Vanadzor Travel Guide

The train to Vanadzor from both Georgia and Giumri passes through some of the most beautiful terrain in Armenia, and Vanadzor is a terrific location logistically for exploring Lori. If you arrange you stops accordingly, you can see the Northern region in its entirety, exploring pristine forests and long forgotten Bronze Age, Byzantine and Medieval ruins.

From Airum, stop at Alaverdi (poor but clean hotel) and hire a car to explore the forest monasteries like Haghbat, Sanahin, Odzun, and the Debet River (gorgeous terrain and flora in the Spring).

From Vanadzor, you can explore Stepanavan, the only remaining Armenian Water Lily population in Armenia, and East into Tavush, which is never on the main tour paths, but which holds the most pristine wilderness in Northern Armenia (stay At Berd and Ijevan).

Two services are available in Vanadzor to/from the Georgian border: one gnatsk train (obshi and coupé class) and one elektrichka train (obshi class only). Note on the elektrichka train there are no toilets. The train to and from Vanadzor is on the same rail line as that to Yerevan.