Armenia Culture Tours

This trail starts in the village of Dsegh, birthplace of an Armenian writer Hovhannes Tumanyan. Passing through a local forest, the trail takes you all the way to the main regional highway, and loops back to the village following a beautiful river valley.

On your way down from Dsegh (if you went left) you'll notice a natural water fountain made famous by the Soviet Armenian movie "Giqor," a 1982 drama based on a Tumanyan poem of the same name. While hiking, keep an eye out for various khachkar-s (cross-stones) along the route, before you reach the beautiful ruins of St. Bardzrakash Monastery. You can find stunning medieval stone carvings at the ruins, with many of them gathered together just outside the village under temporary cover.

Before you reach the main road, the trail loops following the river, taking you back via an alternate route that follows the river valley. Follow that valley until you reach a junction directional sign that shows you to the villages of Karinj and Tumanyan, while following the trail back up continues the loop back up to Dsegh, exactly where you started. Once you get back up to the Dsegh plateau you will come across the ruins of an old chapel and some small cross-stone carvings. As you continue further, there is the wonderful and scenic cross-stone called "Sirun Khach".

Duration - 4h
Length - 8.7km
Level of difficulty - EE

Not for the faint-hearted, the pilgrimage from Dilijan to Haghartsin Monastery (or vice-versa) is an incredible and arduous journey through the thick forests and over the mountain ridges of Dilijan National Park.

Starting off from the northern Dilijan neighborhood of Shamakyan, the trail dives deep into the forest and follows a stream through a valley to the top of the ridgeline. It then stretches up from Mt. Haghartsin to the Bovakar Range, before descending into the luscious valley surrounding Haghartsin Monastery, a beautifully restored 13th century monastic complex. Along the way, you will pass through mountain farms and temporary outposts for local herders and their summer flocks.

Nature Pilgrimage follows a series of paths that were once used by villagers visiting the monastery before the communist era. It's a wonderful trip between past and present, walking in the footsteps of generations past. The wild fruits you'll pick along the way during season might as well have been picked from the same tree by someone hundreds of years ago!

Note: This is quite a challenging trail due to sections that haven't been maintained and are obstructed. This is a one-way trail but you dont have to walk the 12km back to Dilijan as you can get picked up at the Haghartsin Monastery complex. But for those who can tough it out, the views are simply incredible. Our recommendation: know your limits and be sure to have a printed map (and know how to read it), or a fully-charged device with the route preloaded, just in case.

Duration - 6h
Length - 12km
Level of difficulty - EE

Starting from the center of Dsegh, this hike heads down into the Debed River Valley, passing through the village of Karinj and then on to the historic town of Tumanyan.

Note: There's a knee high river crossing at the beginning of the trail, right after you head down from the village of Dsegh, so make sure you have waterproof gear because you will definitely get wet.

Once Upon A Time is a pleasant trail, consisting predominantly of easy tracks as it leads you into a long distance hike, passing through nearly the entire Debed Canyon. Optional: after you arrive at Tumanyan, you can continue hiking on the Kobayr to Odzun Trail. At the end of your hike, you'll arrive to Tumanyan, a town founded back in 1926, previously known as Dzaghidzor. It was renamed to Tumanyan in 1951, in honor of the famous Armenian poet Hovhannes Tumanyan. His statue can be found at the northwestern entrance to the town. While you're at it, don't forget to check out a ruined fortress known as Avanakar, dating back to the 14th century, at the town's southern outskirts.

Duration - 4h
Length - 16km
Level of difficulty - EE

You'd never think there was a trail that ascends the impressive cliffs near Hovk village in Dilijan National Park. But there is, and for hikers looking for a real challenge, this loop will take you up tight switchbacks to a meadow in the sky.

Starting off 2-3km away from Hovk village, the Three Hawks Loop features dirt roads, ancient footpaths that date back hundreds of years, at least! As you get closer to the Hovk Cliffs, you'll find that the trail makes tight switchbacks up the cliffside. There are a few steep sections herel that have a gradient of 15% or more, and one segment that'll have you climbing up natural stone steps, FYI. Once at the top of the cliffs, the trail passes through a beautiful meadow, and connects to the Transcaucasian Trail (TCT) route in Armenia. Take some time to enjoy the incredible views of all of Dilijan National Park and the surrounding area from up top. The meadow is painted in a kaleidoscope of wildflowers in the springtime, and there are many birds that call the cliffs their home, hence this loop's name.

Be aware that with the added 2-3km to access the route, the loop will take you an entire day so you should prepare accordingly.

Duration - 7h
Length - 16.8km
Level of difficulty - EE

Amongst the higher slopes of Dilijan National Park, a few peaks appear to dominate the landscape: the magnificent mountaintops you'll come across on this trail! We recommend packing camping gear and making this a multi-day hike as the trail length is one-way and there are options to explore more beautiful peaks (more on that below).

Starting at the end of the Shamakyan street the trail takes you to the narrow streams up the valley. There, you'll find yourself among traditional mountain huts, a conglomeration of abandoned Soviet vehicles and random constructions providing shelter. If your timing is right, you might come across a few friendly villagers who will surely offer you a bite and a sharp boost of strong homemade brandy!

Beyond this point, you'll have the mountain all to yourself. If you are ready for a challenge and have the right gear, go ahead and try to reach the peaks. The vastness of the space defies perspective; the further you walk, the further the peaks seem, and every new peak conquered reveals another one behind it. Pass through the rough, alien-like terrain and you will be rewarded by the unspeakable beauty of Dilijan National Park. The last peak on your journey is the natural border between the Tavush and Lori Provinces – once you make it there, treat yourself with panoramic views of the region!

Important notes on the trail: Mount Andzavabatsat (2,420m) is the first peak of the trio separated Tavush and Lori regions. Beyond Andzavabatsat lie the twin peaks of Ayrikar – Eastern Ayrikar (2,767m) and Western Ayrikar (2,781m). Located between Eastern Ayrikar and Mount Andzavabatsat, there is a cliff which is visible from the city of Dilijan which the locals also refer to as Ayrikar. The cliff itself is not the true actual peak of either Ayrikar, but it is still a great viewpoint and stone formation. Be weary though, as the trail is not marked to the next two peaks which would be an additional 6-7km hike one-way and an additional 361m elevation gain.

Duration - 3.5h
Length - 6km
Level of difficulty - EE

Visit two historic medieval monasteries as you travel between the villages of Saghmosavan and Ohanavan. Just a 45-minute drive from Yerevan, this trail will take you back in time.

History and architecture buffs will not be disappointed by this trail, as the monasteries here played important roles in the history of Armenian Christendom. You'll follow the Kasagh River Canyon while hiking between the 13th-century Saghmosavank Monastery and the 4th-century Hovhannavank Monastery. Both are perched atop the picturesque canyon. Along the way, you'll encounter the ruins of the 4th-century Gregory the Illuminator Church.

Please note that there are actually two trails, one that goes above the canyon and one that goes into the canyon. This trail is the one that goes into the canyon, which uses old restored trails in the Saghmosavank area that gently wind you down into the river gorge. Be wary of snakes in the gorge in the spring, and keep in mind that there are two short sections where the trail consists of small boulders that need to be traversed.

Duration - 3.5h
Length - 7.9km
Level of difficulty - EE

This trail plunges deep into a gorge of vertical cliffs, sharp boulders and jagged terrain. At the end, a secret waterfall whispers the ancient secret of the forest. Can you hear it?

Please note that this trail mainly follows a river which at times requires many crossings and traversing up some slippery terrain. Only the first half of this trail should be considered family friendly.

The trail begins at the abandoned railway tracks near the Dilijan National Park Visitor Center. As you cross the tracks and descend into a gorge, you enter another realm. The sounds of the highway traffic are swapped for the sounds of birds; the artificial colors of concrete turn to shades of green; and the smell of the city is replaced by the blossoming trees. Listen to the forest from within or from the rest-point at the balcony-like plateau that punctures through the trees.

Follow the blazes and rows of colorful mushrooms, jumping across the stream and clambering up rocks. On your way up, watch out for what's known as the Man in the Mountain, a natural formation in the cliff that looks like the somber silhouette of a man staring into the distance. Just up ahead are the waterfalls and the end of the trail. You will come across one hidden in a narrow gorge - don't be misled by it into thinking this is the finish. Carry on a few hundred meters more to find the final hidden waterfall; a textured wall sculpted into modern-art by the river. Take a moment in the depths of this old forest to admire the detail of the landscape under the trees, before leaving and covering it with its blurred blanket of leaves.

Duration - 2.5h
Length - 3.3km
Level of difficulty - EE