Lake Sevan in Armenia: hotels, what to see, where the fish is tastier. Rest on Lake Sevan: what to see, where to live and what to do Sevan where is located
Photo review of Sevan - the largest lake in the Caucasus and one of the two most famous (along with Mount Ararat) natural symbols of Armenia.
To visit Armenia and not get out to the Armenian “inland sea” at least for a day means simply not to see Armenia. The lake is located to the east of Yerevan, to the western shore of Sevan from the city center about an hour away by car. If you have time and desire, you can drive around the lake by car, at the same time looking at the landscapes of the Gegharkunik marz (region), the center of which is Sevan.
TOP 9 attractions of Lake Sevan: — — — — — — — —
1. Sevanavank Monastery
The monastery is located on a rocky peninsula adjoining the city of Sevan from the north. Before the dramatic shallowing of the lake, the peninsula was a small island, on which, at the end of the 8th century, several monks began the construction of a monastery. First, walls were built around the perimeter of the island, and then several churches were built inside them. Interestingly, the monastery was founded specifically for the monks from Etchmiadzin (the spiritual capital of Armenia), who committed any sins and were unworthy of being in holy Etchmiadzin.
The strong walls of Sevanavank played their role in 921 - then the small army of King Ashot II the Iron, with their help, was able to hold back the onslaught of the Arabs invading the country.
Two churches of the Sevanavank monastery have survived to this day - Surb Arakelots and Surb Karapet. Unlike other temples in Armenia, these are built not from tuff, but from volcanic stone. Both are distinguished by their traditional ascetic appearance and interior for Armenia - in this case, the surrounding lake gives most of the picturesqueness to the monastery. In addition to the monastery, the Vazgenyan Theological Academy is located on the peninsula, as well as the summer cottages of the Catholicos and the President of Armenia.
Lake view from Sevanavank
Sevanavank monastery coordinates: 40.56373, 45.0111.
2. City of Sevan
Sevan is the nearest settlement on the lake to Yerevan. The town was founded in 1842 by exiled Russian Molokans (the tsarist government and the official Church considered them sectarians because the Molokans did not recognize the clergy and churches) and was originally called Yelenovka. Sevan has a pretty decent sand and pebble beach, a pier, several hotels and cafes.
... On one of the beaches of the west coast, not far from the city of Sevan, there was such an episode: we parked and decided to swim once or twice before moving on to Shorja. On the very shore, near the water's edge, two tricolors fluttered on flagpoles - Armenian and Russian.
I asked the Armenian boy, who was sitting right under them, what the Russian flag was doing here - to which I received a puzzled look and the following answer: “Russia is a brotherly country, this is a tribute!”
Those same flags
And some still quite seriously assert that they do not like us in the Caucasus. If there are any among the readers of this text, I recommend with all responsibility that they go to the Caucasus and see everything with their own eyes. I bet you will be very surprised at how much the real state of affairs does not correspond to what all these "talking heads" tell us on TV.
Sevan city coordinates: 40.54763, 44.95905.
3. Tsaghkadzor
In the past, the center of skiing of all-Union significance, in the present it is the only ski resort in Armenia. Tsaghkadzor (Armenian for "gorge of flowers") is also popular in summer due to its landscapes, mountain air and proximity to Lake Sevan (25 km).
The cableway of Tsakhkadzor (coordinates 40.53485, 44.69752) operates all year round (10:3-17:30, 2000 drams), a road leads to it from the Kecharis monastery (coordinates 40.53385, 44.71596).
4. Hayravank Monastery
The 1100-year-old monastery is located near the village of the same name - to get to it, you need to turn off the M10 highway towards the coast. The main value of Hayravank is its unusual architecture: a 4-apse temple with a gavit attached to it with a dome of light. Hayravank picturesquely rises on a hill above the lake, and the views from it are more than worthy.
In addition, tourist buses almost never go to Hayravank, so there is an opportunity to explore the monastery almost alone – which cannot be said about Sevanavank.
Hayravank monastery coordinates: 40.4327, 45.10806.
5. Cemetery of khachkars in Noratus
The main attraction of this small but very ancient village is the unique "cemetery of khachkars". Khachkars are one of the symbols of Armenia and a visible confirmation of the skill of its sculptors and stone carvers. “Khach” means “cross”, “kar” means “stone”. The master took a large stone slab and turned it into a "lace" masterpiece. Some of the Armenian khachkars are recognized monuments of world culture.
Noratus is not so much a cemetery as an open-air museum. Its "exposition" consists of more than 800 khachkars - some of them are over a thousand years old! Sometimes on a khachkar you can read the life story of the person on whose grave it is installed, as in a book.
In the neighborhood of Noratus, in the village of Artsvakar, there is a private cheese factory - I recommend visiting there, the cheese there is very tasty.
Coordinates of the "cemetery of khachkars": 40.37401, 45.18213.
6. Gavar
A small regional center, notable for its museums: the Regional Museum of Local Lore (Zoravar Andranik St., 32; Tue-Sun 9:00-18:00) and the Art Gallery. G. Buniatyan (Zoravar Andranik str., 5; Tue-Sun 9:00-18:00). The gallery was created on the basis of a private collection of the famous Soviet biochemist Buniatyan and contains works by Russian and Armenian artists of the 19th-20th centuries.
7. Caravanserai of Prince Orbelyan
Caravanserai is such an old guesthouse. In ancient times, the caravan Great Silk Road passed through the Selim Pass located to the south, and immediately after the pass, by order of Prince Orbelyan in 1332, a caravanserai was built for merchants and travelers.
A rectangular building with a gable roof and arched vaults has survived to this day. Bas-reliefs with images of animals, as well as inscriptions in Farsi and Armenian, have been preserved.
Coordinates: 39.94957, 45.23588.
8. Selim (Vardenyatsky) pass
The Selim pass (2410 m) is one of the most picturesque roads in the entire Transcaucasus. True, you can enjoy its landscapes only from April to October. In winter, the pass is covered with snow and closed to traffic.
Selim pass coordinates: 39.93213, 45.23382.
9. Shorja
Resort village on the eastern shore of Small Sevan. On weekends, Shorja is crowded with vacationers from Yerevan - these days a train is specially allowed to Shorja.
The beach is sandy and pebbly, the water is cold even in July - you can swim if you wish, but still Sevan is a mountain lake (located at an altitude of 1900 meters) and its beaches hardly make sense to compare with the Crimea or the Georgian mega-popular among Armenians.
Shorja coordinates: 40.49813, 45.27258.
Lake Sevan- a miracle of nature, adjacent to the sky, the most beautiful of the alpine lakes, located in a huge thicket of mountains at an altitude of 1916 m above sea level. Its water is transparent and pure, according to legend, only stars and gods drank from it.
One of the most beautiful attractions in Armenia is Lake Sevan and its environs. There are several hypotheses about the origin of Sevan. Most likely, this lake was born several thousand years ago as a result of volcanic processes that occurred in the Geghama mountains surrounding it. On the southern slopes to the lake there are several dozen geometric round craters filled with fresh water. 28 rivers flow into Sevan, all small, the largest - Maerik - does not reach even 50 km. Only Hrazdan flows out of the lake. However, only the waters of the flowing rivers will not be able to restore the previous supply and the water level, because evaporation in a hot treeless cauldron between the mountains is 88% of the water brought by the rivers. Therefore, a decision was made to constantly additionally discharge water into Sevan from the south, from the Arpa basin through a 48 km long tunnel under the Vardenis Range, and to afforest the mountain slopes surrounding Sevan. The area of the lake itself is 1200 sq. km, its basin is about four times larger - 4850 sq. km. There are 2 cities, two villages, about 100 villages, where more than 250,000 people live.
It is believed that the lake got its name from the name of the ancient Sev Vank temple, built on the northwestern peninsula in the 9th century. This name, translated from Armenian, means "Black Monastery", and the temple is really made of black tufa. There is a version about an even more ancient origin of the name. The Urartians, who lived here before the arrival of the Armenians, called the lake Tsuini, Svini, from where it is not far from the pronunciation of Sevan. Tsuini supposedly meant "body of water".
Once the shores of Sevan were covered with dense forests - beech, oak and other valuable species of trees that were used in shipbuilding. Now the areas of forests have become scarce, and therefore forest plantations are being intensively carried out in coastal zones.
Then the maximum length of the lake from the villages. Tsovagyugh in the northwest to the port of Tsovak in the southeast was 75 km, and the maximum width from the shore of Artundj Bay in the north to the regional center of Martuni in the south was 37 km. The minimum width from the lighthouse on the Shogel Spit in the south to Cape Uchtash in the north was only 8 km.
The part of the lake to the west of this narrow bridge is called Small Sevan, and the maximum depth there was 84 m, in the east, at the exit from Artundj Bay, it was 51 m, and on the bridge between these parts it was 58 m.
The flora and fauna of this corner are quite diverse: about 1600 species of plants and trees grow here, almost 20 species of mammals live here, but especially many birds. These are stone gray partridge, mallard, ruddy gulls, gulls, and during flights pelicans, flamingos, mute swan, screamer swan, cormorants and others rest on the lake - up to 180 species in total, some of them nest.
Sevan is the only fishing region of the republic where valuable species of fish are bred - varieties of trout, pike perch, khramul, barbel, whitefish brought from Ladoga and others. Trout, which was called the "prince-fish" (ishkhan), is now listed in the Red Book, its population is artificially maintained in 4 hatcheries.
Tourists can travel around Sevan in different ways: by bicycles, motorcycles or cars along the ring road or by rowing and sailing boats along the coast. The length of travel by any means around Sevan is now at least 200 km.
Endemic species of fish live in the lake: Sevan beglu (barbel) (Barbus goktschaicus), Sevan khramulya (Varicorhinus capoeta sevangi), Sevan trout (ishkhan, Salmo ischchan). The latter was previously represented by 4 subspecies (today the winter bakhtak and bodzhak subspecies have become extinct); is endemic to Sevan, but its existence is threatened by competing fish species introduced or introduced into the lake from other places. These are: anadromous whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus), which was brought from Ladoga and Peipus lakes, silver carp (Carassius gibelio) and narrow-clawed crayfish (Astacus leptodactylus).
On the shore of the lake, fish farms were created for the artificial reproduction of ishkhan. While the ishkhan is under the threat of extinction in Sevan, it seems to have taken root perfectly in Lake Issyk-Kul, where it was brought from Lake Sevan.
In the basin of Lake Sevan created Sevan National Park with four nature reserves and ten sanctuaries. The lake is an important center of the population of the Armenian gull (Larus armenicus), the number of which here reaches 4000-5000 pairs. Other birds stopping at the lake are the American swan (Cygnus columbianus), lesser white-fronted duck (Anser erythropus), red-nosed pochard (Netta rufina), white-eyed pochard (Aythya nyroca) and black-headed gull (Larus ichthyaetus).
Lake Sevan is known for its cultural monuments and recreational resources located on the coast: mineral springs, clean air, beautiful nature. An artificial forest grows on the shore of the lake (pine, broad-leaved species and sea buckthorn).
In Armenia there is a unique alpine lake Sevan. It is very popular with tourists, and all guests visiting this country definitely want to admire its unprecedented beauty. The peculiarity of the lake is that the water in it is fresh. The inhabitants themselves call it "blue-eyed", because of the incredible play of blue and blue colors, smoothly turning into azure shades.
Often, the play of the sun's rays on the surface of the water creates the feeling that this is "a piece of heaven on earth" (this is how enthusiastic tourists speak of it).
The lake appeared, according to geologists, 25,000 years ago and has a tectonic origin.
Geography and climate
The height of Sevan is 1916 m above sea level, the dimensions reach 35 km (width) and 75 km (length). Mirror area 1914 sq. km. Conventionally, Sevan is divided into two parts - Big and Small. The depth of the first reaches 50 m, and the second 100 m, and it has very strong undercurrents. Oddly enough, 28 different streams, springs and rivers flow into the lake, but only one large Hrazdan river flows out, passing through the whole of Yerevan, and, subsequently, uniting with the border river Araks.
From the fauna of the lake, the “prince-fish” or the Sevan trout (the second name is Ishkhan) is well known. The latter is considered a special delicacy - it has a "competitor" - Sig fish, which was brought in 1920 from Lake Ladoga. We should not forget about the crayfish of Sevan, the taste of which is known far beyond the borders of Armenia.
It should be noted very severe local climatic conditions. In twenty minutes here you can see a thunderstorm, the sun, a rainbow, fog and hail. Although the main factor to which special attention should be paid is ultraviolet radiation. In Sevan, the sun is very "evil" and protective equipment (creams and sprays) practically do not work here. Burns can be obtained even while sitting under an awning. 
Information for tourists
The swimming season itself is very small (from mid-July to early September), but despite this, the rest here leaves an unforgettable experience. It gets quite chilly at night, but the sight of a thousand reflected wobble stars and the sound of the surf make you forget about it completely.
The lake is surrounded by three huge mountain ranges, which, like caring guardians, watch over its peace. Only they failed to save Sevan from the officials. In the mid-30s, it was decided to build a canal for a hydroelectric power station, and, due to the powerful outflow of water, the level began to drop very quickly.
As a result, the only island in Sevan turned into a peninsula. The 9th century monastery of Sevanavank, located on the shore of the lake, played a special role in the spiritual and historical life of the Armenian people. At the moment, the monastery has a theological seminary, opened after the collapse of the communist government. 
As time has shown, many guests who have been here forever take away a piece of this "azure paradise" in their hearts. Lake Sevan is definitely worth a visit and it will leave unforgettable impressions for many years to come!
On the banks of Sevan, there are several more Armenian monasteries of varying degrees of antiquity: Ayrivank on the western slope and the Vanevan monastery in the village of Artsvaninst. You should not bypass your attention and several cemeteries of khachkars (khachkar literally from Armenian - “stone cross”).
When to go?
You can come to Lake Sevan for swimming for a short period in July and August. There is always a slight coolness on the shore of the lake, even in the hottest weather. That is why the locals appreciate the rest in Sevan during the hot months of summer. In winter, the climate is unfavorable, usually below zero temperatures, but the lake itself is sometimes not covered with ice at all. Landscapes in Sevan are beautiful in all seasons.
Speaking about the beauties of Armenia, one cannot fail to mention an amazing natural object - the purest Lake Sevan.
Lake Sevan is the largest freshwater and highest mountain lake in Armenia. It was formed as a result of active activity of volcanic masses. Erupting lava filled the valley of the ancient river, a huge pit was formed, into which the waters of mountain rivers flowed. This is how the lake was formed.
It is located at an altitude of 1896 m above sea level, near the city of Gegharkunik and in ancient times was called the Gegharkunin Sea. Sevan has an area of 1260 square kilometers and a maximum depth of 80 meters. This is the largest lake in the Caucasus, and it is also the second largest alpine lake in the world after Lake Titicaca. It is fed by 28 rivers, the longest reaches 50 km, and the only way out of the lake is the Hrazdan River, which flows into the Araks. Only 10% of the water leaves the reservoir, the remaining 90% evaporate.
The lake seems endless!
On four sides, the lake, like a priceless diamond, is framed by majestic mountains.
Usually, in winter, the lake is only partially covered with ice, but in the abnormally cold winter of 2016-2017, it turned out to be completely ice-bound: you could even safely walk on it. But in the warm winter of 2017-2018 (when we visited Armenia), there was no snow at all in Yerevan and its environs, the weather was abnormally warm, and Lake Sevan struck with its blue without a single piece of ice.
Lake Sevan did not freeze at all in December 2017
The very name Sevan came about according to one legend. The city, located on the shore of the lake, was constantly attacked by Arabs from Turkey in the past. Both the city and the lake became so called after the battle of 859, in which King Ashot managed to repel an Arab attack.
According to legend, after one of the Arab invasions, the inhabitants of the city crossed the ice of a frozen lake and took refuge on a nearby island (today it is a peninsula), where the Sevanavank monastery is located. Here they held a blockade, praying for salvation. When the Arabs once again tried to cross the lake, the ice broke, the enemies died in the icy water of Sevan. The Armenians considered this to be the grace of God. The lake, covered with the corpses of the Arabs, seemed black, so it was called Sevan. Sev in Armenian means "black"
Transparent waters of Lake Sevan, view from the pier
Currently, some activities related to the exploitation of the water of the lake (agriculture, industry) have threatened the ecological balance of this important water and natural resource. But with the creation of the Lake Sevan National Park, the Armenians began a program to improve and restore the ecology of the lake, including the preservation of the natural flora and fauna. The activity of the park is aimed at protecting endangered plants and animals, for example:
- rare plant species;
- fish, including carp, whitefish, trout
- amphibians, including the big green frog;
- reptiles, various types of lizards and snakes;
- birds - 267 species, including wild swans, cormorants, Armenian gulls, mallards, wild geese and others;
- mammals - 34 species, including wild goats, martens, leopards, otters, wolves, marbled skunks and foxes.
Rules of conduct on the lake
Monastery Sevanavank
There are numerous attractions along the lake. The most famous is the monastery of Sevanavank. It is one of the most visited monasteries in the country.
We really liked it here
The monastic complex is located on a peninsula, it proudly rises on a rocky promontory. This is one of the first Christian monasteries in 305. Initially, the peninsula was a rocky piece of land and was not connected to the mainland. Therefore, in order to get there, it used to be necessary to cross by boat. Today, you can drive to the peninsula to the monastery.
Initially, the island was used by local fishermen. Subsequently, hermit monks landed there. The monastery was built from black volcanic tuff. In ancient times, there were 4 temples and multiple outbuildings on the peninsula.
At the beginning of the nineteenth century the monastery was destroyed. Today, only two stone churches in the classical Armenian architectural style remain. Churches, from the outside, seem half abandoned, but this only increases their attractiveness.
View of the Sevanavank monastery from the lake
The interior of the church is not rich, but its huge size is impressive. The view of the monastery complex and its architectural feature make Sevanavank an interesting place to visit.
On this stone sarcophagus it is written that the captain of the Sevan shipping Gasparyan Yervand Oganesovich is buried here. The sarcophagus is located on the territory of the Sevanavank monastery
On the other side of Sevanavank you can see a beautiful U-shaped building. This is Sevan Vazgenian Seminary. Future ministers of the Armenian Apostolic Church study at the seminary:
Vazgenyan Seminary on Lake Sevan
The famous Trout (whitefish) from Sevan
The famous nurse from the lake - the Sevan trout (whitefish) is listed in the Red Book. This is a special kind of trout. Back in the 15th century, the famous trout was exported to many eastern countries. In Armenia, she is called ishkhan, which means "prince" in translation. And it is no coincidence that it has a beautiful appearance and excellent taste.
Whitefish was brought to Lake Sevan in the 1920s and 1930s from Lake Ladoga. This trout is completely different from the usual trout swimming in the rivers. This fish is in the salmon family. It has many names - gegharkuni, akhta, bakhtak. This is the largest type of trout. Its length reaches 100 cm, and its weight is 16 kg. This is the main food fish. Since the water level in the lake has decreased, the conditions for fish breeding have worsened. Therefore, they try to reproduce it in fish hatcheries.
Whitefish is practically sacred for Armenians: in the hungry 90s, it was only thanks to it that the entire population of the country survived. Today, whitefish dishes are quite an expensive pleasure - restaurants on Lake Sevan offer tourists to taste the famous fish at a price of 5000 drams per 1 kg. Any tourist who comes to Lake Sevan is simply obliged to try this famous dish.
Freshly cooked Sig Sevan
Recreation and infrastructure near the lake
The lake is a summer holiday destination appreciated by locals and travelers. Sevan, with its National Park, is the most important natural site. Beautiful pebble beaches, crystal clear waters, unique scenery, fresh mountain air are ideal for a great relaxing holiday. The water temperature in summer is 18-20 degrees. The lake itself is beautiful, but the infrastructure around it is not always ideal.
There are good hotels with a proper set of services, but many “hotel” complexes also consist of containers or wagons. Holidays for every taste.
There are many services available for tourists. Hotels, free beaches and restaurants where you can taste traditional Armenian dishes make Lake Sevan an indispensable place for travelers in Armenia. Many hotels and recreation centers can offer equipment for fishing and water sports.
For some reason, a lot of moonstone jewelry is sold on the shore of Sevan:
And not only jewelry, but also the lunar "cobblestones" themselves
In addition to the purest natural reservoir, travelers are offered hiking in the mountains. Numerous allow you to plunge into its history, its present and future.
5 best hotels near Lake Sevan
Here are some of the best hotels on the lake.
Located in the resort town of Sevan, 24 km from the city of Tsaghkadzor. There is a beach and water sports facilities. The hotel offers views of the lake.
Hotel Caboose
Ten steps from the lake. Near the monastery Sevanovank.
Hotel Lavash
Located in Chkalovka, 70 meters. The hotel offers lake and mountain views. The hotel is located in an area appreciated by fishermen.
Hotel Neu Land Resort
Located on the lake and 1 minute walk from the beach. It has a seasonal outdoor pool. You can go horseback riding and windsurfing.
Hotel Tsovazar Family Rest
Located a few steps from the lake, it offers self catering accommodation.
Other hotels in Sevan:
Where is Lake Sevan and how to get there
The famous reservoir is located in Armenia in the Gegharkunik region. You can get to it from the capital of Armenia, Yerevan:
- on your own or rented car;
- by taxi;
- rent a car with a driver (we did just that, we rented a car for the whole day for 20,000 drams and on that day managed not only to visit Lake Sevan, but also);
- fixed-route taxi No. 317 from the Northern Bus Station of Yerevan;
- bus from the center of Yerevan No. 46.
The distance to the lake is about 70 kilometers. The road from Yerevan to the lake on the map:
Sevan is so beautiful that, as one Armenian poet said, one wants to drown in it.
- one of the main resorts of Armenia. There is no sea in the country, and some go to Georgian Batumi, but getting there is an order of magnitude longer and more expensive. And here it is only 70 km from Yerevan to sandy beaches and clear water. That is why the locals call it the Armenian Sea.
Sevan and its surroundings are one of the most beautiful sights in Armenia, which you should definitely visit if you come to this country. The lake is located at an altitude of 1900 m above sea level among the mountains and is the largest in the Caucasus. 28 rivers flow into Sevan, and the entire bottom flows out - Hrazdan (as in Baikal).
Sevan in summer
In July and August, the water warms up to +20 degrees, which already allows you to swim. Residents of Yerevan and the Ararat plain come to Lake Sevan to escape the unbearable summer heat, it is really much cooler here than in the valley.
This is the only place in Armenia where you can catch crayfish or trout (or buy them in shops) and cook them right there. On the sandy beaches there are sun loungers, volleyball courts, you can also rent a boat or a jet ski - everything is like in a real resort, only the water is still cool, not like in the sea.
View from the peninsula to the lake
Sights of Sevan and surroundings
The most famous attraction of Sevan is Sevanavank Monastery located on a peninsula on a hill. From here you have excellent views of the turquoise expanse of the lake. Interestingly, the monastery was originally built on an island, but due to a drop in the water level, the island turned into a peninsula. The monastery was built by monks in the 8th century from black volcanic tuff, by the way, “sev” in Armenian means black.
Be sure to check out Hayravank monastery, which is on the western shore of the lake, it is also over 1100 years old. There is a much more peaceful atmosphere here than in Sevanovanka with its sellers and crowds of people.
A little further south is an ancient Armenian village Noratus(sometimes called Noraduz) and the world's largest cemetery of khachkars not far from it. Khachkars are large boulders with crosses carved on them, they can be found everywhere in Armenia, but there are a lot of them at once. Even near Noratus you will find secluded beaches, on the peninsula everything is occupied by hotels-restaurants.
You can make a trip around Sevan by car, motorcycle or even a bicycle along the circular road. The whole journey takes about 200 km, but for sure it will be an interesting experience.
Small towns on the west coast haven't changed much since the Soviet Union, but you can still find a couple of hotels in them to spend the night. From Martuni, the road goes to the Selim pass towards Yeghegnadzor, but do not try to drive along it in winter, it may be impassable due to snow drifts. On the south coast you will find several more monasteries hidden from all eyes: Vanevank and Makenis.
