Gegharkunik Marz

Armenian lake region surrounding high-altitude Lake Sevan, with beaches, monasteries, and cold turquoise water.

Gegharkunik Marz is the region surrounding Lake Sevan, the massive alpine lake covering five percent of Armenia's surface. On those magical days when the water turns bright turquoise and you are standing on a white sand beach, you could be fooled into thinking you are somewhere in the Caribbean — at least until you dip your toes in the cold water.

The most popular area is closest to the highway from Yerevan, around the peninsula where Sevanavank Monastery sits. Known as "the island" in Armenian, it was indeed an island until Soviet-era water diversion lowered the lake level and joined it to the shore.

Sevanavank, Hayravank Monastery, and the large khachkar cemetery at Noratus are the main draws. Noratus holds the biggest collection of medieval cross-stones in Armenia — around nine hundred of them standing in open fields. Further south around Vardenis, the monasteries of Makenyats and Vanevan are worth the detour if you have your own transport.

The road east from Vardenis formerly connected through Kelbajar to Nagorno-Karabakh. This route has been closed since Azerbaijan retook the region in 2023.

Guide

Getting There

Gegharkunik Marz is easily reached from Yerevan. The highway to Sevan takes about an hour from the capital — the road climbs steeply through the Gegham mountains before dropping down to the lake. Marshrutkas (shared minibuses) run regularly from Yerevan's Kilikia bus station to Sevan town, with connections onward to Gavar and Martuni.

A car is useful for reaching more remote monasteries like Hayravank and the villages around Vardenis. The main road circumnavigating the lake is paved throughout, though some side roads to monasteries and villages are rough. Taxis from Yerevan for a day trip cost around $40-60 return.

Guide

Things to Do

Gegharkunik Marz is defined by Lake Sevan, the largest lake in the Caucasus. The main attractions are the medieval monasteries on and around its shores, the khachkar cemetery at Noratus, and the beaches and watersports available in summer. The surrounding mountains offer hiking and the chance to explore villages that few tourists reach.