Lori Region Day Hike

Highlights of this hike include one of the best preserved 6th century basilicas in Armenia, a virtually unknown complex built against the cliffs among caves, and a half collapsed complex with amazing frescoes in a beautiful permanently green setting.

• Difficulty: Moderate to Easy
• Duration: 2.5 hours (hike time)
• Distance: 9km
• Terrain: Through village, down sloping canyon, along highway

Get to Odzun by bus from Alaverdi or by taxi from Alaverdi or Vanadzor. Visit the 6th century Odzun Church (GPS 41 03.05 x 044 36.98) in this large village and head back down the road towards Alaverdi. When you start to descend, you can follow a trail from either the second or third switchback down, across the upper part of the canyon wall (without descending) towards Horomayri Monastery. You will first come across a very tall waterfall (depending on time of year) approx 2km after leaving the road, then after another 2km you will suddenly come upon Horomayri Monastery. (By looking at the map you may wonder why the route goes away from Horomayri before turning back in its direction. That is because of the vertical cliffs above it which cannot be descended without serious climbing equipment.)

Horomayri Monastery (GPS 41 02.01 x 044 38.00) is surrounded by caves, and the hillside under it is completely terraced, forming an easy path down to the highway. These abandoned churches, caves and terraces once formed an obviously thriving community. Descending to the highway you have an easy path south towards Kobayr.

One kilometer after the railroad changes position and moves to the west of the highway, there is a small hamlet of about 15 houses on the right named Kober with a road leading under the railroad to them. This turnoff comes at about the same time that the larger town of Tumanyan appears on the eastern bank of the river. Heading up into Kober, by just about any path heading up past the hamlet, then to a small recently built spring, you quickly come to Kobayr Monastery (GPS 41 00.30 x 044 38.10), only about a 250-300 meter hike all in all. Descending back down to the highway you complete your hike and either await public transportation to Alaverdi (or Vanadzor) or else you get into the cab that dropped you off at Odzun and continue on your travels.