Mount Kamar (2738m)

Description of the trail
In the north of Aragatsotn province, we offer you an amazing mountain ski trail with indescribable beautiful mountain views. This route will start from Sipan village, the height of which is 2100 m. Skiing a few hundred meters away from that village will be approached to the mountain. The route is marked up to 2600 m above the Mount Kamar, as the crown masses of the hill were open during that time, due to little snow, but the feeling of pleasant landing doesn’t suffer from it. If the snow is sufficiently abundant and covered with stones, we recommend continuing to the peak, 2738 m. During the landing, it will be on the four-mile Mount Aragats in front of you, showing the northern rocky wall in the foreground. In the evening, on the way back to the sunset, the winter Aragatsotn province, the Pambak sierra and roads are a real sightseeing destination for visitors and guests.

Description of the Monuments
Mount Kamar is one of the highest peaks of the Pambak sierra, with a height of 2738 m. It is located in Aragatsotn province, 3 km northwest from Sipan village.
Sipan village: The village is located on the southern slopes of the Pambak sierra. It is located in 2100m height from sea level. The climate is temperate mountainous. The winters are durable, cold, and with stable snow cover. The summers are hot and relatively humid. The average July temperature fluctuates between 16-18, January -6, -8. Annual precipitation is 450-600 mm.
On the way back we recommend you visit Armenian Alphabet Monument, Saghmosavank, Hovhannavank Monasteries, the other sights of Aragatsotn province.

The Armenian Alphabet Monument after M. Mashtots is located on the eastern slope of Mount Aragats, near Artashavan village in Aragatsotn province, on the left side of the Yerevan-Aparan highway. The Armenian alphabet was created by Mesrop Mashtots, a prominent linguist, religious and political leader between 405-406 and has been used for Armenian writing ever since. His goal was to make the Bible accessible for Armenians to spread Christianity. The monument was built in 2005 to commemorate the 1,600th anniversary of the creation of the Armenian alphabet. It features 39 beautifully ornamented letters of the alphabet and statues of key Armenian figures. Each letter is 1.5m-2m high.
According to tradition, anyone who visits this monument takes a photo with the first letter of their name. By the Monument, you can see the statues of the great minds of Armenia – Mesrop Mashtots (with the letters in his hands), Grigor Lusavorich (holding the cross beyond), Anania Shirakatsi (a symbol of the earth and the universe in his left hand), Mkhitar Gosh (with the book in his hands), Khachatur Abovyan (writer) and Hovhannes Tumanyan (writer).

Saghmosavank Monastery is located in Saghmosavan village of Aragatsotn marz. It is located in the edge of the deep Kasakh river canyon. Gigantic Mount Ara is on the back side of Saghmosavank. Mount Ararat is on the western side of the church. Mount Aragats, which is the highest mount in Armenia (4095m), is on the northern side of the church. The Saghmosavank manuscript repository was built in 1255 and there are khachkars (cross-stones) on the western facade of the monastery. The complex is comprised of the St. Sion and St. Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God) churches, a book depository, and a narthex.

The St. Sion church is the main church of the complex. It is a cross-shaped, domed church that differs from other churches built in that epoch by the layout of the narthex. The eastern part of the church features an altar and niches inside the walls.

Hovhannavank Monastery is located in Ohanavan village of Aragatsotn marz. It is beautifully perched on a gorge, high above the right bank of the Kasagh river. The monastery overlooks Mount Ara and the Geghama Mountains in the south. Over different periods of time, the monastery used to maintain vast plowlands, gardens, pastures, mills, and villages. Hovhannavank was built in the 5th - 13th centuries. It also used to be a significant center for Armenian writing, with a rich library. Some of the manuscripts created there are still preserved to this day.

Fauna
In winter bears, wolves, foxes, and wild rabbits are sometimes encountered on the slopes of the mountains.

Safety and Security
From Sipan village to the highest point of Mount Kamar Viva Cell-Mts mobile connections are available․ In the case of accident 911 rescue services function operates in Armenia. Beware of dogs in the village.

Trail technical parameters
Best period: January, February, March
Distance: 72 km from Yerevan, by taxi
Duration: 1 hour 17 min
Ski trail length: 7.5 km
Skiing duration: 2 hours 50 min
Altitude from the sea level: 2100-2738m
The best drink is hot tea

How to get to the trail
To pass the above mentioned trail should be reached to Sipan village of Aragatsotn province. The most convenient option is to take a taxi. Taxis throughout Armenia are quite affordable. Please use the taxis, in which counters are installed.