Tsaghkadzor is Armenia's main ski resort, set in a forested valley about 50 km northeast of Yerevan. In Soviet times it served as an Olympic training ground; after a long post-independence decline, investment brought Austrian lifts, new runs, and a cluster of hotels that have turned it into a popular winter weekend destination for Armenians and a surprisingly affordable option for visiting skiers.
The skiing is modest by Alpine standards — a single mountain with runs up to about 2,800 metres — but the prices are a fraction of what you would pay in Europe, and the snow is generally reliable from December through March. In summer the area is pleasant for hiking in the surrounding hills.
In town, Kecharis Monastery is a handsome 11th-century complex of four churches that was restored for Armenia's celebrations of 1,700 years of Christianity in 2001. It is well worth a visit even if you are not here to ski.