Cycling Tour in Azat Canyon

Pedalling to Garni

Once, on a usual wintry day, we decided to bring some diversity into our mountaineering routine and conduct cycling tours around Armenia. We were extremely thrilled with the mere idea of exploring this timeless country from a completely different spectrum and headed from Yerevan to Garni.   

First of all, I would like to mention that the most difficult part of this trip was in Yerevan since the Davitashen-Jrvezh road was teeming with uphills which literally drained my energy, though dozens of challenges were yet to come.

Aharon was waiting for me near the gas station. I overcame the last uphill, took a deep breath and greeted him. He gave me a half-cut apple, thus hitting the nail on the head since that was the only thing that could make me feel better and empower me with extra energy to continue my hunt for new adventures.    

After reaching Garni, we solved the food issue and descended the gorge. The most dangerous part was the path connecting the village with the Symphony of Stones. The slope was pretty steep, and the speed was gradually rising, which made the handlebar move uncontrollably. The stones would spin beneath the bike’s wheels, popping up and bruising my legs. The only way to prevent this was to stop the bike.

Symphony of Stones

Whenever I look at this natural gem, I feel totally enchanted. It is quite hard to convince the visitors that what they see here is purely natural and human-beings have not played any role in the creation of this monument. You know, it is common knowledge for us, Armenians. Alas, we don’t really appreciate this natural treasure and don’t pay much attention to its oneness. Maybe we don’t value it because we own it.

Yes, I do agree that some people can be indifferent towards their national gems, but nothing can justify those who turn their indifference into obvious vandalism. Nothing can explain those who use this monument for construction purposes to fence their houses.

Yes, unfortunately, reaping short-term material benefits from this unprecedented sight is a common practice among both big shots and villagers, who paradoxically improve their houses at the expense of our cultural wealth.

So, despite the level of its bitterness, the fact is that without playing any role in its creation, people definitely play a prominent role in its destruction.

We rode throughout the length of the flow of Azat. The cacao brown waters of the river were raging, which was the immediate result of the seasonal snowmelt. We were extremely tired and stopped in a fresh-green garden. The river on the one side, some snowlines on the other, and a dry garden between them. This was a godsend for us. So, we decided to get some rest and revive our stretched muscles right there.

P.S.  Probably, there is nothing better than lying on the riverbank and listening to the burble of the raging river.  

Afterwards, we continued our journey to Banavan (previously known as the district of physicians). It was nearly impossible to ignore the puddles spread all over the road, and as a result of underestimating the depth of one of them, I spent the rest of the day with wet feet.

Azat Canyon

Although initially, we aimed to continue our trip through the Garni-Artashat road, the mesmerizing beauty of the Yeranos mountain belt took us to the water reservoir of Azat. Throughout this time of the year, the road is not that overloaded, which allowed us to pass the rest of the way to the village of Lanjazat through a relatively paved surface. In the beginning, everything was okay. We were enjoying the astounding view of the reservoir. Probably, there is nothing more beautiful in Armenia than this frozen reservoir with its unique natural palette. But then, we were supposed to change our destination since the raging waters of the river covered a soft part of the road, which made the soil extremely muddy.

Finally, we reached the barriers of the reservoir, where you can enjoy the charming view of Yeranos mountains. In the evening, during the dawn, the mountain totally reddens, which explains why locals call it Red mountain.    

Thus, we ended our day after encountering a handful of challenges and adventures, after passing more than 80 km, after exploring Armenia from a completely different angle and making indelible memories that will be cherished forever.

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Cycling tours in Armenia