In Armenia there is a unique high-mountain Lake Sevan. It is very popular among tourists, and all guests visiting this country definitely want to admire its unprecedented beauty. The peculiarity of the lake is that the water in it is fresh. The residents themselves call it “blue-eyed”, because of the incredible tints of blue and blue colors, smoothly turning into azure shades.
Often, the play of the sun's rays on the surface of the water creates the feeling that it is “a piece of heaven on earth” (this is exactly what enthusiastic tourists say about it).
The lake appeared, according to geologists, 25,000 years ago and is of tectonic origin.
Geography and climate
The height of Sevan is 1916 m above sea level, its dimensions reach 35 km (width) and 75 km (length). Mirror area 1914 sq. km. Conventionally, Sevan is divided into two parts – Big and Small. The depth of the first reaches 50 m, and the second 100 m and it has very strong underwater currents. Oddly enough, 28 different streams, springs and rivers flow into the lake, but only one large river, Hrazdan, flows out, passing through the whole of Yerevan, and subsequently uniting with the border river Araks.
Among the fauna of the lake, the “prince fish” or Sevan trout (another name is Ishkhan) is well known. The latter is considered a special delicacy - it has a “competitor” - whitefish, which was brought in 1920 from Lake Ladoga. We must not forget about the crayfish of Sevan, the taste of which is known far beyond the borders of Armenia.
It should be noted that the local climatic conditions are very harsh. In twenty minutes you can see a thunderstorm, sun, rainbow, fog and hail. Although the main factor that you should pay special attention to is ultraviolet radiation. The sun in Sevan is very “evil” and protective means (creams and sprays) practically do not work here. You can get burns even while sitting under an awning. 
Tourist Information
The swimming season itself is very short (from mid-July to early September), but despite this, a holiday here leaves an unforgettable impression. It gets quite chilly at night, but the sight of thousands of reflected swaying stars and the sound of the surf make you forget about it completely.
The lake is surrounded by three huge mountain ranges, which, like caring guards, monitor its peace. Only they failed to save Sevan from the officials. In the mid-30s, a decision was made to build a canal for a hydroelectric power station, and, due to the powerful outflow of water, the level began to drop very quickly.
As a result, the only island on Sevan turned into a peninsula. The 9th century Sevanavank monastery, located on the shore of the lake, played a special role in the spiritual and historical life of the Armenian people. At the moment, the monastery has a theological seminary, opened after the collapse of communist power. 
As time has shown, many guests who have visited here take a piece of this “azure paradise” forever in their hearts. Lake Sevan is definitely worth a visit and it will leave an unforgettable impression for many years!
On the banks of Sevan there are several more Armenian monasteries of varying degrees of antiquity: Ayrivank on the western slope and the Vanevan monastery in the village of Artsvaninst. You should not ignore several khachkar cemeteries (khachkar literally means “stone cross” in Armenian).
When to go?
You can come to Lake Sevan for swimming for a short period in July and August. On the shore of the lake you always feel a slight coolness, even in the hottest weather. This is why local residents appreciate holidays in Sevan during the hot months of summer. In winter, the climate is unfavorable, usually sub-zero temperatures, but the lake itself is sometimes not covered with ice at all. The landscapes in Sevan are beautiful at all times of the year.
- one of the main resorts in Armenia. There is no sea in the country, and some people go to Georgian Batumi, but getting there is much longer and more expensive. And here it is only 70 km from Yerevan to sandy beaches and clean water. That’s why the locals call it the Armenian Sea.
Sevan and its surroundings are one of the most beautiful sights in Armenia, which are definitely worth a visit if you come to this country. The lake is located at an altitude of 1900 m above sea level among the mountains and is the largest in the Caucasus. 28 rivers flow into Sevan, and the only river that flows out is Hrazdan (as on Lake Baikal).
Sevan in summer
In July and August, the water warms up to +20 degrees, which already allows swimming. Residents of Yerevan and the Ararat Plain come to Lake Sevan to escape the unbearable summer heat; it is indeed much cooler here than in the valley.
This is the only place in Armenia where you can catch crayfish or trout (or buy them in shops) and cook them right away. On the sandy beaches there are sun loungers, volleyball courts, and you can rent a boat or jet ski here - everything is like at a real resort, only the water is still cool, not like in the sea.
View from the peninsula to the lake
Sights of Sevan and surrounding areas
The most famous landmark of Sevan is Sevanavank monastery, located on an elevated peninsula. From here you have excellent views of the turquoise surface of the lake. Interestingly, the monastery was originally built on an island, but due to lower water levels, the island turned into a peninsula. The monastery was built by monks in the 8th century from black volcanic tuff, by the way, “sev” in Armenian means black.
Be sure to check out Hayravank Monastery, which is on the western shore of the lake, is also more than 1100 years old. The atmosphere here is much more peaceful than in Sevanovka with its sellers and crowds of people.
A little further south there is an ancient Armenian village Noratus(sometimes called Noraduz) and the world's largest khachkar cemetery nearby. Khachkars are large blocks of stone with crosses carved on them; they can be found everywhere in Armenia, but there are a lot of them here. Near Noratus you will find secluded beaches; everything on the peninsula is occupied by hotels and restaurants.
You can travel around Sevan by car, motorcycle or even bicycle along the circular road. The entire journey takes about 200 km, but it will certainly be an interesting experience.
Small towns on the west coast haven't changed much since the Soviet Union, but you can still find a couple of hotels to stay in for the night. From Martuni the road goes to the Selim pass towards Yeghegnadzor, but do not try to drive along it in winter, it may be impassable due to snow drifts. On the southern coast you will find several more monasteries hidden from all eyes: Vanevank and Makenis.
Lake Sevan is a miracle of nature, neighboring in the sky, the most beautiful of the high-mountain lakes, located in a huge bowl of mountains at an altitude of 1916 m above sea level. Its water is clear and pure; according to legend, only the stars and gods drank from it.
One of the most beautiful sights of Armenia is Lake Sevan and its surroundings. There are several hypotheses about the origin of Sevan. Most likely, this lake was born several thousand years ago as a result of volcanic processes that occurred in the Geghama mountains surrounding it. On the southern slopes to the lake there are several dozen geometric round craters filled with fresh water.
In ancient times, Lake Sevan was located within the ancient Armenian province of Syunik and was called in Armenian Lake Gelamov, Geghama (Gelama) Sea (Armenian: Գեղամա ծով), Gegharkunik (Armenian: Գեղարքունիք) (Gelarkuni), Sevang. In ancient Armenian sources, Lake Sevan was also called “sea”.
It is believed that the lake got its name from the name of the ancient temple of Sev Vank, built on the northwestern peninsula in the 9th century. This name means “Black Monastery” in Armenian, and the temple is indeed made of black tuff. There is a version about an even more ancient origin of the name: deciphering cuneiform on a stone found on the shore of a lake, which dates back to the 9th-6th centuries. BC e., made it possible to establish the origin of Sevan from the Urartian sunia - “lake”.
There are several legends about the origin of the name “Sevan”. According to one of them, the Armenians of Van, forced to leave their region, moved to the shores of Lake Sevan, which reminded them of their homeland. But they did not like the cold and harsh highland climate. Remembering the soft and warm air of Lake Van, they exclaimed with bitterness: “Black Van (sev Van) got to us, black Van!”
Movses Khorenatsi, an Armenian author of the 5th century, preserved a legend about the history of the origin of the ancient name of the lake - Gelam (Gegham). Thus, talking about the settlement of the descendants of Hayk, the legendary ancestor of the Armenians, Khorenatsi writes:
As the years passed, Gelam gave birth to Kharma in Armavir and, leaving him to live in Armavir along with his sons, he himself went to the northeast to another mountain, to the shore of a lake. He builds and populates the shore of the lake and he also gives names after his name to this mountain - Gel, and to the villages - Gelarkuni; the lake is also called.
In 921, the Armenian king Ashot II the Iron, having fortified himself on the island of Sevan, defeated the Arab army of the military leader Beshir on the shore of the lake, clearing the Ani kingdom from foreign invaders. The battle went down in history as the Battle of Sevan.
28 rivers flow into Sevan, all small, the largest - Maerik - does not reach even 50 km. Only Hrazdan flows out of the lake. However, it will not be possible to restore the previous supply and water level using the waters of the flowing rivers alone, because evaporation in the hot, treeless cauldron between the mountains accounts for 88% of the water brought by the rivers. Therefore, it was decided to permanently release additional water into Sevan from the south, from the Arpa basin through a 48 km long tunnel under the Vardenis ridge, and to afforest the mountain slopes surrounding Sevan. The area of the lake itself is 1200 sq. km, its basin is approximately four times larger - 4850 sq. km. There are 2 cities, two towns, about 100 villages, where more than 250,000 people live.
Once upon a time, the shores of Sevan were covered with dense forests - beech, oak and other valuable types of trees that were used in shipbuilding. Nowadays, forest areas have become scarce, and therefore forest planting is being intensively carried out in coastal zones.
At the same time, the maximum length of the lake from the villages. Tsovagyugh in the northwest to the port of Tsovak in the southeast was 75 km, and the maximum width from the shore of Artung Bay to the north to the regional center of Martuni in the south was 37 km. The minimum width from the lighthouse on the Shogel Spit in the south to Cape Uchtash in the north was only 8 km. The part of the lake to the west of this narrow bridge is called Small Sevan, and the maximum depth there was 84 m, in the east, at the exit from Artung Bay - 51 m, and on the bridge between these parts - 58 m.
The flora and fauna of this area are quite diverse: about 1,600 species of plants and trees grow here, almost 20 species of mammals live here, but there are especially many birds. These are the stone gray partridge, mallard, ogre, gulls, and during the migration period pelicans, flamingos, mute swan, screamer swan, cormorants and others rest on the lake - up to 180 species in total, some of them nest.
Tourists can travel around Sevan in different ways: by bicycle, motorcycle or car along the ring road, or by rowing and sailing boats along the coast. The length of travel by any means around Sevan is now at least 200 km.
The lake is home to endemic fish species: Sevan beglu (barbel) (Barbus goktschaicus), Sevan khramulya (Varicorhinus capoeta sevangi), Sevan trout (ishkhan, Salmo ischchan). The latter was previously represented by 4 subspecies (today the winter bahtak and bojak subspecies have become extinct); is endemic to Sevan, but its existence is under threat due to competing fish species introduced or introduced into the lake from other places. These are: whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus), which was brought from Lakes Ladoga and Lake Peipus, silver crucian carp (Carassius gibelio) and narrow-toed crayfish (Astacus leptodactylus).
On the shore of the lake, fish farms were created for the artificial propagation of Ishkhan. While the Ishkhan is under threat of extinction in Sevan, it appears to have taken root well in Lake Issyk-Kul, where it was brought from Lake Sevan.
In the Lake Sevan basin, the Sevan National Park has been created with four nature reserves and ten game reserves. The lake is an important population center for the Armenian gull (Larus armenicus), the number of which reaches 4000-5000 pairs. Other birds that stop at the lake are the American swan (Cygnus columbianus), the lesser white-fronted goose (Anser erythropus), the red-crested pochard (Netta rufina), the white-eyed pochard (Aythya nyroca) and the black-headed gull (Larus ichthyaetus).
Lake Sevan is famous for its cultural monuments and recreational resources located on the coast: mineral springs, clean air, beautiful nature. On the shore of the lake there is an artificial forest (pine, broad-leaved species and sea buckthorn).
On July 26, 2012, at the bottom of Sevan, at a depth of about 16 meters, a sunken 18-meter wooden ship was discovered. According to the discoverers, part of the find was preserved almost entirely, the other part was damaged. Underwater excavations are planned to be carried out at the site where the ship was discovered.
Related Posts:
Sevan is one of the most popular and visited cities in Armenia. Much credit for this, of course, belongs to the real pearl of Armenia, Lake Sevan, which is the second largest alpine freshwater lake in the world (for reference: the honorable first place belongs to the South American lake). But I cannot describe all the splendor of Sevan with dry facts alone: picturesque mountains turning into alpine meadows, clean air, a sandy bottom and, of course, the magical azure hue of the water fascinate and captivate, forcing you to return here again and again.
I love water very much, the sea is my love forever, and in Armenia Sevan replaces for me that same sea with an endless expanse of water. Unless the water in it is salty. :)
I first visited Sevan when I was a child: then I was solely interested in the opportunity to splash in the water - so cold, and at the same time so attractive. Now I love Sevan for something completely different: for its views, as if straight out of an impressionist painting, for the opportunity to collect my thoughts while looking at the water surface, for the peace that gives way to the cries of Sevan seagulls, for amazing sunsets, as well as for new, hitherto undiscovered me attractions in the surrounding area.
I hope my story will help you feel the spirit of Sevan, after which you will always want to visit this beautiful city!
How to get there
I’ll tell you how to get to Sevan directly from the airport.
How to get from the airport to the city
Taxi and private transfer, in my opinion, are the most convenient ways to get to Sevan. First of all, because hotels can be located on different parts of the lake coastline, and even if you choose intercity transport, you will still have to catch a ride or a taxi to be taken directly to the desired hotel.
Considering that the average taxi price per kilometer is about 0.25 USD (100 Armenian drams / AMD), a trip from Yerevan airport to Sevan will cost you only 18–19 USD (9,000 AMD), and from Gyumri - 33 USD ( 16,000 AMD).
It will be a little more expensive to order an individual transfer, which is offered by many local travel companies and hotels. In this case, we will be talking about about 45 USD if the trip starts from Yerevan, but you are guaranteed to be met at the airport, and the trip will be as comfortable as possible.
By train
As I noted earlier, direct railway communication between Russia and Armenia is closed for an indefinite period. This is due to two regional conflicts: Armenian-Azerbaijani and Russian-Georgian. In this regard, I will tell you about the route by train to the lake if you are already on the territory of Armenia.
From Yerevan
You can get to Sevan by train, or as I call it “mega retro train”, if you are already in Yerevan. However, this option is only possible in the summer months. The schedule changes every year, so you need to check it in advance. But usually trains from Yerevan to Sevan run from mid-June to early September, that is, during the high season.
Electric trains depart not from the Main Yerevan Station, which I talked about, but from the Almast station, which is located in the north of Yerevan. You can get to this station by bus number 24.
How to get from the train station to the lake
Trains arrive at Peninsula Station, which is located directly opposite the most tourist area of Sevan with the towering Sevanavank monastery complex.
Trains are not the fastest route option, since they are not high-speed, and in the absence of traffic jams it will be faster to get here by bus. But there is still a plus: trains also go to Shorzha, which I will talk about below.
So, you can get to the Peninsula station from Yerevan in about 1.5 hours (ticket price - 1.25 USD or 600 AMD), and to Shorzha station in 2 hours (ticket price - 2 USD or 1,000 AMD).
By bus
Getting to Armenia by bus is preferred either by aerophobes or by those who want to reduce their travel budget as much as possible. To be fair, it is worth noting that with the ever-increasing number of direct flights from Russia, the difference between the price of a bus ticket and a plane ticket is becoming very insignificant.
Today there are a huge number of companies providing bus transportation from many Russian cities to Armenia. In general, we can say that during the season, buses run every day. You can read more about this.
On my own behalf, I would like to add that I do not recommend choosing this method from November to March, since the pass in Upper Lars, through which all transport from Russia to Georgia and Armenia passes, is very often closed due to weather conditions, and there is a risk of getting stuck there even for several days.
From Yerevan
Buses from Russia almost always stop near the Yerevan station. You can find out more about it, and how to get from the station to the center of Yerevan. In addition, the route of many transport companies goes through Sevan, so feel free to check this fact, and you can ask for a stop right near the lake.
I would also like to note that there is a bus service between Yerevan and Sevan. I’ll say right away that this method is not the most convenient and fastest, but it is economical. Buses to Sevan depart from the Northern Bus Station of Yerevan, which can be reached from the city center by bus No. 46 (fare is about 0.20 USD). As the name suggests, the Northern Bus Station is located north of the center of Yerevan. It takes about 25 minutes to get there from the center, taking into account traffic jams.
The North Station building is small, made of orange tuff (a local volcanic stone). There are a lot of intercity minibuses near the station, and you need to head to them after you get off at the desired stop.
Already here you need to transfer to minibus No. 317 or bus No. 316, which will take you to Sevan. The cost of travel by bus will be about 1.25 USD, and by minibus - 1.5 USD.
As I already mentioned, this type of transport does not reach directly the lake and the hotels located on the shore.
How to get from the stop to the lake
The bus stops in the city of Sevan, the exact location can be seen on the map below:
Therefore, you will need to catch a taxi to your destination. Some, by the way, negotiate with the minibus driver himself, and for a small surcharge he drives further to the lake.
By car
When traveling by car from Russia, there may be the same problems that I described in the section above. In addition, in the summer season, be prepared for a long queue in the same Verheem Lars. And yet, if you decide to make your own route around Armenia, your own car will come in handy.
From Moscow and St. Petersburg
The distance from Moscow to Sevan is about 2,200 km.
From St. Petersburg it’s a little more - almost 3,000 km.
The road runs along the M4 Don highway, covering a number of large cities, including Rostov-on-Don, Pyatigorsk, Nalchik and Vladikavkaz. Further, after you pass Lars, the road will already pass along the Georgian side.
Clue:
Sevan - the time is now
Hour difference:
Moscow − 1
Kazan − 1
Samara 0
Ekaterinburg 1
Novosibirsk 3
Vladivostok 6
When is the season? When is the best time to go
I can definitely assure you that Sevan is beautiful at any time of the year. Of course, traditionally the Sevan season opens from mid-June and lasts until mid-September, when the air and water temperatures are the most optimal for swimming. However, who would dare to downplay the beauty of such beautiful lakes as Garda and Lago Maggiore in Italy, the Austrian Lake Wolfgansee or, for example, Lake Geneva, in the so-called “off season”. So the beauty of Sevan does not know the time of year.
Perhaps the only fly in the ointment here is the lack of attention and support from local authorities, because Sevan has every chance to stand on a par with the resorts mentioned above. But for now, unfortunately, the main emphasis is on the summer season, and during the rest of the year Sevan is not crowded, which is why most hotels prefer to close.
But let’s take a closer look at all four seasons in Sevan.
Sevan in summer
As I already mentioned, summer is the main season in Sevan. The main influx of tourists occurs in mid-July and August. This is the hottest season (both in terms of weather and prices). The air temperature in July-August can reach +30 °C during the daytime (at the same time, it is still quite cool in the evening - about +18 °C), and the traditionally cold water in the lake warms up to +22–24 °C.
Also keep in mind that on Saturday and Sunday locals, mostly Yerevan residents, come to Sevan to swim, so finding a free hotel room is extremely problematic.
It is very important to take sunscreen with maximum SPF in Sevan in summer - the weather here is very deceptive. You won’t even notice how, hiding in the shade, you will earn yourself a sunburn, because even the wind burns in Sevan. And to become like the Sevan crayfish on the very first day of rest is a dubious joy. :)
Sevan in autumn
The swimming season in Sevan ends in mid-September, but the “Indian summer” is felt especially brightly during this season. The sun is still quite gentle, but not scorching, and the greenery around is in no hurry to give way to autumn colors.
From the end of September to mid-October, autumn comes into its own. The air temperature, both during the day and in the evening, fluctuates quite sharply, but generally stays within +12 °C. Therefore, at this time of year you definitely need to take warm clothes with you.
Perhaps the most unsuitable month, in my opinion, for a trip to Sevan is mid-November to early December. At this time it is already quite cold and there is often an unpleasant wind, especially directly near the lake. The autumn colors are already fading into the background, and the snow is not yet dense enough on the mountains around to please the eye.
Sevan in spring
Despite the fact that the beach season in Sevan begins in the summer, the majority of hotels open their doors from the end of April. I think this policy is due to the great interest in the resort during the May holidays. In fairness, it is worth noting that especially brave tourists manage to swim in the lake already at this time of year, amusing and surprising the locals. And this is at an average water temperature of no more than +15 °C!
The weather in Sevan in May is quite comfortable for walking, but in the evening it still wouldn’t hurt to wear warmer clothes.
Sevan in winter
The low season at the resort begins in December and lasts until the end of March. Finding a functioning hotel at this time of year is quite problematic, but I assure you that winter Sevan has a special magic and will pleasantly surprise you with its magical views. Especially if the air temperature is so low that the water in the lake freezes, as it did this year (which, by the way, is quite a rare occurrence).
The photo below only partially conveys all this beauty! This year, winter Sevan was a real paradise for photographers.
Therefore, take your time and spend at least an hour or two admiring this picture painted by nature itself!
Sevan - weather by month
Clue:
Sevan - weather by month
What are the prices for holidays?
Holidays in Sevan can be either very budget-friendly or quite expensive in comparison with Armenian prices. Speaking about prices in general, I first of all mean accommodation, since food here is quite cheap, as well as throughout Armenia.
Accommodation
The highest season in hotels is July and August. At the same time, it is interesting that it is quite difficult for me to focus on prices in hotels, since here you can find hotels from the same category, where the cost of accommodation can be either 50 USD for two with breakfast, or exactly twice as much. At the same time, if you overpay, you may not notice much of a difference.
If you are traveling with a large group, you can immediately book a large cottage or villa at the hotel. This will save you enough money, and at the same time you will receive the same service as when booking a hotel room.
The most budget option would be the previously mentioned private cottages for rent. You may not find most of them on the Internet, and you will negotiate the price and other issues with the owner on the spot. The cost of such mini-cottages starts from about 20 USD per day.
By the way, what is noteworthy is that prices for accommodation on the lake absolutely do not depend on the area. I can even take the liberty of saying that there is practically no division into more or less prestigious areas here. The price in Sevan hotels is determined depending on the status and star rating of the hotel itself and the services it offers.
Nutrition
I will tell you more about the restaurants in Sevan below, but it should be noted here that the prices for food in Sevan are more than acceptable, and the portions are simply huge.
Please note that in many cafes and restaurants of the resort you will not find a menu - prices will be told to you verbally. It is important to check the cost of everything, including snacks, otherwise in the end you may be quoted a tidy sum, and it turns out that, for example, the same snacks are priced almost higher than a huge portion of kebab. Of course, such unscrupulous workers are extremely rare, but you should still be careful so as not to spoil your impression of this wonderful resort.
Transport
To be honest, I didn’t see any public transport at the resort. If you need to go somewhere, you can use hotel transport (the most expensive option) or ask for a taxi. In this case, the approximate price guideline for you will be 0.20 USD per kilometer.
You can also catch a ride and negotiate a price with the driver. Many locals often give tourists lifts for free. For some reason, they often end up “on the road”, wherever you are going. :)
Main attractions. What to see
Sevan is not only a stunningly beautiful lake. Once in these parts, you cannot deny yourself the pleasure of touching ancient history and not visiting a number of wonderful attractions, the main part of which are beautiful authentic monasteries and temples.
Before the trip, please note that it is preferable to take comfortable shoes. In summer, a hat and sunscreen are also required, as the Sevan sun can be merciless.
Top 3
Ayrivank Monastery
During a trip to Sevan, many travelers limit themselves to visiting only the Sevanavank Monastery, the main attraction of the city. However, real treasures are hidden in slightly more inaccessible places, one of which is the Ayrivank Monastery (or, as it is also called, Ayravank), which is of much greater interest to me personally.
Founded back in the 9th century, the Ayrivank monastery complex struck me with its contrast of the strict architecture of the building and the richly decorated vestibule. The fact is that at the time when the monastery was built, the architecture was maintained in the most ascetic style. But the porch was decorated according to the traditions of the 13th century.
And, of course, the amazing view of the lake that opens right from the church can’t help but take your breath away!
Norashensky Nature Reserve and “Island of Seagulls”
For me, seagulls are one of the symbols of Sevan (without exaggeration).
Lake Sevan was awarded the status of a national park in 1978 to protect water resources, flora and fauna and the ecosystem as a whole.
The Sevan National Park includes a number of reserves with a strict environmental regime. One of the most famous reserves of the national park is the Norashen Reserve, the purpose of which is to protect the unique nesting colony of Armenian gulls, listed in the Red Book.
“Island of Seagulls” is simply a must-see, because soon it may disappear altogether. The fact is that as the water level in the lake rises, the island is gradually sinking under water, and perhaps soon the colonies of the Armenian gull, which are among the largest in the world, will have to look for other gull islands.
The extinct volcano Armaghan
If you are tired of standard routes and prefer to go where the average tourist does not go, then you definitely need to climb Mount Armaghan!
Armagan is an extinct volcano at an altitude of 2,829 meters. From here you can see a simply indescribable view of Lake Sevan and the Geghama Mountains. But this is not the only thing that awaits you when climbing the mountain: at the very top there is a small chapel, and also a small lake of unique beauty with crystal clear water.
Armagan is located near the city of Martuni. I advise you to develop such a route with a guide or travel agent; it will be problematic on your own. But professionals will take you to the most beautiful places; part of the climb is even organized on horseback. In general, there will be enough emotions for a long time!
Churches and temples. Which ones are worth visiting?
Sevanavank
The Sevanavank monastery complex is the main attraction and the most visited monastery of Sevan. Simple and ascetic, it is notable for the fact that it is entirely built from massive blocks of black tuff, which is very difficult to carve, process and polish.
This medieval monastery was built back when Sevan was an island and not a peninsula, in 874 by Princess Mariam, daughter of the founder of the Armenian Bagratid kingdom, Ashot I Bagratuni.
The churches of Surb Arakelots and Surb Karapet, as well as a cell and a theological seminary, have survived to this day, and the observation deck of the complex offers a magnificent view of the lake and mountains.
Ayrivank
I have already described this monastery, built in the 9th century, in more detail just above. Ayrivank is located on the western shore of the lake, on the outskirts of the village of the same name.
To find it, you need to turn onto the M10 highway, towards Gavar. Having passed the villages of Tsovazard and Lchap, it is better to ask the locals for a shortcut. I did just that, so I don’t remember the exact route now. But it won’t be difficult for you to recognize Ayrivank, since it is the only one rising on a rocky cape on the very shore of the lake.
Makenis
Makenis Monastery (or Makenyats) is another significant attraction of Sevan, which is not so famous among tourists.
The monastery is located in the southern part of the lake, about 5 km from the shore, in the village of Makenis. In addition to its architectural significance, the monastery played a major role in the spread of written culture in Armenia and since the early Middle Ages it has been one of the educational and religious centers of the country.
The complex consists of the main church in the architectural ensemble, Surb Astvatsatsin, a chapel and a vestibule. If you visit the monastery complex, be sure to also pay attention to the khachkars, as well as the interesting carvings on the church, in particular in the form of horses.
Vanevan
Another little-known monastery among tourists hid from its heads among the Geghama Mountains. Vanevan, built in the 10th century, is located in the village of Artsvanist, on the edge of the gorge.
The main church of the monastery complex is the Church of St. Grigor Lusavorich, which was built in 903. It is noteworthy that the church itself is built from rough-hewn basalt, and the arches and domes are made from tuff.
In Vanevan you can enjoy absolute silence and unity with nature.
***
All these beautiful monasteries are active, and absolutely anyone can get here. Entrance to the churches and monasteries of Sevan is free, although donations are welcome. On Sundays, as well as on church holidays, services are held in the monasteries, however, even at this time tourists can enter the church if they wish. Photography is also not prohibited.
Museums. Which ones are worth visiting?
There are not many museums in Sevan, but they are definitely worth visiting. It’s especially nice that entry to most of them is free.
Sevan Museum of Natural Science
This museum will interest both adults and children. The museum presents more than 700 exhibits demonstrating: the flora and fauna of Sevan and the surrounding area, the geological features of the place, as well as household and working tools telling about the thousand-year history of the region.
The Sevan Museum of Natural Science is located in the city of Sevan, in the building of the Cultural Center. Accurate address: Sayat-Nova, 14.
Opening hours and visiting: The museum is open from Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 17:00, and on Saturday from 10:00 to 13:00. Free admission.
Noratus
This is a real open-air museum. In fact, Noratus, located in the village of the same name, is a so-called khachkar cemetery. There is a unique collection of stone crosses here. Almost 1,000 copies occupy an area of 7 hectares, and not a single ornament on the khachkars is repeated.
Most of the khachkars of Noratus date back to the 13th–17th centuries, and the oldest is the khachkar of the 5th century.
The most unusual and interesting khachkars, in my opinion, are those that depict the life of local residents, for example, with scenes from rural life and even weddings.
Here you will definitely be told an interesting legend, which says: when Tamerlane’s troops broke into the village, the local residents, realizing their small numbers compared to the horde of conquerors, put clothes on the khachkars. The conquerors saw thousands of “warriors” and retreated, not risking fighting the “armed soldiers.”
Noratus is located in the village of the same name on the western bank of Sevan, about 5 km from the city of Gavar. The road from the city of Sevan to the khachkar cemetery will take almost an hour (about 40 km). The easiest way is to take a taxi (calculation: 1 km = 0.20 USD) or hitch a ride (if you’re lucky, locals will take you there for free). If you get to Noratus from Yerevan, then from the Bus Station you can take minibus No. 326 to Gavar, and then take a taxi or walk.
Visiting Noratus is free.
Sevan Botanical Garden
Another place in Sevan where both children and adults will be interested. The Sevan Botanical Garden is already remarkable for the fact that it is located at an altitude of 2,000 meters above sea level. The park features about 450 European and Asian plant species.
Opening hours and visiting: The botanical garden is open to the public every day - from 09:00 to 18:00. The entrance is free.
Museum of Local Lore
In the museum, which is located in the city of Gavar, you can get acquainted with the general history of the region, learn interesting facts about Lake Sevan and the life of ordinary people, as well as admire paintings, ancient carpets, ancient tools, anchor and bronze daggers and jewelry found during excavations
The museum is small, but it contains about 8,500 exhibits telling the history of the region, from the Stone Age to the present day.
Exact address: st. Zoravar Andranik, 32.
Opening hours and visiting: open from Monday to Friday - from 09:00 to 18:00. Admission is free, and there are also Russian-speaking guides.
Food. What to try
Going to Sevan and not trying the local fish and crayfish is, to say the least, a crime. This is already a kind of ritual and an obligatory point, without which the impressions of Sevan will be incomplete.
Of course, meat-eaters, vegans, and those with a sweet tooth also have a wide choice here, so it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to leave Sevan with an empty stomach. I talked about Armenian delicacies in detail in my.
The tourist areas of Sevan are not famous for their abundance of shops, so those who like to cook on their own will have to go to the city of Sevan or nearby Hrazdan (there is a large supermarket there, the distance from the city of Sevan is about 20 km).
Holidays
Lake Sevan Day
There are few city holidays in Sevan. Nationwide celebrations are celebrated here as in other cities of Armenia. But among the local festivities, I’ll probably celebrate Lake Sevan Day, which is celebrated on the last Sunday of August.
On this day, in the morning, under the control of the national park staff, a kind of cleanup (cleaning of the coastline) is held, and in the evening, many hotels organize parties.
Armenian Sailing Championship
In addition, the Sailing Championship is held in Sevan in mid-August.
The competition lasts for 7 days and involves about 30 windsurfers. If you don’t participate, it’s at least worth watching the action.
Safety. What to watch out for
How to get around the region
Sevan - holidays with children
Sevan is a great choice for a holiday with children! The cleanest air and water, hotels with slides and playrooms, several interesting museums, which I told you about above, will brighten up children's leisure time.
The only thing, keep in mind that not all hotels and restaurants are ready to provide a children's menu, so you will need to choose from what is available, or ask the chef to cook separately for the child if there are problems with nutrition.
Also, be sure to stock up on reliable sunscreen: you will need it in Sevan more than anywhere else.
Ski holiday
Ski passes
I have used the Sevan chairlift only once so far and took a day pass, which a year ago (in 2016) was half as expensive as in Tsakhkadzor. That is, a daily card costs approximately 10 USD (5,000 ADM). Ski rental costs the same.
As far as I know, only day ski passes are currently provided here, which can be purchased right next to the cable car, as well as at the Akhtamar Hotel, located 2 kilometers away. The operating hours of the cable car are from 10:00 to 17:00.
Trails
Sevan ski slopes are a real paradise for professionals. There are two routes here:
- serpentine, which stretches for 2 km;
- a real black track that you can’t even find in Tsaghkadzor. Its length is 1.2 km.
There is also a sufficient amount of virgin snow here. for freeride lovers, as well as several gentle slopes for inexperienced skiers and children. There is also a training school for them, which is located on the territory of the above-mentioned Akhtamar hotel.
The height of Mount Uryatstap, on which the chairlift is built, is 2,324 m, and as for the route itself, its length is 1,130 m, with a height difference of up to 400 meters.
All booking sites! Don't overpay. This !
Rent a Car- also an aggregation of prices from all rental companies, all in one place, let's go!
Anything to add?
Lake Sevan in Armenia - this is the most beautiful and huge lake located in the Caucasus Mountains. Many who have seen this place consider it excellent and truly amazing.
There was a legend that said that only gods or stars could drink its pure waters.
The lake is located at an altitude of approximately 1900 meters above sea level, and most likely is of volcanic origin. The area of the entire lake is 1240 square meters.
Of course, this could not have happened without human intervention; as a result, the lake was divided into two parts:
- Small Sevan, the greatest depth of which is more than 83 meters;
- and Big Sevan, up to 30 meters deep.
28 different rivers flow into the lake and only one river, Hrazdan, flows out of it. On the surface, the water has an incredible azure color and is transparent to such an extent that you can see everything that is happening at a depth of 12 meters.
A truly mesmerizing sight. The water temperature in summer is 17 - 24 degrees Celsius.
Fauna and flora of the surroundings of Lake Sevan
The fauna and flora of the amazing Lake Sevan is very diverse.
In the vicinity of the lake, about one and a half thousand different species of plants grow. Almost 20 species of animals, most of them are birds. The lake is especially rich in fish. Here you can find trout, pike perch, khramul, and even those species of fish that were listed in the Red Book.
Also, a national park has been opened around Lake Sevan, which consists of four reserves and ten reserves.
The lake coast also has several attractions that are historical monuments:
- Sevanavank monastery,
- Vanevan,
- the largest cemetery of khachkars.
The lake attracts many tourists. Here you can not only enjoy the beauty of nature, but also breathe clean air, visit mineral springs, and really relax.
History of Lake Sevan
How did this beautiful lake appear? There is a beautiful legend about the appearance of Lake Sevan.
In its place fertile gardens grew and were irrigated with spring water. The stream of this water was small, but the pressure was very powerful, so the place where the water came out was plugged with a stone. But one day a beautiful girl, having collected water, forgot to put the stone in place, and at night the gushing spring flooded the surroundings. One of the old men wished that the one who forgot to close the key would turn into stone forever. The girl who jumped out into the street was petrified, and the water formed a lake that towered over Sevan.
Scientists believe that the lake was born several thousand years ago, as a result of volcanic processes that occurred in the Geghama Mountains.
The lake was named after the ancient temple of Sev Vank, which was built in the 9th century on the northwestern peninsula. If you translate this name into Armenian, you get “Black Monastery”, since it was made of black tuff. This is only one version of the origin of the name Lake Sevan.
Another, which is considered more ancient, says that before the Armenians came to these lands, Urartu lived here.
Archaeologists at one time found cuneiform writings of Urartu on the shores of the lake in which they called the lake Tsuini, Swini or Suinia. It is believed that Tsuini means “reservoir”. And Sevan is close in sound to the word Sweeney.
In ancient times, all the shores of the lake were covered with dense forest: oak, beech and other equally valuable tree species. They were used in shipbuilding. Unfortunately, today the forests have become very thin, so forest planting is actively taking place in these places.
In 1949, a tunnel was dug under the Hrazdan River, through which a significant amount of water began to flow and be used for irrigation and for the needs of the power plant. After this, the water level in the lake began to decline by up to a meter per year.
Then in 1981 the Arpa-Sevan tunnel was built, and water from the Arpa River began to flow to the lake. Thanks to this, the level of Lake Sevan has not decreased since then, but even increased by one meter.
Where is Lake Sevan and how to get there
The lake is located in a thicket surrounded on all sides by mountains. Vardeni ridge in the south, Areguni ridge in the north, Geghama ridge in the west and Sevan ridges in the east.
Nearby, on the northwestern shore of the lake, stands the city of the same name, Sevan, which until 1961 was considered a village. It is exactly 54 km northeast to Yerevan. The city is a center of tourism. Most often, to get to the city and lake, you need to go through Yerevan.
If you fly from Moscow, there are about ten flights a day to the capital of Armenia. In Yerevan, the airport is 12 km from the city itself. Then from the bus station of the capital you can take a taxi to Lake Sevan, namely to the Sevanavank monastery. Or by minibus that comes to Dilijan. In this case, you will have to walk 500 m from the road along the spit to the monastery.
Of course, you can go to Yerevan by bus, but in this case the journey will take almost two days one way.
Resort visiting time
Today, Sevan is not only a protected area, but also a recreation area. The most modern hotels and cottages have been built here. There are about ten types of different beaches. There are wild and developed ones. You can have fun on all kinds of water transport. July and August are the best months for swimming.
Quite recently, Sevan also became a ski resort. From the tops of the mountains there is a stunning view of the lake. So you can relax here in both winter and summer. If you want to bask in the sun, the summer period lasts from March to September.
Approximate prices for accommodation and other services
- A flight to Yerevan from Moscow will cost approximately 7-8 thousand Russian rubles, round trip.
- Bus travel on the same route costs about 6 thousand rubles.
- A taxi ride from Yerevan to the lake will cost about $50.
- Rent a small house for about $16, if you want a cottage it will cost $80.
We should not forget about hotel complexes, their prices vary. Entertainment for vacationers will cost some money.
Lake Sevan has been sung by poets more than once in both poetry and prose. This is truly an amazing, beautiful and fascinating place. This is fresh mountain air, many sunny days, cold springs. Lake Sevan is the pearl of Armenia, attracting a huge number of tourists every year.
If you're wondering, pay attention to gastronomic souvenirs. In England they are of excellent quality. Fashion accessories and vintage items from flea markets are also popular.
If you haven't seen it with your own eyes, you haven't recognized London. The national symbol of Great Britain has been telling time for almost 160 years.
Indicates the most interesting places in the European state. This small country is home to cultural and natural sites that are a world heritage.