Alpine skiing in Armenia in Tsakhkadzor. Ski resorts of Armenia: luxurious climate plus European quality Yerevan ski resort Tsakhkadzor
Tsaghkadzor is one of the most dynamically developing resorts in Armenia. Despite its centuries-old history, it seems to still be looking for its identity and its path, and is rushing from its authentic roots to the image of a modern European town.
Perhaps this is what attracts me to Tsakhkadzor - a certain “stoniness” combined with a free spirit. And, judging by the increasing number of tourists from year to year (and therefore the growing number of quality hotels), Tsakhkadzor is attractive not only for me.
In fairness, I must note that for me, Tsakhkadzor is not the heart of Armenia, with its special magical spirit. You can include it in your Armenia tour route for no more than a couple of days. The only exception is a purely ski holiday. Just don't get me wrong, this doesn't mean that Tsakhkadzor isn't worth visiting and there's nothing to do here. Not at all! It’s just that she herself is so multifaceted that, given a possible dilemma, I would choose more authentic corners of it.
Tsaghkadzor, located in a picturesque valley at the foot of Mount Teghenis, actually has many epithets - “skiing”, “youth”, “winter”, and, as if in contrast, “flowery”. By the way, from the top of the mountain in clear weather you can enjoy simply wonderful views of the lake and the biblical Mount Ararat.
So what is it really like, Tsaghkadzor? Let's try to figure it out together.
How to get there
One of the absolute advantages of Tsaghkadzor is its fairly close location to the capital and most of the must-see attractions of Armenia.
Thus, Tsakhkadzor can be considered as a “base” city, where you can relax, breathe fresh mountain air and at the same time saturate your leisure time with interesting field trips, which can be organized either independently or through travel agencies.
The closest airport to Tsaghkadzor is in the capital of Armenia - Yerevan. I talked in detail about how to get to Yerevan in my article about, as well as. But I will briefly describe below how to get from Yerevan to Tsakhkadzor.
Taxi
As I have repeatedly mentioned in my articles, taxis are quite popular and popular in Armenia. affordable way movement. And therefore, in my opinion, this type of transport is the most convenient, and certainly the fastest way to get from the airport, or the center of Yerevan to Tsakhkadzor.
The distance from Yerevan airport to Tsaghkadzor is about 80 km, and each kilometer at the average rate of local taxis is about 0.20–0.25 USD (100 drams). Thus, we do a simple mathematical calculation and understand that on average the cost of the trip will be about 16–20 USD. Agree, by European standards this is a negligible amount.
Transfer
Most hotels and holiday homes in Tsakhkadzor provide their guests with a meeting service at the airport - in other words, a transfer. Of course, the price tag in this case will be higher (on average, we are talking about 30 USD) than if you just catch a taxi, but there are certainly advantages.
Firstly, in this case you will protect yourself from the “inflated tariffs” of unscrupulous taxi drivers, since you negotiate the price in advance, and secondly, you will be provided with a car at your discretion and preferences. From my own experience I know that this is important, since I once faced the problem of placement ski equipment in one of the taxis. As a result, an enterprising taxi driver, by some miracle, still placed my luggage in his old Opel, but I had to drive with my head half bowed :)
By bus
Despite the fact that Tsaghkadzor is one of the most popular resorts in Armenia, intercity transport does not reach here. However, this problem also exists in other Armenian resorts, and the explanation for this, it seems to me, lies precisely in the availability of taxis.
Nevertheless, I will indicate a way to get to Tsaghkadzor by bus. Maybe it will be useful to someone.
So, buses to Tsakhkadzor leave from a stop near the Relay Plant, which is about 10 minutes from the center of Yerevan, and two stops from Victory Park. You can get to this stop from the center by bus No. 13, 24, 32, 47, 58, as well as minibuses No. 2, 4, 21 and some others. The fare is 0.20 USD (100 drams).
Next, you will need to transfer to minibus No. 278A, which is the one that gets to Tsakhkadzor. Finding it will not be difficult, since it is from this stop that many depart intercity buses, you just need to find the right number or ask the drivers.
Buses leave only 2 times a day - in the morning at 11:30 and in the evening at 18:00. The fare is about 1.3 USD (600 drams).
This is such an intricate route.
By car
It is quite convenient to get to Tsaghkadzor by your own or rented car. Along the M4 highway you will reach the resort in about 40–45 minutes, passing the cities of Abovyan, Charentsavan, Hrazdan and the picturesque lake. You can see the route map in the previous section.
If you rent a car, it will be provided to you with a full tank of gas. You must return it back in the same “form”. The average cost of gasoline in Armenia is 0.80 USD per liter, that is, you will spend about 10 liters or 8 USD on the road to Tsakhkadzor and back.
Clue:
Tsakhkadzor - the time is now
Hour difference:
Moscow − 1
Kazan − 1
Samara 0
Ekaterinburg 1
Novosibirsk 3
Vladivostok 6
When is the season? When is the best time to go
Still, the vast majority of tourists associate Tsakhkadzor only with ski holidays. This judgment is partly fair, because the city is developing to a greater extent in this direction. But only partly! After all, in Tsakhkadzor there is something to do not only in winter, but the clean mountain air is useful at any time of the year.
High season in Tsaghkadzor begins at the end of November and lasts until mid-March. At this time, finding a free hotel room is quite problematic, and prices, of course, are much higher than in other months.
In the low season (that is, from April to October) there is no such influx of tourists in Tsakhkadzor, and many hotels offer significant discounts.
Tsaghkadzor in summer
Well, I’ll say right away that in the summer it’s good everywhere in Armenia :) Tsaghkadzor is no exception, and if in July-August it’s really hot in Yerevan, then in Tsakhkadzor at this time the average daily temperature ranges from +23 to +25 °C. Therefore, many Yerevan residents often escape for the weekend to cooler Tsaghkadzor, which can be reached in just over half an hour.
In the evening it is cool here, due to the mountainous location. Therefore, it would be a good idea to bring warmer clothes.
Tsakhkadzor in autumn
Definitely worth a try during the cold season meat dishes: shish kebab, kebab, khashlama, dolma (including vegetarian), warm soup, and for the bravest - morning khash. In summer, this splendor can be diluted with fresh vegetables, fruits and herbs. Well, and of course, don’t forget about lavash - a thin bread flatbread in which you can wrap almost any filling (Armenians really like to put local cheese, herbs, as well as cucumbers and tomatoes there).
Beyond Diversity delicious dishes You will certainly be pleased with the prices in restaurants. So, a hearty lunch will cost about 5–7.5 USD, and dinner - 10–13 USD, per person. Dinner with a glass of wine will cost 13–16 USD per person.
Self-catering
There are a lot of apart-hotels or cottages for rent in Tsaghkadzor, so many tourists are also not averse to cooking something on their own (for example, the same barbecue in the courtyard of their own house).
In Tsakhkadzor, in the city center, there are several small grocery stores. Unfortunately, I don’t remember their names, but they are not difficult to find - they are all located in walking distance from most hotels. These stores have basic necessities, but if you want a larger selection, it is better to go to. In the capital of Armenia you will find a huge number of supermarkets and markets. You can also go to the nearest town of Hrazdan, which is about 5 km from Tsakhkadzor.
Budget
Mid-level
Expensive
Safety. What to watch out for
Tsaghkadzor is a very safe city, like all other cities in Armenia. Here you can safely go out even late at night and walk alone. Crime in the city is practically zero.
The only thing is to be careful while walking: sometimes young people ride recklessly on ATVs, and the central streets are quite narrow, and in some places there are no sidewalks. This is perhaps the only warning that can be mentioned when talking about Tsakhkadzor.
Things to do
As I already said, Tsakhkadzor is one of the most sports-oriented cities in Armenia. Therefore, you can find enough different activities in the city to suit every taste and age.
Since Tsaghkadzor is primarily a ski resort, the main activity of city guests is skiing and snowboarding. But I'll tell you about this a little later.
I have already mentioned the opportunity to professionally engage in various sports at the Sports Complex. In addition, other winter activities are very popular in the city. For example, every year a skating rink is built on the main square, which the children really like. Also, the mountainous location of the resort allows you to organize impromptu entertainment. I really like going down the mountain on an inflatable sled or inside large inflatable balloons. Experienced athletes will consider this child's play, but for those who are afraid of heights (like me), this is very extreme fun. Moreover, the descent is quite steep, and the speed is considerable.
You will also get an unforgettable experience while flying on a zip line. This entertainment consists of three stages:
- flight from the starting point (distance about 500 meters);
- then a 150-meter climb on foot;
- finally, the return flight (about 650 meters).
The height at the highest point reaches 130 meters, and the cost of one flight is about 20 USD (10,000 drams).
Snowmobiling is also very popular in Tsakhkadzor, and you can ride like a breeze either with an instructor or on your own. The cost of rental for one time is about 10 USD, and for a day - starting from 40 USD and above.
Approximately the same prices apply when renting ATVs, which in the summer many use as transport for traveling to nearby cities. In my opinion, it is very convenient, given the frequent impassability in some Armenian regions.
In addition, in the warm season you can organize walking, cycling or horse ride around the city and surrounding areas of Tsakhkadzor.
For those who prefer relaxing holiday, on the territory of many hotels there is a SPA, a sauna, as well as billiards, bowling and table tennis.
Bars. Where to go
I haven’t seen any separate bars in Tsaghkadzor. All of them are located at hotels: Marriott Tsaghkadzor, Golden Palace, Multi Rest House, Russia and others, which often organize themed evenings with invited local and foreign artists. For the same reason, locals rarely visit bars. Perhaps, only those Armenians who come to Tsaghkadzor to relax on the weekend go there.
Clubs and nightlife
Many clubs, discos and bars in Tsakhkadzor are located at hotels. Separately, it is perhaps worth mentioning again Entertainment Center Royale Entertainment Center, including restaurants, a club, a bar, a lounge area, a hookah bar and a casino. By the way, the latter is quite popular in Tsaghkadzor. It and Royale (along with the Casino Senator, located at the Golden Palace Hotel) are the most popular gambling clubs in the city.
Extreme Sports
So we got to the main thing - winter species sports in Tsakhkadzor. Ski season in Tsaghkadzor opens from mid-December and lasts until the end of March. What is most important for skiers is that one and a half meters of snow cover is guaranteed during this period.
The most important thing, in my opinion, is that Tsakhkadzor is ideal for both children and adults, since the ski area is located between heights 1966 and 2819, which include 15 trails of varying difficulty. I will tell you more about them below.
You will get to the desired height on a modern three-level Leitner chairlift, while admiring the beautiful mountain scenery. By the way, the cable car was reconstructed by the Italians a couple of years ago. In addition to it, there are also drag lifts in the ski area.
On the territory of the ski center there are also several rental points for ski equipment and sports accessories. Ski rental for a day costs about 10 USD (5000 drams), and a snowboard costs about 14 USD (7000 drams). You can also rent glasses or a helmet. The cost of each is approximately 4.2 USD (2000 drams).
What is important, there is also a school for beginners and children on the territory, as well as a medical center and a rescue service.
By the way, in Tsaghkadzor there is quite a long daylight hours in winter: from approximately 08:30 to 18:00. It is according to this schedule that the lifts operate.
How to get around the city
As I noted above, Tsakhkadzor is a fairly compact city. That's why? When I come here, I still prefer to travel on foot.
Public transport Not within the city limits; the only such “transport” can be a taxi.
Snowmobiles and ATVs are very popular in Tsakhkadzor. Some tourists also rent a car from Yerevan. Although, in my opinion, this option is only appropriate if you want to travel around the country on your own, and not spend most of your time in Tsakhkadzor.
Taxi. What features exist
Most of the taxis in Tsakhkadzor are “private”. You can, of course, meet cars and transport companies. This will be the most acceptable option for you, since they all operate at a fixed rate: the first 3–4 km - the minimum rate is about 1.2 USD (600 drams), then - 0.2 USD (100 drams) for each kilometer.
Private owners, as a rule, increase prices, so you can bargain with them, since you already know the approximate tariffs. In principle, within the city the cost of a trip rarely exceeds 1.6–1.8 USD (800–900 drams).
Keep in mind that drivers in the city only accept cash. Taxi where payment is possible credit card, Hardly ever.
Transport rental
There are no car rental companies directly in Tsaghkadzor. Some hotels cooperate with similar companies, but they are all located in Yerevan.
The most popular car rental stores in Armenia are Sixt, Hertz, Naniko and Caravan. The minimum price for renting a passenger car with a manual transmission is approximately 30 USD. The cost of renting elite SUVs starts from 100 USD. Compare prices and choose the most best option you can do it online in advance (for example, ).
To rent a car, any company will ask you for a passport, a driver’s license, as well as a deposit in case of damage to the car. Each company has its own deposit amount.
I’ll be honest: some roads in Armenia are in a rather deplorable state. But, fortunately, this does not apply to the road to Tsaghkadzor. Locals joke (or maybe they don’t joke) that local ministers and the country’s main ski enthusiast, the president of the country, often drive along this route. Therefore, the road leaves a pleasant impression :)
Be that as it may, the main thing is that there are no special problems for motorists. The only caveat is that on the M4 highway, before reaching Sevan, there is a section of the road called “Tea” by locals (because of the tea houses located here), where, unfortunately, accidents are frequent. This segment is quite flat, but it is precisely because of this that many begin to drive recklessly and accelerate to almost 200 km/h. So be careful anyway.
In Tsakhkadzor itself, due to the narrow roads, there are problems with parking. However, they can be easily resolved thanks to the many restaurants and hotels with equipped parking.
Tsaghkadzor - holidays with children
Tsakhkadzor is one of ideal options for holidays with children. Little travelers will certainly not get bored here.
Almost all hotels, in addition to sports grounds and swimming pools, also offer big choice entertainment for children. In winter, children feel great on the central skating rink, and, of course, they are always happy to go skiing.
By the way, everything is normal with safety here: children are looked after by qualified instructors, and if desired, they also help young extreme skiers take their first ski steps. At low altitudes there are all conditions for children to ski safely without the threat of more experienced skiers and snowboarders.
Ski holiday
Tsaghkadzor today is in no way inferior to many European ski resorts. Of course, we are not talking about luxury resorts.
If the main objective your visit to Tsaghkadzor is ski holiday, then you need to know a few facts about the resort of Tsaghkadzor:
Ski passes
If you are only passing through Tsaghkadzor, then you can purchase a one-time card, the cost of which is about 4.2 USD (2000 drams).
However, I advise you to take a personalized card, which is valid for 5 years. It will cost less. There are several options:
- Day card. Allows you to use lifts up to 10 times. Cost - about $20 (10,000 drams)
- One day ski pass. With this card you can use the ski lifts an unlimited number of times per day. Cost - about 25 USD (12,000 drams)
- Trexday ski pass. Cost - 60 USD (29,000 drams)
- Five-day ski pass. Cost - approximately 97 USD (47,000 drams)
- Weekly ski pass. Cost - 125 USD (60,000 drams)
- D10-day ski pass. Cost - about 172 USD (83,000 drams)
Discounts apply for children under 10 years old:
- One day card- 18.5 USD (9000 drams)
- Three-day ski pass- 50 USD (24000 drams)
- Five-day ski pass- about 72 USD (35,000 drams)
Trails
As I noted above, the trails in Tsakhkadzor have different levels of difficulty - for every taste and sports training.
The steepest slopes (black and red, located at the very top, as well as virgin soil for freeriders) are intended for professionals.
In the middle of the slope there is a blue track of medium difficulty, and at the very bottom there is a green track for beginners and children.
The maximum length of the ski slope reaches 8 km; there are also steep serpentines and a so-called “chute” for extreme sports enthusiasts.
Below you can see a map of the slopes and skiing region.
The closest to the ski lifts is the Alva Hotel, which has recently become part of the Best Western chain. 200 meters from the Cable Car there is also a luxurious Hotel Golden Palace Hotel Resort and SPA.
Anything to add?
Tsaghkadzor is one of the most popular and famous ski resorts in Armenia. This country is famous not only for its cognacs, vibrant culture and customs, but also for the opportunity to have an inexpensive holiday in the mountains for skiing or snowboarding. We will tell you more about this resort, how to get there and when is the best time to ski.
How to get there from Yerevan
Tsakhkadzor is located in a valley near the foot of Teghenis. This territory is a permanent training ground for Olympic champions. It is located 60 kilometers from the Armenian capital, so your trip will take no more than an hour and a half, depending on the transport you choose. You can immediately arrive to Tsakhkadzor from Yerevan airport.
Route from Yerevan to Tsaghkadzor on the map
When to go, skiing seasons
The skiing season begins in October, and the peak of tourists is, naturally, observed during the New Year and Christmas holidays. At the same time, at any time of the winter season, which lasts from October to March, it makes sense to come to the ski resort for bright and fun skiing.
A ski holiday in Armenia in Tsakhkadzor will leave only the most pleasant memories in your soul. In addition to skiing and snowboarding, you can admire the wonderful nature of the mountains covered with a snow carpet, walk through the valleys, and taste dishes in hotels national cuisine, enjoy the good nature and fun of the locals.
Overview of the ski slopes of Tsakhkadzor
Tsakhkadzor ski resort offers the most Better conditions for a pleasant and inexpensive winter holiday in the mountains of Armenia. All types are available to you ski slopes, and you can even come here with your own equipment to enjoy the scenery and conquer new peaks and descents.
As for the ski area, the altitude varies from 1966 to 2819 meters above sea level. The altitude differences are up to 853 meters.
The total length of all slopes covers 30 kilometers, and the longest ski route that professionals can experience is 8 kilometers.
You can get to the slopes by chairlifts, and then you choose which slope to ski on - on the black slope, for calm skiing, or on the lower level, intended for beginners.
Which hotel to choose
Trip to winter holidays 2016 in Tsakhkadzor will have all the amenities and conditions for a good time. Comfortable hotels in Tsakhkadzor await you, where you will be provided with nutritious meals using exclusively fresh products. You will try national cuisine, and this will only add vigor and positivity to you to spend the whole day skiing.
What do we know about Armenia and its mountains? This is an ancient mountainous country located in the south of the South Caucasus. Most of the state is located at an altitude of approximately 1800 meters above sea level.
Armenia in Lately attracts more and more tourists interested in skiing and snowboarding. And this is not surprising, because it provides all the opportunities for these sports.
With the exception of the southern part of Armenia, which is characterized by a subtropical climate, the rest of the regions are dominated by highland, continental climate. That is, a high amplitude of winter and summer temperatures is common.
Thanks to its climate and topography, Armenia is an attractive place for tourists interested in active recreation. It has all the capabilities to organize sports such as rock climbing, alpine skiing, snowboarding, etc.
About the Tsakhkadzor resort:
The most popular and largest ski resort in Armenia is Tsaghkadzor, literally this name can be translated as “Gorge of Flowers”. It is located in a valley at the foot of Mount Teghenis. It is cozy, not too big, equipped with all the possibilities for active tourism.
Among the attractions of the city of Tsakhkadzor is Kecharis, an ancient monastic complex that includes 4 churches and 2 chapels.
Despite all the advantages, the resort is characterized by sparsely populated areas, since it has more local significance. And because of this, there are almost no queues for the lifts, which will significantly save your time and nerves.
Weather in Tsakhkadzor, Armenia. The ski season begins in December and lasts until April. You will enjoy a large percentage of sunny days in winter (about 75%). The sun rises at about half past eight in the morning and sets at about six in the evening. average temperature- 5 degrees. The air is crystal clear, a large number of picturesque forests, meadows with living springs.
Characteristics of the Tsaghkadzor resort
We can talk about the resort for a long time, so let’s highlight the main characteristics.
Slopes and routes of Tsaghkadzor
The slopes of the Tsakhkadzor resort have 3 sections: upper, middle and lower. The upper one - black tracks - goes along the third line to the cable car. It has a sports chute, fairly steep slopes and a ten-meter cornice. The middle section - the red slopes - is supposed to be for calmer skiing. The lower one - blue tracks - are intended for professionals and extreme sports enthusiasts; it is a bobsleigh chute. The slopes of the resort are groomed with snowcats.
Scheme and map of Tsaghkadhor trails:
Ropeway Tsaghkadzor
On the slope of Mount Teghenis there is a cable car built by Leitner. It is divided into 5 lifts. The first is a four-seater chair, the second, third and fourth are double chairs. The fifth is for beginner skiers. Accordingly, there are 5 queues in total.
The cable car is notable for the fact that from it you can see a picturesque panorama of the entire country. You won't be able to freeze: the soft chair seats are heated. This type of transport will help you get to the highest point in just 40 minutes cable car. Its total length is 1480 m.
Tsakhkadzor Heights
Let's introduce some numbers for a more realistic idea of the resort.
The most high point skiing - 2819 m. The zero mark of the slopes (beginning) is at a level of approximately 2000 m. In total, the slopes extend over a distance of more than 30 km (the length of the longest descent is about 8 km).
As you already know, there are 5 stations in total in Tsakhkadzor. The first has a height of 1137 m, the second - 1458 m, the third - 1624 m, the fourth - 926 m and the fifth - 1030 m. The height difference is 850 m.
Look at the photo of the Armenian ski resort Tsakhkadzor:
Where is the resort of Tsaghkadzor and how to get there
The Tsaghkadzor resort is located 60 km north of Yerevan, in the Kotayk region, on the slope of Mount Teghenis in the village of the same name.
Various planes regularly fly to Armenia international airlines(For example, Aeroflot, S7 - Siberia, Transaero, Armavia, Ural Airlines) to Zvarnots airport (by the way, a very interesting building Soviet architecture). Taxis run from here to the resort (maximum price - $32), as well as buses and minibuses. Bonus: excellent road condition.
Holidays in Tsakhkadzor: prices
The resort provides rental of full equipment: sleds, skis and snowboards. For beginner skiers, it is possible to take an instructor, which will cost approximately $22 per hour.
Rescuers are on duty and medical assistance is provided. The resort is equipped with toilets, locker rooms, and storage rooms. There is a Ski service. Mostly cafes and restaurants in Tsaghkadzor are located in the center.
Prices for hotels and inns in Tsaghkadzor
The resort has a large variety of hotels and hotel complexes. All of them are located on average two to three km from the cable car. The minimum price for a single room will be from 17 dollars (University Rest House - in the Tandzakhbyur gorge, 0.5 km from the cable car) to 99 dollars (Hotel Russia in Tsaghkadzor - 2.5 km from the cable car).
Ski resort Tsakhkadzor, Armenia: Prices 2017
Armenia is one of the oldest states in the Middle East. Founded in the 6th century. BC. Armenia is located in the southern part of the South Caucasus. The country borders on Georgia and Azerbaijan in the north and east, and Turkey and Iran in the west and south. The area of Armenia is 29.8 thousand sq. km.
Armenia is a mountainous country, most of which is located at an altitude of 1800 m above sea level. The highest point above sea level is the top of Mount Aragats (4090 m), the lowest is north of the village of Debedashen (370 meters).
Despite the fact that Armenia is located at the latitude of the subtropical zone, the subtropical climate is characteristic only of the southern part of Armenia. In other areas, the climate is highland, continental - summers are hot and winters are cold. Armenia consists of 11 regions, including the capital of the state, Yerevan. In order to get to Armenia it will take only two hours - and the plane will take you to this ancient and beautiful Southern City. Armenia is recognized as one of the safest countries for travelers in the region and is recommended for visiting by tourists from Europe and America.
In Armenia, everyone will find something to their liking. Interesting story Armenia, a huge number of monuments, memorable places, as well as events associated with them and the names of outstanding figures of Armenian history and culture always attract tourists to Armenia.
And also 9 days/8 nights from 7.01 and 18.02
Armenia- one of the oldest states in the Middle East. Founded in the 6th century. BC. Armenia is located in the southern part of the South Caucasus. The country borders on Georgia and Azerbaijan in the north and east, and Turkey and Iran in the west and south. The area of Armenia is 29.8 thousand sq. km.
Armenia - Mountain country, most of which is located at an altitude of 1800 m above sea level. The highest point above sea level is the top of Mount Aragats (4090 m), the lowest is north of the village of Debedashen (370 meters).
Despite the fact that Armenia is located at the latitude of the subtropical zone, the subtropical climate typical only for the southern part of Armenia. In other areas the climate is highland, continental - summers are hot and winters are cold. Armenia consists of 11 regions, including capital city of Yerevan. To get to Armenia it will take only two hours - and the plane will take you to this ancient and beautiful southern city. Armenia is recognized as one of the safest countries for travelers in the region and is recommended for visiting by tourists from Europe and America.
In Armenia, everyone will find something to their liking. Most interesting history of Armenia, a huge number of monuments, memorable places, as well as events associated with them and the names of outstanding figures of Armenian history and culture always attract tourists to Armenia.
The Armenian people with their richest traditions, hospitality and cuisine- This is an independent landmark of the country.
Armenia is the same "Museum of Nature". Armenia has always attracted travelers with its special picturesqueness. Thousands of stories and many mysteries are hidden in ancient churches and castles, high-mountain lakes and rivers, majestic rocks, and dizzying canyons.
Thanks to its topography and climate, Armenia can offer excellent opportunities for organizing active recreation: mountain tourism, rock climbing, speleology, paragliding, horseback riding and cycling, off-road safaris, leisure on the water, alpine skiing and snowboarding.
Ski resorts in Armenia. Ski resort Tsakhkadzor
Recently, Armenia has attracted increasing attention from amateurs alpine skiing and snowboarding. There are three ski resorts in Armenia: Jermuk, Sevan and Tsaghkadzor.
Tsaghkadzor- the most famous and largest ski resort in Armenia. The ski center in Tsakhkadzor is located on the picturesque slopes of Mount Teghenis. The highest skiing point is 2819 m, which offers stunning views of the city. Ararat and lake Sevan!!!. For skiers, snowboarders, cross-country skiing and orienteering enthusiasts, there are all opportunities to practice their favorite sports.
Ski season in Tsaghkadzor starts from mid-December and lasts until the end of March.
The tracks are of three levels: black, red and blue. The maximum length of the route is 8 km. The total height difference is 853 m.
There is a modern three-level chairlift “Leitner”, total length 4500 meters. Opening hours: from 9:00 to 18:00. From the zero level to the first station (height difference - 350 m) - a four-seater lift, at the second and third stations - double lifts, height differences - 250 and 300 meters, respectively. The total ascent time from the zero level to the third station will be about 40 minutes (average ascent speed - 2.5 m per second, throughput per hour - 1200 passengers).
There are features that experts cannot help but like:
- no queues access to lifts and complete freedom of movement on the slopes;
- number of sunny days in winter - 75%;
- long daylight hours - in January the sun rises around 8:30 and sets around 18:00.
- the average daily temperature in winter is “-” 5 degrees;
- constant opportunity to ride on “virgin lands”;
- descent along the “chute” (an unfinished bobsleigh track) will allow you to experience the meaning of the concept of “extreme descent”;
- guaranteed snow (snow depth more than 1.5 meters);
- Natural disasters that can interfere with proper rest are extremely rare.
Cost of cable car tickets (rate 1000 drams ~ 95 rubles):
2 days - 16,000 AMD
3 days - 23,000 AMD
7 days - 49,000 AMD
1 month - 130,000 AMD
Seasonal - 250,000 drams
The ski center has a rescue service and a medical center at each station.
There are a large number of rental points for sports equipment, inventory, and equipment, which offer a wide range of goods at reasonable prices (compared to European resorts). Beginners will have the opportunity to learn and ride under the close attention of highly professional instructors.
In addition to excellent skiing, there is a lot of off-piste entertainment: bars, saunas, discos, restaurants, excursion programs. The restaurants offer a huge variety of mouth-watering dishes, the aroma of coffee, real cognac, live music, attentive staff, everything here is created with one goal - to satisfy impeccable taste and exceed the expectations of guests.
Hotels and inns in Tsakhkadzor.
There are a large number of hotels, inns, holiday homes, and campsites in Tsaghkadzor. Some of them were built during the Soviet period and reconstructed in last years. Such as the famous " House of Writers' Creativity"or hotel" University". There are also new hotels: " Jupiter", "Russia", "Kecharis" and etc.
Most of the hotels are located in the village of Tsaghkadzor. They deliver their guests to the ski lift to the mountain using hotel transport, the distance to the ski lifts is from 1.5 - 3 km. You can also get there by taxi (one way cost about 80 rubles per car).
There is an option to live right next to the ski lifts - a hotel" Alva"But, in this case, you will have to get to the center of the village by taxi.
How to get to Tsakhkadzor
Flights to Armenia (Yerevan) are carried out from many cities of Russia. Aeroflot, Armenian Armavia, Transaero, Ural Airlines, and Sibir (S7) fly from Moscow to Yerevan.
There are several morning, afternoon and evening flights departing every day, so there won’t be any problems when choosing the time and day of departure.
The distance from Yerevan airport to Tsaghkadzor is 70 km. approximate cost transfer airport-Tsakhkadzor - 1500 rubles per car (4 people)
General information about Armenia
Language: Armenian, but the vast majority speak Russian.
Visa: For citizens of the Russian Federation and most citizens of the CIS, a visa is not required, only a valid foreign passport is required.
Arrival: to Zvartnots International Airport, located 10 km from the center of Yerevan and 70 km from the resort of Tsaghkadzor
Directions: From international airport“Zvartnots” resort can be reached:
. order a transfer (when booking a room)
. by bus: get to the Northern bus station in Yerevan, where you change to a minibus going to the city of Tsaghkadzor
. by taxi
Time: coincides with Moscow
Currency unit: (ADM) dram. Exchange rate 1000 drams ~ 140 rubles (as of 2016)
Additional Information You can see about the resort on the Tsakhkadzor information website www.tsakhkadzor.am