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Kotayk Province, Armenia
Tsaghkadzor Tour from Yerevan
An hour north of the capital, a chairlift climbs out of pine forest to 2,819 m and a thousand year old monastery stands in the middle of town. Part of the private Armenia itineraries built by Travel Door, with a licensed guide and our own driver.
- Tsaghkadzor ropeway up Mount Teghenis
- Kecharis Monastery, founded in 1013
- Lake Sevan and Sevanavank in the same day
- A summer plan and a winter plan, both below
Last updated November 2026.
58 km
From Yerevan
About one hour by road
1,841 m
Town altitude
Cool even in July
2,819 m
Top of the ropeway
On Mount Teghenis
1013
Kecharis founded
By Grigor Pahlavuni
The short answer
What is a Tsaghkadzor tour?
A Tsaghkadzor tour is a day trip from Yerevan to Armenia’s main mountain resort, 58 km to the north. You ride the Tsaghkadzor ropeway up Mount Teghenis, visit Kecharis Monastery in the town centre, and most routes continue to Lake Sevan and Sevanavank. The town alone takes about 5 hours. With Lake Sevan it is 6 to 8.
Good fit if you
want mountains without a long drive, are travelling with children, or need an easy first day in Armenia.
want mountains without a long drive, are travelling with children, or need an easy first day in Armenia.
Quick answers
Tsaghkadzor at a glance
| What is it famous for? | Skiing in winter, the ropeway, forest air in summer and Kecharis Monastery |
|---|---|
| How far from Yerevan? | About 58 km north-east, roughly one hour by road |
| How high is it? | The town is at 1,841 m. The ropeway tops out at 2,819 m |
| How do you say it? | Tsakh-ka-DZOR. Also spelled Tsakhkadzor. It means valley of flowers |
| Which country? | Armenia, in Kotayk Province, 5 km from the town of Hrazdan |
| Ski season | Mid-December to March, with the top slopes sometimes open into April |
| Booking type | Private, quoted for your group, no fixed departure |
Four ways to do it
Tsaghkadzor tour options and timings
Choose by how much of the day you want in the mountains and whether the lake matters to you.
| Route | Time | What it covers | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tsaghkadzor only | About 5 hrs | Ropeway, Kecharis, time in the town | A half day, families |
| Tsaghkadzor and Lake Sevan | 6 to 8 hrs | Ropeway, Kecharis, Lake Sevan, Sevanavank | A first visit |
| Winter snow day | 5 to 7 hrs | Ropeway, snow time or skiing, Kecharis | December to March |
| With Dilijan | 9 to 10 hrs | Tsaghkadzor, Lake Sevan, Dilijan forest town | A full day north |
On the day
What a Tsaghkadzor tour covers
01 · Ride
Tsaghkadzor Ropeway
Open chairlifts from 1,966 m to 2,819 m on Mount Teghenis.
02 · Visit
Kecharis Monastery
Four churches from the 11th to 13th centuries, in the town centre.
03 · View
Teghenis viewpoints
On a clear day you can pick out Mount Ararat and Lake Sevan.
04 · Stroll
The resort town
Cafes, pine forest paths and the Orbeli Brothers House-Museum.
05 · Lunch
Lake Sevan
A high mountain lake at about 1,900 m, with trout on every menu.
06 · Climb
Sevanavank
Two churches from 874 on a peninsula that used to be an island.
The main event
Tsaghkadzor ropeway: what to expect
The ropeway is a chain of open chairlifts on the eastern slope of Mount Teghenis. You change chairs at each stage, so you can stop halfway or ride to the top. Armenia’s official tourism site lists the resort under Tsaghkadzor ski resort.
- Base station at 1,966 m, top station at 2,819 m
- About 30 to 40 minutes to the top, with the changes
- Modern Leitner chairlifts, fitted between 2004 and 2008
- Runs all year, usually from 10:00 to 17:30
- Stops in strong wind or poor visibility
Four stations or five?
Listings disagree, because lifts were added over the years. What matters on the day is simple: several stages, one after the other, and you choose how high to go.
Listings disagree, because lifts were added over the years. What matters on the day is simple: several stages, one after the other, and you choose how high to go.
Not a skier?
Most of our guests are not. The ride, the view and a hot drink at a station cafe are the visit.
Most of our guests are not. The ride, the view and a hot drink at a station cafe are the visit.
The day in metres
How high does a Tsaghkadzor tour go?
You start in Yerevan at about 1,000 m and gain nearly two kilometres of height by late morning. That is why the top of the ropeway is cold in August and why a jacket belongs in your bag.
- The town is noticeably cooler than Yerevan
- Colder again, and windy, on the open chairs
- Sunscreen matters at this height, summer and winter
In the town centre
Kecharis Monastery
Kecharis stands in the centre of town. Prince Grigor Magistros Pahlavuni built the main church here in 1013 and is buried beside it. His family also held Amberd fortress on Mount Aragats.
- St Gregory, the main church, 1013
- Surp Nshan, 11th century, and Surp Harutyun, 1220
- Katoghike, added in the early 13th century
- Domes broken by the 1927 earthquake, restored by 2000
A correction worth making
Some booking sites call Kecharis a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is not on the list. It does not need to be to deserve half an hour.
Some booking sites call Kecharis a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is not on the list. It does not need to be to deserve half an hour.
Summer or winter
A Tsaghkadzor day, hour by hour
The ropeway opens at 10:00, so in summer we see Kecharis first. In winter we go up first, while the morning is clear. Times are a guide and we shift them for you.
May to October
The summer day
Green slopes, long light, lunch by the lake.
- 09:00 Leave Yerevan
- 10:00 Kecharis Monastery (45 min)
- 11:00 Ropeway up Teghenis (1.5 hrs)
- 12:45 Drive to Lake Sevan (40 min)
- 13:30 Trout lunch on the shore (1 hr)
- 14:45 Sevanavank and the view (1 hr)
- 17:00 Back in Yerevan
December to March
The winter day
Snow, short light, warm food in town.
- 09:00 Leave Yerevan
- 10:15 Ropeway and snow time (2 hrs)
- 12:30 Kecharis under snow (40 min)
- 13:15 Hot lunch in Tsaghkadzor (1 hr)
- 14:30 Lake Sevan, if the road is clear
- 15:15 Sevanavank, short stop
- 17:00 Back in Yerevan before dark
From the lift line to the lake: the same day, three views.
The second half of the day
Lake Sevan and Sevanavank
Lake Sevan is about 40 minutes on from Tsaghkadzor. Sevanavank was founded in 874 by Princess Mariam, on what was then an island. If the lake is your main reason to come, our Lake Sevan and Dilijan day trip gives it more time.
- Around 200 steps up to the monastery
- Windy on the peninsula, even in summer
- Sevan trout for lunch on the shore
Group or private
How you travel, and how many of you
Most people choose this
Private tour from Yerevan
Your own guide and driver, your own pace.
- Hotel pick-up, usually 09:00
- Stay longer on the mountain if you like it
- No waiting for other passengers
For your own people
Group tour, your group only
Family, friends or colleagues in one booking.
- One quote for everyone
- A larger vehicle when needed
- Same route, same guide
Group size
The right vehicle
The number of travellers decides the car.
- 1 to 3: a comfortable sedan
- 4 to 7: a minivan
- 8 or more: a minibus
How can I get to Tsaghkadzor from Yerevan on my own?
A taxi or hired car takes about an hour. Public transport usually means a minibus to Hrazdan and a short taxi from there, which is slow with children or ski bags. A private tour adds the guide, the lake and the door to door ride.
A taxi or hired car takes about an hour. Public transport usually means a minibus to Hrazdan and a short taxi from there, which is slow with children or ski bags. A private tour adds the guide, the lake and the door to door ride.
Know before you go
What to bring
- A jacket or windbreaker, in every season
- Shoes with grip for snow, steps and gravel
- Sunglasses and sunscreen
- Cash in dram for the ropeway and cafes
- Gloves and a hat from November to April
Honest notes
- The chairs are open, so they feel colder than the forecast
- Wind can close the upper stages with no warning
- Sevanavank has steps and no ramp
- Winter weekends are busy, weekdays are calm
Tsaghkadzor is a small, quiet resort town and is considered safe for families and solo travellers.
What is included
Included in your quote
- Licensed local guide
- Private vehicle, driver and fuel
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off in Yerevan
Usually paid on the day
- Ropeway ticket
- Lunch and drinks
- Ski or sledge rental in winter
- Tips for your guide and driver
Your quote
What shapes your Tsaghkadzor tour quote
Every Tsaghkadzor tour is quoted for your group. Five things move it.
1
Group size
Sets the vehicle.
2
Route
Town only, with Sevan, or with Dilijan.
3
Season
Winter days need more time.
4
Guide language
Tell us what you need.
5
Dates
Ski weekends fill first.
Keep going
Pair Tsaghkadzor with another day
Tsaghkadzor is the shortest drive of our Armenia days, so it sits well between two longer ones.
- Garni and Geghard: a Roman temple and a monastery cut into rock
- Khor Virap and Noravank: Ararat views and a red canyon
- Jermuk tour from Yerevan: a spa town with its own ropeway
- Gyumri City Tour: black and red tuff streets
- Echmiadzin and Zvartnots: the mother cathedral
- Tatev Monastery: the long cable car in the south
- Debed Canyon: Haghpat and Sanahin
- Yerevan city tour: an easy day in the capital
Questions
Tsaghkadzor tour questions answered
Tsaghkadzor is Armenia’s main ski and mountain resort. It is known for its ropeway on Mount Teghenis, its pine forest air in summer and the medieval Kecharis Monastery in the town centre.
About 58 km to the north-east. The drive takes roughly one hour.
The town sits at 1,841 m. The ropeway starts at 1,966 m and reaches 2,819 m on Mount Teghenis.
Say tsakh-ka-DZOR, with the stress on the last part. It is also spelled Tsakhkadzor and means valley of flowers.
By private car or taxi in about an hour, or by minibus to Hrazdan and a short taxi. A private tour includes the transport, a guide and usually Lake Sevan.
About 5 hours for the town alone, and 6 to 8 hours with Lake Sevan and Sevanavank.
Yes. It runs all year, usually from 10:00 to 17:30, and stops only for wind, poor visibility or maintenance. We check on the morning of your tour.
Yes. Most visitors ride for the view. You sit on an open chair, change at each stage and come down the same way.
Mid-December to March, with the highest slopes sometimes open into April.
Yes. It is noticeably cooler than Yerevan, green, and quieter than in ski season.
Yes. It is a small resort town used to families and visitors. Dress warmly and take care on icy paths in winter.
Yes, and most people do. The lake is about 40 minutes from Tsaghkadzor, so both fit in one day.
Yes. The drive is short and the walking is light. The steps at Sevanavank are the only hard part and can be skipped.
Tell us the language you need and we match a guide to it.
Find us in Tbilisi
Ready when you are
See Tsaghkadzor with Travel Door
Tell us your dates, your group size and whether you want summer slopes or snow. We reply with a plan and a quote.
- A destination management company for the Caucasus
- Licensed guides and our own drivers
- A quote built for your group, not a fixed package
