Tavush – Forests, Trails and Wine

Dilijan National Park covers 33,765 hectares. It lies mainly in Tavush, with smaller sections extending into the provinces of Lori and Gegharkunik. At 2,992 metres above sea level, Mount Miapor is the highest point in Tavush. About 50 percent of the province is covered by forests, known for their diverse flora and fauna. Winemaking is also part of the region’s profile: Tavush is one of Armenia’s five major wine-growing regions.

The forest cover and the extensive national park give an impression of the importance of nature to the region. Lastiver, in the Khachakhbyur Gorge of Tavush, offers another distinct landscape. The Sarnajur River valley is home to waterfalls, picnic areas and dense forest. When planning your trip, you can choose between the vast forest landscape and a named gorge with its own natural features.

The location of Dilijan National Park is important context: the park lies mostly in Tavush, but also extends into Lori and Gegharkunik. Mount Miapor provides a clear reference point for elevation. Together, the forest cover, park area and highest peak offer different ways to understand the landscape of Tavush, without conflating individual places or experiences.

A marked hiking trail connects Lake Gosh with Lake Parz and continues on to Dilijan. In addition, dozens of Transcaucasian Trail routes pass through Dilijan National Park in Tavush. This describes both a route with named stops and a larger network of trails in the national park; no hiking time is specified.

If you are interested in other activities, Yell Extreme Park in Yenokavan offers zip lines, via ferrata climbing tours, off-road tours and horse rides. This differs from the hiking trails mentioned above: the park offers a variety of activities, while the trails connect places or form a network. Which option suits your plans depends on whether you want to hike or explore one of the activities offered at the park.

There are no facilities at Lake Gosh. From the village of Gosh, the lake can be reached by jeep via unpaved roads; these roads may become muddy after rain. When planning, take into account both the lack of facilities at the lake and the road conditions described here. This is a separate practical consideration from choosing a marked hiking trail: access is via unpaved roads, and their condition can change after rain.

The wine region includes different types of production: large wine factories, small wineries and private wine production. Guesthouses serving food offer homemade wine. This variety makes winemaking a distinct topic alongside the forests and hiking trails. When looking for accommodation for your trip, you can first consider whether nature, hiking, activities in Yenokavan, Lastiver or wine is your main focus, and then look for suitable hotels for your plans.

Discover more destinations: Dilijan, Ijevan, Azatamut, Yenokavan, Gosh, Gandzakar, Vayots Dzor and Lori.

Which hiking trails are mentioned in Tavush?

A marked trail connects Lake Gosh with Lake Parz and continues on to Dilijan. Dozens of Transcaucasian Trail routes also pass through Dilijan National Park in Tavush.

How do you get to Lake Gosh?

From the village of Gosh, the lake can be reached by jeep via unpaved roads. These roads may become muddy after rain; there are no facilities at the lake.

What activities does Yell Extreme Park offer?

The park in Yenokavan offers zip lines, via ferrata climbing tours, off-road tours and horse rides.

What makes winemaking in Tavush distinctive?

Tavush is one of Armenia’s five major wine-growing regions. Local wine production includes large wine factories, small wineries and private production; guesthouses serving food offer homemade wine.

Go to the main travel overview: Armenia.