5 Best Places in Armenia to Go Hiking in the Fall

Fall is the most colorful season, which makes it the best for hiking. Hot summer weather is gone, leaves change their colors and create a beautiful palette of all the autumn shades. Fall in Armenia is not too rainy and cold. This means that you can enjoy your best fall hikes in Armenia without any worries. In different parts of the country you will see different autumn landscapes, and all of them are uniquely beautiful. 

Here are 5 best fall hikes in Armenia

Hike from lake Parz to Gosh village

Situated in Dilijan National Park, this hiking destination is a great way to explore Armenian autumn. Tavush province is full of unique forests and lakes, which look even more beautiful during fall season. The road goes through thick forest and leads to magnificent lake Parz, from where the hiking trail starts. Hike from lake Parz to village Gosh is very easy and doesn’t require much hiking experience. Beautiful views will meet you on every step of your hike, it will feel like you are looking at a canvas with an artwork. From the lake Parz the trail leads to Gosh village, where Goshavank monastery is situated. It is a medieval monastery complex named after Armenian historian Mkhitar Gosh. Here you will learn more about the history of Armenia. This is one of the most popular and best fall hikes in Armenia, and once you’re here, you’ll understand why.

Mount Apakekar

Mount Apakekar is situated in Tavush province between villages Haghartsin and Hovk. This majestic mountain is not very famous among mountain climbers, but it is totally worth visiting. The difficulty level of this mountain hike is moderate, but even people with little experience will be able to do it. From the village Hovk opens up a beautiful view to mount Apakekar. On top of the mountain you will witness an extraordinary view to Dilijan town, which is especially beautiful in fall.

Apakekar, just like lake Parz, is located in Dilijan National Park. This national park is a home to many rare plants and trees.

Mount Ara

Mount Ara is located in the south-eastern part of mountain Aragats, between the rivers Qasagh and Hrazdan. It is an extinct volcano, named after Armenian king Ara the Beautiful. According to the legend, he was killed on the slopes of this mountain.

This hike is a bit more difficult than hike to Apakekar, but with a little more persistence you can handle it. From mount Ara opens up a breathtaking view to the mountains Aragats and Ararat. Beautiful autumn colors give these views even more uniqueness and make them look like pieces of art.

On the slopes of the mountain there is a Tsaghkevank monastery, which also has an interesting story. It is connected to Saint Varvara, who was hiding there in the caves from her father. He wanted to punish her for adopting Christianity.

Mount Ara with its unique story and beautiful landscapes will become one of your favorite and unforgettable fall hikes in Armenia.

Syunik province

One of the best fall hikes in Armenia can be hiking in Syunik province.  It is a great idea, if you want to feel the spirit of ancient Armenia and its people. With a mild fall weather, there are many great and easy hiking destinations that you can choose from. 

For example, hike to Vorotan gorge where you will see abandoned villages with houses that are carved out of the rock. Old Khot is one of these abandoned villages. Due to its 2-1st century BC burial grounds, archeologists are very interested in Old Khot. 

One more very popular hiking destination in Syunik province is Old Khndzoresk – a village, where you will see cave houses in which people lived until 1970s. At the beginning of XX century the population of Old Khndzoresk was reaching 8000 people. In Old Khndzoresk you also will see the very famous 160-meter long suspension bridge.

The way to Syunik province is quite long, but there are many things to explore here. So plan your trip for at least two days to manage to see all of the beautiful sights of this region.

Lastiver

Lastiver is a fairy place in Tavush region. Once you’re here, you will feel like you are in some other world. Hike through Lastiver is very easy and popular among tourists and armenians, too. It is a perfect escape for all of the nature lovers. Here, you will be surrounded by trees and plants, small rivers, cold water springs, waterfalls, gorges and caves, where ancient Armenians used to live. The main cave of Lastiver is located on a very steep slope. Here, on the walls you can find many interesting bas-reliefs, which will take you back in time. 

Many hikers spend a night in this cave as a part of their adventure. It is important to give yourself a break from all of the technologies and bustle of the city. Spending a day in fantastic Lastiver will be a perfect option for it. Any time of the year you will find many interesting things to do and explore here, which makes it one of the most exciting fall hikes in Armenia.

The nature of each season has its unique features. If you explore the same place in different seasons the experience will not be the same. In each time of the year you will discover new things that you didn’t notice before. The uniqueness of fall is in its unbelievably beautiful colors. They give new life even to those landscapes that may seem boring from the first sight. Autumn in Armenia is really worth seeing. 

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