A six-day, point-to-point self-guided trek across the Greater Caucasus in northeastern Armenia, linking the highland village of Hovk to the shores of Lake Sevan, via Haghartsin Monastery, Dilijan, Gosh, and Semyonovka. Expect forested ridgelines, medieval monasteries, alpine lakes, and highland pastures, with a built-in rest day to explore Dilijan’s monasteries and old town. This is a self-guided trip: you follow the provided route notes and GPS tracks at your own pace, arranging village guesthouses and meals locally as you go.
Overview
A six-day, point-to-point self-guided trek across the Greater Caucasus in northeastern Armenia, linking the highland village of Hovk to the shores of Lake Sevan, via Haghartsin Monastery, Dilijan, Gosh, and Semyonovka. Expect forested ridgelines, medieval monasteries, alpine lakes, and highland pastures, with a built-in rest day to explore Dilijan’s monasteries and old town.
Highlights
- Cross the Ijevan mountain range and summit Mount Dimats (2,393m) above the Haghartsin valley
- Visit the 13th-century Haghartsin Monastery and the medieval Matosavank and Jukhtak Vank monasteries near Dilijan
- Walk through the root-heaved "Drunken Forest" and stop at picturesque Parz Lake en route to Gosh
- Cross Gosh Lake and pass the remote Chermakavan Monastery ruins on the trek's longest, highest-climbing day
- Finish with a ridge walk over Dream Peak above Lake Sevan, ending at the Sevan Botanical Garden
6-Day Itinerary
A day-by-day breakdown of the route from Hovk to Sevan, including daily distance, elevation change, and terrain notes. This is a self-guided trip: follow the route notes and GPS tracks provided after booking.
Distance: 25.3 km | Elevation change: +1,497 m / −1,554 m
The trek begins in Hovk village and climbs onto the Ijevan mountain range, summiting Mount Dimats (2,393 m) with sweeping views over the Tavush forests. The route then descends through mixed beech forest to a secluded mountain waterfall — the day's only water refill point — before continuing to the 13th-century Haghartsin Monastery. A short transfer brings you into Dilijan town for the night.
Safety note: This is the longest and most demanding day of the trek (25.3 km, +1,497 m), with an exposed summit and no resupply between the trailhead and the monastery — check the weather forecast before setting out, as conditions above 2,000 m can change quickly, and take care on the descent if it's wet. Overnight in Dilijan (arranged and paid locally).
Distance: 19 km | Elevation change: +740 m / −930 m (net −194 m)
Today's stage retraces into the forest southwest of Haghartsin and enters Dilijan National Park, climbing through dense oak and hornbeam woodland to a mid-ridge high point around 2,166 m before a long, sustained descent. Note the last mobile coverage point before the trail enters deep forest, and use GPS or a map at unmarked junctions. A waterfall along the way offers a water refill.
Safety note: The trail climbs to 2,166 m in the first half of the day, so pace yourself, and navigation in the dense forest requires care — carry GPS or a detailed map. Overnight in Dilijan (arranged and paid locally).
Distance: 3.5 km | Elevation change: minimal (gentle forest loop)
A rest day built into the trek. A short, gentle forest loop from Dilijan visits the medieval Matosavank Monastery and the moss-covered, partially ruined Jukhtak Vank Monastery, before returning to town. Spend the afternoon at leisure — Dilijan's museums, galleries, artisan workshops, and cafes are all easily walkable, or use the time to dry gear and review tomorrow's route.
Safety note: Minimal technical risk today, but it's a mandatory recovery day — confirm your Gosh guesthouse booking and luggage transfer before the day is out. Overnight in Dilijan (arranged and paid locally).
Distance: 21.6 km | Elevation change: net −179 m (undulating, via Parz Lake)
Leaving Dilijan, the trail winds through the root-heaved "Drunken Forest" — trekking poles help with footing — before opening onto meadow that can be waterlogged after rain (gaiters recommended). Parz Lake (1,334 m) makes an idyllic midday rest and lunch stop and is the day's main water refill point. From there the route continues northeast toward the Gosh valley, descending to the village of Gosh, where the 12th–13th-century Goshavank Monastery is well worth a visit before the night's guesthouse.
Safety note: Early sections can be waterlogged, and off-trail sections are sometimes used alongside the main path — follow the marked route where possible. Confirm your Gosh guesthouse contact the evening before. Overnight in Gosh (arranged and paid locally).
Distance: 25.5 km | Elevation change: +1,379 m / −98 m (high point ~2,212 m)
The longest and highest-climbing day of the trek. Start early from Gosh and carry a full day's water, as there's no confirmed resupply before Semyonovka. The route climbs through mountain meadow to Gosh Lake, then above the treeline into fully exposed terrain, passing the remote, unguarded ruins of Chermakavan Monastery. From the high point (~2,212 m) there are panoramic views in every direction before the descent into Semyonovka.
Safety note: This is the joint-longest day and the highest net elevation gain of the trek, fully exposed above Gosh Lake with no shelter — check the weather rigorously and do not continue in lightning, heavy rain, or reduced visibility. Overnight in Semyonovka (arranged and paid locally).
Distance: 8 km | Elevation change: moderate ridge ascent and descent (begins and ends near Lake Sevan, ~1,900 m)
The final, shortest day follows an open lakeside trail from Mashtotsner Chapel, with strong winds off Lake Sevan common — pack a wind layer. The trail climbs to Dream Peak, a 360° viewpoint over the lake and surrounding highlands, before descending back to the lakeside and on to the Sevan Botanical Garden, where the trek concludes.
Safety note: The lakeside trail is fully exposed with strong winds common, and accumulated fatigue from the five preceding days remains a factor — pace conservatively. Trip ends at the Sevan Botanical Garden.
What's Included & Excluded
Cost Includes
- Full self-guided route notes, day-by-day directions, and GPS track files
- Pre-trip planning support and trip briefing from Transcaucasian Trail Tours
- Access to your itinerary and safety notes for all 6 days
Cost Excludes
- MANDATORY — Village guesthouses & meals: approx. 97,000 AMD (~$265 USD) per person, paid in cash directly to village hosts as you trek. This is required to participate and is not paid on this website.
- OPTIONAL — Logistics package (daily luggage transfer plus transportation Yerevan–Hovk and Semyonovka/Sevan–Yerevan): a flat 113,500 AMD (~$310 USD) per group of up to 5 people, paid in cash to local drivers. Not charged unless you request it.
- OPTIONAL — Local guide: 43,200 AMD (~$118 USD) per day per group of up to 5 people, paid in cash to the guide. Choose which of the 6 trekking days you'd like guided; guiding all 6 days totals 259,200 AMD (~$708 USD) per group. Not charged unless you request it.
- Transportation to Hovk and from Sevan (unless you book the optional logistics package above)
- Travel insurance
- International and domestic flights
- Personal trekking gear and equipment
- Tips and gratuities
Frequently Asked Questions
Booking as a larger group lowers the per-person price for this trek. For example, a solo traveler pays $499, while a group of 5 pays $189 per person. Prices are shown per group size in the Date & Price section above.
Yes — this trek is priced and organized for groups of up to 5 people per booking. If you have a larger group, please contact us before booking so we can arrange multiple bookings for your party.
After you book, email us at [email protected] with your trip dates and let us know which optional add-ons you'd like — the logistics package (luggage transfer and transportation) and/or a local guide, including which of the 6 trekking days you'd like guided. We'll confirm the details with you; these add-ons are paid in cash locally as described in the Cost Excludes section above.
Once your booking is confirmed, we'll email you the full route notes, day-by-day directions, and GPS track files for all 6 days, along with your trip briefing and any other pre-trip planning information you need.
The mandatory village guesthouse costs, and any optional logistics package or local guide you add, are paid in Armenian Dram (AMD) in cash directly to your hosts, driver, or guide during the trek — not on this website.
