Adventures in the Dzoraget Gorge

• peaksam April 30, 2024October 4, 2026

We have previously walked with the children along different parts of the Dzoraget Gorge: from Arevatsag to Kurtan, from Lori Fortress to Stepanavan (where we also organized a litter cleanup), and from Stepanavan to the Dzoraget Gorge. This time we arrived a little way from the village of Yaghdan and began descending from the top of the Dzoraget Gorge. Yaghdan is known as a Greek village. The name is explained by the following meaning: “slippery with oil”. Throughout the whole time, the noisy river kept rolling by down in the gorge, so Tumanyan’s roaring torrent never left our minds. Though from time to time the river’s noise was drowned out by the children’s voices. In places the gorge’s steep slopes, inclined at nearly 90 degrees, were lined with trees that had already turned fully green. The whole trail was covered with snowdrops, so we were even able to make a bouquet and take a photo with it. For April, it was really hot. On the river bank we had a long rest, wet our feet and continued the hike. We had to climb out of the gorge to the village of Agarak. This time we had the opportunity to discover the gem of the Dzoraget: the “Chgnavor” (Hermit) cave dwelling and church (ruins) dating from the 12th–13th centuries, set in the rocks.