A monastery under snow in the Armenian highlands

Winter

Winter in Armenia

Five days of snow, monasteries without crowds, and long lunches — skiing at Tsaghkadzor and the country at its quietest.

5 days / 4 nights3★/4★, one night at the ski resortSmall group or privateEasy

Length

5 days

Route

4 regions

Stay

3★/4★, one night at the ski resort

Season

Late December to March.

The route

YerevanTsaghkadzorSevanGarni & Geghard

Highlights

  • Skiing at Tsaghkadzor, with a gondola to 2,819 metres
  • Geghard and Garni under snow, and very nearly empty
  • Lake Sevan frozen at the edges, with the light doing extraordinary things
  • Yerevan in winter: wine bars, jazz cellars and no queues

Who this suitsTravellers who would rather have Geghard to themselves at minus five than share it at plus thirty-five.

Please noteArmenian winters vary and we will not pretend otherwise. If the snow has not come we will say so before you pay a deposit and suggest moving your dates.

Day by day

Day1

Yerevan

Arrival and a city afternoon — the Matenadaran, the Cascade, and the brandy cellars, which are exactly the right thing to do in January.

YerevanDinner
Day2

Garni and Geghard in the snow

The Azat valley in winter. Geghard's rock-cut chapels are cold all year, so in February they feel entirely natural — and you may well have them to yourself. Lavash baking, which is warm work.

YerevanBreakfast, lunch
Day3

To Tsaghkadzor

An hour north-east to the resort. Kecharis Monastery in the morning, then the mountain: gondola in four stages to 2,819 metres and 850 metres of vertical. Ski, board, or ride up for the view over Sevan.

TsaghkadzorBreakfast, dinner
Day4

A second mountain day, or Sevan

Either another day on the slopes, or down to Lake Sevan — frozen at the margins, empty, and quite unlike its summer self. Sevanavank with snow on the tuff is worth the cold.

YerevanBreakfast
Day5

Yerevan and home

A free morning, Vernissage if it is the weekend, and a transfer to the airport.

Departure dayBreakfast

What is included

In the price

  • Four nights with breakfast, including one at the ski resort
  • All transport with winter tyres
  • Licensed guide
  • Assistance with ski hire and lift passes
  • Meals as listed
  • Airport transfers

Not included

  • International flights
  • Lift passes and ski hire
  • Entrance fees
  • Meals not listed
  • Insurance
  • Tips

Practical details

Price
From €545 per person on twin share.
Single supplement
€139 for the whole trip, if you would like a room to yourself.
Group size
Small group or private. Every package also runs privately for your party alone.
When it runs
Late December to March.
Deposit
Multi-day journeys need a 20% deposit; the balance is due on arrival in Yerevan.
Cancellation
Free up to 14 days before departure. After that the deposit is retained. If we cancel, you get everything back.
Payment methods
Cash (AMD, USD, EUR, RUB), Visa, Mastercard, Mir, bank transfer, Idram and Telcell.

Route map

Every stop on the journey, in order. Distances are indicative, not a driving route.

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