Tsaghkadzor.
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Overview

Tsaghkadzor is a city in Central Armenia. Tsaghkadzor is known for being a ski resort, with forests and an ancient monastery.

Understand

In the summer, people come here to get away from the city life of Yerevan, and the heat, for the fresh air in the mountains. In the winter, the town is completely overtaken by skiers and people who just want to relax and enjoy the snow and scenery.

Get in

It can be a little tricky to get into town with public transport, with the usual method forcing you to stop first in Hrazdan town and catch something from there. The tourist information office at 3 Nalbandyan might have information on direct transport, and there are always taxis, which are not too expensive, especially when shared.

Get around

Car, foot, snowmobile, bicycle, relatively cheap taxi (taxi from center to ropeway is approximately 300 AMD).

See

Kecharis Monastery. Beautiful monastery that has been restored. It is now a working church again, with the smells, sounds and music that goes with it.

Makravank Monastery. This involves either hiking over the ridge south of town, or driving around back to Hrazdan and over to Makravan Village. Quaint little old village monastery.

Do

Ski. Once used as a training ground for Soviet skiers, the lifts have been completely replaced with western equipment, and new runs have been developed as well. There are basically three levels of lifts. The first one is near the parking lot (and it's the single one working off-season), where you will also find a cafe and food. The 4-seat lift is only open during high season. The 2-seat lift is open all year. Both lifts take you to the bigger staging area. From here there are two lifts you can choose, or you can hang out in the cafe/food joint on this level (only open during high season), which can get quite smoky. The first lift you see will take you further up the mountain, and gives you a couple of good run options, or allows you to take a third lift to the very top. Otherwise, you can go a little past the first lift (below it) and take another lift which goes to the newest skiing areas. All seats can be paid for by-the-ride, which is very cheap, or by the day if you plan to do a lot of skiing. Skis can be rented in the parking lot, or at the second level under the cafe/restaurant, but quality varies widely, and the better ones may be gone by mid morning. Getting skis from a hotel may be a better option.

Snow Tubing. Snow tubing is available for 2500 AMD for 15 minutes or 3500 for 30 minutes. It is at the first level up on the Ropeway. They even have a little rope engine to pull you and your tube back to the top at the end of the run, so you basically just get to sit on your tube without having to hike back up.

Tsaghkadzor City Park. Nice park with a switchback walking trail up the mountain to Panorama Restaurant. Trail appears to be brick and is maintained in the winter so you walk on it easily.

Eat

DoMik Tsaghkadzor. Artsy restaurant/bar near center of town. They have a nice "child room" where a lady will play with your little children while adults eat and drink.

Sleep

Kecharis Hotel and Resort. Entertainment: Disco club (Friday, Saturday, Sunday), sauna, bowling and billiard, sport equipment rental. Facilities: conference hall (60-100 people), business center, Internet, taxi service.

Alpina Tsaghkadzor Hotel. Amenities include hot and cold water, balcony, kitchen, bathroom

Multi Rest House. Entertainment: pool, playground, sauna, restaurant, billiards, bar, cinema. Catering: FB meal – 7,000 dram.

Nairi Rest House. Hot, cold water, TV set in all rooms, refrigerator. Entertainment: table tennis, billiard. Discounts for groups are offered. Payment: cash & transfer. Cold water. Hot water in public bathrooms only, TV & video in the lobby.

Tsaghkadzor General Sport Complex Hotel. As of March 2024, it does not appear that hotel is accepting bookings. Entertainment: tennis, billiard, sauna and swimming pool, tennis court, restaurant (up to 400 pax), wrestling hall, weightlifting hall, boxing hall, athletics hall, indoor games hall, stadiums, playground, parking site, ski track. Discounts: children under 3 free of charge, children under 10 5,000 dram, third person in the room 10,000 dram. Total number of beds: 300, Other services: sledge rental, ski storage. Free of charge transfer of sportsmen.

Writers' House. Quality control is realized according to ISO-9002 system. Food (buffet and restaurant), excursions, transport services.

Nur hotel. Nur [nu:r] Hotel is a small hotel in Tsaghkadzor that is comfortable, secure and of high quality. The hotel features 10 rooms which include quality 5 standard rooms, 4 suites and 1 family suite. There are also a bar-cafeteria, where breakfast, lunch and dinner are served, a multi-functional hall for entertainment and organization of events, a sauna-Jacuzzi complex, a garage accommodating up to 3 sedans.

Tsaghkahovit Hotel. “Tsaghkahovit” hotel is on the slope of the Mountain Teghenis, on the bank of Tandzakhbyur River. The hotel’s location gives an opportunity to visit the centre of Tsaghkadzor and to use the ropeway. The distance from the hotel to the ropeway is 0.5 km and to Kecharis monastic complex 0.6 km. The hotel has wonderful territory for out of doors walk. Cars can be parked in the broad yard.

Hotel Russia. Large hotel with conference center and indoor atrium. Heated indoor saltwater pool, play area for kids, and other amenities. Good business-class quality rooms and service.