According to Just in Shoes, the Tsakhkadzor ski resort is located on the slopes of Mount Teghenis at an altitude of 1845 m, 50 km north of Yerevan. The resort began to develop back in Soviet times: officials rested here in the summer, dozens of rest houses, boarding houses and pioneer camps were built. But Tsakhkadzor gained all-Union fame in 1967, when the All-Union Olympic base was organized in these places. After 5 years, a cable car was laid on the slope of Mount Teghenis. Today, the resort of Tsakhkadzor is equipped with the latest technology, many pioneer camps and rest houses were rebuilt into hotels and hotels. The ski season lasts from mid-November to mid-April, but the best conditions for skiing are in February and March. You can also have a rest in Tsakhkadzor in the summer: clean mountain air, mild climate, mountain landscapes, forests and alpine meadows attract many tourists here.
The slopes of Tsaghkadzor are suitable for skiers of any skill level. In total, there are about 50 trails with a total length of 12 km. The maximum height difference is 350 m. There are 5 lines of the cable car along the slopes – these are modern chair lifts. The length of the cable car is 5 km, its upper part is at an altitude of 2500 m. A ski pass for the cable car for one day costs about 7000 drams (about 20 US dollars).
The most popular trails are located in the middle part of the mountain slopes. The tracks here are wide, with a slight slope. The lower part of the slopes was supposed to be a trough for bobsleigh, but still was reserved for the ski slope. The descent is narrow and steep, it is suitable only for trained skiers. Trails for extreme skiing can be found at the top of the mountain. Fogs often occur in Tsaghkadzor, tourists are always advised to refrain from descending in foggy conditions.
The infrastructure of the resort includes dozens of hotels, hotels and holiday homes for every taste, there is also a ski school where experienced instructors are always ready to teach beginners, equipment rental, a large sports complex, several swimming pools, including an ultra-modern 50-meter pool, many shops, restaurants and bars.
In the northwestern part of Tsaghkadzor, there is the Kecharis monastery of the 11th-13th centuries, where excursions are organized. The monastery was founded by the order of the politician Grigor Pahlavuni, and in the 12-13th centuries it was the spiritual center of Armenia. The oldest building of the monastery – the Church of Gregory the Illuminator – was erected in 1003. Other major structures include the churches of Surb Nshan (11th century), Katoghike (13th century) and Resurrection (13th century). On the territory of the complex you can see many ancient tombstones and khachkars, and in one of its vestibules there is the grave of Grigor Pahlavuni.
20 km south of Tsakhkadzor is the balneological resort of Arzni. The resort is famous for its carbonated hydrocarbonate-chloride sodium mineral waters, which are used to treat diseases of the cardiovascular system and digestive organs. Treatment is carried out with the help of baths, drinking and inhalations, a favorable climate and clean mountain air have a special healing effect.
Jermuk (Armenia)
The balneological and climatic high mountain resort of Jermuk is located in the northeastern part of the Vayots Dzor region in the upper reaches of the Arpa River in the spurs of the Zangezur Range at an altitude of more than 2000 m. The first information about the healing springs of Jermuk dates back to the 1st century BC. At the beginning of the 20th century, a scientific expedition was sent here to study the properties of the local mineral waters, and already in 1940 a large sanatorium was built in Jermuk. In total, there are about 40 mineral water springs in the resort, which are similar in composition to the waters of Karlovy Vary. Jermuk waters are high-temperature (+57..+64 degrees) with a high content of carbon dioxide, bicarbonate, sulfate, chlorine, sodium, potassium, calcium, fluorine, bromine and magnesium. They are used to treat diseases of the digestive system, liver, nervous system, locomotor system, gynecological diseases and metabolic disorders. Another healing factor of Jermuk is its favorable mountain climate. In addition, the resort is surrounded on all sides by mountains, along which hiking tours are organized. In the vicinity of Jermuk, in one of the gorges of the Arpa River, you can see the picturesque Jermuk waterfall 70 m high.
