Mustagh Ata summit 7546m - gorgeous ski touring challenge in the Chinese Far West

Day to day

Day 1 - Visiting the capital

The beginning is free to allow you time to visit the capital. Dear skier friends, you cannot escape from a little bit of culture in Armenia, you'll definitely not regret.

In the afternoon, we'll visit the Garni pagan temple (on the UNESCO heritage list), the only one that survived from Armenian pagan culture. It was built by King Tiridate in the 1st century. Then we'll visit the monastery of Geghard (also on the world heritage list), one of Armenia's architecture's master pieces from the XIIIth century, once an important place for art and spirituality that for a long time sheltered the Sainte Lance relic.

Debrief of the coming week's programm with the guides. Don't be surprised, we have not planned to go up Mount Aragats. Despite its altitude (4095 m high), it's relatively flat, and quite long (2 days) and not of big interest since you have to push all the way down (we've done it and will you save you from this !)

Meals included: none, at your own expense and convenience

Accomodation included: hotel in Erevan

Day 2 - Mount Ara (2577 m) 

For our first climbing and skinning we head towards Central Armenia near Aragyugh village, nor far from Erevan. Mount Ara (2577 m) is an isolated cone, standing up between two mountain ranges, the Ghéghama mountain range and mount Aragats. The diameter of the base of the volcano is 8,5 km long and that of the crater is 2 km. The path leaving Araghugh village crosses a small forest and takes us up to the summits from where we have splendid views over all Armenia's mountain ranges as well as over the sacred Mount Ararat. On the way back, we visit the medieval Neghots monastry (XIIIth century). Night in Aghveran.

Ascent/descent :+800/-800m

Meals included: breakfast, picnic & dinner

Accomodation included: hotel

Day 3 - Mount Teghenis (2851 m)

We set off after breakfast, go ski touring and explore the Teghenis mountains. This outing will be in the forest up to 2300 m, we continue to climb up to 3000 m above sea level. At the end of the day, we ski down to our hotel in Aghveran. 

Ascent/descent: +950/-950m

Meals included: breakfast, picnic & dinner

Accomodation included: hotel

Day 4 - Mount Hatis

Situated less than half an hour from Erevan, on the Western side of the Guéghama mountain chain (the entire length of the mountain range is 57 km), mount Hatis is just cut for ski touring.

From the summit, the Ararat valley and surroudings mountains offer  a fascinating view. We climb up with skis and skins to reach the summit, then ski down to Kapoutan village. After the skiing, we visit Sevan lake, the « pearl of Armenia », hence the most important source of water in Armenia. The lake is situated at 1900 m above sea level and is one of the largest altitude lakes in the world. Sevan is famous for its different types of fish, especially for ishkhan, meaning the  «Prince fish». Visit of Sevanavank monastery (IXth century) located on a peninsula. Picnic for lunch. Dinner and accomodation in a guesthouse on Martouni.

Ascent/descent: +1000/-1000m

Meals included: breakfast, picnic & dinner

Accomodation included: hotel

Day 5 - Mont Sevsar

For the first part of the day we ski on mont Sevsar. After this outing, we head for Selim pass (2400 m) where we'll visit the caravanserail in Selim, the best preserved in Armenia. Before we arrive at our hotel, short stop to visit Zorats church, unique in its kind. Lunch (picnic). Dinner unplanned. Night in a hotel in Yeghegis.

Ascent/descent: +1000/-1000m

Meals included: breakfast, picnic & dinner

Accomodation included: hotel

Day 6 - Teksar mountain

Transfer to Goghtanik village, approx. 20 minutes by from our hotel in Yeghegis. We start climbing/skinning up Teksar montain. No dinner planned, at your own convenience. Night in hotel, in Yeghegis.

Ascent/descent: +1000/-1000m

Meals included: breakfast, picnic & dinner

Accomodation included: hotel

Day 7 - Small Caucase

Short transfer to Vardahovit village (2050 m). Ski touring in the Small Caucasus mountain range. Superb view of the Vardenis mountain range.

Back to Ereven. Farewell dinner at a traditional restaurant. Night in Erevan.

Ascent/descent: +1000/-1000m

Meals included: breakfast, picnic & dinner

Accomodation included: hotel

Day 8 - Airport transfer. End of trip.

Meals included: Petit déjeuner (depending on time of airport transfer)