Climbing Mount Khustup in Armenia

The road from Yerevan to Navchay is quite long - approximately 5-6 hours, but during the journey we will be surrounded by mountain landscapes of unimaginable beauty. If we set off on the road early in the morning, then a little later than noon we will reach the small and beautiful village of Bagaburj, a few kilometers from Kapan. It is from here that we will move to the foot of Mount Khustup along labyrinthine paths. And during our journey, we will be watched by the peak of Mount Khustup, which is so beautiful that you get the feeling that you are in some kind of Hollywood movie. After about 5 hours of walking we will reach the settlement of Navchay, hidden in one of the gorges of the mountain. It is here that we will set up camp and cook a delicious dinner, after which we will go to bed - under a mesmerizing starry sky, surrounded by wild nature.

In the morning at 9:00, after breakfast we will begin to climb to the top. During our journey we will see packs of horses living freely. After about an hour of walking, we will reach one remarkable place, which, because of its interesting appearance, was called the “Gate”. The incredible thing is that on both sides of this gate the nature is completely different - as if it were truly a magical gate from one place to a completely different dimension. After the "Gate" we will begin to get closer and closer to the top. Here we will find a cold and incredibly tasty spring, where we will stop for a while, gather our strength and continue our ascent to the top. Closer to the top we will see large and seemingly impenetrable cliffs where wild mountain goats and endangered flocks of wild turkeys can often be found. At the top of Khostup we will see a monument erected in memory of the national hero of Armenia, the Armenian fedai, who bore the nickname Eagle of Khostup - Garegin Nzhdeh. From here we will head straight to the top along the safest path, and soon beautiful views will open before our eyes - a white sea of ​​clouds spread out under our feet and endless mountain ranges. After resting at the top and time for photographs, we will return to the “Gate” and further to the mountain settlement of Navchay.

When we return from the conquered heights, these sensations of height and incredible views will envelop us throughout the entire journey. First we will return to the village of Bagaburj, and it will take 2-3 hours on foot, from where we will go by car towards Yerevan. On the way we will stop in one place called Sgnakh, which not even all local residents know about. This place had a defensive purpose; from this hidden place there is a panoramic view of the main crossroads. We will climb there along interestingly designed and extreme steps, listen to the story about this small fortress, enjoy the view, and after a delicious lunch in the city of Goris we will return to Yerevan.