Tsaghkadzor, Kecharis and the Ropeway

Tsaghkadzor is the mountain resort of Armenia, a green forested town about an hour north of Yerevan, known for skiing in winter and cool walks in summer. Its best sights are the Kecharis Monastery, a complex of medieval churches and chapels with carved stone crosses set among tall trees, and the ropeway that rises over the pine slopes of Mount Teghenis to a high viewpoint. On a clear day the top gives wide views across the valley, and in some conditions Mount Ararat can be seen far to the south. The tour on our link is a best-selling group day trip that combines Kecharis and the ropeway with Lake Sevan and a trout barbecue, so the day mixes heritage, scenery and a long lunch. It is easy to enjoy in any season, because the ropeway and the monastery both make sense in snow, in autumn colour or on a bright summer day. Because the town was a training base for athletes in the Soviet period, you also find sports facilities and a resort feel that is quite different from Yerevan.

The ropeway is the practical highlight. It climbs in several stages up the mountain and the full ride takes around half an hour, with stations that have simple cafes along the route. The chairs are open to the air, so the weather matters: it is colder and windier at the top, and conditions can change quickly.

Dress warmly even in summer, wear non-slip shoes and take sunglasses for snow glare in winter. In ski season the lower slopes are busy with skiers and snowboarders, and in summer the same slopes are good for walking and views, so the ropeway works as a sightseeing ride for non-skiers.

Kecharis Monastery is a calm counterpoint. The medieval churches sit within a walled enclosure, and the khachkars, the carved cross-stones, are especially fine. Visitors usually spend half an hour to an hour, enough to look inside the main church and wander among the stones. Dress modestly and bring a scarf or light cover. The forested setting makes it pleasant in every season, with snow in winter and dappled shade in summer, and it is a short drive from the town centre where the tour usually has a lunch or snack.

Combine it sensibly. The tour on our link pairs Tsaghkadzor with Lake Sevan, and that makes for a seven to eight hour day, so it is best as a single excursion rather than stacked with another. If you want Dilijan instead of the ropeway, look at our Lake Sevan and Dilijan entry.

Winter is the best time for skiing and snow scenes, spring is quieter, and autumn colours are excellent. Ask the operator whether the ropeway is running if you travel in the shoulder seasons, since seasonal maintenance and weather can affect operation, and keep your plans flexible in strong wind.