Mount Tukhmanuk (2761 m)

Ski mountaineering trail description
The Pambak sierra borders the Lori and Aragatsotn marzes, and offers ski slopes. Now I would like to suggest one direction towards Tukhmanuk Mount, which is close to the Melik village of Aragatsotn marz. These two, Hol and Tukhmanuk mountains, are only 7,18 kilometers away from each other, and can be planned and passed during the same period. You will climb on the central road of the village, leaving not so much old church down of the village. Snow is abundant and promising.

Monuments description
Tukhmanuk mount is located in Aragatsotn marz, in the northwest side of Tsaghkunyats mountain range, 2 km southeast of Melik village. The height of the mount is 2761 m.

Melik village is located in 2080m of height from sea level in the Aragatsotn marz. It is located about 20 km north-east from Aparan. It is located on northern slopes of Tsaghkunyats mount. It has a temperate climate, and the inclines are semi-sloped and cropped. The winters are cold and long and the summers are warm and relatively moist. Maximum average temperature is 16-18 °C, minimum is -6-8 °C. St. Hovhannes church is the one church in the village, built in 1891. There is an industrial enterprise dealing which deals with natural diamond processing in the village.
On the way back you should visit Armenian Alphabet Monument, Saghmosavank, Hovhannavank Monasteries, and the other sights of Aragatsotn marz.

The Armenian Alphabet Monument named 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
The gray bear, the gray wolf, wild cat, the Eurasian lynx, and the red fox are often encountered.

Safety and Security
From Melik village to mount Tukhmanuk, Ucom and Viva Cell-Mts mobile connections are always available. In the case of an accident 911 rescue services operate in Armenia 24/7. Beware of dogs in the village.

Trail technical parameters
Best period: January - March
Distance: 66 km from Yerevan, it takes 1 hour 18 min by taxi
Ski trail length: 9 km
Skiing duration: 4 hours 45 min
Height from sea level: 2080-2761 m
Best drink is hot tea

How to get to the trail
In order to reach the above mentioned ski trail you should take a taxi from Yerevan to Melik village of Argatsotn marz, from where the ski trail begins. Please use the taxies, in which counters are installed. Taxies throughout Armenia are quite affordable.