Dilijan National Park, Armenia
A guide to 80km (4–5 days) of hiking on the Transcaucasian Trail
This guide will help you plan a journey on a self-contained 80km section of the Transcaucasian Trail in Armenia among the forests, mountains & monasteries of Dilijan National Park. Here you’ll find interactive maps and turn-by-turn trail guides, plus links to apps and resources to help navigate the route and further practical information.
Built by volunteers in 2017 with the generous support of HIKEArmenia and Caucasus Nature Fund, this 80km ‘showcase’ section of the Transcaucasian Trail will take you on a journey through the very best the region has to offer, focused around the spa town of Dilijan and the surrounding mountains of Dilijan National Park.
As well as taking in the stunning limestone escarpments and broadleaf forests of the region, your hike will also pass close to some of the most iconic historical sites in Armenia, including the early Christian monasteries of Haghartsin and Goshavank, which date back to the 10th century, as well as several lesser-known natural and cultural sites.
Self-sufficient hikers will find plentiful wild-camping opportunities along the route, giving you the ability to modify the itinerary to suit your preferred schedule and level of challenge. For those wishing to spend their nights indoors, guesthouse accommodation is available at all of the suggested overnight stops.
The route overlaps with many parts of the Dilijan National Park trail network. It is marked with red and white painted blazes and signposted at major junctions, and can be hiked in either direction. More information on trails in this region, as well as recommended accommodation, sites of interest, and local guides, can be found on the HIKEArmenia website and iOS/Android app.
The guide will describe the route in a south-north direction of travel, beginning at the village of Khachardzan and ending in Hovk.
Important Disclaimer
The TCTA strives to provide accurate, current information as to trail conditions and the trail route. However, actual trail conditions may be different, and such information may not be accurate or complete. Trail users are urged to consider all the information available from other sources and to heed local advice when available. Trail users are ultimately responsible for all decisions as to the trail routes, trail conditions, weather, and safety.
In addition to the hazards posed by steep terrain and mountain weather, hikers in should be prepared for difficult route-finding and challenging trail conditions, the possibility of washed-out bridges and dangerous river crossings in high water, aggressive dogs guarding sheep and cattle, giant hogweed, and frequent summer thunderstorms with extremely intensive periods of lightning. Access to emergency medical care and search and rescue is not always available.
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Partners & Sponsors
This section of the Transcaucasian Trail could not have been built without the generous support of the following organizations, as well as individual donors to the Transcaucasian Trail Association.
To become a TCTA member and support more trail development projects like this one, join here.
