Tsaghkadzor & Lake Sevan Tour: Ropeway, Monasteries, Trout
Ride the ropeway over Tsaghkadzor's Valley of Flowers, then eat fresh trout at the lake.
This 7–8 hour group tour from Yerevan visits Tsaghkadzor, Kecharis monastery, Lake Sevan and Sevanavank monastery on the peninsula, with a cable car ride, monastery entry, lakeshore time and a trout barbecue included. The guide speaks English and Russian consecutively. Hotel pickup is not included. You'll meet the group at the starting point in Yerevan. Sevanavank requires climbing 200 steps to reach the churches.
Step-by-step itinerary
Explore Tsaghkadzor and Lake Sevan
- Start tour from Yerevan
- Visit Tsaghkadzor city
- Ride Tsaghkadzor cable car
- Explore Kecharis monastery
- Visit Sevanavank monastery
- Relax and swim at Lake Sevan
- Enjoy Sevan trout barbecue
- Return to starting point
What’s included
- Air-conditioned vehicle with WiFi and bottled water.
- admission tickets to Tsaghkadzor ropeway (one station), Kecharis and Sevanavank monasteries.
- professional English and Russian-speaking guide.
- pastries.
- vehicle and passenger insurance.
- and a trout barbecue meal at the end of the day.
Times
- Every day except Wednesday and Saturday 10:00
Before you book
Operated by Hyur Service
Prices and times updated 2 days ago
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The experience
Seven to eight hours takes you north from Yerevan into the Kotayk region, 60 km away, where Tsaghkadzor sits in a valley surrounded by alpine meadows and pine forest on the eastern slope of Teghenis Mountain. The cable car ride is the first stop. You ascend to see the whole landscape unfold below, which is why Tsaghkadzor earned its name: Valley of Flowers. The air-conditioned vehicle and professional guide (English and Russian) carry you through the day, with bottled water and pastries on board.
Kecharis monastery complex comes next, built between the 11th and 13th centuries in the northwestern part of Tsaghkadzor. Four churches and a half-destroyed mausoleum of Grigorius Pahlavuni, who financed the construction, stand there. Then the route turns toward Lake Sevan, one of the world's largest high-altitude freshwater lakes at 1,900 meters above sea level and surrounded by mountains that rise to 3,000 meters and higher. The water is volcanic in origin and the landscape draws people back year after year.
Sevanavank monastery sits on the peninsula jutting into the lake, built in 874 by order of Princess Mariam. The churches stand against the turquoise water and sky. The silhouette is what visitors remember. Reaching the complex means climbing 200 steps. Once there, you have time to rest on the lakeshore and, during summer, to swim if you want. The tour ends with a trout barbecue, the lake's signature dish, cooked fresh and served before the drive back to Yerevan.
Is this one for you?The tour runs 7 to 8 hours with one 200-step climb at Sevanavank and lakeshore time built in, so you see four distinct sites without rushing between them: the ropeway, two monastery complexes and the lake itself all fit into a single day from Yerevan.
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Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English and Russian.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 7 years); Infant (under 3): free.
What is Kecharis monastery and when was it built?
Kecharis monastery is a complex in northwestern Tsaghkadzor built between the 11th and 13th centuries, consisting of four churches and a half-destroyed mausoleum of Grigorius Pahlavuni, who financed its construction.
Can I swim in Lake Sevan on this tour?
Lakeshore rest and swimming are included during the summer season. The tour includes time to use the water if conditions allow.
How high is Lake Sevan above sea level?
Lake Sevan sits at approximately 1,900 meters above sea level and is surrounded by mountains rising to 3,000 meters and higher, making it one of the world's greatest high-altitude freshwater lakes.
Is hotel pickup included in this tour?
Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You meet the group at the starting point in Yerevan.
What should I know about visiting Sevanavank monastery?
Sevanavank monastery requires climbing 200 steps to reach the churches on the peninsula. Wear comfortable shoes and bring sunscreen, especially in summer.
Tsaghkadzor & Lake Sevan Tour: Ropeway, Monasteries, Trout
7h–8h · EN +1
from US$ 35 per person
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