Things to do
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Dilijan National Park
Oak and beech cover most of the park, which protects the northern slopes of the Pambak and Areguni ranges along with the Transcaucasian Trail as it crosses Tavush. Marked routes link Parz Lake with Goshavank in a few hours of easy walking. Ticks are active in late spring, and the forest tracks turn slick after rain.
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Goshavank
Mkhitar Gosh founded this monastery in 1188 after Getik was destroyed by earthquake, and his law code was written here. The compound stands in the middle of Gosh village, open and unfenced, with a celebrated openwork khachkar by the carver Poghos in the gallery. Visits run short, though the village guesthouses make a reasonable overnight on the trail.
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Haghartsin Monastery
Beech forest closes around a cluster of thirteenth century churches north east of Dilijan, restored in recent decades with Gulf funding after long neglect. Three churches, a refectory and a ruined gavit sit on a shelf of hillside with no village attached. The access road climbs several kilometres off the highway, which keeps coach traffic light outside high summer.
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Lake Parz
A small green lake sits in forest about ten kilometres east of the town, reached by a rough road that most drivers take slowly. Pedal boats and a zipline operate through the summer, and cafes serve trout by the water. Walkers use it as the trailhead for the marked path to Goshavank, which takes roughly three hours.
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Sevanavank
Two ninth century churches of black tuff crown a peninsula that was an island until Soviet engineers drew the lake down. Steps climb from the car park to a view over Sevan's blue water and the Geghama range beyond. Summer weekends fill the shore with Armenian holidaymakers, and the wind off the water stays cold even in August.