In September 2019 I was privileged to lead a bikepacking expedition across Armenia, following remote dirt tracks and singletrack trails with a fantastic group of fellow riders.
The goal was to test out a new bikepacking route across Armenia – a mashup of Bikepacking.com’s classic Caucasus Crossing (Armenia), the Armenian national section of the Transcaucasian Trail long-distance hiking route, and some new connections I’d scouted to link the best bits together.
With 90% of the Republic of Armenia set within the rugged folds of the Lesser Caucasus Mountains, it was always going to be a tough place to go bikepacking. The route didn’t disappoint: while riding 800km (500 miles) over two weeks, we climbed the equivalent of sea level to the summit of Mount Everest – twice.
At the end of the post, you’ll find links to a map of the planned bikepacking route across Armenia, GPS tracklogs of the ride itself, and links to further resources for planning a ride of your own.
But first, I hope you enjoy this rare glimpse into backcountry Armenia as seen from the seat of a bicycle…
Early September. It was supposed to be dry, sunny and mild. Instead, we got hit by a week of freak weather which took the mercury down to 2ºC with black skies and cold rain for five days solid. Cue freezing extremities, more mud than any of us had ever seen (actual quote), and early-stage hypothermia in one case. Despite all of this, I was reassured to see that there were no sense of humour failures among the group.
(Pro tip: rubber dishwashing gloves work incredibly well in these conditions. Second pro tip: always drybag your biodegradable Firepot meals!)
After what seemed like an eternity the sun began to reappear, the trails dried out, and we turned south on a mix of perfectly graded gravel roads and off-trail hike-a-bike – not that anybody minded on such a spectacular ridgeline traverse. As the sun began to set, we were treated to one of the most stunning temperature inversions I’ve ever set eyes upon, ending up at the Soviet Writers’ Residence on the shore of Lake Sevan.
Next came the remote Geghama Mountains. Massive sheepdogs, thunderstorms, millennia-old petroglyphs and the occasional glimpse of distant Mount Ararat were the order of the day, as we traversed what is probably my favourite mountain range in Armenia, popping back into civilisation at the 14th-century Selim caravanserai on the border of Vayots Dzor province.
In Vayots Dzor, with the summer weather returning, we departed from my planned route and tried something completely different. I’d shied away from using trails I hadn’t previously scouted out in person, but I was by now confident enough in the group’s ability (in fact, let’s say enthusiasm!) for tackling new and untested routes. The dice-roll paid off and we found ourselves crossing between a series of magnificent gorges, all traffic-free, ending the segment at the Jermuk, whose thermal springs have long made it Armenia’s premier health spa destination.
We needed to add four days of riding to complete the route, and I was happy to find three of the group were able to change their plans and continue all the way to the southern city of Meghri. The vibe was very different for this last stretch; less of an organised group and more like a handful of riders who’d met on the road and decided to ride together. Our conversations got me thinking about next year – about whether or not I’d run this ride again and what I might change if I did so. Before we knew it, we were riding into a setting sun alongside the River Arax, Iran to our left and the whole of the Republic of Armenia to our right – a long-time ambition achieved, new friends made, and perhaps the framework of a new national mountain biking route laid down…
Keen to try bikepacking Armenia yourself? Here’s a few trustworthy resources to get you started:
- Our planned bikepacking route across Armenia (embedded map above) can be found on the CyclingArmenia.com RideWithGPS profile.
- Check out the Caucasus Crossing (Armenia) route over at Bikepacking.com, which was a big part of the inspiration for this ride.
- Actual GPS recordings of the ride can be found on my personal komoot profile.
- Since 2023, the Ascend Armenia bikepacking race has made it fun and accessible to bikepack around the country for a few days with a cohort of like-minded souls.
- Finally, you might be surprised to know that I co-author an actual guidebook to all things travel in Armenia.
Traditional cycle touring more your style? Here’s Five Reasons To Go Cycle Touring In Armenia. Also check out the collection of suggested routes at CyclingArmenia.com.
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