Mount Armaghan Trail

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Features Lake · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

In order to reach Mt. Armaghan, the most convenient option is to take a taxi from Yerevan to the valley of Argitchi River, near Madina village. This will cost around 14,000 AMD. It is recommended to take a taxi with a working meter (be sure the driver uses it), or agree on a price beforehand. There are also buses to Martuni that leave from the Northern Bus Station. Check with the drivers/passengers to find out where they are going, and if they can drop you off near Madina, or use public transportation to get there. This should cost around 3,000 AMD.

This run is located on Mt. Armaghan in the Gegharkunik province. Mt. Armaghan is an extinct volcano, in the Gegham Mountain Range, with an altitude of 2,829m, and a small lake–150m in diameter and 15m deep–partially filling its volcanic crater. In contrast to the arid, semi-desert landscapes of Southern Armenia, the Gegham Mountains are green and lush, overlooking the Vardenis plateau and Sevan, the largest lake in Armenia. Upper Getashen village is nearby, about 20 km away from Martuni and almost 50km away from Gavar, the capital of the province.

The trail starts from the Argitchi River Valley, and the best time to visit the area is May through October. The trail climbs steadily and at times steeply up to the summit of Mt. Armaghan. In 2009, a domed church of smooth basalt was built on the site of an old chapel, on the peak of the mountain, and the trail loops around the small lake at the summit. According to legend, celestial fairies sometimes descend on the mountain peak to drink water from the lake. Fog signals their arrival, shrouding the mountain in their presence, so they remain hidden. Once you are done taking in the views from the peak, start the equally steep and steady descent back down the mountainside.

Flora: There is a beautiful small pond in the valley, which grows due to snowmelt in the months of May and June. Alpine vegetation and flowers carpet its shores, while lush fields of grass and flowers cover the lower slopes. There are not many species of plants on the lower slopes, with only a few types of short stemmed blue and pink forget-me-nots, starflowers, and bellflowers among others. Higher up, however, the vegetation is much more varied.

Fauna: Many animal species including brown bears, wolves, foxes, rabbits, and mice, birds such as vultures and eagles, as well as varied butterflies, insects and beetles can be found on the mountain slopes. During the warm months, a wide variety of water birds also migrate here.