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Debed Canyon

One of Armenia’s most impressive natural landscapes, the Debed Canyon stretches from the city of Vanadzor, the administrative center of Lori province, along the River Debed and all the way up north to the Armenian-Georgian border. The Debed river that flows through the canyon, the winding road running along it, the surrounding mountains and the breathtaking views that open up from their slopes make Debed canyon a popular destination worth visiting in all seasons.

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Popular Activites

The province of Lori in the north of Armenia, mysterious and serene, offers a great variety of landscapes, from mighty mountain ranges with lush forests to deep canyons with rapid rivers, making the province, and the Debed canyon in particular, an awesome destination for adventure seekers.

Hiking

Biking

Rafting

Camping

Horseback Riding

Birdwatching

Hiking

The mesmerizing Debed canyon amazes with its spectacular nature and cultural and historical heritage. A network of trails and paths that were used by locals for hundreds of years, today have become popular among hikers and outdoor enthusiasts.

Biking

With its road network undergoing a major renovation, Debed canyon is a great destination for traveling on touring bicycles. The paths and dirt roads running around the villages are a mountain biker’s dream.

Rafting

Try rafting on the Debed River. Even though rafting was only recently introduced to the tourism market of Armenia, this extreme recreational outdoor activity during which a group of people navigates a river using an inflatable raft has already become very popular among locals.

Camping

Ecotourism is rapidly developing in Armenia in recent years, and Lori province is no exception. Especially popular among young people, ecotourism aims to protect natural and cultural sites, as well as raise awareness and improve the ecological education of the local population in the towns and villages around the country.

Horseback Riding

Horseback riding tours are another great way to explore the mesmerizing Debed canyon. The tours take travelers on a journey lasting anywhere between 2 hours and 2 days along the hidden paths and trails of the canyon and are adjusted to the participants’ experience.

Birdwatching

Home to rich nature and wildlife, the Dsegh community of the Lori province is one of Armenia’s Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas identified by BirdLife International as being habituated by one or more globally threatened bird species.

Visit popular travel destinations

Debed canyon is one of the most remarkable places in Armenia where you can find ancient monuments on mountaintops, hidden in thick forests, on the edges of cliffs or in the very heart of the gorge.

Sanahin Monastery

Described as an outstanding example of Armenian medieval religious architecture, the 10th-century monastic complex of Sanahin is located in the village of the same name just above the city of Alaverdi. It is believed that the site was a center of worship from as early as the 4th century. But the oldest church of the [...]

Kayan Fortress

An important bastion protecting the monastery of Haghpat and the surrounding villages, the Kayan Fortress (known as Kayanberd, or Aknaberd) is situated on a sheer cliff between the villages of Akner and Haghpat, rising high above the Debed canyon. The deep gorges on the three sides of the cliff provide natural protection to the Kayan [...]

Haghpat Monastery

A masterpiece of Armenian religious architecture, the UNESCO World Heritage site Haghpat monastery represents a unique fusion of traditional architecture of the region and the ecclesiastical architecture of the Byzantine Empire. The monastery was founded in 976 AD by King Ashot the Merciful and his wife Queen Khosrovanush who commissioned the construction of the oldest [...]

Tsover Lake

One of the gems of Lori- Lake “Tsover”, is carefully hidden among the calm mountains and emerald forests. Located 3 km south-east of Dsegh village, this natural monument, with its magical harmony, ethereal elegance, tranquility, and simplicity, will attract all those who prefer to get away from the city noise and find a serene, comfortable, [...]

VIsit popular travel destinations

Debed canyon is one of the most remarkable places in Armenia where you can find ancient monuments on mountaintops, hidden in thick forests, on the edges of cliffs or in the very heart of the gorge.

Explore & discover COAF SMART

COAF SMART is the world’s most innovative initiative for the advancement of rural communities. COAF SMART seeks to empower Armenia’s village youth through resources and opportunities to explore their intellectual curiosities and push the boundaries of the fields of study that compel them.

Cozy accommodation and stunning views

In recent years, domestic and inbound tourism in Debed canyon is on the rise. Locals refurbish their houses to make them more convenient for hosting visitors. There are both cozy guesthouses and large hotels with adjunct restaurants.

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Cozy Accommodation and Stunning Views

In Recent Years, Domestic And Inbound Tourism In Debed Canyon Is On The Rise. Locals Refurbish Their Houses To Make Them More Convenient For Hosting Visitors. There Are Both Cozy Guesthouses And Large Hotels With Adjunct Restaurants.

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Eat & Drink

Fast food

Restaurant

Yeghegnut village, M6 Highway, Vanadzor-Alaverdi

+374 93 306 064

Lori Gorge Eatery

Armenian

Restaurant

35, 1st street, Vahagnadzor village, M6 Highway

+374 41 525 555

Getap

Armenian, Russian, European

Tea House

Gugark village, M6 Highway, Vanadzor-Alaverdi

+374 94 180 898 +374 98 675 585

Nectaro Tea House

Armenian, Russian, European

Cafe

42 Tigran Mets Ave, Vanadzor

+374 322 406 46 +374 94 940 646

Oasis cafe

Armenian

Restaurant

1st Raffi street, Akhtala

+374 94 580 787 +374 94 004 137

NURIK

Fast Food

Restaurant

5-1/5 Miyasnikyan Street, Vanadzor

+374 322 2 17 17 +374 93 393 598

Asteri Greek Sweets

view Eat & Drink Places

Debet

Zarni-Parni

Haghpat

Atorik

Alaverdi

View Eat & Drink Places

BLOG

Blog

March 17, 2023

5 Useful Things To Pack for a Trip to the Debed Canyon

He who would travel happily must travel light. – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Blog

February 21, 2023

Debed Canyon Bus Stops

If you spot one, make sure to stop the car and snap a picture before they disappear forever.

Blog

February 2, 2023

Debed Canyon Soviet Utopia: Alaverdi Train Station

The train station itself can be perceived as a time machine that transports us to a period when art was an influential part of everyday life and a powerful ideological tool in the hands of an autocratic state.