The Natural Beauty and Culinary Delights of Tsaghkadzor - Armenia

Hello everyone. I continue to share my adventures from our trip to Armenia. A friend mentioned in the comments that my posts were appreciated by the Armenian community, which made me very happy because these were unforgettable memories for me. I really want to go back there as soon as possible.

Tsaghkadzor was one of the cities I visited on such beautiful days. It is a popular ski resort, but in summer, people come to spa hotels to enjoy the mountain views and we stayed there for three days. Our plan was to stay at a hotel where spa services were included in the accommodation price. The name of the hotel was Elegant Hotel and Resort. We traveled there from Yerevan by bus, which cost only 1.5 euros per person and the journey took about an hour, maybe a little more. We were dropped off at an intersection and we only had to walk 500 meters to our hotel.

After about a fiv -minute walk, we arrived at our hotel Elegant Hotel Resort. There was a main building and small cottages, all part of the hotel’s property. We were told to wait a little before check-in, so we decided to go to the restaurant since we hadn't eaten anything that day.

We went two floors down and the weather seemed cooler compared to Yerevan, where it had been really hot. There was also a separate bar area where you could order drinks. Our room price only included breakfast, but lunch and dinner could be purchased for an additional fee. We opted for that, which cost 11 euros per person per day.

The menu offered soup or borscht as an option and of course, we chose borscht since we hadn’t had it in a long time. I had almost forgotten its taste. The atmosphere was pleasant, with soft music playing in the background.

I also noticed that the hotel was huge.we hadn’t stayed in such a large hotel for a long time. Our lunch was served and the table was filled with borscht, compote, water, salami, cheese, vegetable salad, meat with potatoes, tolma, matsun, Caesar salad, pickles, bread and Armenian lavash. It was quite a satisfying meal.

After lunch we completed the check-in process and were assigned to room 509 on the fifth floor. It was a spacious and bright room with a small guest corner. The sofa could be converted into a bed, allowing space for a third person. There was a flat-screen Samsung TV, though we never watch TV in hotels.

The room also had a tea maker, complimentary tea, coffee and water, along with a minibar stocked with chocolate, drinks and other items, but these were paid. However, tea, coffee and water were free and we could use the kettle as much as we wanted.

And there was a balcony with a breathtaking view of greenery, mountains and houses. When we arrived the hotel’s fountain or waterfall was under maintenance, but it seemed like it would look even better once completed.

Later we visited the swimming pool, which was large and in the evening, the sauna was open. We arrived just in time to find two available sunbeds. They provided towels and we relaxed by the pool before jumping in. The water temperature was perfect. The hotel was surrounded by mountains, offering stunning views. If they complete the fountain, it will look even more spectacular.

We explored the hotel's premises, which felt like a park with pine trees, making it ideal for a winter holiday atmosphere and perfect for skiers. Personally I prefer summer because I enjoy experiencing this ambiance, relaxing in nature and unwinding at the same time. There were many two-story cottages, but I wasn’t sure if they were rented out as whole units or individual floors, you could check their website for details.

A major advantage was that the cottages were separate from the park area, meaning the benches were accessible to everyone. In the evening, people would come here for a walk and the streetlights provided beautiful illumination. The park was open to all guests, not just cottage residents. I really liked this area filled with greenery. Wherever you went, you were surrounded by different trees: pines, greenery and the hotel’s beautiful facade.

Later we went for dinner, which was served as a buffet. There were lavash, bread, salads, greens, corn-based salad, a type of Caesar salad with chicken, another salad with beets, olives, pickles, cheese, salami and sausages. Interestingly it reminded me of our lunch, but this time in buffet form. There was also fruit like grapes, watermelon, melon, apples oranges and plums.

For the main course, there was meat stew with fried potatoes, as well as chicken and noodles. The buffet’s advantage was that you could take as much as you wanted. They also served dolma, but the menu seemed to change daily.

After dinner we went to the reception area, which had a waiting lounge and a bar. I saw giant wine or champagne bottles, likely for decoration, as they had the hotel’s name on them. We also checked out the salt therapy room, as it's said to be beneficial for health. This salt room looked really nice.

We then explored the fitness center and billiard table, both located on the second floor. The gym had various equipment, including back trainers, push-up boards, exercise bikes, dumbbells, Pilates mats, a treadmill and an elliptical trainer.

The next morning we woke up early for breakfast, which included bread, lavash, plenty of sausages, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots and more. It was a sunny and pleasant morning, not too hot, so we chose to sit on the terrace surrounded by greenery. The night before, there had been live music and many people had come outside to sit on the swings.

After breakfast we decided to explore Tsaghkadzor to see more of nature. We headed to the ski lift to go up the mountains. The hotel was about a 15-minute walk from there, but since it was hot that day, we took a taxi to save our energy for enjoying the views.

The driver dropped us off right at the entrance, where there was a ticket booth. However, the ski lift we needed was not operational. Probably because it only runs in winter when there are more tourists. There were also shops and new cottages being built.

We walked around and found an open ticket booth. Tourists were also waiting to go up. The staff informed us that there were five stops. But in summer, only one was in operation. The round-trip ticket cost 7 euros per person.

As we ascended for about 20 minutes the views were breathtaking. The ski lift was quite long and at the top, there was a café selling juices, snacks and souvenirs. You could also rent ATVs and go horseback riding. It must be amazing to visit in winter and see all the panoramic views.

We spotted many lizards and suddenly started wondering if venomous snakes might be around. We had read that the Gurza, a highly venomous viper, lived here and could paralyze a person with its bite. That made us a bit nervous.

The descent on the ski lift was even more beautiful because the views were right in front of us and the sun was behind us. On the way up, the sun had been in our faces, forcing us to turn away frequently, but now it was perfect.

After returning to the hotel and resting for a bit, we headed to the center of Tsaghkadzor in the evening. It was a small, cozy town with mini markets, larger stores, fast food like hot dogs, burgers, shawarma and various restaurants. The evening weather was much cooler, so if you visit in summer, be sure to bring something warm, as the mountain air gets chilly at night.

We were recommended an interesting restaurant with its own brewery, called Dahook established in 2022. It had great reviews. We were advised to sit in the panoramic area. The restaurant was beautifully decorated with a ski theme and had a terrace for smoking.

The staff recommended a cocktail, which was delicious, with a hint of vanilla, better than Bellini. For appetizers, we had solyanka, filet mignon tartare and another tartare with salmon and avocado. The presentation was stunning. We also wanted to try the tomato soup.

For the main course and appetizers, including tartare and salads, the total cost was 100 euros. Everything was delicious. If you visit, I highly recommend trying their amazing beer.