Young Hikers in the Kasagh Gorge
On February 23, 2025, we walked through the Kasagh Gorge with the children, getting to know its well-known and lesser-known historical and cultural heritage. We started the hike from the village of Ohanavan. Winter had covered the village, the surrounding heights and, of course, the Kasagh Gorge with its white blanket.
We walked around Hovhannavank, admired the khachkars carved like lace, and also visited the cave below the monastery. Not far from Hovhannavank stands the humble and little-known Srkevilavank, which, although half-ruined, is very beautiful. Around the church we saw traces of the ancient Kiklopyan (Cyclopean) fortress, where people already lived in the Bronze Age.
It was right near Srkevilavank that we began to descend into the Kasagh Gorge. The cloudy sky emphasized the depth of the gorge and the snow on the vertical slopes even more, while the cold roar of the Kasagh River conveyed a mysterious feeling. It seemed that during winter hikes the children should walk in the footprints made by the person in front, without being distracted by anything else, since winter hikes are not easy. However, they were not only walking, but also playing snowballs, trying to overtake the line, sometimes falling behind and running to catch up with the group. In a word, they moved more and spent more energy than on hikes without snow.
At first we covered a section of the road along car tire tracks, which ended near a cave called Karmir Vank (according to the sign placed there, it is called the rock-cut church of Surb Astvatsatsin, but according to specialists, that is not the correct name). From here on we walked through snow that, near the exit from the gorge, reached almost up to our knees.
The weather was also very beautiful. At first it was cloudy, then for a while the blue sky opened, then it became cloudy again and snowflakes started falling, and then the blue sky opened once more.
And so, with conversation and chatting, walking through the snow and sometimes tumbling in it, we reached Saghmosavank. From the height of the monastery we looked at the impressive road we had covered through the gorge, admired our own strength inside, and returned to Yerevan.
In total, we walked 7.5 km and covered 300 meters of elevation gain.
Would you like to join us?
We regularly organize hikes and camps for children. See what is coming up and join us.
Upcoming hikes and camps →