Vayots Dzor

Capital of Vayots Dzor Province and a stopover on the way south, with the Silk Road Selim Caravanserai, the fortress and monasteries of the Yeghegis Valley and the hot springs of Jermuk nearby.

Yeghegnadzor is the capital of Vayots Dzor Province in southern Armenia. It lies in the Arpa River valley about 120 km from Yerevan and is a natural stopover on the road south from Yerevan to Syunik and Meghri. Vayots Dzor means 'Gorge of Woes'; its valleys are dotted with red-rock canyons, alpine meadows and medieval monasteries, and it is also Armenia's oldest winemaking region. With Yeghegnadzor as your base, there are three main routes. The northern route heads up the Yeghegis Valley to see the Smbataberd fortress, Tsakhats Kar Monastery, Zorats Church and a medieval Jewish cemetery, then crosses the Selim Pass to the Silk Road caravanserai. The eastern route follows the Arpa River gorge to Gndevank Monastery and the spa town of Jermuk, where you can sample the waters at the mineral water gallery, soak in hot springs and see waterfalls. Around town there are also monasteries such as Tanahat and Spitakavor. To the west, Noravank Monastery, the Areni-1 Cave and the wineries around Areni village are covered as a classic day trip in the Yerevan entry, but they're just 20 minutes' drive from here and easy to fit in; the Mozrov Cave is nearby too. The best times to visit are May–June and September–October, with the Areni Wine Festival in early October the liveliest time; summers are hot in the valleys but cool in Jermuk, and in winter the Selim Pass and highland dirt roads are often snowbound. Getting there: minibuses run from Yerevan to Yeghegnadzor and Jermuk, but the sights are spread out, so it's best to drive yourself or hire a car with driver; some mountain monasteries require a 4x4 or a hike. Allow 2–3 days, with a night in Jermuk.

Top sights

• Selim Caravanserai – A stone caravanserai built in 1332 by Prince Orbelian at a Silk Road mountain pass, and the best-preserved medieval caravan inn in Armenia.
• Jermuk – A high-altitude hot spring spa town on the edge of the Arpa River gorge, known for its mineral water gallery, hot spring hotels and canyon…
• Noravank Monastery – A 13th-century monastery at the end of a gorge of red cliffs, with a two-storey Church of Our Lady reached by a narrow external stone stair…
• Jermuk Waterfall – A waterfall about 70 meters high just outside the town of Jermuk, where the water spreads over the rock walls like fine strands of hair, ea…
• Smbataberd – A medieval fortress ruin on a ridge above the Yeghegis Gorge. Its walls follow the rise and fall of the terrain, with deep valleys on eithe…
• Tsakhats Kar Monastery – A cluster of 10th- to 14th-century monasteries deep in a valley north of Smbataberd. Small chapels and carved khachkar cross-stones are sca…
• Zorats Church – The 'Army Church' in Yeghegis village, built in 1303. Its altar faces an open courtyard, where legend says soldiers lined up on horseback t…
• Jewish Cemetery of Yeghegis – A 13th- to 14th-century Jewish cemetery on the riverbank across from Yeghegis village. Its gravestones bear Hebrew and Aramaic inscriptions…
• Gndevank Monastery – A 10th-century monastery in the Arpa River gorge, with rare original murals preserved in its main church. It is a must-stop on the way to J…
• Spitakavor Monastery – A white 14th-century monastery on a hillside north of Yeghegnadzor, where the national hero Garegin Nzhdeh, a leader of the First Republic…
• Tanahat Monastery – A 13th-century monastery on a hillside east of Yeghegnadzor, with animal reliefs on its exterior walls. It is thought to have been one of t…
• Mozrov Cave – A limestone cave in the mountains near Areni, filled with stalactites and stalagmites in a rich variety of shapes. It is one of Armenia's b…
• Areni-1 Cave & Areni Wine Village – Areni-1 Cave, where archaeologists found the world's oldest known winemaking workshop and 5,500-year-old leather shoes. In the village, win…

Where to eat

• Old Bridge Winery – A family winery in Yeghegnadzor where the wine tasting comes with a cheese-and-snack board. A set lunch with trout is a…
• Ar Areni Restaurant – A small winery restaurant in Areni village, serving Armenian home-style dishes in a gazebo among the vines. Guests can…
• Lchak Restaurant – A long-established roadside restaurant on a pond, where grilled fish and fresh lavash are eaten in private gazebos over…

Itineraries

• Yerevan Base & Surrounding Highlights – Stay in Yerevan and take day trips to Garni, Geghard, Lake Sevan, and the Areni Valley.
• Southern Silk Road & Tatev Loop – Drive south to Areni, Tatev, and Jermuk, then return via the Selim Pass and Lake Sevan.
• Grand Armenia Loop – From Tatev in the south to Debed and Gyumri in the north, cover all the main regions of the country in one loop.
• Georgia & Armenia Combo – Head north from Tbilisi to Kazbegi, cross the border into the Debed Canyon, and travel south to Tatev.