Armenia being one of the less discovered countries for skiing is still worth a try because of its mountains and resorts. Even though there might be other more famous destinations for skiing, Armenia is on its way of becoming popular. While there are many reasons to love our country, sports lovers would also appreciate Armenia as a beautiful skiing destination.
Here are the best ski resorts in Armenia:
- Tsaghkhadzor ski resort
- Jermuk ski resort
Consider that the best skiing time in Armenia starts in November/December and can last until March, or even mid-April. During that time, these towns turn into some of the most popular tourist centers in Armenia. Remember me when you visit any of these ski resorts and ping me on Instagram or Twitter with #ArmeniaTravelTips. I’m curious to know your opinion on them! Now, let’s just jump into exploring everything in detail so you can plan your adventurous skiing trip with ease.
Tsaghkadzor ski resort – most famous skiing destination for everyone
Tsaghkhadzor ski resort is probably the most well-known skiing and snowboarding place in Armenia. It is located in Kotayk province of Armenia which is only 60km away from the capital city Yerevan. The town is located at 1750 meters above sea level on the southeast slope of mount Teghenis. The sporting facilities in Tsaghkadzor were initially built to prepare Soviet athletes for the 1988 Winter Olympics. Later, the town was developed into a ski resort, and the old lifts were replaced with modern ones.
There are about 30km of slopes and 6 lifts available for skiing and snowboarding. The area is situated between the elevations of 1966 and 2819 meters (853 meter difference). About half of the slopes are easy and half of them are intermediate in terms of difficulty. And there is only a small portion that is difficult. So, if you’re in Armenia and want to try skiing for the first time you’re good to do it. There are also instructors available if you need help.
Besides being a ski resort, Tsaghkadzor is also known for the Kecharis Monastery, which you should not miss to visit once you’re in the town. There are many private guides that will take you there. So, if you need any help organizing your trip I have a separate post on private tour guides in Armenia. Hope, you’ll find a reliable guide and thank me later! 😉
Here are also links to the slopes map, trail map, and a live webcam to check whether there is snow in Tsaghkadzor or not. You can also find more detailed information here. Check those before you make a final decision to spend your skiing experience in Tsaghkhadzor.
Pricing
Below I listed all the prices you may need for skiing in Tsaghkadzor ski resort. You can rent the necessary equipment at the entrance of the cableway. Also, consider that the hotels can have their services and skiing equipment for their guests to hire at a lower price. So, don’t hesitate to ask them at reception.
| Ticket for one time downhill (ski-pass) | 2000 AMD |
| Full time ticket | 12000 AMD |
| Ski rent | 5000 AMD |
| Snowboard | 7000 AMD |
| Uniform (Special ski equipment) | 5000 AMD |
| Glasses | 2000 AMD |
| Helmet | 2000 AMD |
| Gloves | 2000 AMD |
| Quad bike | 25000 AMD/hour |
| Snowboard hour | 30000 AMD/hour |
| Instructor services / Private lesson hour | 10000 AMD/hour |
| Ski storage | 2000 AMD/day |
| Ski repair | 10000 AMD |
Jermuk ski resort – skiing and healing combined
As opposed to Tsaghkadzor, the slopes of Jermuk are much smaller. There are about 3km of slopes available for skiing and snowboarding along with 1 lift. The winter sports area is situated between the elevations of 2100 and 2438 meters. The facilities are modern, and the equipment corresponds to international standards. So, you can still enjoy skiing here without a worry especially if you are an amateur.
Jermuk ski resort is situated in the town of Jermuk, in Vayots Dzor province of Armenia. The town is located at a height of 2080 meters above sea level. It is dominated by the Vardenis mountain range from the north and the Vayk range from the south. The height of the surrounding mountains ranges between 2500 and 3500 meters, all covered with forests and alpine meadows.
Besides being a winter sports center, Jermuk is also known for its fresh air, waterfall, artificial lakes, walking trails, the surrounding forests, hot springs, and mineral water pools. You might have also heard that Jermuk is also known as the center of medical tourism in Armenia, offering several health resorts and spas. So, while you’re enjoying winter in the mountains, don’t forget to try some of the spa services available at your hotel for a full relaxation.
Pricing
The prices are around the same as in Tsaghkadzor, with some minor differences. A ski lift costs 1000 AMD at a time. A ski pass service is 6000 AMD. Renting a full ski kit will cost you 6000 AMD. And a snowboarding kit is 10000 AMD. As with the case of Tsaghkadzor, in Jermuk, too, you can rent the necessary equipment at the entrance of the cableway. For your convenience, there is also a shop for you to buy the equipment that you need.
Wrapping up
Touring in winter can become a memorable experience especially if you’re into adventurous stuff like skiing. As such, Armenia managed to become a hospitable tourist destination for winter sports. Don’t miss the opportunity to have a great trip to one of the beautiful ski resorts I mentioned. And definitely make sure to tag me in your cool photos and share some of your thoughts on those ski resorts with me on Instagram or Twitter with #ArmeniaTravelTips. I am looking forward to them!
And, of course, besides skiing, when in Armenia during the winter you can have a lot of other things to do, to enjoy your time spent in our country. Check out my post about places to visit in Armenia in winter. I mentioned both skiing resorts there, of course, but also a couple of other options for winter travel, which you might like.
Featured image credit: Pixabay on Pexels
