Even if one does not ski or is not interested in mountaineering, one can still conquer the peaks. "Hyur Service" invites all to Tsaghkadzor ropeway: you will rise to 2819 m above sea level, and in case weather is good, you will be able to view Mount Ararat and Lake Sevan from afar.
We will speak more about the lifts, the resort itself and how to get there from Yerevan.
Tsaghkadzor Ski Resort
Tsaghkadzor Ski Resort is one of the most popular winter resorts in Armenia, located just 60 km from Yerevan near Mount Teghenis.
It appeared in the year of 1986 next to Tsaghkadzor Olympic Sports Complex, built in 1967 to prepare Soviet athletes for the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City.The name translates as "valley of flowers". Locals will tell you the legend about a princess who wanted to grow a beautiful garden near her castle, however the wind carried away the flower seeds all over the city. The princess did not like this, she built a monastery and demanded that the monks pray that the flowers outside the garden would die. But nature won this confrontation – once winter retreats, Tsaghkadzor flares up with hundreds of multi-colored buds.
The ski season in Armenia begins in mid-December and ends in March, but in practice people start skiing here in November and continue until April.
Panorama of Tsaghkadzor from the ropeway
Trails and difficulty levels
All in all there are about 30 km of trails at the resort, of which:- 1.5 km are the blue trails with smooth slopes, ideal for beginners;
- 9.2 km are the red trails with sharp turns and steep slopes;
- more than 16 km are the black trails with very difficult routes, located at the top of the mountain.
The ski area stretches from 1966 to 2819 m above sea level, and the difference in altitude is 853 m.
Gentle trails like "Presidential" are suitable for beginners, "Spring", "Asma", "Tsaghkadzor-1" are designed for the average level skiers, and only professionals take the "Adrenalin".
Tsaghkadzor ropeway in winter
Tsaghkadzor ropeway
While skiing is possible only during the season, the ropeway is available year round.
It has been open since 1967, and in 2004-2008 the old Soviet infrastructure was replaced with modern LEITNER lifts.Technical specifications
- Total length of trails: about 30 km.
- Number of stations: 5.
- Elevation: about 850 m (from 1966 m to 2819 m).
- Type of lifts: LEITNER chairlifts with a system of detachable clamps.
Working hours: year round – from 09:30 to 18:30.
Sometimes one can ride the ropeway at night.
Follow the updates on social networks to admire the lights of the resort in the dark and go down the slope in the light of lanterns.
Skiing in Tsaghkadzor
The ropeway consists of five stages of chairlifts:Stage one:
- length: 1137 m;
- capacity: 1214 people/hour;
- type: 4-seater chairlift.
Stage two:
- length: 1458 m;
- capacity: 1002 people/hour;
- type: 2-seater chairlift.
Stage three:
- length: 1624 m;
- capacity: 594 people/hour;
- type: 2-seater chairlift.
Stage four:
- length: 926 m;
- capacity: 620 people/hour;
- type: 2-seater chairlift.
Stage five:
- length: 1030 m;
- capacity: 964 people/hour;
- type: 2-seater chairlift.
Transfers between the stages are carried out without the need to remove skis or snowboards, which is especially convenient for athletes and tourists. One can climb to the top of Teghenis in about 40 minutes with transfers. There are cafes at the intermediate stations where you can relax and enjoy the scenery.
Watch a live broadcast directly from the slopes: links to the broadcast from two cameras are posted on the official website of the ropeway: https://ropeway.am/index-en.html
The cost of a round-trip ticket for each station is 3000 AMD.
Cafe at the foot of the slope in Tsaghkadzor
For those who came to Tsaghkadzor not for skiing, but for impressions – for instance, for just a day pass from Yerevan – we have designed a route:- Get to know the city – walk along the streets, visit souvenir shops and drink coffee with mountain-view.
- Visit Kecharis monastery – an ancient architectural complex of the 11th century, located in the very center of Tsaghkadzor.
- Ride the ropeway and take great photos from the upper observation deck.
- Return to the city and have lunch in one of the local restaurants, for example, in "Yasaman" or "Tumanyan Khinkali", which serve delicious dishes of traditional Armenian cuisine.
Winter landscape near Kecharis Monastery
One can get from Yerevan to Tsaghkadzor by taxi or ordering Yerevan - Tsaghkadzor transfer, however the most convenient and interesting way to visit the resort is within the scope of a tour by "Hyur Service". Our guides will tell you about the city, its history and will turn the trip into a bright and memorable journey.
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