Transcaucasian Trail Armenia: 2026 Thru-Hiker Resources

Lake Arpi National Park Visitor Center
Currently the northern terminus of the Transcaucasian Trail route in Armenia until an official cross-border route is established. This rarely-visited lakeside visitor centre, which doubles as the park’s administrative headquarters, has free maps of the national park and its modest trail network, as well as a display of information about the biodiversity it aims to protect.
Southbound, pre-registration is requested before beginning a hike through this protected area. The national park boundary is not physically demarcated, and there are no ranger stations on the trail, but you may encounter park rangers at any time. No permit is required to hike in the area, but because the trail passes through the Armenia–Turkey–Georgia border zone you are requested to register your personal details and dates of your visit in advance. You can register online until one working day before entering the protected area at the following URL: https://forms.gle/s5MPzpXegxVmRbnh6

Freshwater spring (treatment required)
Natural spring water rising from the ground, forming a small pond on the roadside. Not potable without treatment.
–Dilijan_NP/Tom_Allen/2020-09-10_11-31-51_original.jpg

Wild camping
Flat ground near the grave of Garegin Nzhdeh, with some protection among rock outcrops, but on a generally exposed ridge.

Hartashen
Hartashen (pop: 92, Armenian: Հարթաշեն) has 17–18th-century cemeteries and a 19th-century church. Its Turkish name was Duzkharaba. Both names refer to a straight (hart/duz) structure (shen) or ruin (kharab), presumably a reference to the nearby “megalithic avenues”.

Dzorastan
Dzorastan (pop: 59, Armenian: Ձորաստան), meaning “valley place”, was in the 19th century known as Akhtakhana and had an Armenian majority and Tatar minority population. The name was changed to Khlatagh and then Dzorastan in 1940.

Sanahin
Sanahin (Armenian: Սանահին), technically a suburb of Alaverdi but a separate village until 1967, is best known for the 10th-century UNESCO World Heritage Site of Sanahin Monastery.

Drinking water
Municipal drinking water fountain on the main street through the village, built into a WWII memorial.

Convenience store

Church of Surb Yerordutyun (Holy Trinity)
Built in 1830 and renovated in 2001.

ATM (Ameriabank)
***Dilijan

Gyumri Bus Station (villages around Lake Arpi)
Local minibuses to/from the villages surrounding Lake Arpi. None go to the national park visitor center, but all pass close to or through Berdashen. It's usually easier to take a taxi for the ~45km from Gyumri to the trail terminus.
***Gyumri

Khachkar-shrine
Commissioned in 1263 by the same Prince Prosh who founded Martiros.

Drinking water
Municipal drinking water fountain (bubbler) as part of a small memorial.

Bardzravan
Bardzravan (pop: 111, Armenian: Բարձրավան) overlooks the Vorotan and Vararak (Goris) river gorges. It was built to resettle the survivors of the 1931 earthquake that destroyed Yeritsatumb, and was officially renamed in either 1940 or 1946.

Wild camping (area)
Semi-sheltered flat area on the saddle, but with potentially heavy livestock traffic.

Warning: Dogs
There is a large herders' camp here with several dogs. The dogs are usually chained.
Note: Herders’ camps and remote farmsteads tend to be inhabited on an annual cycle, depending on the season, whether they are in highland or lowland areas, and the precise microclimate of the area. Not all such locations are included on this map, and not all included locations will be inhabited at all times. OpenStreetMap-derived basemaps are likely to show additional farms and camps in the vicinity of the trail. Take all dog encounters seriously: maintain situational awareness, have a plan, and be prepared with trekking poles, whistle etc. Seek medical attention if bitten, as rabies is endemic in the Caucasus, including Armenia.
–Dilijan_NP/Tom_Allen/2019-08-06_15-38-21_original.jpg

Freshwater spring (unverified)

Restaurant
Serves traditional Armenian food.

Bread King (bistro)
Roadside bistro with a familiar-looking logo serving hot drinks, baked goods and grills.

Tsater
Tsater (pop. 340, Armenian: Ծաթեր) is located on the clifftops above the Dzoraget and Debed canyons and is named after an Armenian sect that followed Greek religious traditions.

Stream
Freshwater stream, usually flowing year-round.
–Lake_Sevan_NP/Tom_Allen/2017-08-27_13-42-45_original.jpg

Lake Sevan National Park
At 1,901m elevation, Lake Sevan is one of the largest freshwater high-altitude lakes in Eurasia. The 150km² national park was established in 1978 as an important wetland for migratory waterbirds. Soviet engineers drained the lake by 18m/59ft between 1933–1963, only to start refilling it again in 1981 by building a tunnel from Kechut Reservoir near Jermuk.

River crossing
A shallow wade in normal water conditions. Also used as a vehicle ford.

Freshwater spring
Natural spring water refitted with a spout and a stone animal watering trough, located directly opposite the entrance to the churchyard.

Freshwater spring (do not drink)
This is the overflow from the water source at the farmhouse above and should be considered contaminated and unsafe to drink. A good water source is available at Haghartsin Monastery.
–Dilijan_NP/Tom_Allen/2020-03-11_10-06-54_original.jpg

Sevan town hall
📞 099 199555 / 077 023385, 📧 davidtorosyan09@yahoo.com, 🕒 09:00–18:00. Tourist information in English, French and Russian.
***Sevan

Wild camping
Flat ground among fruit trees in a small orchard on a terrace below the church.

Drinking water
Municipal drinking water fountain with a spout and basin, set in a stone arch memorial dated 1954.

Old Bridge Winery
📞 055 098799, 091 800240, 093 219756, 📧 info@oldbridgewinery.com, 💻 oldbridgewinery.com.
***Yeghegnadzor

Sisian City (supermarket)
🕒 08:00–midnight.
***Sisian

Wild camping (area)
Several flat areas can be found among the ruins of Yeritsatumb, with drinking water nearby. (We used this spot for a 2-week trail-building camp in 2019.)

Campsite
📞 093 880230, ✉️ tatevinfocenter@gmail.com, ⌨️ tatevinfo.com.
Camping is permitted in the grounds of Tatev Information Centre & Cafe, or else in the garden of the family's nearby home, for a fee of AMD1,000 pppn, with toilets but no showers.

Lake Arpi National Park boundary
Northbound, pre-registration is requested before entering this protected area. The national park boundary is not physically demarcated, and there are no ranger stations on the trail, but you may encounter park rangers at any time. No permit is required to hike in the area, but because the trail passes through the Armenia–Turkey–Georgia border zone you are requested to register your personal details and dates of your visit in advance. You can register online until one working day before entering the protected area at the following URL: https://forms.gle/s5MPzpXegxVmRbnh6

Roadside drinking water fountain close to the highway crossing, reliably flowing. May be hidden behind parked Iranian trucks! Store and bistro 200m E.

Museum
🕒 on request. Showcases artifacts excavated in the area as well as local art and handicrafts.

Wild camping (area)
There are several good camping spots along this short stretch of riverside which is popular in summer with locals. Which is best mainly depends on who else is there!

There is plenty of flat ground for camping in the "Drunken Forest" pine plantation above the town. Be aware that the area is a popular place for locals to walk, so please camp off-trail to minimise disturbance.

Freshwater spring (seasonal)
Piped natural springwater source with a basin about 70m uphill from the trail. Sometimes reported dry in late summer.

Dilijan Hikers Hostel
📞 091 145741, ⌨️ dilijanhikershostel.com.
TCT co-founder Tom and his wife Tenny run a seasonal bunkhouse to serve hikers on the Transcaucasian Trail, usually from June to September. Set in the heart of Dilijan’s old town, their tiny hostel offers bunk beds in dorms, an outdoor kitchen, laundry facilities, a gear repair and swap corner, gas refills, and plenty of communal spaces.
***Dilijan

Khachaghbyur (freshwater spring)
Natural spring water source fitted with a pipe and basin next to a picnic shelter. Locally known as Khachaghbyur ("Cross Spring" in Armenian) and labelled on older maps as Khachbulagh (the same meaning but in a hybrid of Armenian and Turkish). The Armenian inscription reads: "Drink, pass by, remember..."

Picnic shelter
Large, covered picnic area.

Stream
Freshwater stream, usually flowing year-round.

Karadzi
Karadzi (Armenian: Քարաձի) is the semi-abandoned summer hamlet for Madina, about 10km NE. 2–1st millenia BCE ruins have been found close by. Renamed Karadzi (“Stone Horse”) in 1945, former names include Akdash (“White Field”) and Nazarkhan (a Persian title).

Church of Surb Hovhannes (St John)
Ruined church of the 17–18th century, surrounded by ornate carved stones.

Azeri cemetery
Surviving gravestones mostly date from the 20th century.
–

Several large, flat meadows in forest clearings, used for haymaking and suitable for camping.
–Lake_Sevan_NP/Val_Ismaili/2017-08-27_10-15-43_original.jpg

Stream
Freshwater stream, usually flowing year-round. The area can be very muddy; go upstream to collect cleaner water.
–Lake_Sevan_NP/Tom_Allen/2017-09-07_12-39-56_original.jpg

Khustup Mountain B&B

Yeghegnadzor
Yeghegnadzor (pop. 7,022, Armenian: Եղեգնաձոր) is a town and municipal community centre in the Arpa valley. Prominent during the Silk Road era and known later as Keshishkend, the Soviets renamed it Mikoyan in 1935, but its original Armenian name, meaning “Valley of Reeds”, was reinstated in 1956. Northbound, it’s a key resupply stop before the Gegham Mountains.

Mains water supply from a leaking pipe.

Chgnavori Vank (“Hermit’s Monastery”)
11–12th-century hermitage below the cliffs, best accessed from above, but possible from below (with some bushwhacking and scrambling).

Freshwater spring
The spring marked on maps at this location rises from the ground, creating a small wetland area, and is practically impossible to collect from.

Meghri Bus Stop
The drop-off/pick-up location for minibuses to and from Yerevan. Note that the service continues to/from Agarak.
***Meghri

Drinking water (unverified)

Church of Alan Takavor ("King Alan")
13–14th-century basalt church with a gavit and khachkars.
–

Church of Surb Hakob (St Jacob)

Municipal drinking water fountain next to a covered picnic shelter.

Some flat ground can be found in the most sheltered location on the shore of Lake Akna. This is a popular spot in summer so you may not be alone. Remember to leave no trace!

Convenience store
Medium-sized, relatively well-stocked grocery store in Yeghegnadzor.
***Yeghegnadzor

Freshwater spring
Natural spring water source a short distance downhill from the trail, protected with rocks and fed through a small metal spout close to the ground.

Crossway Camping
📞 094 789391, 📧 armcamping@gmail.com / info@campinginarmenia.com, 💻 campinginarmenia.com, FB
***Yeghegnadzor

Knarik's B&B

Mains water supply piped into an animal watering trough.

Church of Surb Hovhannes (St John)
Church of 1905–7 built by Armenian and Greek churchbuilders from patterened stone, with a 16th century cemetery and earlier khachkars.

Church of Surb Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God)
15th-century church, rebuilt in 1693 as a domed basilica, and with 19th-century murals.
***Meghri

Large area of pine plantation near the riverside, with drinking water and a picnic shelter nearby. This location is within the Lake Arpi National Park boundaries and campfires are prohibited. Remember to leave no trace.

Municipal drinking water fountain.

Unverified water source
Reported in 2023 as an animal watering trough fed by broken pipe, but the pipe may be fed by a potentially contaminated stream. Please verify with locals before drinking.

Natural spring water source. If you can't find it, there is a reliable stream nearby.

Haghartsin Gata (bakery-café)
🕒 10:00–19:00, reduced hours in winter. Open-air snack bar selling freshly baked gata in a variety of non-traditional flavours, best eaten hot. Also serves coffee and ice-cream.

Natural spring water piped from a nearby source.

Wild camping
Small sheltered riverside spot about 1km below the pass.

Gnishik Eco Lodge
📞 077 444184, 📧 hello@set.am, 💻 set.am, FB Gnishik

Hors's Home

Berdi-Ghala (ruined village)
Abandoned village with springs cascading down between terraced ruins. There’s a semi-ruined 5th-century church, khachkars and tombstones from the 10–14th centuries, a 17th-century oil press and three 18th-century water mills. It was abandoned in the late 19th or early 20th century.
–

Sofya B&B

Tatev medical centre
Location unverified.

Church of Surb Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God)
17th-century three-aisled basilica church, whose cemetery contained a khachkar of 1549 now on display in Sisian's museum.

Vanek
Vanek (pop: 62, Armenian: Վանեք) was formerly known as Gharatgha to Armenians and Karadiga/Karadigya by the Tatar (Azeri) inhabitants who lived here until 1989. It was resettled by Armenians from Soviet Azerbaijan.

Natural spring refitted with a pipe and basin, with a memorial stone to Albert (2015) and next to a small picnic shelter.

Post office (3218)

Natural water source fitted with a pipe and set into a memorial to the Barseghyan family, dated 1997.

Peg Stone Hotel

Church
Single-aisled church, rebuilt in 1866.
–Arevik_NP/Tom_Allen/2019-07-17_11-19-10_original.jpg

Dzoramichi Vank
9–13th-century complex built into the cliffside above the trail, with a church, belfry, chapels, khachkars and cave tombs. Part of the Horomayr ensemble.

Kapan Medical Centre
***Kapan

Natural spring water source piped to a point next to the 4x4 track.

VivaCell-MTS (SIM cards)
🕒 09:00–18:00 Mon–Fri. Coming from the Agarak border control point (Armenia–Iran), this a convenient branch of our recommended cellphone/mobile service provider for Armenia.
***Meghri

Freshwater spring (seasonal)
Natural spring water flowing from beneath a boulder into a small basin. Often dries up in midsummer.
–Tatev_Planned_NP/Tom_Allen/2017-10-23_13-12-09_original.jpg

Kurtan Museum
Working hours unknown.

Drinking water (unverified)
Reported by hikers in 2022 but unverified since then.

Hotel Dina
https://www.booking.com/hotel/am/dina.en-gb.html?aid=1662682
***Sisian

1001 Manruk
Hardware store selling unthreaded butane cartridges.
***Dilijan

Davti Toon (guesthouse & camping)
📞 077 036650, 📧 armine.khachatryan83@gmail.com, FB. Location approximate.

Natural spring water source with a fitted with a stone-carved channel for access.

Aghitu
Aghitu (pop: 315, Armenian: Աղիտու), until 1991 known as Aghudi and populated by Azeris, is famous for its 6–7th-century funerary monument, unique but for a similar one in Odzun. Stone Age artifacts and Iron Age settlements have been found nearby.

Church of Surb Stepanos (St Stephen)
Church of 1430 surrounded by 10–18th-century gravestones.

Church of Surb Sarkis (St Sergius)
13th-century church, renovated in 2009, with a khachkar giving a foundation date of 1217.
***Stepanavan

Kir Yev Akhper ("Brother & Sister") Fortress
7–12th century hilltop fort of which only the foundations remain. A larger structure can be seen on an opposite hilltop S across the gorge, hence the name.

Pushkin memorial
Originally installed on the Pushkin Pass in the 1930s, this unique memorial depicts Pushkin's meeting with Griboyedov's hearse, as related in his 1836 work "A Journey To Erzurum".

Sedvi Camp
📞 055 550504, FB SedviCamp
Rustic campsite aimed at local rather than foreign visitors.

Statue of Stepan Shahumuyan
Stepan Georgevich Shahumyan (1878–1918) was a young Armenian political activist instrumental in imposing Bolshevik rule in the South Caucasus.
***Stepanavan

Convenience store (kiosk)

Drinking water from a leaking mains water pipe.

Natural spring water source, piped into an old enamelled metal bathtub. Get extra points for taking a bath.

Mausoleum of the Melik-Stepanyans
Smbat Melik-Stepanyan (1881–1940) was a geological engineer with a long regional career. His sister, Varsenik (1883–1915), was an early advocate of women’s literacy.
–Arevik_NP/Tom_Allen/2018-11-22_17-32-00_original.jpg

Lake Chumov
Natural spring-fed lake-reservoir with a modern humanmade dam.

Stepanavan Bus Station
Minibuses to nearby villages as well as Gyumri (daily at 14:00, AMD1,500), Vanadzor (4 daily; AMD500) and Yerevan (5 daily from 08:00, AMD1,500). Occasional buses to Tbilisi via the Gogavan border crossing in high season.
***Stepanavan

Haghartsin Monastery
Haghartsin Monastery has long been one of Armenia’s most visited monasteries. The original 10th-century church of Surb Grigor (St Gregory) was later joined by other buildings and is now dwarfed by its neighbours. The complex was extensively renovated beginning in 2010.

Freshwater spring (unverified)
Approximate location.

Natural spring water source, roughly channeled into rock for access.

Tatev Viewpoint
The spot where everyone comes to take the photo of Tatev Monastery across the gorge.
–Arevik_NP/Tom_Allen/IMG_20190923_101012_original.jpg

Historically significant natural water source, piped to a location just inside the main (north) entrance to Tatev monastery complex.

Mineral water spring
Natural mineral water source on the left bank of the River Akhurian. Approximate location.

Toon Armeni
📞 098 787899, FB. Renovated historic property with vast gardens, double/twin/family rooms and a good restaurant.

Municipal drinking water fountain with a spout and basin, with a stone animal watering trough below.

Warning: Dogs
Herders' camp, with dogs sometimes reported untethered.
Note: Herders’ camps and remote farmsteads tend to be inhabited on an annual cycle, depending on the season, whether they are in highland or lowland areas, and the precise microclimate of the area. Not all such locations are included on this map, and not all included locations will be inhabited at all times. OpenStreetMap-derived basemaps are likely to show additional farms and camps in the vicinity of the trail. Take all dog encounters seriously: maintain situational awareness, have a plan, and be prepared with trekking poles, whistle etc. Seek medical attention if bitten, as rabies is endemic in the Caucasus, including Armenia.

Geologist's Home B&B
📞 091 402097. English-speaking owner Armen has a wealth of knowledge on the local area. Two renovated suites each with 4 beds, lounge & kitchen. Meals on request.

Baghaburj Memorial Complex

Gnishik Eco Resort
📞 093 080942, 📧 gnishikecoresort@gmail.com, FB

Gnishik
Tiny Gnishik (pop. 60, Armenian: Գնիշիկ) has 9th-century tombstones/khachkars and 18–19th century church ruins. Resettled in the 1770s by migrants from Nakhichevan and Karabakh, the population peaked in the 20th century but declined after a landslide in the 1960s. It is a Prime Butterfly Area (PBA).

Ruzanna's B&B
📞 093 230320 / 093 226936, 📧 tag_sahakyan@yahoo.com, 💻 stepanavan.net. Small family-run homestay with dinner available.

Natural spring water source fitted with a spout and a memorial stone to Galust (1954).

ATM (Ardshinbank)

Large, flat area on both sides of the trail with a few trees for shade and log stools for sitting.

Natalie Guest House
📞 077 444108. Approximate location.

Natural spring water source refitted with an animal watering trough and a WWII memorial stone.

Tandzaver

SunHome Stepanavan Guest House
📞 099/094 471292, 📧 sunhomestepanavan@gmail.com, FB.

Natural spring water source.

Picnic shelter
Beautiful covered picnic spot.

Natural spring water source piped to this location with a spout and a small basin.

Freshwater stream, normally flowing year-round.

Cemetery

Natural spring water source fitted with a pipe. Can be hard to locate in the summer due to seasonal overgrowth.

Freshwater spring (seasonal)
Natural spring water source fitted with a spout and feeding an animal watering trough. May be overgrown and hard to see, or flow may be too low to access.

Water fountain (bubbler) just east of the monastery buildings and close to the informal camping area.

Hotel Anush

Aghasu Tun
📞 055 620628, 📧 merinalbandyan33@mail.ru, FB

Kilikia (Central) Bus Station (Gyumri, Tbilisi)
Minibuses to/from Gyumri run all day from here and from the Intertown Bus Station, starting from about 08:00 and costing AMD1,500 and taking 2 hours. Minibuses to/from Tbilisi also terminate here.
***Yerevan

Church of Surb Minas (St Menas)
Three-aisled church of 1646.

Natural spring water connected by a tunnel to the source, feeding a long stone animal watering trough. Check the immediate area for contamination before use.

Flat area on a saddle on the ridge, with minimal protection.

Natural spring water source seeping from the ground and with the appearance of a shallow stream. There is no accessible flow from the source, so this water requires treatment before drinking.

Prestige Supermarket
🕒 09:00–22:00. Large, well-stocked supermarket located on the ground floor of Kapan Mall.
***Kapan

Fast-flowing source set into a stone memorial with a large water trough below, located within the fenced village square and protected from livestock.

Church
19th-century church with 13–17th-century khachkars nearby.

Flat, trailside camping spot on the forested ridge.

Convenience store
One of the larger grocery stores in Meghri.

River crossing
A shallow but long wade in normal conditions. Also used as a vehicle ford. Can be challenging after heavy rain, but this is still the widest and shallowest crossing in the area.

Freshwater stream, usually flowing year-round.

Natural spring water source fitted with a pipe close to the ground, just uphill from a nomadic herders' camp.

Hors
Hors (pop. 217, Armenian: Հորս) is first mentioned in the 10th century, with the oldest khachkars from the 12th. A ruined 14th-century residence is possibly that of Prince Chesar Orbelian, who commissioned the Selim Caravanserai. Hors was historically populated by both Armenians and Tatars (Azeris).

Ave Zara B&B
📞 093 386366, 📧 zarine.vardanyan@bk.ru. Approximate location.

Dilijan–Yerevan ggShuttle pick-up/drop-off point
The ggTaxi ride-hailing app firm (💻 ggtaxi.com) operates pre-bookable shared minivans between Yerevan and Dilijan for AMD1,600 per person.

Baghaberd (fortress)
Historically significant hilltop fortress in the Voghji valley, first mentioned in the 4th century and instrumental in the defence of the Syunik kingdoms between the 10–12th centuries.

Freshwater spring flowing from a rock face on the side of the trail. Appears to be seasonal/intermittent.

Sisian military hospital

Lake Akna
Lake Akna, or Akna Lich (“Eye Lake”), is a small (0.5–0.8km²), is a snowmelt lake-reservoir and protected natural heritage site, formed from a volcanic crater and known in Soviet times as Kanli Gyol (“Bloody Lake”). It is one of the highest-altitude lakes in the Gegham range at 3,030m/9,941ft.

Mausoleum of Mkhitar Gosh
Mkhitar Gosh (~1130–1213) was celebrated for his contributions to Armenian literature and law in medieval times. Originally from Gandzak (now Ganja in Azerbaijan), he travelled widely and was buried here – not in his monastery as was traditional – at his own request.
–Lake_Sevan_NP/Tom_Allen/2016-10-08_13-26-06_original.jpg

Shishkert
Shishkert (pop: 40, Armenian: Շիշկերտ) is a remote village in a deep side valley of Mt Khustup, further isolated by border tensions. After a devastating earthquake of 1968, many residents were sheltered in nearby Tsav. Reconstruction work stopped when the First Karabakh War began and was never finished.

Natural spring water directed into a concrete channel. Usually dry by the start of summer. DO NOT rely on this water source.

Reservoirs
Several small reservoirs near a herders' camp to collect rain and meltwater for seasonal livestock watering purposes.
Note: Most herders in the Gegham Mountains will appear happy to give drinking water to passing hikers. In reality, they often bring drinking water in from a distance by 4x4, especially in drought years, costing them time and fuel. While we don't discourage you from accepting hospitality, relying on these camps as your main source of drinking water is neither sustainable nor considerate of the realities of the nomadic herding lifestyle. Please source drinking water from natural sources whenever and wherever possible.

Angeghakot Reservoir
One of five reservoirs comprising the Vorotan Cascade, along with three hydroelectric power plants. The complex was built between 1961 and 1989 and is now owned by London-headquartered ContourGlobal.

Warning: Dogs
Several herders' camps exist in the area, with dogs reported unchained.
Note: Herders’ camps and remote farmsteads tend to be inhabited on an annual cycle, depending on the season, whether they are in highland or lowland areas, and the precise microclimate of the area. Not all such locations are included on this map, and not all included locations will be inhabited at all times. OpenStreetMap-derived basemaps are likely to show additional farms and camps in the vicinity of the trail. Take all dog encounters seriously: maintain situational awareness, have a plan, and be prepared with trekking poles, whistle etc. Seek medical attention if bitten, as rabies is endemic in the Caucasus, including Armenia.

Gndevank Monastery (junction)

Bridge
Makeshift bridge made from some upcycled pieces of formed concrete. Note that this location replaces earlier versions of the route that showed a crossing point 170m downstream.

Kayenajur (river)
Small river, usually flowing year-round. Treatment essential due to livestock presence. If in doubt ask for water at a farmhouse.
–Dilijan_NP/Tom_Allen/IMG_20170501_154108_original.jpg

Picnic shelter
Large, new, covered picnic shelter in a compound protected from livestock, built as a memorial to the Second Karabakh War, with a drinking water fountain inside and an outhouse nearby.

Piped drinking water tap located within a picnic site.

Meghru Amrots (Meghri Fort)
Built in the 10th/11th century, destroyed by the Seljuks in the 12th, and rebuilt in the 18th by Davit Bek, this time to accommodate firearms.

Aghitu funerary monument
Unique, three-tiered, 6–7th-century monument, damaged in a 1931 earthquake but then restored. Traditionally believed to honor the unnamed nobles who defended the region against Sassanid troops.

Yeghegnadzor bus station
Minibuses to/from Yerevan and Vayk.

Drinking water (intermittent)
Municipal drinking water fountain. Maybe turned off and on depending on the availability of water.

Suggested wild camping location in a sheltered spot next to a natural mineral water spring, with a stone table and benches. Fresh water is available from the nearby stream. Remember to leave no trace!

Obsidian river
This shallow valley is full of black obsidian, a type of glass-like volcanic rock. Choose between this and the view from the ridge down into Khosrov State Reserve.

ATM (Acba Bank)
***Alaverdi

Southbound, this is the last reliable water access until the outskirts of Sevan.
–Lake_Sevan_NP/Tom_Allen/IMG_20190620_112427_original.jpg

Large, popular, covered picnic shelter with several tables and benches.
–Arevik_NP/Tom_Allen/2021-01-18_12-29-00_original.jpg

Drinking water (intermittent)
Drinking water from a leaking valve on a mains water pipe.

Odzun funerary monument
Two obelisks depicting Biblical scenes and set in stone arches, dated to the 6th century and unlike anything in Armenia except the monument at Aghitu.

Natural spring water piped from a short distance uphill.

Water spout inside a picnic shelter with a memorial to Davit.

Natural spring water piped into a small ground basin at the base of a cliff, with a stone table nearby.

Cafe 48

Picnic bench
Benches and table under a shady tree outside the church entrance.
–Tatev_Planned_NP/Tom_Allen/2016-06-28_14-54-37_original.jpg

The Spot DLJN

Hnevank (monastery)
Founded in the 7th century and rebuilt with a higher tambour in 1144, recent restoration clarifies the layout of the complex, though some low ruins remain overgrown. Georgian and Armenian inscriptions can be found on the buildings, reflecting its storied heritage.

Natural water source fitted with a spout, with water flowing into a drainage pipe under the road.

Sasuntsi Davit Railway Station (Gyumri, Tbilisi, Batumi)
Yerevan–Gyumri trains run several times daily, including a weekend “express” service. One-way tickets are AMD1,000–2,500, and schedules vary seasonally. The journey takes 2–3.5 hours depending on the train. It is not possible to book in advance, so arrive at least 45 minutes before departure to buy your ticket. The Yerevan–Tbilisi night train also terminates here, and between June–September is extended to Batumi.
***Yerevan

Lake Urasar
Lake Urasar, nicknamed “Lake of Waterlilies” (Armenian: Ջրաշուշանների լիճ), blooms with stunning lilies in July/August. Protected status forbids picking. Ancient earthworks nearby hint at past settlement.
–Dilijan_NP/Tom_Allen/PANO_20200806_163359.vr_original.jpg

River Tsav
Small freshwater spring-fed river that flows year-round.

Drinking water (intermittent)
Piped drinking water (spout) with a memorial to Tsaghko. May be turned on and off depending on water availability.

ATM (Ameriabank)
***Jermuk

Reservoir
A small humanmade reservoir near a herders' camp to collect meltwater and rain for seasonal livestock watering purposes.
Note: Most herders in the Gegham Mountains will appear happy to give drinking water to passing hikers. In reality, they often bring drinking water in from a distance by 4x4, especially in drought years, costing them time and fuel. While we don't discourage you from accepting hospitality, relying on these camps as your main source of drinking water is neither sustainable nor considerate of the realities of the nomadic herding lifestyle. Please source drinking water from natural sources whenever and wherever possible.

Approximate location. This information is provided in case of water shortages at higher elevations.

Harzhis Lake
Natural lake on the River Vorotan formed by a rock-fall.

Mermaid's Hair Falls

Natural spring water rising from the ground, with a few stepping stones for access. This is the only potable water source on the Dilijan–Gosh stage.

Tumanyan Matchbox Label Museum

Flat area for camping with great views and a nearby stream.

ATM (Acba Bank)
***Sisian

Natural spring water piped into a stone trough. Can be dry in summer.

Municipal drinking water fountain set into a stone WWII memorial next to the church. Sometimes reported disconnected. There is an outdoor tap in front of the museum opposite.

Bistro
Small fast-food bistro serving baked and grilled street food.
***Alaverdi

Hors Conservation Area Guesthouse
📞 091 195478.
Intended to be rented as a whole property, this self-catering ecolodge in the Gndasar mountain range near Hors village accommodates up to 10 people. Only accessible by 4x4 or on foot. B/fast AMD3,500 pp.

Post office (3301)

Covered picnic shelter with a table, overlooking Kechut Reservoir.

Footbridge

New City Supermarket
🕒 09:00–22:00 Mon–Sat, 09:00–21:00 Sun. Large, well-stocked supermarket in the semi-basement of a former shopping centre.

Gyumri

Piped drinking water fountain with several spouts and a basin, with a picnic shelter nearby.

Urasar
Urasar (pop. 331, Armenian: Ուրասար) was founded as Pakrovka by Russian migrants in the early 19th century. In 1939 it was renamed in honour of Bolshevik activist Valerian Vladimirovich Kuybishev (1888–1935). A census of 1989 reported many ethnic Russians remaining. It was renamed Urasar in 1991.

Anahit's Spring (freshwater spring)
Natural spring water source piped into a stone basin, with a memorial to Anahit, located ~400m from the main trail. Northbound, this is the last reliable source until the stream below Malev. Southbound, this is the last reliable source before Meghri. Sometimes reported low flow in late summer but not dry.

***Jermuk

Spitakavor Monastery
The small, picturesque monastery of Spitakavor (“White-ish”), also known as Tsaghkavank (“Monastery of Flowers”), consists mainly of the church of Surb Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God). It was was built in 1321 by two Proshian princes on the site of a 5th-century basilica. The modern grave outside is of Garegin Nzhdeh, buried here for a second time in 1987.

Natural spring water source piped into an animal watering trough. Reported dry throughout the summer of 2023. Southbound, DO NOT rely on this water source.

Vahanavank (monastery)
Monastery founded by Vahan, son of a Syunik prince, who built the main church of Surb Grigor Lusavorich (St Gregory the Illuminator) in 911 on a Bronze Age burial site. The church of Surb Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God) was built a century later.

Luysaghbyur (freshwater spring)
Natural spring water source flowing from multiple fissures in a rock face, known locally as Luysaghbyur ("Spring of Light"). Considered a holy site, the water is said to have healing properties.

Mkhitar Gosh Hotel

Lake Arpi National Park Guesthouse
Very basic accommodation, consisting of shared dormitory beds (AMD3,000/night) and a kitchen in the main building, or a 4-bed private guesthouse in an adjacent building (AMD10,000/night).

Post office (3901)

A valve attached to a mains water supply pipe with a tap for access, located on the side of the trail.

Hostun (ruined village)
Extensive 5–17th-century settlement with a 17th century church and older khachkars and tombs.

Ovsanna Supermarket
🕒 08.00–21.00 daily. Large, well-stocked supermarket.

Drinking water source located just outside the farm buildings.

Vorotan Pass (2,344m)
The windy and wintry pass between Vayots Dzor and Syunik provinces features the eyecatching "Gates of Zangezur" twin monuments of 1987, as well as seasonal produce for sale on the roadside.

Van Tavern

Natural spring water source fitted with a spout and running into a trough, usually flowing year-round.

Shaki Waterfall
🕒 11:00–19:00 daily (the sluice is on a timer). Cascade waterfall and protected natural monument on the Shaki tributary of the River Vorotan, 18m/59ft in height.

Stream (seasonal)
Freshwater stream, sometimes dry in summer but usually flowing well.

Natural spring water source fitted with a metal spout, located within the ruined village just above the main trail.

Natural water source inside a small chapel. The village of Katnaghbyur is named after this spring, whose water is believed to have healing properties.

Kobayr Monastery
12th-century monastic complex with mixed Georgian and Armenian heritage. “Kob” and ”ayr” mean “cave” in Georgian and Armenian respectively, so ”Kobayr” translates as ”cave-cave”. The main church was built in 1171 by Mariam, daughter of the Armenian vassal prince Kyurik II, before it later came under Georgian control.

Jermuk Hot Springs
Complex of thermal baths with naturally warm (if not exactly hot) water bubbling up into a series of pools, with picnic shelters and changing rooms. Free and unstaffed, it’s a popular destination for 4×4 tours from Jermuk.

Vorotnavan Hot Springs

Artavan Campsite

Haer B&B
📞 093 545414. Homely, good-value homestay at the northwest end of Mets Tagh district of Meghri.

Freshwater spring (unverified)
A stream is also nearby.

Yeritsatumb (ruined village)
Yeritsatumb (Armenian: Երիցաթումբ), aka: Old Bardzravan, was a 10th-century settlement destroyed in 1931 by the same earthquake that ruined Tatev Monastery. The survivors resettled in the new village of Bardzravan.

Hunting & fishing store
In the far-left corner unit of the underground mall. Sells basic outdoor equipment and piercable (ie: Campingaz-style) gas canisters.

Natural spring water source built into the northern entrance to Kobayr monastery complex.

River Nazarkhane (ford)
This wide but shallow river can usually be forded without issue by both hikers and vehicles. Other fords may appear on maps, and other routes through the area may appear shorter, but this is the most reliable route and crossing.

Natural spring water piped to this location.

Freshwater spring-fed stream, usually flowing year-round. The true source is about 70m uphill.

Municipal drinking water fountain incorporated into a statue of some well-known characters from the Soviet Armenian movie "Mimino".

ATM (ArmEconomBank)
***Alaverdi

Large meadow next to the reservoir with drinking water nearby. Local produce is available from the nearby farm during the summer season. In times of high water this area may be partially flooded.

Highway crossing (Kapan)
Crossing on the M-2 highway close to Kapan. This is an ideal point from which to hitch-hike or take a local minibus or taxi to the city for resupplies.

Gyumri Railway Station (Yerevan, Tbilisi, Batumi)
Yerevan–Gyumri trains run several times daily, including a weekend “express” service. One-way tickets are AMD1,000–2,500, and schedules vary seasonally. The journey takes 2–3.5 hours depending on the train. It is not possible to book in advance, so arrive at least 45 minutes before departure to buy your ticket. It's also possible to board/disembark the Yerevan–Tbilisi night train at Gyumri, which between June–September is extended to Batumi.
***Gyumri

Natural spring water source fitted with a pipe for access.

Chapel of Chgnavori Mayr (“Hermit’s Mother”)
11th-century chapel partly hewn from the rock face, with a khachkar of the 9–10th century.

Burgery by Old Bridge
🕒 11:00–20:00. Offers a large range of burgers and sides and will apparently deliver to Crossway Camping.

Coffee machine
Coins only.

Zangezur Biosphere Complex SNCO
📞 0285 20064 / 077 733000, 📧 info@zangezurkh.am, 💻 zangezurkh.am.
***Kapan

Old Bridge Winery B&B
📞 093 219756, 091 800240, 📧 info@oldbridgewinery.am, 💻 oldbridgewinery.com)

Natural spring water source flowing directly from the ground. Sometimes reported low flow but not dry.

Shamb Hotel

Syunik Airport (Yerevan–Kapan)
Flights were not yet operational as of the latest update.

Natural spring water source piped into a stone basin.

Freshwater stream usually flowing year-round.

Shamb Reservoir
Dam construction began in 1970, flooding the orchards of the valley floor. Extra water is piped from the Tolors Reservoir. The 171-megawatt power plant, completed in 1978, is the most powerful in the Vorotan Cascade.

Halidzor Fortress
Halidzor Fortress (Armenian: Ամրոց Հալիձոր) was originally a 17th-century convent, later a fortified headquarters for Davit Bek and his followers in their struggle for the liberation of Syunik.
–Arevik_NP/Tom_Allen/IMG_20181121_132831_original.jpg

VivaCell-MTS (SIM cards)
🕒 09:00–18:00 Mon–Fri. Coming from the Bavra border control point (Armenia–Georgia), this is the closest branch of our recommended cellphone/mobile service provider for Armenia.

Old Martiros
Martiros (pop. 567, Armenian: Մարտիրոս), whose name is said to derive from the Greek for “martyr”, has two parts, 2km distant. “Old” Martiros was deemed under threat from landslides, so in 1968 “New” Martiros was built, though some residents stayed in the original village.

Iris B&B
https://www.booking.com/hotel/am/iris.en-gb.html?aid=1662682
📞 091 088812 / 094 894292. Popular budget guesthouse with double/twin/triple rooms, large dining room serving excellent home-cooked meals, and a warm welcome from owner Irina.

Antarashat
Antarashat (pop: 99, Armenian: Անտառաշատ) sits on a tributary of the River Achanan. Known as Tortni since at least the 13th century, it was in 1949 renamed Antarashat (literally “Lots of Forest”).

Large area of flat ground in a forest clearing on a saddle of the ridge, with some protection from the elements.

Filling station

Municipal drinking water fountain (spout & basin).

Natural spring water piped to a location just below the trail, where it fills a large metal water tank supplying the farm below. Scramble down and lift the metal lid to access the running water coming from a plastic hose. Sometimes reported dry in midsummer.

Old Martiros Guesthouse

Stream (seasonal)
Freshwater stream, usually seasonal. Water may be present further downstream.
–Tatev_Planned_NP/Tom_Allen/2017-10-26_16-02-50_original.jpg

Approximate location. Drinking water fountain within the monastery grounds.

Church of Surb Sargis (St Sergius)
17th-century three-aisled basilica damaged by an earthquake and now undergoing restoration.

Natural spring water fitted with a pipe and pouring into a stone basin.

Freshwater spring-fed stream, usually flowing year-round. The source is 100m uphill and may be contaminated by livestock, so filtering is still essential at this location.

Wings of Tatev cable-car terminal (Halidzor)
💻 tatever.am. The world's longest reversible double-track cable car, with multiple daily trips between Tatev and Halidzor (except Mondays).

An open valve on a mains water pipe which can be used to access drinking water. May sometimes be difficult to see due to overgrowth. (The valve is seized open and doesn't close.)

Church of Surb Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God)
Semi-ruined 19–20th-century Orthodox church.

Approximate location.

Historical Museum

Hartashen megalithic avenues
Two mysterious rock "avenues" stretch across the plain, forming a bottleneck where they converge. Each has 3 rows of standing stones facing the same way. Function unknown, possibly aiding Bronze Age hunters or serving ritual purposes. Tentatively dated 8th-2nd millennium BC. Research continues.

Church

Tatev Information Centre & Café
📞 093 880230, ✉️ tatevinfocenter@gmail.com, ⌨️ tatevinfo.com.
Family-owned information centre run by a nonprofit foundation to support social development projects in Tatev. As well as serving excellent food (try the fruit cookies) in a cosy environment, the centre also has a library of literature relating to Armenian and local history and architecture.

Noravank (junction)

Mazra (ruined village)
Mazra, or Lower Mazra, is an abandoned ruined village dating from the 16th century. Its name means “farm” in Persian. In 1939 the 341 residents abandoned the village for reasons unclear, some moving to Shishkert and others to Parakar (between Yerevan and Etchmiadzin).

Mains water piped to a tap in front of the café.

A plastic pipe from a small metal cistern which is part of the local water supply network, fed by a nearby source.

Bavra Border Control Point (Armenia–Georgia)

Pottery House

Hagvi
Hagvi (pop. 375, Armenian: Հագվի) has an un-Armenian name, which may have appeared in Urartian inscriptions. Modern resettlement took place in the 18–20th centuries by Armenian migrants from Turkey and Karabakh.

Natural spring water source fitted with a pipe, with a memorial stone above.

Mineral water spring
Natural drinkable mineral water source a short distance from the main trail, frequented by locals and with a picnic shelter nearby.

HIKEArmenia
5 Vardanants St, 📞 011 445326, ✉️ info@hikearmenia.org, ⌨️ hikearmenia.org. Friendly info hub for hikers, with UTC gas canisters and other equipment.
***Yerevan

Bazarchay (sunken town)
Historically a Russian Old Believer community and with a surviving cemetery on the hilltop north, the town was submerged and the residents moved to the new settlement of Gorayk in the 1980s.

Bezoar goat observation deck

Alex B&B
📞 055 300508, 💻 alexbb.business.site

Malev (ruined village)
Malev, or Upper Malev, is a ruined abandoned village. The ruins of Lower Malev are just above Alvank. Armenians moved seasonally between the two, while ”Muslims” (as described in sources) hung out in Aldara (now Alvank).

Water piped into an animal watering trough from a nearby source. Intermittent/seasonal flow.

Shgharshik
Shgharshik (Armenian: Շղարշիկ), historically Shekk or Sheks, was in the 10th century within the diocese of Vahanavank, and later of Tatev. By the 19th century it had a Tatar (Azeri) majority, who left in 1988.

Some flat spots in a forest clearing with a large tree for shade and a picnic bench.

Natural water source fitted with a pipe and a memorial stone dedicated to Sasha, with a picnic shelter nearby. Often reported dry in summer. DO NOT rely on this water source.

Highland Hostel
Apt. 46, 18 Mesrop Mashtots Ave 📞 094 520567, FB HighlandHostelAndTours. Owner Tigran is one of Armenia’s most experienced mountaineers and a long-time supporter of the Transcaucasian Trail. He also operates the seasonal Highland Campground near the foot of Mt Azhdahak.

Natural spring water source just below the church, fitted with pipe and basin and with a memorial stone to Vardan.

Vorotnavank (monastery)
Fortified monastery comprising of two churches and several service buildings. The main church of Surb Stepanos (St Stephen) was constructed in 1000 by Queen Shahandukht, with a second added by her son Sevada in 1007. Centuries of invasions and earthquakes have damaged the complex but it has always been restored.

Natural spring water piped to this location from a nearby source, with a spout and a memorial stone to Levon.

Aghvorik
Aghvorik (pop: 113, Armenian: Աղվորիկ) was known until 1991 as Yeniyol and before 1935 as Gharanamaz, and had a mainly Azeri population until the late 1980s.

Municipal drinking water fountain set into a decoratively carved stone, just outside the church.

Viewpoint
A panoramic view of Mt Berdakar (Kaladash) and the Meghri valley, with a concrete survey point embossed with the emblem of the USSR.

Natural spring water source. This is a hillside ground source with no pipes or other fitments, so it is best accessed with the use of a receptacle.

Natural spring water piped into an animal watering trough set into the ground.

Selim Caravanserai
Selim Caravanserai, at 2,410m elevation, is Armenia’s best preserved Silk Road-era merchants’ inn. It was constructed in 1332 and sensitively restored in 1956–9. It’s possible to sleep inside; the caretaker leaves at sunset and is usually happy to allow this.

Gndevank (monastery)
Founded in 936 by Princess Sophia of Syunik who proclaimed that ‘Vayots Dzor was a ring without a jewel; but I built this monastery as the jewel for the ring’. Encircling fortified walls were added later. This is a working monastery, so exercise sensitivity and abide by the displayed dress code.

Artavan
Artavan (pop. 253, Armenian: Արտավան) sits in a fertile valley with heritage sites dating back to the Iron Age. Known as Chul (Armenian: Ջուլ) until 1950, it previously had mixed Armenian/Azeri populations, though conflicting accounts exist of the details.

Originally built in the 5–6th century and restored between 1982–4, its unique architecture has been extensively studied. The belltower was added in the 18th century.

Karmirgyugh
Karmirgyugh (Armenian: Կարմիրգյուղ), literally “Red Village”, is a seasonal farming hamlet, unrecognised as a permanent settlement. It’s most easily reached by a dirt/gravel road from Lorut.

Tumanyan
Tumanyan (pop. 1,454, Armenian: Թումանյան) is the centre of the Tumanyan municipal community. It was known from 1926–1951 as Dzaghidzor, and locals for some reason still use the old name seven decades later.

Water of unknown origin piped into an animal watering trough, believed by locals to be drinkable.

Elegant Restaurant

Chapel of Surb Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God)
Spectacularly situated 10th-century chapel, also recorded as Dzoro Vank, Tsura Vank, and Svarants Khach.
–Arevik_NP/Tom_Allen/IMG_20190703_154522.jpg

Natural spring water source piped into an animal watering trough, located about 80m downhill from the main trail.

Church of Surb Nikoghos (St Nicholas)
Partly-restored church of 1666 with a bell you can ring.

Taron B&B

Katnaghbyur
Katnaghbyur (pop. 633, Armenian: Կաթնաղբյուր) was known until 1935 as Koturbulagh/Ghoturbulagh and is named after a significant nearby spring, probably the one incorporated into a small chapel SE of the village, whose water the locals say has miraculous healing properties.

Yerivar Guest House

Amoj
Amoj (pop. 128, Armenian: Ամոջ) is almost joined to Odzun but still technically separate. There’s a 17th-century church in the village, as well as a store and a couple of guesthouses.

Natural spring water piped to this location, set into a memorial stone with a metal spout. Can be reported dry in all seasons.

Seasonal freshwater spring used by livestock. Reported just a drip in Sep 2023.

Confluence of two freshwater streams, at least one of which is usually flowing year-round.

ATM (Acba Bank)

Riverside location with some flat ground, suitably distant from the summer farming settlement of Karmirgyugh, with a covered picnic shelter and drinking water fountain on site.

Dilijan National Park barrier gate
Although legal boundary of the national park is 750m E of this point, it is physically demarcated here by a locked barrier gate to prevent unauthorised vehicle access. There are no registration or permit requirements for hikers at this time, so this waypoint is provided for informational purposes only.

Semyonovka
Semyonovka (pop: 295, Armenian: Սեմյոնովկա) was founded in 1845 by Russian Old Believer migrants from the North Caucasus, and was majority-Russian until the 1950s when it was repopulated by Armenians.

Highway crossing
Take care when crossing the highway at this unofficial crossing point. A short walk of about 50m on the hard shoulder is required.

Odzun Cathedral
🕒 10:00–19:00 daily. Completed in the 6th century on the site of a 4th-century church and rebuilt in the 8th, legend has it that Thomas the Apostle buried Christ’s swaddling clothes under the altar before he left for India.

Bears' Cave
The Bears’ Cave system is the most extensive found in Armenia, with a length of 3.3km and a vertical range of 145m. It’s closed to visitors while archaeological research continues.

Mozrov Cave
At 260m long, Mozrov is the third-longest cave system discovered in Armenia, with impressive speleothems. The entrance is closed to protect against vandalism while future conservation is planned.

Goris Tourist Information Office
📞 0284 22690, 077 277765, ✉️ touristeoffice_goris@yahoo.fr. Just off the northwest corner of the main city square, with English- and French-speaking staff who can assist with local bookings and transport. They also host plentiful literature related to the regional Legends Trail, whose route overlaps with the TCT through many parts of Syunik.

BenSon Adventures Resort

Reservoir
Small, shallow reservoir behind a dam on the River Gladzor in which it's possible to swim.

Covered picnic shelter with barbecue facilities, popular with locals and often occupied in the summer.

Goshavank (monastery)
Goshavank was established in the 12th century by the cleric Mkhitar Gosh (~1130–1213) to replace the nearby monastery of Getik, destroyed in an earthquake. Originally called Nor (New) Getik, it was posthumously renamed in his honour.

Natural spring water piped into an animal watering trough. May require treating if livestock contamination is suspected.

Natural spring water source with no fitments. Best accessed with the use of a receptacle.

Natural spring water from a nearby source, piped into an animal watering trough. Sometimes reported dry in summer.

Kata Supermarket
Large, reasonably-stocked supermarket with ATMs by the entrance.

Ker U Sus

Freshwater stream, usually flowing year-round, but with heavy livestock traffic. Better water sources exist in Artavan and at the spring 700m uphill and E.

Municipal drinking water fountain (spout & basin) set into a WWII memorial.

Zomayi Aghbyur (freshwater spring (seasonal))
Natural spring water piped into an animal watering trough. Known locally as Zomayi Aghbyur ("Zoma's Spring"). Sometimes reported dry in summer.

Wild Garden Cafe
***Jermuk

Covered picnic shelter with a table and benches.

Church of Surb Hovhannes (St John)
17th-century church, also known as Meghru Vank (Meghri Monastery), recently restored with special attention to its bold frescoes.

Sedvi Monastery
The 13–14th century church of Surb Nshan (“Holy Sign”) and surrounding defensive wall are all that remains of this sombre monastery. More fortifications, including a tall watchtower of black stone, can be found down the hill.

Café #2
📞 060 700805, FB Cafenumber2, 🕒 09:00–22:00. Calm and airy café by the lake near the main roundabout at the bottom of the valley, serving Italian-style coffee as well as local herbal teas and juices, light meals & snacks, and alcohol after 18:00.

Yerevan–Dilijan ggShuttle pick-up/drop-off point
The ggTaxi ride-hailing app firm (💻 ggtaxi.com) operates pre- bookable shared minivans between Yerevan and Dilijan for AMD1,600 per person, operating a more convenient service than the minibus to/from the top of Mashtots Avenue by the ramp up to Matenadaran in Yerevan to/from Dilijan outside Cafe #2.

Free camping
Free designated camping area in Arpa Protected Landscape, overlooking Noravank.

Natural spring water source, connected to a pipe which is part of the local water supply network, and protected by metal sheets. There is a small side pipe leading to a concrete animal watering trough. The flow is often slow, the pipe leading to the trough may be dry, and locating and accessing the true source can be difficult. Please leave the site as you find it and do not disrupt any water infrastructure.

Krasar
Krasar (pop. 499, Armenian: Կրասար) was formerly known as Ghurdbulagh until 1946 and also referred to as Gaylaghbyur (“Wolf Spring”). The village's ancestors migrated from what is now eastern Turkey in the 19th century. The village was also historically inhabited by Kurds.

Mains water supply piped into a metal animal watering trough. May be switched on and off depending on seasonal livestock movements and water availability.

Freshwater spring-fed stream, usually flowing year-round.

Vaghatin
Vaghatin (pop: 533, Armenian: Վաղատին) appears alongside Vorotnavank in a 13th-century history by Stepanos Orbelian, and as “Vaghudi” in a 15th-century Persian manuscript. Russian censuses show a 19th-century Tatar (Azeri) majority until the mutual ethnic cleansings of 1988–9, after which Armenians from Soviet Azerbaijan resettled in the village and it was renamed Vaghatin.

Vorotnaberd (fortress)
5th-century hilltop fortress mentioned by the historian Yeghishe (410–475), which fell to Persian, Turkish and Mongol invaders and was always eventually recaptured by Armenian forces.

Alaverdi Medical Centre
📞 0253 23312; 💻 alaverdimc.am. To reach the emergency hotline, call 📞 0253 23083/22857.

Lake Arpi National Park
Established in 2009 to protect 250km² of habitat for Armenian gulls and Dalmatian pelicans, among 225 bird species.

Arami Aghbyur (freshwater spring (seasonal))
Natural spring water source piped into a wooden trough. The name means "Aram's Spring" in Armenian.

Filling station
Also has a convenience store.

Small spring-fed freshwater stream crossing the trail at this location. The true source is about 100m uphill.

Kapan–Yerevan minivan departure point
For details, ask at the reception of Hotel Lernagorts.

Caravanserai
Semi-ruined, half-basement caravanserai dating to the 17–18th centuries.

Water mill
19th-century water mill, still active until the mid 20th century.

Small freshwater stream, usually flowing year-round.

Dilijan
Dilijan (pop. ~23,700) is a popular tourist destination in Tavush province and the third most popular in Armenia by visitor numbers (after Yerevan and Tsaghkashat). As well as a huge amount of accommodation, the town has a good range of resupply services. A note that beds in Dilijan are, on average, significantly more expensive than elsewhere in the country.

Yeghegnadzor Regional Museum
📞 0281 23392 / 098 052552, 📧 museum68@rambler.ru, 💻 yeghegnadzor.am, 🕒 09:00–17:00 Mon–Sat (if door is locked call the displayed number), Sun visits possible if booked in advance, tours in English AMD1,500, entry AMD700.

River Khachbulagh
Small freshwater river, usually flowing year-round and requiring a very short detour off-trail. Khachbulagh is a hybrid toponym meaning "Cross Spring" in Armenian/Turkish.

Municipal drinking water fountain (bubbler), occasionally reported low flow.

Some flat spots on the ridge among the trees below the peak of Mt Berdakar, but the location is quite exposed.

Mysterious ruined buildings
A local once told us these ruined structures were a strategic installation of some kind in Soviet times. On a clear day it's possible to see hundreds of km beyond the Iron Curtain and into Turkey, so it kind of makes sense, but it could also be a complete lie. The complex is made up of several clusters of buildings, all now ruined.

Covered picnic shelter with benches and tables.

Great Hermitage of Tatev
Established in the late 17th century to replace Harants Hermitage after a 1658 earthquake. Additional buildings and the defensive wall were added in the 18th century. One hermit lives here in summer.

A piped drinking water source for the nearby farm. Sometimes reported dry; ask at the farmhouse or use from the nearby stream.

Natural spring water piped to a roadside location with a spout and drain, known locally as "Matinov's Spring"

Baleni
On Andranik Manukyan St in the NW suburb on the right side of the river.

Hangist Pushkinoyum

Mains water pipe inspection chamber, with water flowing out at ground level.

Mineral water spring
Natural mineral water source fitted with a supply pipe and with a small rock pool below.

Horadis (ruined village)
Horadis (Armenian: Հորադիս) is a ruined abandoned village dating from the 10th century, with a church of 1666. More Armenians arrived from Persia in 1828–30. With over 800 inhabitants at its early 20th-century peak, the village was in the 1970s resettled by Soviet planners.

Small flat spot beside the trail.

Consulate General of Iran
32 Shahumyan St, 💻 kapan.mfa.gov.ir, 🕒 09:00–17:00 Mon-Fri.

Entrance from the back of the building.

Lake Parz
Parz means “Clear”, a name that dates back to before the natural site was “improved” by developers who dredged the lake and built an outdoor recreational centre. It is now green. Refreshments can be found here.

Drinking water is sometimes available from a leaking mains water supply pipe. If not, water can be collected at Jrovank, 650m off the main trail to the S.

Sanahin Monastery
Sanahin Monastery, established in 966 by the Bagratuni dynasty, was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage list in 1996 and is one of Lori’s most popular and picturesque sights. Its monastic school and library grew influential in the 10–11th centuries but declined as Armenia suffered waves of invaders.

Lori Berd ("Lori Fortress")
Fortfied city overlooking the Dzoraget and Urut gorges and a key cultural-historical site, in 1064 becoming the capital of an Armenian kingdom centred on Lori Province with up to 10,000 residents. It was sacked by the Mongols in 1236.

Stream (seasonal)
Water access reported here in late September 2023.

Storot (Navcha)
Storot, literally "foot" ie: of the mountain, is a seasonal herding settlement on the approach to Mt Khustup from Kapan.

Arevik National Park / Shikahogh State Reserve Official Boundary
Southbound, pre-registration is requested before entering this protected area. The boundary is not physically demarcated, and there are no ranger stations on the trail, but you may encounter rangers at any time. No permit is required to hike in the area, but because the trail passes through the Armenia–Iran border zone you are requested to register your personal details and dates of your visit in advance. You should register online at least one working day before entering the protected area at the following URL: https://forms.gle/igrqvWHwNXizriXG9

Drinking water piped into an animal watering trough next to a covered shelter, located a short distance from the trail.

Dangerous Altitude (camp.am)
1 Artsakh St, 📞 010 434911, ✉️ info@camp.am, ⌨️ camp.am. Sells UTC canister gas and other outdoor/camping/hiking equipment.

Hayeli Lich ("Mirror Lake")
Listed as a protected natural monument, this spring-fed lake has also been variously referred to as Artavan Lake, Red Lake, and World Map Lake. The name used in official government documents is Hayeli Lich ("Mirror Lake"), so we guess that settles it.

Odzun
Odzun (pop. 4,220, Armenian: Օձուն) sits on a plateau above the Debed Canyon. According to legend, Thomas the Apostle came to Odzun in the 1st century to anoint clergy, giving the town its name: "otsel" means “to anoint” in Armenian.

Dilijan Tourist Information Centre
📞 094 040994, 💻 visitdilijan.com, FB DilijanTIC, 🕒 09:00–20:00, reduced winter hours.
Has various maps of Dilijan and the surrounding national park and can help with booking accommodation. The centre also rents mountain bikes and hiking, camping and snowshoeing equipment. The second floor functions as a co-working space with hourly/daily/weekly rates.

Bekh
Bekh (Armenian: Բեխ) is a suburb of Kapan and a historic village, now with just a few dozen residents. It’s first recorded in 871 in a land exchange contract, and later referenced by the Turkish names of Beydagh and Beydash. It was incorporated into Kapan in 1963.

Dilijan Bus Station (Yerevan/Tbilisi)
Minibuses depart for Yerevan five times daily between 10.00 and 17.30, taking around 90 minutes and costing AMD1,000. Tickets should be bought in advance (but on the same day) from the small cashier’s window in the two-storey pink stone building. Minivans to Tbilisi also depart several times daily; book seats on 📞 055 023756.

Church (ruins)
Estimated 16–17th century.

Several flat but exposed spots, and one sheltered bivvy spot.

Freshwater spring fitted with a spout. Flow seems to vary year on year and seasonally.

Covered picnic shelter by a stream.

Natural spring water flowing from a rock face above the track.

River crossing
Vehicle ford which can be muddy in early summer.

Mineral water springs
The famous sulphur spring "gallery" of Jermuk, where sources of different temperatures and mineral contents can be drunk.

Several unchained herders' dogs have been reported in this area. Maintain awareness when approaching and be prepared to detour.

Mains water supply piped into an animal watering trough on a seasonal basis when grazing livestock are in the area.

Public drinking water fountain at the entrance to the monastery complex.

Camping is informally allowed within the unstaffed monastery complex with drinking water nearby. The courtyard has plenty of flat ground. Remember to leave no trace!
–Arevik_NP/Tom_Allen/IMG_20181120_151518_original.jpg

Municipal drinking water fountain with a spout and basin, set into a stone monument.

Municipal drinking water fountain next to a roadside picnic shelter.

Municipal drinking water fountain with a spout and stone basin, set into a WWII memorial and protected by a fence.

Flat, sheltered riverside location near several water sources.

Yeghegnadzor Food Court

Municipal drinking water bubbler with a tap on the side.

Highway crossing
Take care when crossing the highway. A short walk on the hard shoulder of about 150m is required between the entrance to the visitor centre and the junction for Yeghegnadzor.

ATM (Ameriabank)

Cave
A tall but shallow cave, with flat ground and space to sleep inside.

Russian cemetery
Cemetery containing graves of Russian officers stationed here in the 19th century.

River Gladzor
Small river, usually flowing year-round.

Paytaghbyur (freshwater spring)
Natural spring water source rising from the ground on a forested hillside. May be difficult to locate and access due to overgrowth. The name means "Wood Spring" in Armenian.

Garmin Armenia
38 Leo St; 📞 096 445514; 💻 garmin.am. Authorised distributor of Garmin products in Armenia, including InReach satellite transceiver devices.

Municipal drinking water fountain (bubbler).

Dilijan Medical Centre
📞 0268 22999, FB DilijanMC, 🕒 always for emergencies. Actually more like a small hospital, this is the most comprehensive medical facility in Tavush Province that is close to the route of the TCT.

Verin Kurder (ruined settlement)
10th-century site inhabited until the late 18th century by Turkic herders.

Artemi B&B

Shamb
Shamb (Armenian: Շամբ) is mentioned in 10th-century Bagratuni records and in a 1315 inscription at Vorotnavank. As Shamkend it was inhabited by ethnic Tatars (Azeris) under the Russian Empire, evicted in the 1930s for reasons unclear. The modern village’s construction coincides with that of the reservoir below.

Natural spring water source fitted with a pipe close to the ground and feeding a canal to supply water to several nearby nomadic herders' camps.

Edem B&B

Stepan Shahumyan House Museum

Natural spring water source refitted with a pipe and trough, with a memorial stone. This is preferable to the source 200m downhill.

Sanahin Bridge
Arched basalt bridge with a single span of almost 20m/65ft, recorded on a khachkar at Sanahin Monastery as constructed in 1192 and rebuilt many times since, with animal statues decorating the parapets.

Convenience store & bistro
Small roadside shop next to a gas station, selling snacks, hot drinks and pre-prepared sandwiches.

Sisian History Museum
🕒 11:00–18:00 Tue–Sat, 11:00–16:00 Sun, 📞 0283 23331 / 094 006375, 💻 sisianmuseum.am. Displays artifacts from the wider area, including sites along the TCT, as well as examples of the famous Ughtasar petroglyphs.

Drinking water from a tapped mains water pipe.

Approximate location. Next to a roadside restaurant.

Vega Cafe

ARK Armenia
📞‌­ 093 812683 / 098 887894, ✉️ arkarmenia@gmail.com, ⌨️ arkarmenia.com. This Kapan-based NGO provides support and information for hikers in the absence of an official tourist information centre, as well as long supporting the Transcaucasian Trail’s development in Syunik province.

Natural spring water source piped into an animal watering trough.

Large area of flat ground outside the entrance to the cave church, with drinking water and a picnic shelter on site. Remember to leave no trace!

Geghatap
Geghatap (pop. 0, Armenian: Գեղատափ) is an uninhabited village accessible only by foot and 4x4. Until 1991 it was known as Murtel by its Azeri inhabitants, and also as Chichekbulagh (“Spring of Flowers”). Herders use surviving buildings as summer accommodation.

Mayradurk (ruined settlement)

Not drinking water
Locals advise NOT to drink from this municipal water fountain.

Church of Surb Stepanos (St Stephen)
Single-aisled church of 1708 on the site of a 9th-century cemetery, with surrounding khachkars spanning many centuries.

Abkes (ruined village)
Abkes, also Abgyaz or Apkez, is a ruined abandoned village near the headwaters of the River Malev, about 10km NNW of Alvank. Its last remaining residents abandoned it the 1930s (in 1939 according to one source). Be wary of snakes if you decide to explore.

Municipal drinking water fountain (spout & basin) set into a stone monument at the bottom of the steps up to the church.

Tavshut

Mt Kaladash (2,163m/7,096ft)
Mt Berdakar (2,163m/7,096ft), or Mt Kaladash, is a prominent peak in the Meghri range. The names both mean ”fortress” in Armenian/Persian. Ruins have been found nearby, as well as evidence of ancient iron ore mining.

Northern Bus Station (Dilijan, Sevan)
Minibuses to/from Dilijan run five times daily in both directions between 10.00 and 17.30, taking around 90 minutes and costing AMD1,000. Minibus number 317 runs daily to/from Sevan, departing at 09:33 and every hour at 3 minutes past the hour from 11:03 to 19:03. The return service departs at 07:15, then every hour on the hour from 09:00 to 17:00. Tickets are AMD500. The Northern bus station can be reached by bus route 259 from central Yerevan via Komitas Avenue.

***Sevan

Municipal drinking water fountain as part of a WWII memorial.

A shallow, easy wade in normal conditions.

Kapan
Kapan (pop. ~34,600) is a small city and the main resupply town in southern Syunik. It does not lie on the main route of the trail, but can be easily reached by hitch-hiking from the M2 highway crossing between Shgharshik and Vahanavank, or by hiking out from Bekh, Verin Vachagan or Baghaburj (all of which are technically suburbs of Kapan). There are a few hotels and a couple of large supermarkets. Northbound hikers should note that Tatev should NOT be considered anything more than a light resupply stop on the way to Sisian.

Hotel Lernagorts
📞 0285 28039, 📧 lernagorts@mail.ru, 💻 lernagortshotel.am

Covered picnic shelter with tables and benches, well protected by stone walls.

Zuygaghbyur (ruined village)
Zuygaghbyur (Armenian: Զույգաղբյուր), meaning “twin springs”, was until 1946 known as Chiftali, and previously to that Chiftlik. It's not clear when the 19th-century settlement was abandoned and moved to the new location on the S edge of Ashotsk.

Sevan bus station
Minibuses to/from Yerevan.
***Sevan

Aggressive, untethered dogs have been reported multiple times near this shepherd's hut. Exercise caution when passing and do not unnecessarily approach any buildings. For 2024 the route has been changed to pass the area at a safer distance.

Natural spring water source with no additional fitments.

Free camping
Designated camping area with drinking water and a picnic shelter.

Carahunge Café & More
📞 0256 24300 / 099 324300; FB CarahungeStepanavan; 🕒 11:00–23:00. Delicious Eastern Mediterranean cuisine including zaatar, kofte, manti, hummus, etc, as well as pizzas and grills in this popular restaurant-café.

Bakery

Jermuk
Jermuk (pop. ~5,100) is a small mountain resort town known primarily as a medical tourism destination. It has a limited but sufficient range of resupply services.

Land art installations
A number of land art pieces have been installed on this short segment of trail, all created by local artists from Kapan.

ATM
Near the cafe at the Halidzor station for Tatever aerial tramway. Approximate location.

Flat, trailside location near the ruins of a former building in a relatively sheltered location below the ridge.

Large flat area of grassy land among ruined stone walls and former orchards. Some spots may be visible from the village across the gorge.

Gomk
Gomk (pop. 151, Armenian: Գոմք), also historically Upper Akhta and mentioned as far back as the 13th century, was renamed in 1991 after Armenian refugees from Azerbaijan resettled the formerly Azeri village of Gomur whose residents had fled in 1988.

Natural water source piped into a small basin

Covered picnic shelter with a table and a dry/disused drinking water fountain.

Cave
A shallow cave just above the trail, big enough to shelter in. One of several caves in the area.

Natural water source fitted with a metal spout and set in an inscribed memorial stone dated to 1980, with carved stone eagle above it. A newer but undated memorial stone to the right is dedicated to Shurik.

Lake Gosh
Small natural lake in a forest clearing.

Mains water supply piped into a large animal watering trough. Last verified 2023-06-24. No image available.

Natural spring water source feeding a stone animal watering trough.

Lake Akna (water source)
Natural high-altitude snowmelt lake which can be used as a water source with appropriate treatment. This lake is in an area of heavy grazing and contamination by livestock is highly likely. Sterilise any water obtained from this source which is to be used for drinking or washing.

Andranik's Fortress
We have long referred to this ruined fortress as Andranik's Fortress, but we can't remember who told us the name, and we can't find any records of the site in official documents. More important to know is that venomous snakes have been sighted among the stones here.

ATM (Unibank)

Kusanats Anapat (“Nuns’ Hermitage”)
17–18th-century monastery complex with a three-aisled basilica church and a walled courtyard containing auxilliary buildings.

Covered picnic shelter with barbecue facilities.

Honey Garden
📞 077 770045. Under construction in 2023. It may be possible to camp here. The site has picnic shelters and drinking water.

Harzhis
Harzhis (pop: 740, Armenian: Հարժիս) is a modern village on the clifftops 650m/2100ft above the Vorotan Canyon. “Old” Harzhis was destroyed in the 1931 earthquake, with over 1,000 people moved to the new village, which until 1968 was known as Yayji.

Kajashen
Kajashen (Armenian: Քաջաշեն) is a seasonal herders’ camp on the pass between Artashat and Tsakkar. At least, someone told us it was called Kajashen, but we can’t remember who.

Mains water supply from a leaking pipe, not visible from the road.

Gargar
Gargar (pop: 1,340, Armenian: Գարգառ) is directly north of the Pushkin Pass (2,037m), which historically made it vulnerable to invaders. Some have connected its name to the semi-mythical Gargarean tribe of antiquity. Unusually for the area, it was not renamed by the Soviets.

Drinking water fountain (spout & basin) with a memorial stone to Arthur. May be switched on and off seasonally or due to water availability.

Bus stop
Local minibuses to Kapan city centre.

Syunik B&B
📞 077 327290, 📧 martirosyang685@gmail.com

Water from a nearby mains pipeline piped into an animal watering trough. May be switched on and off depending on livestock movements.

TCT Trail Terminus Monument: Lake Arpi
Designed and installed just for you in 2023. Take a selfie!

Municipal drinking water fountain. Northbound, the last reliable water source before Anahit's Spring.

Streams
Both tributaries usually flowing year-round. It's recommended to collect water upstream of the farm.

Mets Sepasar
Mets Sepasar (pop. 882, Armenian: Մեծ Սեպասար), meaning “Big Sepasar”, was before 1946 known as Shishtapa, meaning “hilltop” in Turkish. It has a Catholic church and population. Nearby Bronze Age discoveries link it to the 4th–2nd millenia BCE Kura-Araxes culture.

Natural spring water on the trailside.

Trailhead information board: Semyonovka
TCT trailhead information board and map for the trails between Semyonovka and Goshavank/Khachardzan.

Agarakadzor Bridge
Also known as Dadal Bridge, this is a 13th-century single-span lancet arch bridge built of pink tuff and lime mortar, located on the Silk Road-era trading route between Julfa (in present-day Iran) and the Selim Caravanserai.
–Tatev_Planned_NP/Tom_Allen/IMG_20190813_190016_original.jpg

Bridge
A small, pleasingly-designed stone bridge that you can use as a shortcut if you like.

Etiuni Guest House
📞 099 085814 / 093 704940, 📧 etiunikingdom@gmail.com, 💻 etiuni.info, FB.

Aggressive dogs have been reported in this area, approaching hikers from several hundred metres away and ignoring their herders' calls.
Note: Herders’ camps in the Gegham Mountains tend to be inhabited seasonally, between June and September for camps at higher elevations and longer for lower locations. Not all such locations are included on this map, and not all included locations will be inhabited at all times. OpenStreetMap-derived basemaps are likely to show additional farms and camps in the vicinity of the trail. Take all dog encounters seriously: maintain situational awareness, have a plan, and be prepared with trekking poles, whistle etc. Seek medical attention if bitten, as rabies is endemic in the Caucasus, including Armenia.
–Arpa_PL/Alessandro_Mambelli/2016-08-05_11-51-09_original.jpg

Arpa Protected Landscape Visitor Center
📞 094 145440 / 095 959025 / 096 331131, 🕒 09:30–18:00 Mon–Fri, 📧 gnishik.himnadram@gmail.com, 💻 arpafund.am, FB ARPAPL. As well as hosting a small café, the centre also provides information about the protected area, its wildlife and conservation goals, and the many activities available in the area.

Krasar Bridge
Three-span arched stone bridge of 1892, more impressive from a distance.

Wings of Tatev cable-car terminal (Tatev)
💻 tatever.am. The world's longest reversible double-track cable car, with multiple daily trips between Tatev and Halidzor (except Mondays).

Lake Sevan Hostel
📞 077 688894, 💻 lakesevan.business.site.

Reservoir (dry)
Humanmade reservoir that may appear on maps and aerial imagery, reported dry and unmaintained in 2023.

Right Market (supermarket)

Large area of flat, grassy ground in a forest clearing.

Covered picnic shelter with an intermittent drinking water fountain.

Abandoned construction site
Leisure resort dating from the Soviet era, never finished and now abandoned. Useful as a rain shelter or overnight shelter.

Municipal drinking water fountain set into a decoratively carved stone, flowing into an animal watering trough.

Dilijan National Park boundary
The boundary of the national park is not physically demarcated, and there are no registration or permit requirements at this time, so this waypoint is provided for informational purposes only.

Tsater Guesthouse

Shatin
Shatin (pop. 1,725, Armenian: Շատին) is the centre of the Yeghegis municipal community of 16 villages and the most populous. Formerly Hasankend/Hasanigyugh (meaning “Hasan’s town” in Turkish/Armenian), in 1828–30 it was resettled by Armenian migrants from Salmast, Iran.

Lake Arpi National Park Campsite
Officially-designated free camping area with toilets and basic picnic facilities.

Old Harzhis (abandoned village)
Yaiji, or ”Old Harzhis”, is one of several now-uninhabited historic villages in the Vorotan Canyon. Archaeologists have found Iron Age humanoid sculptures in the area. The settlement itself dates from the 9–10th century.

Alaverdi
Alaverdi (pop. 12,097, Armenian: Ալավերդի) is the centre of the Alaverdi municipal community. Its unusual name means ”Allah gave” in Turkish. Though the city dates to the 1930s, the area was known for copper mining long before.

Bridge
Single-span stone bridge, originally built in 871 and rebuilt several times since.

10th-century church said to be of Greek origin.

A couple of small areas of flat ground in this side valley, on the site of a ruined old farm. Streams marked on maps in this area are seasonal and usually dry by early summer.

Small spring-fed freshwater stream crossing the trail at this location. The true source is around 150m uphill.

Muddy and inaccessible when flow is low.

MyHomeIsYourHome

Noravank (monastery)
Noravank (“New Monastery”) is a complex of buildings from different periods between the 9–14th centuries. The central church of Surb Hovhannes (St John the Baptist) was built in 1221-27. The complex houses fine khachkars and the Museum of Architect Momik. Refreshments are available, and there’s a restaurant/hotel nearby.

Mets Sepasar Tourism Centre

Natural water source piped to this location, fitted with a particulate filter and a tap. May be protected/hidden under rocks to prevent contamination. This drinking water source was installed and is maintained by the nearby Highland Campground.

Municipal water fountain (spout & basin).

Grave of Garegin Nzhdeh
One of two graves of the military hero Garegin Nzhdeh (1886–1955), whose right hand was transferred here from Spitakavor Monastery.

Yerevan

Cafe
On the second floor above the VivaCell-MTS store.

17th-century stone single-span lancet arch bridge.

Natural spring water rising from the ground. May be overgrown (with wild mint!) and hard to locate/access in summer.

LorvaToon

Khachats Toun
📞 094 804902. One of Meghri's many historic homes, converted by owner Shahane into a charming boutique guesthouse with a fantastic view of the valley. Breakfast is included, and dinner can be arranged in advance.

Nerkin Kurder (ruined settlement)
10th-century site inhabited until the late 18th century by Turkic herders.

Tatev

Municipal water supply piped into an animal watering trough.

Arpi
Arpi (pop. 1,123, Armenian: Արփի) is home to the 12–14th-century ruins of Erdej (Armenian: Էրդեջ), populated by Azeris until the 20th century. The current village was established in 1965 to resettle survivors of the Gnishik landslide. The M-2 main road has several shops and bistros.

Municipal drinking water fountain next to a picnic shelter.

Plenty of flat, sheltered ground among the pine trees near the picnic shelter.

Natural spring water from a nearby source, piped into an animal watering trough.

ATM (Converse Bank)

Sweet & souvenir stalls
Local vendors selling (among other things) homemade gata and walnut sujukh.

Natural spring water piped into a basin.

Communist Caves
Approximate location.

Covered picnic shelter somehow built on top of a massive boulder in the middle of the river, accessed by a sketchy metal ladder from the road.

Shativank (monastery)
Also known as Shatik Hermitage, Shativank was founded in 929 but destroyed in the 14th century. The three-aise basilica church of St Sion was rebuilt in 1665. Ruined ancillary buildings litter the walled compound. Its location and size suggest an important religious, cultural and mercantile centre.

Shelter
Small stone building, actually a mausoleum which is part of a small cemetery.

Flat, sheltered location in a grove of aspen trees with a picnic table. Drinking water can be collected opposite the church in the village above, or filtered from the stream near this site.

Some flat ground in the area around a large tree with a picnic table and stools made of large rocks.

Guest House Amoj

Natural spring water source protected with rocks.

Sevan medical centre

Mt Azhdahak crater lake
A small, snowmelt-fed crater lake within the volcanic cone of Mount Azhdahak, a few hundred metres (including both an ascent and a descent) from the main trail. While livestock does not generally venture here, humans do, and the potability of standing water can rarely be guaranteed, so treatment is still recommended.

Tsiran Supermarket
🕒 08.00–midnight. Large, well-stocked supermarket with a pharmacy on-site.

Arevik National Park Boundary
Northbound, pre-registration is requested before entering this protected area. The boundary is not physically demarcated, and there are no ranger stations on the trail, but you may encounter rangers at any time. No permit is required to hike in the area, but because the trail passes through the Armenia–Iran border zone you are requested to register your personal details and dates of your visit in advance. You should register online at least one working day before entering the protected area at the following URL: https://forms.gle/igrqvWHwNXizriXG9

Potentially aggressive dogs have been reported at this herders' camp.
Note: Herders’ camps in the Gegham Mountains tend to be inhabited seasonally, between June and September for camps at higher elevations and longer for lower locations. Not all such locations are included on this map, and not all included locations will be inhabited at all times. OpenStreetMap-derived basemaps are likely to show additional farms and camps in the vicinity of the trail. Take all dog encounters seriously: maintain situational awareness, have a plan, and be prepared with trekking poles, whistle etc. Seek medical attention if bitten, as rabies is endemic in the Caucasus, including Armenia.

Kaj Nazar Market
Newly-opened convenience store intended to sell items not commonly available in rural Armenia, including UTC gas canisters and dehydrated camping meals.

Sevan
Sevan (pop. 18,829, Armenian: Սևան) was founded in 1842 as Yelenovka, named after the granddaughter of Catherine the Great (1729–1796), and renamed in 1935. Southbound, Sevan is the last resupply before the Gegham Mountains.

Rock-hewn khachkars
Group of rare 12–15th-century khachkars carved into a cliff face.

Melik Tangi bridge
Eye-catching single-span lancet arch bridge of 1855, still used today as a road bridge.

Ardenis
Ardenis (pop: 170, Armenian: Արդենիս) was formerly known as Golli or Gyolli and had a mainly Azeri population until the late 1980s, when ethnic tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan led to their mutual displacement.

Baghaburj (village)
Baghaburj (Armenian: Բաղաբուրջ) is a suburb of Kapan and a historic village. Its 1891 church of Surb Hripsime was built from the stones of a previous 10th-century church. In 1958 it was incorporated into Kapan as the new city grew.

Canal
A narrow water supply canal running southbound alongside the trail to Kobayr Monastery. Livestock in the area; purification is necessary.

Drinking water tap, reported by hikers in 2023 but not verified since.

Municipal drinking water fountain (bubbler). May be turned on and off depending on water availability.

Lchashen
Lchashen (pop: 4,173, Armenian: Լճաշեն), meaning “built by the lake”, was renamed from Ortaklu in 1946 and had a mixed Armenian/Azeri population until independence. The name is shared with a nearby 3rd millenium BCE archaeological site discovered in 1956 as Lake Sevan was drained.

Mains water supply piped into a crumbling concrete animal watering trough.

Angeghakot
Angeghakot (pop: 1,302, Armenian: Անգեղակոթ) hosts archaeological sites dating back to the Neolithic and Chalcolithic eras. Known as the burial site of 5th-century war heroes, it became a seat of Syunik noble dynasties under Safavid Persia and was further resettled by Armenians in the 19th century.

Natural spring water piped to a location just uphill from the trail. The pipe may be difficult to find due to seasonal overgrowth, and is often reported dry by early summer. DO NOT rely on this water source.

Nor Amaghu (ruined village)
Nor (“New”) Amaghu is a ruined abandoned village overlooking Noravank monastery. The site of Hin (“Old”) Amaghu is a few km up the gorge. From at least the early 19th century until 1988/9 It was populated by Azeris, with 526 inhabitants in 1970. It is now home to a military base.

Butcher
May also serve grilled meat (barbecue)

Verin Gyol (ruined settlement)
Ruined 9th-century settlement with several grand khackhars and three ruined chapels in the area.

Swimming spot
Nice shaded rest spot with a humanmade pool.

Mains water supply piped to an underground cistern with a spout for access.

Kurtan
Kurtan (pop: 1,410, Armenian: Կուրթան) is an 18th-century village on an existing Bronze Age site, the oldest part of which is on the clifftops overlooking the Gargar and Dzoraget gorges.

Lake Badi
Natural high-altitude snowmelt lake which can be used as a water source with appropriate treatment. This lake is in an area of heavy grazing and contamination by livestock is highly likely. Sterilise any water obtained from this source which is to be used for drinking or washing.

A small herders' camp with several dogs.

Church of Surb Gevorg (St George)
Dating from the 17th century and renovated in 1903.

Municipal drinking water fountain with a spout and basin, set into a stone monument dated to 1947.

Church of Surb Minas Kratak (St Menas Under-The-Rock)
Single-aisled church of 1321, rebuilt in 1866.

Animal watering trough, reported seen from a distance in 2023 but unverified.

Inside Sochut Dendropark.

Covered picnic shelter with tables and benches.

Mikoyan Brothers Museum

Pharmacy
Inside Tsiran Supermarket.

Small freshwater stream, normally flowing year-round.

Small 12–13th-century church, whose cemetery has graves dating back to the 10th. Earlier burials were found beneath the church's foundations during roadbuilding but were left unstudied.

Bus stop
Minibuses to/from Yerevan.

Hotel Darist
📞 0285 62662, 📧 hotel_darist@yahoo.com.

Tumanyan Bathhouse Hostel
📞 094 572334, ✉️ tumanyantownhostel@gmail.com, ⌨️ tumanyanhostel.com, FB.

Covered picnic shelter next to the river, with an intermittent freshwater spring nearby.

Small 12th-century church of black stone with an adjoining 13th-century belltower, rebuilt by Soviets to house a voltage transformer.

Drinking water available at a private rest area and campsite.

Tatev Monastery
Tatev Monastery, established in 844, was established during a period of stability and peaked in the 14–15th centuries. Invasions and earthquakes, particularly in 1931, led to its near destruction. Tatev remains a working monastery; restoration efforts are ongoing.
–Arevik_NP/Tom_Allen/IMG_20190625_084722.jpg

Harsnadzor Viewpoint
Some viewpoints aren't worth the detour. This one is.

Natural spring water source rising from the ground and fitted with a metal pipe for access. One of several sources on the uphill side of Lake Gosh. Can sometimes be hard to locate and access.

Flying Samovar Cafe
💻 sites.google.com/view/flyingsamovarcafe, 🕒 12:00–21:00 Wed–Sun.
Retro-Soviet cafe with proper espresso machine, wide coffee and tea selection, iced drinks, and light food options. Reduced winter hours.

Borisovka (sunken town)
Historically a Russian Old Believer community, the town was submerged and the residents moved to the new settlement of Tsghuk in the 1980s.

Mayradurki Aghbyur (freshwater spring)
Natural spring water source rising from the ground and protected by rocks, located next to a holy shrine and a small picnic shelter. The water is locally believed to have healing properties. The spring is known locally as Mayradurki Aghbyur ("Mayradurk's Spring").

Covered picnic shelter with a table and benches in the shade of a willow tree.

Public picnic site with a barbecue, drinking water fountain and flat ground for tents, right on the banks of the reservoir. The gate and fence are to protect the area from livestock.

Ughedzor
Ughedzor (pop: 0, Armenian: Ուղեձոր) is a small, seasonally inhabited village whose name roughly means “Straight Valley”. Previously Kochbek until 1991, it was ethnically Azeri until 1988 when the residents were deported. It now has no permanent residents.

Kishlak (ruined village)
Ruined settlement listed in official records as Ghshlagh (Armenian: Ղըշլաղ), where a 9–10th-century church 3km NW of Shatin is described. The name in Persian/Turkic is a general term for a livestock overwintering settlement.

Waterfall & swimming hole
A 250m detour from the main trail, this is a great spot to cool off in a natural plunge pool before the so-called "hidden waterfall". This is a popular local attraction so exercise caution if skinny-dipping!

Gndevank Campground
Free designated camping area with raised wooden platforms. Water can be collected from the monastery, and there is a WC at the junction with the monastery road. This is a well-known habitat for Eurasian brown bears (Ursus arctos arctos), so do take appropriate precautions regarding food preparation and storage.

Stepanavan
Stepanavan (pop: 10,800) is a medium-sized town with plentiful accommodation and resupply services. It is a popular tourist destination for locals, known for its scenic location and nearby pine forests.

Museum of Regional Studies

Reservoir
Humanmade reservoir fed by a channel from a nearby meltwater stream. Possibly muddy shore, but water accessible using small rocks as stepping stones.

Modest church of 1866 set in attractive gardens within a walled compound.

Covered picnic shelter with a table, benches and BBQ facilities. Often occupied in evenings by locals, especially in summer.

Hotel Basen
📞 02832 4662 / 093 434727, 📧 contact@basenhotel.am, ⌨️ basenhotel.am.

Sedva Ghala (watchtower)
13–14th-century ruined three-storey watchtower of black stone.

Artavan Campsite (owner's house)

Natural spring water rising from the ground, fitted with a pipe and a hood. Appears to be seasonal/intermittent.

Natural spring water source fitted with a metal pipe for access. Beware of livestock contamination in this area.

Freshwater stream, usually flowing year round but it can be extremely low in summer. Better flow may be found downstream.

Pharmacy

Church of Surb Hripsime
Well-preserved three-aisled basilica church of 1705.

Picnic bench

Jafarkend (ruined village)
The area was once a settlement known as Jafarkend ("Jafar's Town"). It's now occasionally used by locals, with a couple of trailers and huts.

Lake Badi
Suggested wild camping location on a dry, low, relatively sheltered spot in the wetland near Lake Badi. Water available for purification from the nearby stream. Remember to leave no trace!

Restaurant
Traditional Armenian food with indoor and outdoor seating, run by the owners of Saro B&B.

Freshwater spring (intermittent)
Natural spring water piped from a nearby source into an old metal bathtub.

Unreliable water source.

Some dogs have been reported at this herders' camp, but have not been reported problematic.
Note: Herders’ camps in the Gegham Mountains tend to be inhabited seasonally, between June and September for camps at higher elevations and longer for lower locations. Not all such locations are included on this map, and not all included locations will be inhabited at all times. OpenStreetMap-derived basemaps are likely to show additional farms and camps in the vicinity of the trail. Take all dog encounters seriously: maintain situational awareness, have a plan, and be prepared with trekking poles, whistle etc. Seek medical attention if bitten, as rabies is endemic in the Caucasus, including Armenia.

Natural spring water source flowing directly from the ground. Sometimes reported low flow in summer and hard to access.

Natural spring water rising from the ground. Poor access, usually a muddy puddle.

Kapan Bus Station (Kapan–Yerevan/Kajaran)
Minibuses to/from Yerevan, and also Kajaran (from when you can theoretically continue to Meghri).

Municipal drinking water fountain with a spout, piped into an animal watering trough, located beside the church.

Spandaryan Reservoir
The uppermost of five reservoirs and three hydroelectric power plants built between 1961–1989 on the River Vorotan, and Armenia’s largest reservoir with a volume of 257 million m³. Building the 83 metre-high dam submerged two towns, Bazarchay and Borisovka. Only their cemeteries remain above water.

Natural spring water source, fitted with a pipe and series of cascading basins. The spring is considered holy by locals. About 90m off the main trail, this is the only reliable source in the vicinity of Mount Khustup's summit.

Picnic bench
Stone picnic bench on the site of a family cemetery.

Snack bars
Several vendors in a row selling fast food, coffee, ice cream, etc.

Café
Small cafe in the square in front of Sanahin Monastery, selling drinks and snacks.

Piped natural spring water accessible from inside a metal cistern used for local water distribution. Please return the cover to its original position after use.

Vanatun Monastery Stay

Khazas (freshwater spring)
Natural spring water piped to a location near the picnic shelter, usually flowing year-round. Sterilisation recommended. The site is known to locals as Khazas.

Pharmacy
Down the stairs on the left, opposite the entrance to New City Supermarket.

Iranian hardware stores
May sell Iranian-made UTC (threaded) and pierceable (Campingaz style) gas canisters.

Partly ruined 10th-century church with one remaining standing wall.

Arajadzor
Arajadzor (pop: 75, Armenian: Առաջաձոր), or Arachadzor, literally means “First Valley”, maybe the first valley north of ancient Ghapan (Kapan). The current village’s founders migrated from another Arajadzor in Karabakh between 1760–70.

Meghri
Meghri (pop: 4,126, Armenian: Մեղրի) is the main town in the far south of Armenia, with mild winters and intensely hot summers. It was founded in 906 by King Smbat I as Karchavan and is said to have been renamed Meghri (“honey-like”) due to the sweetness of its fruits.

Martirosats Monastery
The 1286 monastery of Martirosats, aka: Surb Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God) or Vimapor church, is Armenia’s second largest rock-hewn church after Geghard.

Natural spring water piped from a nearby source. Often dry in summer.

Free camping
Camping is informally allowed on the terraced land behind the monastery complex, with drinking water nearby. Please inform the site staff of your intention to camp, use the public WC on the monastery site (AMD100), and remember to leave no trace!

Natural water source located just below the trail.

Flat but exposed spot.

Mains water fountain with a spout set into a stone cross and flowing into a stone basin. May be switched on and off seasonally.

New Martiros
Martiros (pop. 567, Armenian: Մարտիրոս), whose name is said to derive from the Greek for “martyr”, has two parts, 2km distant. “Old” Martiros was deemed under threat from landslides, so in 1968 “New” Martiros was built, though some residents stayed in the original village.

Marzkid (ruined village)
Marzkit, Marzkid or Marziget is an abandoned ruined village. Russian censuses recorded a Tatar (Azeri) majority with 281 residents in 1897, and it was abandoned in the 1930s. Be wary of snakes if you decide to explore.

In the yard of a private house with extremely limited supplies.

Sochut Dendropark (entrance)
Sometimes referred to as Stepanavan Dendropark, this 35ha arboretum was founded by the Polish engineer-forester Edmund Leonowicz in 1931 and contains over 500 introduced species. Vendors by the entrance sell homemade products including pine cone syrup.

Gorayk
Gorayk (pop: Armenian: Գորայք), sometimes written Gorhayk, was built in the 1970s to rehouse the residents of Bazarchay, an older settlement 4km downstream submerged when the Spandaryan Reservoir was completed.

Supermarket
Relatively large, well-stocked supermarket.

Vorotnavan (formerly Vorotan)
Vorotnavan (pop: 250, Armenian: Որոտնավան) was until 1968 known as Urut/Urud, and from 1968–2017 as Vorotan (Armenian: Որոտան). From the 19th century until 1988 it was mainly inhabited by Azeris.

Hasmiki Aghbyur (memorial & picnic shelter)
Small covered picnic shelter beneath some pine trees, with a dry drinking water fountain and a memorial to Hasmik Marukyan (1924–1977). Hasmiki Aghbyur means "Hasmik's Spring".

Daisy (reservoir spillway)
Flower-shaped concrete spillway which has become a source of local fascination and even has its own viewing platform.

Natural spring water rising from the ground. Almost impossible to access, usually just wet mud.

Small covered picnic shelter with a table and bench.
–Dilijan_NP/Tom_Allen/20210523-105616-Misc-Tom-Pixel_3a.jpg

Meghri Medical Centre

Southbound, Lchashen is the last place to reliably collect potable water before Lake Akna. This is the longest water carry on the TCT in Armenia. We don't yet have the exact locations of drinking water fountains in the village.

Chermakavan (ruined village)
Chermakavan (Armenian: Ճերմակավան) is an abandoned village. Until 1991 it was known by the Turkish name Aghkilisa. Both names mean ”white monastery/church”. The mainly Azeri population of the 19–20th centuries fled in the early 1990s.

Municipal drinking water fountain, piped into a stone basin

Mozart Cafe
🕒 11:00–midnight, 📞 098 412027, FB mozart.cafe.kapan.

Municipal drinking water fountain (bubbler). Sometimes reported switched off in summer, probably due to seasonal water availability limitations.

Inna Supermarket
🕒 09:00–23:00. Large, well-stocked supermarket on the route northbound out of Dilijan.

Water from a nearby source piped into a trough, depending on seasonal livestock movements.

Several flat camping spots on a forested saddle on the ridge.

Church of Surb Minas (St Menas)
19th-century three-aisled basilica with much older surrounding khachkars.

Naturally mineralised water source fitted with a pipe close to the ground.

Hovhannes Tumanyan statue
Hovhannes Tumanyan (1869–1923), actually born in Dsegh, played a pivotal role in late 19th and early 20th-century Armenian literary development, in particular with poems, fables, plays, and essays. He is the national poet of Armenia.

Sevan railway station
Summer trains to/from Yerevan.

Freshwater stream, usually flowing year-round. Southbound, this is the last reliable water source until Anahit's Spring.

Musayelyan

Natural spring water source flowing directly from the ground. Often reported dry in summer.

Monastery of Sisavank
The church of Surp Hovhannes (St John) was built between 670–689 in a style similar to Surb Hripsime Church in Etchmiadzin. It houses a collection of books dating back to 1686, as well as new items like the altar table (2001) and font (2008), and micro-miniatures by Edward Ter-Ghazarian (1923–2012), one of which is carved on a grain of rice.

Several flat areas exist around the shore of Lake Gosh. The nearby spring is not considered potable without purification. There is no trash collection at this site. The area is popular with locals who often come to the lake by 4x4 for barbecues, especially in summer and at weekends. This location is within the boundaries of Dilijan National Park. Remember to leave no trace!

Vorotnavan Rest Home

Ranger station
Ranger shelter for the Shvanidzor district of Arevik National Park, with drinking water and a picnic shelter nearby. Usually unstaffed.

Hardware store
Sells butane cartridges.

Natural spring water source rising from the ground. With heavy livestock activity it may be difficult to access uncontaminated water. There are several sources in this area, so if in doubt, ask the locals.

Mt Yamaj (1,561m)
Prominent hill on which undated pottery fragments have been found.

Appears to flow inconsistently from one year to the next.

Mains water supply piped into an animal watering trough. May be switched on and off seasonally depending on livestock movements.

Northbound, the last store before Sanahin and Alaverdi, but far better supermarkets exist in Dilijan.

Sisian
Sisian (pop: 14,226, Armenian: Սիսիան) is the third-largest town in Syunik. With Bronze Age origins, it was (as Sisakan) a significant political center until power shifted to Tatev. Known as Gharakilisa to the Persians, Russian annexation saw increased Armenian migration. The Soviet era brought growth, a new urban plan, and the adoption of its current name.

Gosh
Gosh (pop. 1,097, Armenian: Գոշ) is split into two parts: Verin (“Upper”) and Nerkin (“Lower”) Gosh. Most references to Gosh are to the upper part. It’s named after the cleric who founded Goshavank.

Kapuyt
Kapuyt (pop. 28, Armenian: Կապույտ), formerly Gabud/Gyabud, was previously populated by ethnic Azeris who fled in 1988. It was renamed Kapuyt (“Blue”) in 1968. and later resettled by a few ethnic Armenians, though most of the village lies in ruins.

Paghakn
Paghakn (Armenian: Պաղակն) is a seasonal hamlet on the ridge between Lori and Tavush provinces. Historic names include Paghaghbyur/Sarnaghbyur (Armenian) and Soghukbulagh (Turkish), both of which mean “cold spring”.

Spitak Yeghtsi (“White Church”)
10–12th-century ruined church with surrounding khachkars.

Old Tatev B&B

Natural spring water source flowing directly from the ground. Sometimes reported low flow and hard to access.

Large area of pine plantation near the riverside, with a picnic shelter nearby. This location is within the Lake Arpi National Park boundaries and campfires are prohibited. Remember to leave no trace.

Municipal drinking water fountain (bubbler). May be switched off to conserve water in dry periods.

Restaurant
Details TBC.

Basalt Arch
Spectacular natural rock arch spanning a stream in a side gorge, about 250m off trail.

Café
Roadside cafe-restaurant near the highway crossing between Shgharshik and Vahanavank.

Local buses to central Yerevan
While the minibus from Dilijan to Yerevan terminates at the Northern Bus Station, it’s more efficient to alight here and take local transport onwards.

Gomkers Guesthouse
📞 077 002671, 📧 gomkers@gmail.com, 💻 gomkers.com, FB

Informal but regularly used basecamp location for attempts on Mt Khustup.

Sveta’s Guesthouse

Agarak Border Control Point (Armenia–Iran)

Karakhach Pass (2,273m)
Also known as the Sev Khach Pass. Both variants mean "Black Cross".

Intertown Bus Station (Gyumri, Meghri, Kapan)
Minibuses to/from Gyumri run all day from here and from Kilikia (Central) Bus Station, starting from about 08:00 and costing AMD1,500 and taking 2 hours. The daily minibus to Meghri departs at 07:30, costing AMD6,000 and taking 8–9 hours, with reservations essential (📞 077 529252). Minibuses to Kapan depart from 07:00 onwards.

Beam bridge of 1936, with the deck boards replaced in 2019.

B&B Odzun

Pushkino
Pushkino (pop. 331, Armenian: Պուշկինո) was previously known as Russian Gargar, perhaps after the Russian garrison stationed here in the 19th century. It was renamed Pushkino in February 1937. Some residents still claim Russian ethnicity.

Verin Vachagan
Verin Vachagan (Armenian: Վերին Վաչագան) is a suburb of Kapan and a historic village. It appears in medieval records as part of the Baghk-Achanan gavar (county) and paid taxes to Tatev Monastery. Vachagan is also an Armenian male given name.

Navigation warning
Southbound, stay on the double-track trail and don't turn off too early.

Bekh Hermitage
Bekh Hermitage, also recorded as Tandzaparakh and Aristakes Hermitage, is a 10–11th-century monastic complex. It was rebuilt in the 17th century with a walled courtyard, cells, and a refectory. Restoration continues.

Stepanavan Municipal Polyclinic

Marley’s Pub
PERMANENTLY CLOSED
📞 098 898088, 📧 marleypub@gmail.com, FB Marleys.Pub.Cafe.

Hilltop Camping Bekh
TEMPORARILY CLOSED
📞 077 807062, 💻 hilltop-camping-bekh.business.site. Popular stopping point for northbound hikers after completing the tough section from Meghri.

Natural spring water rising from the ground just upstream of this point. Sometimes reported low flow in midsummer.

The only store in this cluster of villages.

Aghvani
Aghvani (pop: 56, Armenian: Աղվանի) sits in the Kashuni Valley and was founded in 1923 on the site of the older settlement of Khoghvani, with the ruins of a 17th-century church and cemetery.

Picnic shelter with drinking water.

Aspar (hunting & fishing store)
Some useful outdoor gear. Does not sell gas canisters.

Picnic table
Small narrow table and two benches under the shade of some birch trees.

Drinking water piped from a nearby groundwater spring.

Kchuch

Anahit's Guesthouse
📞 094 583360.
Anahit is a lovely hostess who enjoys having guests over.

Mkhitar's Guesthouse
If you have trouble finding it, ask villagers for Mkhitar Hayrapetyan and Julieta’s guesthouse or call them to come and meet you in the village (it’s a relatively new guesthouse, and most villagers aren’t aware of it yet).

Petit Dilijan

New (2025), large, sheltered picnic table with water source.

ARK Dacha
📞 098 887894, 📧 arkarmenia@gmail.com, 💻 arkarmenia.com/the-dacha.html.
Update 2025: "The ARK camp seems to no longer be in use". -Verification needed.
Seasonal opening depends on the availability of hosts.

Municipal drinking water fountain (bubbler) next to a stone table and benches. May be switched off to conserve water in dry periods.
Update 2025: Some reports that the picnic area is padlocked. Not yet verified.

'Fresh water source' at picnic shelter area.

Picnic shelters
Several shelters with a water source.

Municipal water fountain (bubbler) opposite Aghitu funerary monument.
Update 2025: It is reported that this fountain is not working.

Warning: Dogs (Aprox Location)
Potentially aggressive dogs have been reported at this herders' camp.

Highland Campground
📞 094 520567, 077 520677. Seasonal basecamp at the foot of Mt Azhdahak, providing bunkbed accommodation in dormitory tents, as well as pitches for your own tent, kitchen and showering facilities, starlink internet (2026), and free tea to anyone passing through. Hikers can also arange food resuppliy packages to be brought from Yaravan and also transport to the capital if needed (arange in advance). The site is operated by the same team behind Highland Hostel in Yerevan. Also offered are guided tours of the area and expidition logistics via a mobile camp truck.

Aggressive dogs reported
Aggressive dogs reported 2025

Warning: Dogs (Aprox Location)
Potentially aggressive dogs have been reported here.

Warning: Agressive Dogs (aprox location)
Potentially aggressive dogs have been reported at this area.

8 Drops Glamping
Now called "Bacecamp"
📧 mher.m.markar@gmail.com,
Formerly Tandzaver Eco Camp.
The owner lives in Yerevan and is here a few days per week. Best to contact him so the local caretaker can host you when the owner is not here.
2025 prices:
1500 dram per person when pitching your own tent
8000 dram per person for the cabins

Warning: Harassment reported
Several female hikers have reported inappropriate behaviour by the male owner of Spandaryan House B&B.

Warning: Harassment reported
Roadside bistro and barbecue restaurant with outdoor seating and a water source nearby. Solo female hikers have reported persistent unwanted attention from the owners' son.

Warning: Harassment reported
Several hikers have reported unpleasant encounters with the male inhabitant of one of these buildings, often following an apparent display of hospitality.
(For context, he is actually the caretaker of an abandoned, never-completed pumping station, begun in the late Soviet era to pump water from Spandaryan Reservoir to Kechut Reservoir (and then to Lake Sevan) via an underground tunnel, but never finished.)

Warning: Military activity
2025: One hiker reported being told this road was closed, but other hikers have passed with no problem and report that the soldiers are friendly. Move swiftly through this area, and avoid suspicious activities like taking photos, wearing camo, and travelling at night.

Warning: Navigation
A previous version of the route, which may still be waymarked and/or appear on older maps, passed this complex to provide drinking water access. It is now a sensitive military zone (with guard dogs) and should not be approached.

Warning: Navigation
The route between the riverside track and the upper trail is not well defined and can vary by season and livestock traffic. Southbound, do NOT be tempted to continue alongside the river, as aggressive dogs have been reported.

Warning: Venomous snake sightings
Several hikers have sighted a Levantine viper (Macrovipera lebetinus) living in the rocks surrounding Anahit's Spring. Know before you go!

Warning: Navigation
This is the anchor point at the uphill and S end of Malev. There is no clearly defined route through the ruins of Malev, so make your own way between the anchor points at each end of the village.

Southbound, between here and the ridge is a 1.3km off-trail hillside traverse, following the approximate route of a future trail to be constructed. You may find traces of livestock trails in the area, but there is no formal route to follow (yet).

Southbound, the trail breaks off right and uphill from the 4x4 track at this point, but the junction is not obvious. Continuing downhill on the 4x4 track will bring you out on the access road to Apkes and Malev from Alvank, but it is a steep, disused track. The official route is much nicer!

Northbound, between here and the forest is a 1.3km off-trail hillside traverse, following the approximate route of a future trail to be constructed. You may find traces of livestock trails in the area, but there is no formal route to follow (yet).

Southbound, it can sometimes be hard to locate the trail as it enters the edge of the forest. You are looking for a narrow, overgrown singletrack trail that proceeds steeply uphill and then widens into a disused 4x4 track.

This is the anchor point at the downhill and N end of Malev. There is no clearly defined route through the ruins of Malev, so make your own way between the anchor points at each end of the village.

Northbound, the point where the trail enters the forest is overgrown with young trees, making trailfinding difficult. A physical trail does exist once you proceed a few dozen metres into the forest, so keep looking.

Warning: Limited drinking water
About 450m N of this junction is Anahit's Spring. This is the only reliable year-round water source between Malev and Meghri.

Warning: Trail conditions
Much of this short trail segment in the gorge runs alongside a large water pipe, which in some places is leaking and flooding the trail. It is easy to detour around these puddles by walking along the raised edges of the track, but allow some extra time to do so.

The trail has been blocked by the installation of a large water pipe feeding a hydroelectric power station in the gorge below. You must climb over this pipe TWICE, at locations about 40m apart, to stay on the recommended route. Do NOT follow the blazed route south on the dirt road.

Warning: highway segment
Northbound, it's currently necessary to follow the hard shoulder of the highway for ~1km of this segment. We're working on an alternative!

Warning: highway segment
Southbound, it's currently necessary to follow the hard shoulder of the highway for ~1km of this segment. We're working on an alternative!

Southbound, do NOT cross the bridge over the river or enter the industrial yard, as aggressive dogs guard the area. Stay on the track on the north side of the river and bypass the locked gate if necessary to proceed. The route is waymarked, and hikers are permitted to pass (but not to camp) in agreement with the local land manager.

Warning: bear habitat
Northbound, the valley you are about to enter is a known habitat for Eurasian brown bear (Ursus arctos arctos). While Armenia's bears are shy and try to avoid humans, expect to see spoor (prints, faeces, etc) on the trail. Hikers have also reported sightings at a distance. While a conflict is highly unlikely, it's recommended to familiarise yourself with the species and its behaviour, as well as what to do in the event of an encounter.

Southbound, don't miss this junction between the 4x4 track and the narrow trail to the left.

Southbound, it is easy to miss this junction while watching your footing downhill. Recent road maintenance may make it even more difficult to see.

Warning: River crossing
In normal conditions this is bridged by a series of metal pipe culverts covered with earth. In high water (during snowmelt season or after heavy rain) this "bridge" may be under swift water and the crossing may be dangerous. In this case is possible to use an alternate route on a steep, zig-zagging 4x4 track up the grassy hillside directly N of the ford at 41.08921, 44.59022.

Northbound, take care not to miss this junction, which avoids a state-owned research facility to the NW.

Southbound, there is no visible trail across the meadow N of this point, but the entrance to the trail downhill through the forest is obvious once you find it. As seen from a distance, aim just to the right of the gentle dip in the field.

Unverified.

Spring-fed freshwater stream, usually flowing year-round, that gives its name to Jrovank ("Water Monastery"), the holy shrine at this location.

Azoyan Holiday Resort
📞 +374 98 155595. A welcoming and idyllic rural guesthouse on the site of a Soviet collective pig farm. Mher Azoyan and his family are excellent hosts. Conveniently located on the alternate route via Karahunj.

Karahunj
Karahunj, aka: Zorats Karer, is often called Armenia's Stonehenge. Covering 7ha and initially thought to be an ancient observatory, recent research suggests the stone circles may have served as a necropolis from the Middle Bronze Age to the Iron Age.

Flat, grassy area on top of the ridge with some trees for protection and a good view of Mount Khustup.

A man in his 20s driving a truck with a water tank/hose in the bed targeted a solo woman a few km north of Katnaghbyur. He used a false warning about aggressive dogs to lure the hiker into his vehicle and then refused to let her out despite multiple requests. The hiker escaped by jumping from the vehicle at an intersection. We advise hikers, particularly solo female hikers, to exercise extreme caution about accepting rides in this area.
Please report any incidents here: https://forms.gle/CMfimvvAuUdMH6xV6

A man in his 50s aproached a femaile hiker asking to see her phone, he then grabbed her wrist and refusted to let go for a few seconds.
We advise hikers, particularly solo female hikers, to exercise caution in this area.
Please report any incidents here: https://forms.gle/CMfimvvAuUdMH6xV6

Snack kiosk
Small store for buying basic snacks.

A hiker reported being shot at by some kind of wepon from a moving vehicle while in their tent. Recomend avoiding wild camping in this area.
Please report any incidents here: https://forms.gle/CMfimvvAuUdMH6xV6

An elderly man reportedly living near the church, harrased a female hiker.
Please report any incidents here:https://forms.gle/CMfimvvAuUdMH6xV6

Drinking water at picnic shelter (presumably piped source - not verified).

Drinking water at picnic shelter.

Picnic shelter with water source.

Piped water.

Rockfall
2025: Rockfall covered the path for 20 m, but it was possible to clamber over.

Warning: Bear habitat
Southbound, the valley you are about to enter is a known habitat for Eurasian brown bear (Ursus arctos arctos). While Armenia's bears are shy and try to avoid humans, expect to see spoor (prints, faeces, etc) on the trail. Hikers have also reported sightings at a distance. While a conflict is highly unlikely, it's recommended to familiarise yourself with the species and its behaviour, as well as what to do in the event of an encounter.

Alternate Route: Alaverdi–Hasmiki Aghbyur
Warmarked and signposted lower-elevation route, avoiding several sections of exposed ridge in the off-season or during poor weather, and passing through several additional villages with some services.

Side Route: Shaki Waterfall

Side Route: Harzhis Lake

Side Route: Jermuk Hot Springs

Side Route: Sanahin–Haghpat

Side Route: Lake Parz

Side Route: Spitakavor Monastery

Side Route: Martirosats Cave Church

Side Route: Selim Caravanserai
This spur trail will take you to Armenia's best preserved caravanserai (merchants' inn) which dates back to the 14th century and was an important stop on the Silk Road trading network. There's camping space and a spring nearby, refreshments on sale during the daytime, and if you wait until dark you can even sleep inside it!

Alternate Route: Karahunj Loop
This waymarked and signposted detour permits a visit to the prehistoric monolithic site of Karahunj, also known as Zorats Karer ("Stone Soldiers") and occasionally referred to as Armenia's Stonehenge.

Side Route: Mt Khustup Summit

Alternate Route: Khustup Ridge
In fine weather this is a truly spectacular ridgeline walk, starting from a junction on the main trail between Verin Vachagan and Bekh, with a steep ascent on a narrow livestock trail, then along the ridge itself and across the western flank of Mount Khustup to the saddle below the peak.

Side Route: Hidden Waterfall

Side Route: Hnevank (monastery)

Side Route: Vahanavank Land Art Trail

Side Route: Anahit's Spring

Side Route: Sedvi Monastery
This 600m detour will take you to a shaded monastery with drinking water and a picnic shelter, making it a good place to stop and rest between Hagvi and Alaverdi

Warning: Snowfield
There is a chance of lingering snowfields on this north-facing slope, even in midsummer. There is also a sheer cliff at the bottom of the slope, meaning a slide would have potentially deadly consequences. We suggest rerouting to higher ground if necessary.

Side Route: Crossway Camping
A short detour to our favourite place to take a mid-trail rest day, with tent pitches, two converted buses, outdoor kitchens, laundry, and an open-air swimming pool!

Side Route: Gndevank & Jermuk

Side Route: Basalt Arch

Side Route: Baghaberd (fortress)

Side Route: Gndevank monastery & campsite

Side Route: Musayelyan Loop
Musayelyan has a couple of small convenience stores for light resupplies.

Side Route: Spandaryan

Side Route: Lori Berd

Alternate Route: Magic Forest Trail
The "Magic Forest Loop" to and from Tandzaver was developed in 2019 to exhibit several land art installations. Travelling southbound, the art pieces are easier to spot on this western half of the loop, though conditions and navigation are significantly more challenging.

Alternate Route: Vorotan Canyon Loop
This spectacular traverse of the gorge was part of the main route of the TCT until 2024, when flooding damaged several segments and left others overgrown with brambles. It is still passable, but will be a slower and more difficult route until maintenance and repairs have been carried out.

C: Alaverdi – Dilijan

A: Lake Arpi – Stepananvan

B: Stepanavan – Alaverdi

G: Sisian – Kapan

E: Sevan – Yeghegnadzor

H: Kapan – Meghri

D: Dilijan – Sevan

F: Yeghegnadzor – Sisian

A: Lake Arpi–Stepanavan (TCT Armenia Southbound)

B: Stepanavan–Alaverdi (TCT Armenia Southbound)

E: Sevan–Yeghegnadzor (TCT Armenia Southbound)

F: Yeghegnadzor–Sisian (TCT Armenia Southbound)

G: Sisian–Kapan (TCT Armenia Southbound)

Side Route: Tumanyan
There are several reasons to stop off in Tumanyan, including a unique museum, a convenience store, and an off-the-beaten-track backpacker hostel.

Side Route: Vanek–Verin Khotanan
This stage of the regional Legends Trail connects the TCT with Verin Khotanan, where a convenience store and a main road connection can be found.

C: Alaverdi–Dilijan (TCT Armenia Southbound)

H: Kapan–Meghri (TCT Armenia Southbound)

D: Dilijan–Sevan (TCT Armenia Southbound)

TCT Armenia Main Route 2025 (Southbound)