Sevan Dream Trail
Sevan Dream Trail
3.5h
8.1 km
2255m
1910m
Medium
Enjoy the dreaminess of Sevan Lake from the mountain tops on this easily accessible trail.
The hiking trail begins at the Sevan Botanical Garden, which is situated 2,000 meters above sea level, and is home to over 450 species of plants.
Continuing northeast, the trail climbs up nearly 345m to the Arjanots mountains, which form the southeastern part of the Pambak Range.
At this point you can enjoy an expansive view of Lake Sevan, which is considered one of Eurasia's largest freshwater (alpine) lakes, and the largest in the Caucasus and Armenia. According to one of the hypotheses on the origin of the lake, it is believed to have originated during the Quaternary period, formed through a combination of volcanic activity and the accumulation of glacial and snowy waters within a tectonic depression․
After walking 5 km along the trail, you will see the Sevan Peninsula (it used to be an island, in the 1930s it turned into a peninsula due to the artificial lowering of the water level).
After a 3 km descent from the ridgeline you will arrive at the Sevan Peninsula. Where you will find Sevanavank Monastery, a unique structure of medieval Armenian architecture. The island was fortified with a fortress wall in the Bronze Age. The church is said to have been founded on the site of a destroyed pagan temple and was consecrated by Gregory The Illuminator (Grigor Lusavorich) in the year 305. In the IX century, Mariam, the Princess of Syunik built two churches here, Srbots Arakelots (Great) and Surb Hovhannes Karapet. On the eastern part of the drum of the Arakelots church, a inscription written in 874 has been preserved.
The hiking trail begins at the Sevan Botanical Garden, which is situated 2,000 meters above sea level, and is home to over 450 species of plants.
Continuing northeast, the trail climbs up nearly 345m to the Arjanots mountains, which form the southeastern part of the Pambak Range.
At this point you can enjoy an expansive view of Lake Sevan, which is considered one of Eurasia's largest freshwater (alpine) lakes, and the largest in the Caucasus and Armenia. According to one of the hypotheses on the origin of the lake, it is believed to have originated during the Quaternary period, formed through a combination of volcanic activity and the accumulation of glacial and snowy waters within a tectonic depression․
After walking 5 km along the trail, you will see the Sevan Peninsula (it used to be an island, in the 1930s it turned into a peninsula due to the artificial lowering of the water level).
After a 3 km descent from the ridgeline you will arrive at the Sevan Peninsula. Where you will find Sevanavank Monastery, a unique structure of medieval Armenian architecture. The island was fortified with a fortress wall in the Bronze Age. The church is said to have been founded on the site of a destroyed pagan temple and was consecrated by Gregory The Illuminator (Grigor Lusavorich) in the year 305. In the IX century, Mariam, the Princess of Syunik built two churches here, Srbots Arakelots (Great) and Surb Hovhannes Karapet. On the eastern part of the drum of the Arakelots church, a inscription written in 874 has been preserved.
