Sanahin - Akner - Haghpat / Unesco Heritage Sites / Armenian National Trail

The 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐡𝐢𝐧–𝐀𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐫–𝐇𝐚𝐠𝐡𝐩𝐚𝐭 trail is part of the 𝐴𝑟𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑖𝑎𝑛 𝑁𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑇𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑙, which stretches over 1,000 kilometers from north to south and connects 108 villages across the country.

This trail covers sections ANT-3 and ANT-4 of the Armenian National Trail in the Lori region.

This trail captivates not only with its stunning natural beauty but also with its rich cultural heritage — connecting the 𝐔𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐂𝐎-𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐲 and 𝐇𝐚𝐠𝐡𝐩𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐲.

▶Distance from Yerevan to Sanahin:
180 km 2 hr 55 min

▶Recommended for:
Hikers who enjoy a moderate hike combining scenic village routes, gorge walks, and forest trails, with impressive cultural sites along the way.

𝐼 𝑎𝑑𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑤𝑎𝑦𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑙 𝑡𝑜 ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑝 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑛𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛, 𝑒𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑎𝑡 𝑗𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠. 𝐼𝑛 𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑦 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠, 𝑦𝑜𝑢’𝑙𝑙 𝑠𝑒𝑒 𝑠𝑖𝑔𝑛𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑡𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑙 𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑘𝑒𝑟𝑠, 𝑠𝑜 𝑚𝑦 𝑤𝑎𝑦𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝑚𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑠𝑒𝑒𝑚 𝑛𝑒𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑎𝑟𝑦. 𝐵𝑢𝑡 𝐼 𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑙𝑢𝑑𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑚 𝑎𝑛𝑦𝑤𝑎𝑦 𝑏𝑒𝑐𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒, 𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑛 𝑚𝑦 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒, 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑠𝑖𝑔𝑛𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑡𝑠 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑔𝑒𝑡 𝑑𝑎𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒, 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑙 𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑘𝑠 𝑚𝑎𝑦 𝑓𝑎𝑑𝑒, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑛𝑒𝑥𝑡 𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑚𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑛𝑜𝑡 ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑛 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑠. 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑠𝑒 𝑤𝑎𝑦𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑎 𝑠𝑎𝑓𝑒𝑡𝑦 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒, 𝑠𝑜 𝑎𝑛𝑦𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑛𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑙 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑖𝑓 𝑖𝑡’𝑠 𝑝𝑜𝑜𝑟𝑙𝑦 𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑.

◤Description of the Trail

— The route starts at Sanahin Monastery, located in the village of Sanahin (Սանահին գյուղ).
From there, it leads to Akner village (Ակներ գյուղ), and then continues on to Haghpat Monastery in Haghpat village (Հաղպատ գյուղ).

— The trail has a mix of ascents and descents but no particularly steep sections, making it moderately easy to hike.

— While the route is marked, many of the signs have faded or disappeared. A GPS device or app is essential.

◤𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐆𝐨?
The hiking season in Lori region runs from April to mid-November, ending with the first snowfall.

▶ Recommended
𝑀𝑖𝑑-𝐴𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑙 - 𝐿𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝐽𝑢𝑛𝑒:
Starting in mid-April, the landscape begins to come to life after winter, with the blooming season reaching its peak in late April to early May.

𝑆𝑒𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟, 𝑂𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑏𝑒𝑟:
A great time to hike, as the summer heat fades—especially after mid-September. The autumn foliage reaches its peak from mid-October to early November, offering vibrant colors and cooler weather.

▶ Other Seasons

𝑁𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟: This month marks the shift into winter. Trees are usually bare, and temperatures drop, but hiking is still possible for those who enjoy a cooler, quieter trail.

𝐽𝑢𝑙𝑦, 𝐴𝑢𝑔𝑢𝑠𝑡: Summer can be quite hot, especially in the lower parts. Overall, the Lori region tends to be too warm for ideal summer hiking, particularly on trails with little shade.

▶ Not Recommended

𝑀𝑎𝑟𝑐ℎ: This month is a continuation of winter—a transitional period with remnants of melting snow.

𝑊𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑀𝑜𝑛𝑡ℎ𝑠:
During winter, temperatures often drop, and snow can cover large parts of the trail, especially the higher ones.
Snow conditions vary depending on the season, and sometimes the trails are clear of snow. This period is only suitable for those specifically looking for a snow hike.


◈◈◈ Kayanberd fortress ◈◈ ◈

◈ Kayanberd or Kayan fortress ( Կայանբերդ , Կայան բերդ ) was built with black tufa on a cliff above Debed canyon in 1233.

◈ The fort is situated, between Akner and Haghpat villages.
Sheer cliffs on three sides of the fort were meant to provide natural protection of the area.

◈ The fort is known as Aknaberd or Dsevank as well.

◈ The fort was built by order of Haghpat bishop Hovhannes Zakaryan (nephew of Ivane and Zakare Zakaryan from the Zakarians dynasty).

◈ The fort has a short life as after several years (in 1241) Mongolians invaded this area and destroyed a lot of cultural sights in Lori region.

◈ Only some ruins of the fortress and Dsevank church (the one that you see in the pictures) have remained after Mongolian invasions.


◈◈◈ Haghpat monastery ◈◈◈

Haghpat ( Հաղպատ ) is one of the most impressive medieval monastery complexes located in Haghpat village, Lori region (3 hours from Yerevan/190 km).

◗ The 10-13th century largest monastery of medieval Armenia monastery overlooks Debed canyon

◗ Haghpat and Sanahin monasteries were included on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 1996.

◗ The architecture of Haghpat has elements of both traditional architecture of the region and the ecclesiastical architecture of the Byzantine Empire.

◗ Haghpat and Sanahin were the largest educational and cultural centers in medieval Armenia. Oratory, philosophy, music, manuscript illumination and other subjects were taught there.

◗ The monastery was founded around 976 by Queen Khosrovanuysh, the wife of Bagratid Ashot the 3rd.
◗ The sons of the church's founder, Princes Smbat and Kurike, are shown with Queen Khosravanush in a bas-relief on the east gable.
◗ Armenia was released from Seljuk domination at the end of the 12th century by Ivaneh and Zakareh Zakaryans. During their rule, the monastery was expanded, occupying a territory three times larger than the previous one.

◗ The Haghpat Monastery complex is a combination of churches like Saint Astvatsatsin(13 century), Saint Nshan (10 century), and Saint Grigor(11 century). There is also a bell tower, a repository, many khachkars, and it is surrounded by high walls to protect from invaders.

◗ The best known khackar is the "Amenaprkich" (All-Savior) khachkar reflecting the scene of crucifixion which has been standing since 1273.

◗ Among the teachers of the monastery was Grigor Magistros and the famous philosopher Hovhannes Sarkavag ( Hovhannes Imastaser).
His tombstone is located under the bell tower of Haghpat. At that time, several hundred monks lived in the Haghpat Monastery.

◗ In the 18th century (1775), the famous Armenian composer Sayat Nova found refuge in Haghpat. According to the locals, he lived in a monastery until his death as a monk.

◗ The monastery has been damaged many times by numerous attacks and earthquakes and renovated after.

◗ The monastery has no official opening hours, but it’s safe to arrive anytime between 10am and sundown.

*𝐼𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑦 𝑁𝑜𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑒:
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