clouds, closer to the real Armenia.