Public Transportation
The easiest way to get to Debed canyon by means of public transportation is to travel from Yerevan to Vanadzor first, and then continue to the towns and villages around the canyon from there. The minibuses to Vanadzor depart from the Kilikia Central Bus Station in Yerevan every 30 minutes starting from 8:45 am. The fare is 1200 AMD per person, the journey lasts 2 hours and 35 minutes. Last departure’s at 7:30 pm. And below are the schedules for buses and minibuses operating between the settlements in the Debed canyon.
Note: The information was taken from the website of the Lori province administration.
Taxi
To get from Yerevan to Vanadzor you can take a shared taxi, which is slightly more expensive than the minibus, but more comfortable. One of the companies offering such transfers is the YevYev service. The ride to Vanadzor on their shared taxis will cost you 1500 AMD, but you’ll have to contact them in advance by the following phone number: +374 93 110 081 (WhatsApp/Viber).
Alternatively, you can use a private taxi, but this is the most expensive option. If you opt for a private cab, we recommend using the on-demand transportation services, such as GG Taxi or Yandex.Taxi, to make sure the drivers don’t overcharge you. The ride from Yerevan to Vanadzor on GG or Yandex will cost you around 12000-13000 AMD. You can also add your card details to avoid paying by cash.
Hitchhiking
Hitchhiking in Armenia is very easy, you rarely wait longer than 5-10 minutes to get a ride on a road with active traffic. And given that the public transportation system often offers only one journey a day between certain destinations, especially in the provinces, hitchhiking becomes a great alternative for travelers who want to get to remote sites. There are two main routes you can take from Yerevan to Debed canyon, the route via Aparan-Spitak being the most common. To get to the road, take any minibus or bus from Kilikia Central Bus Station to the town of Ashtarak (fare is 250 AMD), and get off the bus at “Bagavan” stop (click here for map). The road you’ll find yourself on is the main road going all the way to the Georgian border via Aparan – Spitak – Vanadzor – Alaverdi – Akhtala.
Alternatively, you can take the route via Sevan and Dilijan. This is a more laid-back option, and you get to see Lake Sevan and the resort town of Dilijan with its lush green forests. To get to the road, take the bus #259 from Kilikia Central Bus Station, and get off at the Northern Bus Station (fare is 200 AMD). You’ll find yourself on the road to Lake Sevan. Walk a bit further to find a suitable spot and hitchhike from there. Ideally, you’d want to get to this spot, to leave the traffic to Abovyan behind.
The easiest way to get to Debed canyon by means of public transportation is to travel from Yerevan to Vanadzor first, and then continue to the towns and villages around the canyon from there. The minibuses to Vanadzor depart from the Kilikia Central Bus Station in Yerevan every 30 minutes starting from 8:45 am. The fare is 1200 AMD per person, the journey lasts 2 hours and 35 minutes. Last departure’s at 7:30 pm. And below are the schedules for buses and minibuses operating between the settlements in the Debed canyon.
Note: The information was taken from the website of the Lori province administration.
To get from Yerevan to Vanadzor you can take a shared taxi, which is slightly more expensive than the minibus, but more comfortable. One of the companies offering such transfers is the YevYev service. The ride to Vanadzor on their shared taxis will cost you 1500 AMD, but you’ll have to contact them in advance by the following phone number: +374 93 110 081 (WhatsApp/Viber).
Alternatively, you can use a private taxi, but this is the most expensive option. If you opt for a private cab, we recommend using the on-demand transportation services, such as GG Taxi or Yandex.Taxi, to make sure the drivers don’t overcharge you. The ride from Yerevan to Vanadzor on GG or Yandex will cost you around 12000-13000 AMD.
Hitchhiking in Armenia is very easy, you rarely wait longer than 5-10 minutes to get a ride on a road with active traffic. And given that the public transportation system often offers only one journey a day between certain destinations, especially in the provinces, hitchhiking becomes a great alternative for travelers who want to get to remote sites. There are two main routes you can take from Yerevan to Debed canyon, the route via Aparan-Spitak being the most common. To get to the road, take any minibus or bus from Kilikia Central Bus Station to the town of Ashtarak (fare is 250 AMD), and get off the bus at “Bagavan” stop (click here for map). The road you’ll find yourself on is the main road going all the way to the Georgian border via Aparan – Spitak – Vanadzor – Alaverdi – Akhtala.
Alternatively, you can take the route via Sevan and Dilijan. This is a more laid-back option, and you get to see Lake Sevan and the resort town of Dilijan with its lush green forests. To get to the road, take the bus #259 from Kilikia Central Bus Station, and get off at the Northern Bus Station (fare is 200 AMD). You’ll find yourself on the road to Lake Sevan. Walk a bit further to find a suitable spot and hitchhike from there. Ideally, you’d want to get to this spot, to leave the traffic to Abovyan behind.