Joel Balsam is a travel journalist and editor whose work has appeared in TIME, National Geographic Travel, The Guardian, BBC Travel, American Airlines, Travel + Leisure and more. He is the Lonely Planet guidebook author for Armenia, Morocco and France.
- Distance: Approx. 10km
- Duration: Five hours
- Start point: Artabuynk
- End point: Yeghegis
- Difficulty: Mild
This is a popular hike from the village of Artabuynk to an 800-year-old Jewish cemetery beside the town of Yeghegis.
The trek will take you past the 5th-century Smbataberd Fortress, which offers gorgeous views over the valley, down into a meadow and then up again where you’ll find the 10th-century Tsakhatskar Monastery. From there, you’ll walk down to Yeghegis, a village which hasn’t changed much in centuries and features three historic churches dating from the 13th, 14th and 18th centuries.
A few minutes east of Yeghegis is a rickety bridge that leads to an 800-year-old Jewish cemetery said to have the remains of Jews from Persia who walked the Silk Road.
The whole trek is 10km and takes about five hours to complete. Boots and long pants are especially important on this hike as vipers are frequently encountered.
At a glance
Destinations
Armenia
Activity
Adventure, Hiking & Trekking, Active, Walking, Nature & WildlifePhysical Level
Mild
Duration
1 day
Related Guides

Caucasus trekking & hiking

With epic mountain landscapes that rival anywhere in Europe, fairytale villages, rolling hills and some truly excellent cuisine, the Caucasus mountains are one of the world's best – and most underrated –

Walking holidays in Armenia

I've been hiking in Armenia for years, visiting as a guidebook writer and travel journalist. With its stunning mountains, sweeping valleys and historic churches dating back to the fourth century, I think Armenia is one of the world's most underrated places for a walking holiday.
