Sevanavank, Drakhtik, Chambarak, Aghavnavank, Dilijan, Haghartsin, Goshavank

Biking Trail Description
This biking trail passes through small communities, bordering villages not often associated with the capital of Yerevan, and yet, still hold interesting sights. The trail is 125km long, which we suggest riding over a 2-day period.
You will start riding from Sevanavank and eventually reach Drakhtik, with its wonderful sandy shores. The trail is very close to Lake Sevan, so it may be hard to resist the desire to swim in the lake. After taking a rest, you will ride up from Aghberk village to the town of Chambarak, via twisting roads. Getting acquainted with village life, you will also have an opportunity to see the beautiful places not yet marked on the trail. In every village of Armenia, there is at least one ancient monastery or church, fortress, castle or a khachkar (cross-stone). You can surely take some water from the villagers, in case there is a necessity.
The village of Aygut is very interesting, with thousands of tombstones on both sides of the road. Perhaps, those tombstones belonged to old inhabitants of the village, who along with Armenians came and settled here from Iran, Arabic countries, or Turkey during the 18th – 19th centuries. We, Armenians, have a long-established custom to preserve the monuments of our country, regardless of whom they belong to.
Riding from Dzoravank to Khachardzan you will enter the Tavush province, where you will discover the miraculous monuments and beauty of the province. The Aghavnavank monastery is located in the village of Aghavnavank, in Tavush province. The overnight camping spot is marked here (2km beyond the village).
The next day you will see two significant monuments in Tavush – Goshavank and Haghartsin. Then you will reach the center of the town of Dilijan and will have completed the two-day biking trail there.

Monuments Description
Sevanavank is located on the Sevan peninsula (formerly an island). It was founded by Grigor Lusavorich in the year 305. The island was fortified in the Bronze Age, where there once stood a pagan temple. In the 9th century, Sevan was the stronghold of the princes of Syunik. In 874, Princess Mariam (the daughter of King Ashot Bagratuni and the wife of the Syunik Prince, Vasak Gabur) founded two churches – the Apostolic (small) and Astvatsatsin (Virgin Mary). The construction records written in 874, have been preserved on the eastern tower of the Apostolic church.
Astvatsatsin church also has a three circular base setup. There was a vestibule on the western side, which was one of the oldest known (existed till 1930). Wooden sculptured capitals decorated the vestibule pillars, which are now kept in the State Museum of History of Armenia and the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg. It is assumed that the capitals were brought from some other palace. These are valuable samples of Armenian medieval wood art. Some domed church remains have been preserved on the top of the church.
There are numerous khachkars (cross-stones) in the territory of the monastic complex. Between 1956-1957, the churches were repaired.

Lake Sevan is situated at an altitude of 1,900m above sea level. Its length is 78km and the maximum width is 56km. The lake itself is 1,260 sq. km and it is the largest body of water in Armenia and the Caucasus region. The average depth is 26.8m, the deepest place is Pokr (Small) Sevan at 83m. The volume of the water is 32.92 billion cubic m.
The Lake is cut into two parts by the Shorzha underwater dam - Mets (Big) Sevan (the average depth is 37.7m) and Pokr (Small) Sevan (50.9m). In summer, the surface water temperature reaches 21 degrees, and it rarely freezes in winter. Sevan is fed by 28 rivers and streams, among them is the Gavaraget, Argichin, Masrik, and Dzknaget Rivers, but only the Hrazdan River outflows from Lake Sevan. Endemic fish live in Lake Sevan, such as Barbus goktschaicus, Varicorhinus capoeta sevangi, and the Salmo ischchan. The Salmo ischchan has also been taken to Central Asia, where it has perfectly adapted to the climatic conditions there.
The whitefish was brought to Sevan from the Ladoga and Chud lakes of Russia in 1924, and is now productively breeding, and has gained great industrial importance in the area. Sevan National Park was founded in the basin of Sevan. It has four stocks and ten reserves. The lake is considered to be an important breeding center for gulls, the number of which is between 4,000-5,000 pair.
The basin of Sevan has been explored by hundreds of scientists and travelers. During all those explorations there was not even a hint of the existence of hidden historical monuments under the lake. But recently, the secret was revealed, when the water level decreased a little. 3,000-5,000-year-old ruins of castles and dwellings, and a large number of tombs were found.

Aghavnavank is a dilapidated Armenian monastic complex built in the village of Aghavnavank, in the Tavush province, during the 12-13th centuries. The church is set in a forest clearing “Aghnabat”, and is distinguished by a few virgin groves of Yew trees. The church is a small central domed structure with chapels, built on yellow, pockmarked stone. Two triangular niches are drilled on the eastern wall. The dome with its peaked hood stands on arches, which bridge the pilasters. The dome and the church roof were covered with hewn flagstones, a few of which have been preserved. The cornice shaped stones have fallen, and as such, the church is not functioning now. People still go to candle-lighting ceremonies here. One of the trees near the church is considered a “dream tree”, where you make a wish by tying handkerchiefs on the branches of the tree.

Haghartsin
The Haghartsin monastic complex is located 18km from the town of Dilijan, in the Tavush province of Armenia. It was built between the 10th and 13th centuries. The complex includes three churches, two vestibules (one in ruins), refectory, chapels, and khachkars (cross-stones). The bronze pot (350kg, now in National History Museum of Armenia) found in Haghartsin is a sample of the high art of metallurgy from the region, during that time. The engraving on the rim of the pot, marks 1232 as the date of its creation. There are four depictions on the pot, they are statues of lions, whose feet are also decorated. The complex was formed by structures constructed at different times. The oldest structure of the complex is the St. Gregory church (10th century), a cross-shaped structure with roofing supported by four internal abutments.
Haghartsin flourished in the early 13th century, under the authority of Khachatur of Taron. Before that, the monastery was abandoned for many years. The arches intersecting the inside and the soft lighting spread from skylights above, create a completely majestic image with its simplicity. The word “Minas” is marked on the north-eastern corner of the western attic, also the letter “M” repeatedly encountered in the rubble masonry, is probably the name of the architect. There are lots of visitors here all year round.

Goshavank is located in the center of the village of Gosh, 16km east of Dilijan. It includes several churches and sanctuaries built in the 12th – 13th centuries, forming a magnificent architectural complex. Goshavank was erected in the place of an older monastery, once known as Getik, which was destroyed by an earthquake in 1188. Mkhitar Gosh (1120 - 1213), was a scientist and author of numerous fables and parables, as well as the first criminal code of Armenia, he took part in the rebuilding of the monastery and called it Nor Getik (meaning New Getik). The monastery had a book depositary, which is the best example of such a building in Armenia (1241-1291). The famous embroidered khachkar (cross-stone) made by foreman Poghos (Paul) in 1291, is situated at the entrance of the church. After the death of Mkhitar Gosh (1213) the monastery was named Goshavank. In historical sources it was also known as a college, university, and academy. Armenian and foreign languages (Greek, Latin), grammar, philosophy, rhetoric, music, writing, and painting were taught in the school of the monastery. Many manuscripts were created and kept here.

Flora
There are not many forests in this area, except for the few parks of eastern oak and juniper on the mountain slopes of Vardenis and Sevan. Currently, many tree plantings are being conducted in the basin of Sevan. The flora of the concavity is mostly mountain-steppe․There are mountain meadows in the highlands, and floristic alpine carpets above 2,800m. There are sparse forests of juniper, oak, and maple in some places of the Areguni and Sevan mountain range. There are also sprawling juniper parks in the Sevan mountain range, while the Artanish peninsula is forested. Moist forest remnants have been preserved in the Dzknaget valley. The lake-free space of the Sevan concavity has been reforested with pine, holly, willow and poplar plantations, which are part of the “Sevan” National Park.
The flora of the Tavush province is more abundant due to the rain and humid environment there.
Dilijan’s forests occupy more than 340,000 hectares. The national forests conservation area was established for environmental enrichment, 60 years ago, and was named Dilijan National Park, in 2002. 94% of the national park is forested. There are about 40 species of valuable trees in the forest, particularly, hornbeam, oak, beech and 18 species of shrubs. There are also such deciduous trees as maple, birch, beech, ash, linden, elm and others.

Fauna
Rodents, wolves, foxes, rabbits, and badgers are very common in the Sevan basin. There are also such birds as mountain partridges, quail, larks, ducks, geese, heron and several species of fish in the lake. Reptiles are also common in this area. The Sevan National Park Reserve was established in the coastal zone. The Sevan basin is one of the densely populated and intensively used areas maintained for agricultural purposes. There is also a wide variety of birds there. There are resorts, campsites, and other recreational facilities there.
The fauna of Dilijan National Park is also rich. There are bears, wolves, marten, lynx, roe deer, otter, squirrel, hedgehog, wild boar, and such birds as quail, partridge, hippolais pallida, wild pigeon, Lammergeyer, dwarf eagle, griffon vulture, aquila chrysaetos and many species of hawks. There are also numerous reptiles and amphibians.

Safety and Security
All the networks operating in Armenia are available near the villages and higher zones, but in the gorges, the connection is partially available. In case of emergency, call 911, a service available throughout Armenia.

Technical parameters
Best period: April - November
Distance: 69km from Yerevan
Duration: 1 hour and 5min.
Biking trail length: 125km.
Ride duration: 6 hours (1st day), and 5 hours (2nd day).
Altitude from sea level: 1,244-1,920m
100% of the road is paved.
The best drink to have on hand is bottled water.

How to Reach the Trail
To reach the above-mentioned trail, you need to get to Sevanavank. It is most convenient to travel by taxi, which will cost 7,000-7,500 AMD . Taxi services are quite affordable throughout Armenia. We recommend taking a cab with a taximeter.