Things to do in Tsaghkadzor

Tsaghkadzor is a ski town an hour from Yerevan. The name means valley of flowers, which is a summer name for a winter place. The lifts run from December to March.

The mountain

The ropeway climbs Mount Teghenis in stages. The top station sits near 2,800 metres. Runs are wide, mostly blue and red, and short by Alpine standards.

• Lessons. Beginner ski and snowboard instruction is the bulk of what is sold here.
• Rental. Skis, boards and full kit are hired in the town rather than on the mountain.
• Crowds. Weekends fill with day-trippers from the capital, and weekdays stay quiet.

The town

Kecharis is why the town existed before the lifts did. The monastery dates from the eleventh century and stands in the middle of the resort. It is a short walk from the base station.

• The Olympic base. Built for altitude training before the 1968 Games and still used by athletes.
• The valley. Orchards and walnut trees below the town, which is where the name comes from.
• Scale. One main street with the hotels along it, walkable end to end in fifteen minutes.

Out of season

The ropeway also runs in summer, for the view rather than the sport. Lake Sevan is half an hour away over the ridge. Warm-weather visits usually pair the two.

Practical

• Getting there. About fifty kilometres from Yerevan, an hour by road. Most bookings include the transfer.
• Snow. January and February are the reliable months. December and March depend on the year.
• Kit. Rental is cheap by European standards, and sizes run out at weekends.
• Altitude. The base is already above 1,800 metres, so give the first day some slack.
• Food. Restaurants sit in the town, not on the slopes. Plan lunch around the descent.