Hiking at the gateway to the Caucasus

Our day begins with a short stop at the fortified town of Lori (Lori Berd), located 4 km from Stepanavan on the left bank of the Dzoraget River. It is bordered by the Miskhana and Dzoraget Rivers. The deep canyons of this region made Lori Berd a virtually impregnable fortress for the enemy. The fortress was founded by Davit Anhoghin in the early 11th century. Lori was a commercial and cultural center of medieval Armenia, home to approximately 10,000 people between the 11th and 13th centuries. The fortress is an important archaeological site where rich archaeological materials from the Bronze and Iron Ages have been found during excavations.

On foot, we follow the course of the Dzoraget River, one of the largest tributaries of the Debet River. It originates in the Javakh mountain range. The gorge, in some places (for example, at Kurtan), is over 200 meters deep. We arrive at Yaghdan, an ancient Greek village of about 400 inhabitants located 18 km southeast of Stepanavan. Yaghdan is said to be the only village that blooms in spring and autumn. The village is famous for its gorge and its 13th-century medieval bridge. After the hike, we travel by road to the Debet Valley. There, we visit the magnificent Haghpat Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dinner and overnight stay in the village of Haghpat.

In the morning, 4x4 vehicles pick us up at our hotel for the drive up into the village forests. We cover part of the ascent by vehicle, and from the top of the village of Tsaghkashat, we enjoy beautiful views of the surrounding villages and the entire Debed Valley. A very pleasant walk in the heart of nature. Dinner and overnight stay with a welcoming family in Odzoun, where the owners will involve us in preparing the local specialty.

This morning we hiked towards the mountain known as Apakekar, located in the Tavush province, between the villages of Haghartsin and Hovk. Its altitude is 1,651 meters. From the village of Hovk, an impressive mountain rises on the horizon, leaving no one indifferent. The locals call this mountain, visible from afar, Abakakar, and it's a little-known trail among hikers. Mount Apakekar is located within Dilijan National Park. We ended the day in the village of Gosh, at the Arevi Gosh Hotel, a project by a young entrepreneur dedicated to rural development.

We begin our hike on the shores of Lake Parz, surrounded by wooded mountains primarily of beech and oak trees. A peaceful forest path then leads us gradually up to the alpine pastures. We descend to the village of Gosh. Just before reaching the village, we have a breathtaking view overlooking the Gochavank Monastery complex. Dating back to the 12th century, it is considered one of the masterpieces of Armenian architecture. We return to our vehicle and drive to Lake Sevan, one of the largest high-altitude lakes in the world. It is the country's most important water source, covering an area of ​​1,460 km². We visit Bird Peninsula, located at 2,000 meters, which was once an island before the water level dropped. From here, a stunning view of the entire lake unfolds.

In the morning, we transfer to the Vardeniats Pass, where, from the village of Madina, we begin the ascent of Mount Armaghan, an ancient volcano reaching 2,829 meters. Upon reaching the summit, our efforts are rewarded with a magnificent view: the mountain overlooks the entire Argichi Valley and Lake Sevan. We also have a breathtaking panorama of Mount Ararat. After this stunning view, we descend the other side of the mountain and continue our journey south. We stop at the 14th-century Orbelian Caravanserai, a reminder of the time of the caravans when Armenia was on the Silk Road. We arrive in Yegheguisse and stay at the Arevi Hotel.