From Ilkasar to the Angels’ Gorge

• peaksam April 4, 2021October 4, 2026

The April 4 hike was in the Ararat region, where we had to climb Mount Ilkasar and then continue our way to the Angels’ Gorge. Mount Ilkasar is located in the southwestern part of the Yeranos mountain range, in the upper reaches of the Azat and Vedi rivers. The height of the peak is 1,462 meters. On the summit of the mountain there are ruins of a fortress-type structure. We started walking from the village of Narek. The slopes of Ilkasar are steep, and it seemed we would have to climb with difficulty. But on the contrary, we reached the summit quite easily. By 12:00 we were already resting on the summit. Although there are no ascents on the road leading to the Angels’ Gorge, most of the route passes along a highway that skirts the gentle heights. It seemed this route would be easy to cover, but in this case too it was the opposite.

Along the way, nature in places resembled a desert, and even the snow-capped mountains added to that, including the slender Mount Kotuts, which looked like a tower. The water ran out quickly for us, and we felt even more vividly the feelings of people lost in the desert when they are left without water or get lost. We ended the hike near the village of Dashtakar.

We walked 15 km and covered 610 m of elevation gain, learned lessons, and got to know a nature of Armenia that is a little different for us.