Mount Aragats
Mount Aragats
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Jo paix
5 contributions
Jun 2023 • Couples
Walked up to southern peak via an undefined track across hard snow and rocks amongst the track. The view proved worth the effort with snow patches, peaks and valleys. The walk back can be done in reverse or a loop along a ridge line with fairly stable, flat rocks and a few challenging spots but easy enough if you're careful. The restaurant at the carpark serves beer and restricted menu and, as expected, is a little pricey. Getting there and home was the biggest cost with a taxi being from €24-40 depending on negotiations with the driver.
Written July 26, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sweksha Tiwari
Sydney, Australia100 contributions
Aug 2019
My most favourite place In Armenia is Mt. Aragats. Road to reach there is just awesome, so much greenery , and clouds are on you....seriously. You can click hundreds of photos and still not enough. There is a small lake and the views around are just awesome. You would just want to sit and relax.
Written March 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ChristineDeSc
Tollembeek, Belgium13 contributions
Aug 2016 • Family
We climbed Mt Aragats Northern peak on friday 12th of august 2016.
We were 4: parents + 2 daughters of 16 and 12. We are used to do some (mountain)hikes during holidays but have no experience at all in real climbing.
It didn't look very clear to me by searching on internet if it was possible to do the climb on our own. Yes, the southern peak is possible, but we were looking for a more challenging experience. And we got it!
So we booked Serzh Hovsepyan - by mail - as our guide. As for me, this was the good decision, even if I find the 250€ we payed, not cheap.
Altough you see the top on regular times, it's not straight up; there are no signs or clear paths to follow. Even in august there were still snow-crossings for about 50 or 100 metres: what's the best way to pass? In those circumstances I wouldn't have felt safe to do it without a guide!
We slept at the B&B at Kari Lake - Serzh booked it for us. It costed 20 000 AMD (39€) for 4. it's very basic, not really clean, but practical if you have to leave early. You can have dinner in the beautiful environement, but we didn't really appreciate the meal. You can try the speciality of the house, a kind of soup with a lot (x times a lot!) of garlic, a lot of lavash and the leg of a cow(?) with - again - a lot of fat in it .
We got up at 5.30am as we would meet Serz (and a German girl who would do the climb together with us) at 6am ! There is no breakfast at the B&B. You have to provide your food and drinks for breakfast and the day of the climb. Kari Lich is on 3200 m. We hiked to 3800m by 8u10 and went down in the saddle. Around 8.30am we reached the first snow. AT 10am the climb rally started. Very slow ! It was really tough for our daughter of 12. At regular times we stopped but our tempo seemed overall rather fast ... False (!) Northern top on 4090 at 11.45. Till there no dangerous passages. Yes, we can !! My husband and Serzh continued to the real top and back from 12.05 till 12.17. For this they secured eachother with ropes that Serzh brought with him. At the background we heared comments from anther guide that he wouldn't do it with tourists (because he hadn't no ropes ? I didn't really want to know) because the ridge gets every year smaller by erosion.
We started our way down at 12.45pm. At 3pm - near the passing over the ridge beteeen the south and western top - it started to hail. So, that's why Serzh kept up the pace. It's best to have a hood at that time. It continued for about half an hour: beautiful, those clouds and the white hailstones between the flowers - but I was very glad when it stopped.We were back at Kari Lich at 5pm.
Most tired and suffering a bit of altitude sickness - headache and some nausea - at the finish was I. Driving down to Yerevan was enough to solve the sickness-problem.
We were very glad we did it: an unforgettable day. And Serzh congratulated especially our youngest daughter - because he didn't believe at the start she would make it to the top at her age!
We were 4: parents + 2 daughters of 16 and 12. We are used to do some (mountain)hikes during holidays but have no experience at all in real climbing.
It didn't look very clear to me by searching on internet if it was possible to do the climb on our own. Yes, the southern peak is possible, but we were looking for a more challenging experience. And we got it!
So we booked Serzh Hovsepyan - by mail - as our guide. As for me, this was the good decision, even if I find the 250€ we payed, not cheap.
Altough you see the top on regular times, it's not straight up; there are no signs or clear paths to follow. Even in august there were still snow-crossings for about 50 or 100 metres: what's the best way to pass? In those circumstances I wouldn't have felt safe to do it without a guide!
We slept at the B&B at Kari Lake - Serzh booked it for us. It costed 20 000 AMD (39€) for 4. it's very basic, not really clean, but practical if you have to leave early. You can have dinner in the beautiful environement, but we didn't really appreciate the meal. You can try the speciality of the house, a kind of soup with a lot (x times a lot!) of garlic, a lot of lavash and the leg of a cow(?) with - again - a lot of fat in it .
We got up at 5.30am as we would meet Serz (and a German girl who would do the climb together with us) at 6am ! There is no breakfast at the B&B. You have to provide your food and drinks for breakfast and the day of the climb. Kari Lich is on 3200 m. We hiked to 3800m by 8u10 and went down in the saddle. Around 8.30am we reached the first snow. AT 10am the climb rally started. Very slow ! It was really tough for our daughter of 12. At regular times we stopped but our tempo seemed overall rather fast ... False (!) Northern top on 4090 at 11.45. Till there no dangerous passages. Yes, we can !! My husband and Serzh continued to the real top and back from 12.05 till 12.17. For this they secured eachother with ropes that Serzh brought with him. At the background we heared comments from anther guide that he wouldn't do it with tourists (because he hadn't no ropes ? I didn't really want to know) because the ridge gets every year smaller by erosion.
We started our way down at 12.45pm. At 3pm - near the passing over the ridge beteeen the south and western top - it started to hail. So, that's why Serzh kept up the pace. It's best to have a hood at that time. It continued for about half an hour: beautiful, those clouds and the white hailstones between the flowers - but I was very glad when it stopped.We were back at Kari Lich at 5pm.
Most tired and suffering a bit of altitude sickness - headache and some nausea - at the finish was I. Driving down to Yerevan was enough to solve the sickness-problem.
We were very glad we did it: an unforgettable day. And Serzh congratulated especially our youngest daughter - because he didn't believe at the start she would make it to the top at her age!
Written February 1, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jacqueline S
Dubai, United Arab Emirates113 contributions
Sep 2018 • Solo
I hiked up the North Peak of Mount Aragats on the 8th of September with a private guide. After doing this hike I would definetely recommend bringing hiking poles, proper hiking shoes, warm clothes (wind proof), rain coats, enough water and snacks, gloves and hat, some small first aid items and a guide! Even though in Yerevan it was 30 degrees centigrade, it was quite cold at the altitude and I was happy with my softshell windproof jacket. In the beginning the hike seems easy as you are hiking up on a grassy area which slightly inclines. Then you continue up to the crater rim between the South and West peak. Once you reach there you got to go down and continue towards the North peak and then up the North peak. The path gets more and more slippery as there are a lot of loose rocks and without hiking poles I would have even slipped more often. The fact that it is so slippery makes you tired as you got to pay attention constantly.There was not much snow in September and a few small streams that we could cross by walking on the rocks without getting wet feet. Even though rain had been predicted, we were lucky that it only started raining once we got back. It took the guide and me 4.40 hours to reach the false North Peak and the hike took roughly 9 hours in total. We started at 6 am from Yerevan, starting hiking at about 8 and got back at 17 at the car. We did not take a lot of long breaks, but we did take breaks. I decided against going up the true peak as it is dangerous and it is better to use ropes doing that. The difference is just a few meters anyway. The view from the top was amazing and totally worth it. However going back was not easy, especially after walking down, when you got to climb back up to the crater rim again between the south and west peak. I can not stress enough that it is better to take a guide as the path is very unclear. We did meet a few other people on the way but just 2 were climbing the North Peak as well. The guide did have some phone network most of the time (in case of emergency). Please do only try this hike if you are an experienced hiker.
Written September 10, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lara K
36 contributions
Jul 2017 • Friends
I hiked the north peak with a group of friends at the end of July 2017. I don't know that any of us really understood what we were getting ourselves into, but if you are in good shape, have hiking experience and are up for a challenge, this might be for you.
We hired a guide, and I would definitely recommend that unless you are VERY confident in what you're doing. There is no trail, no markers, and no indication of which way you should go. You start at Kari Lich and have to hike up between the West/South peaks or the South/East peaks and down into the crater to even get to the North. The entire hike took us about 11 hours at a decent pace with plenty of rest stops. I think the actual hike up and down the north peak took somewhere from 3-4 hours. The rest of the time was spent getting there and back, and honestly, that's the worst part because once you finish hiking the peak, you still have to hike up again to get back to the lake. We went up and down 4 times during the hike.
Even at the end of July, there was some snow. DO NOT do this hike without hiking boots or other waterproof shoes. You'll be walking through snow and rivers, and it's impossible to do without getting your shoes wet. I would also strongly recommend hiking poles. On the way up the North peak, it gets very steep and is covered in loose rocks. It's not a bad idea to have some extra help staying upright. However, we did all manage to make it without hiking poles... so it's definitely possible, but we all agreed that it would have been a good idea to have them.
In my opinion, this is one of those hikes that you do once so that you can say you did and then NEVER have to do it again. It was absolutely worth it and incredibly beautiful, but don't expect an easy hike unless you're one of those mountain goat-type people. I hike a lot and am in decently good shape, and I survived but wouldn't call it easy by any stretch of the imagination.
We hired a guide, and I would definitely recommend that unless you are VERY confident in what you're doing. There is no trail, no markers, and no indication of which way you should go. You start at Kari Lich and have to hike up between the West/South peaks or the South/East peaks and down into the crater to even get to the North. The entire hike took us about 11 hours at a decent pace with plenty of rest stops. I think the actual hike up and down the north peak took somewhere from 3-4 hours. The rest of the time was spent getting there and back, and honestly, that's the worst part because once you finish hiking the peak, you still have to hike up again to get back to the lake. We went up and down 4 times during the hike.
Even at the end of July, there was some snow. DO NOT do this hike without hiking boots or other waterproof shoes. You'll be walking through snow and rivers, and it's impossible to do without getting your shoes wet. I would also strongly recommend hiking poles. On the way up the North peak, it gets very steep and is covered in loose rocks. It's not a bad idea to have some extra help staying upright. However, we did all manage to make it without hiking poles... so it's definitely possible, but we all agreed that it would have been a good idea to have them.
In my opinion, this is one of those hikes that you do once so that you can say you did and then NEVER have to do it again. It was absolutely worth it and incredibly beautiful, but don't expect an easy hike unless you're one of those mountain goat-type people. I hike a lot and am in decently good shape, and I survived but wouldn't call it easy by any stretch of the imagination.
Written November 8, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ben W
New Westminster, Canada3,734 contributions
Aug 2016 • Friends
Last month my cousin and I wanted to conquer Mount Ararat, the highest mountain in Armenia. The mountain has 4 summits whereas the northern peak is the highest with 4,090 m above sea level. We understood several of our friends and internet information that it would take just few hours to reach the highest peak and be back. I have to admit that we spent a bit more time on the way to that area visiting the Tegher Monastery as well as the Fortress Amberd and the Vahramashen Church. So we reached the Kari Lake as starting point pretty late in the afternoon (around 3 pm). But we were pretty optimistic that we would still have plenty of time to reach the northern summit since the distance was according to Google Earth “just” around 7 km. The only issue that we both experienced was that we felt a bit dizzy at the Kari Lake level (at 3,190 m). So with fresh energy we started our tour using the GPS of my cousin’s cellphone. The first stretch didn’t seem to be too bad. But for some reason we were not as fast as expected: after 2.5 hrs we had reached just an altitude of 3,500 m. And we made it to 3,800 m after 5 hrs when the sun was already staying low. We realized that our navigation system told us the air distance but not the real distance and the time by calculating using the usual walk speed (~ 6 km/hrs), which is complete unrealistic under that conditions. When we arrived at the rim we realized that we reached just the foot of the western peak while the way to the northern peak (which would have been our original target) would be much farther and would lead through a snow field with unknown conditions. So, we decided to climb up the western summit instead of the highest peak. But then the real fight began only now: The wind was blowing cold and strong. And when the sun started to set it was blinding me so much that I was not able to see anything above and left of me. And since I didn’t have a wind-proof jacket I was freezing which forced me to give up at about 3850 m – just about 45 m below the peak while my cousin made it to the top. When I was seeing him waving to me last time I thought that he would climb down now. But I didn’t see him for more than half an hour. Laying in a small stone circle that protected me from the strongest winds, but not completely, I was already considering my options in the dimming daylight. Finally, when I was already considering to start a rescue mission for him I saw him at the top again. He told me later that the place where I saw him last was not the end of the route to the top; that he had to hike farther. That’s why I didn’t see him for a while. When he was finally descending the sun was almost down, and I was almost completely frozen. My cousin gave me his jacket that helped me to survive. The next challenge was the trip downwards to the lake in the entire darkness since the sun had been completely set. The sky was nice. But we were not able to enjoy it since we still didn’t know how to go home. We were able to see the lights of Yerevan far away; but this didn’t help us at all. We had a headlight and a flashlight to see our way. And, luckily, the GPS of the cellphone was good enough to show us a direction. Eventually, after about 8 hours we found the lake and with it our car. Our lesson is:
1) Plan your route well ahead or have a competent guide
2) Don’t start too late (expect a hike of at least 8 hrs)
3) Have the right clothes (a wind-proof jacket, warm pullover and, probably good gloves)
4) Have a plan how to communicate with each other when someone is not in sight.
Despite our terrible experience I would love to go there again in order to finish what I was not able to do the first time. It’s just a matter of time and money – as usual.
1) Plan your route well ahead or have a competent guide
2) Don’t start too late (expect a hike of at least 8 hrs)
3) Have the right clothes (a wind-proof jacket, warm pullover and, probably good gloves)
4) Have a plan how to communicate with each other when someone is not in sight.
Despite our terrible experience I would love to go there again in order to finish what I was not able to do the first time. It’s just a matter of time and money – as usual.
Written September 27, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jani K
2 contributions
Aug 2018 • Solo
This review of wonderingcorse (about southern peak) contains false information about the easyness of that climb. I did it myself mostly based on this particular post. And reality was very far from his " Its suitable for children, elderly hikers, out of shape hikers, short on time hikers, everybody". To me, as a bit out of shape 45 year man it was a 7,5 hour nightmare. Route is at start like walk in the park but as you get higher, the route gets very rough (big stones) and steep. Very easy to break your leg going through those rock fields. Or slip as other parts contain small sand which rolls under shoes and make it very slippery. Also path is not marked at all and very easy to get lost. Then you find yourself in almost non-passable rock fields with stones size of car. Even getting back down was pain because every step you were about to slip. I slipped about 10 times and one time fell down. And then there is the height. And lowness of oxygen. As i was at higher altitudes i could go about 10 meters at the time. And i was out of breath. Also risk of severe sunburns up there. It's easy only for sporty people with very good condition. Please think twice if you are senior, have kids or not in perfect shape. Its really not a walk in the park as he paints a picture. Maybe first 200m (in height) is doable for most.
Written August 20, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
eddierakoubian
bikfaya337 contributions
Sep 2013 • Solo
This was a one-day hike I took while looking for exercise-hikes, but didnt want to waste too much of my vacation.
The hike started after a 1-hr car trip to Stone Lake, at 3100 meters. Initially, I felt little altitude "sickness", and the hike was simple. The last 1 hour was cruel though, as we had to hike across vast amounts of snow-covered areas, at high altitude, and under hail and rain! I was breathing in and out of every orifice I had!!
The Southern peak was reached in 3 hours, and the view was amazing. So was the cold! I could see as far as the Ararat peaks, but for a crystal clear picture, I was told I had to bring a tent, sleep there (!!), and shoot pics in the morning. Better yet in October. My visit was in July.
Heavy lightning (dangerous stuff) all around us prevented me and my guide to go further to the North peak. We turned back.
Awesome hike, puts your abilities to the test. If you cant do this 1-day hike, you aint in shape! Meaning, Im barely in shape :-))
Advice: wear anti-rain, bring light food, at least 1 liter water. Hiking boots are must! Cane can help in snowy places.
The hike started after a 1-hr car trip to Stone Lake, at 3100 meters. Initially, I felt little altitude "sickness", and the hike was simple. The last 1 hour was cruel though, as we had to hike across vast amounts of snow-covered areas, at high altitude, and under hail and rain! I was breathing in and out of every orifice I had!!
The Southern peak was reached in 3 hours, and the view was amazing. So was the cold! I could see as far as the Ararat peaks, but for a crystal clear picture, I was told I had to bring a tent, sleep there (!!), and shoot pics in the morning. Better yet in October. My visit was in July.
Heavy lightning (dangerous stuff) all around us prevented me and my guide to go further to the North peak. We turned back.
Awesome hike, puts your abilities to the test. If you cant do this 1-day hike, you aint in shape! Meaning, Im barely in shape :-))
Advice: wear anti-rain, bring light food, at least 1 liter water. Hiking boots are must! Cane can help in snowy places.
Written August 16, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DimaDooma
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates111 contributions
Jul 2014 • Couples
If you are a hike lover , you can't miss the Argats mountain with its four peaks to choose from (depending on your fitness level), I highly recommend looking for professional photographer/Hiker/Tour guide Mr. Vladimir Saroyan, passionate Armenian local, works in the Rescue team, will give you a very special taste to Armenia, with his great stories and depth knowledge of the history, culture and off course mountains,
Be sure to take the hike easy especially if you are not used to the altitude,
Be sure to take the hike easy especially if you are not used to the altitude,
Written August 5, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Matt Roelandts
Mohali, India234 contributions
Nov 2017 • Family
Moments can be strenuous for little kids (say 9year olds) but they can make it (mine did)! We climbed up in 3.5 hours and came down in 1 hour. It was totally worth it at the top! A beautiful cross has been placed and Mt. Ararat can be seen in the distance!
Worth it!!
Worth it!!
Written October 8, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, how could I hire, Tour guide Mr. Vladimir Saroyan for a hike in the Aragats mountains and other parts of Armenia
Written June 22, 2019
HI can you share the agency you did the North Summit climb in one day?
Written May 1, 2019
Hi everyone, we are currently discussing what car to rent for our trip in Armenia. If we want to go up to the lake at Mt Arragats (from which the hiking starts) - will we need a 4wd, suv or will a normal car do?
Thanks a lot for your advice!
Written April 22, 2019
any car will do! normal asphalt to the lake!
Written July 20, 2019
Hi All! Hexabella has one story about a failed attempt to hike higher on mount Aragats in May. Has anyone else hiked the mountain in late April to the end of May? Does anyone have any information about the average temperature and snow levels in the middle of May? I am arriving May 10th and had hoped to hike to one of the high ridges of Mount Aragats but it may be too cold and snowy. Your advise will help me to decide whether to plan this or not.
Thanks, Robert
Written January 5, 2019
A few years ago was in early May. the road to the lake was closed, because a lot of snow!
Written July 20, 2019
Здравтсвуйте! Подскажите пожалуйста как добраться желательно без такси до озера и отведать хаш?) Едем из Еревана.
Written August 16, 2016
Идёшь, по направлению в верх, и держишь большой палец левой руки поднятым на 90% )))))))
Written August 18, 2019
Hi, I found your review about Mt. Aragats. I'm about to travel to Armenia and I'd like to do the hike up, the only thing I'm trying to figure out is, where to find a guide. I found lots of agencies but I prefer independent guides. Could you perhaps give me a hint on that one? Thanks a lot!
Written July 9, 2015
If you want to climb the southern summit, then no guide is needed! the route is very easy, it is impossible to get lost. The main thing to be in good physical and moral form!
Written July 20, 2019
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