Hello everyone. During our trip to Armenia, we visited a beautiful region called Lori. This place has an amazing nature: forests, mountains and fresh air. To get here we left from Yerevan and we had planned to take the bus, but unfortunately, there is no bus going in this direction. So, we made an agreement with a taxi driver at the bus station and he brought us here for 24 euros. The journey took about 2.5 hours. The hotel we stayed at is called V&V Hotel Resort. The taxi dropped us off directly in front of the hotel.
The Georgian border is very close to here. So, I can say we almost went all the way to Georgia. However, we were here because our friends told us that the Lori region is very beautiful and that we absolutely had to visit it. It was a great advantage to arrive directly by taxi because even if we had found a bus, we would probably still have had to take a taxi.
Regarding the hotel I can say that it is very green, well-organized and clean. The mountain views are amazing. There is even a children's park and a small green area here. We immediately checked into our room. The place we stayed in is a bungalow with a terrace. It is located in Gyulagarak Village.
The room price is 70 euros and breakfast is included in the price. And there is a sitting area with a sofa, a clothes rack, a table, a kettle, tea, coffee and napkins. And now let's move on to the best part. This bungalow has a private terrace. We went outside right away. There is a swing where you can relax and enjoy. There is also a table where you can sit with a drink and enjoy the view. No matter where you look, you're seeing a breathtaking natural landscape. We had missed such a lush atmosphere for a long time.
We had been wanting to see beautiful places like this in Armenia and we were finally here. Nature captivated us 100%. I really loved this place. The location is great and the air is fresh and clean. The weather is not too hot, it’s at the perfect temperature. Plus, the hotel is brand new and very comfortable. Later, we found a promotion and our stay was arranged with three meals included.
Apparently there are many bungalows here and the area is quite spacious. There is enough space for everyone. A small park area has also been made where you can sit and relax. There's also a huge fireplace where a fire is lit in the evenings. We could see the restaurant in the distance, so we headed that way. The fact that we could see mountains and nature from everywhere was really incredible. We had missed such an atmosphere for a long time.
Near the reception there's a children's play area and some exercise equipment, like pull-up bars and swings, for those who want to work out. If you have kids, they can spend time here or you can exercise yourself. Inside the hotel, there are a few campfire areas. Like many hotels in Georgia, this tradition continues here. We also saw the restaurant’s terrace, where you can sit either indoors or outdoors. It's a beautiful detail and especially in the summer, it would be great to sit outside.
Our bungalow was located just behind the restaurant, so we could reach it from both the terrace and the main entrance. What caught our attention the most was the large football field here. There are also areas where you can play volleyball. The last time I played volleyball was at school and I don't have the best memories. The ball kept hitting my head and I just couldn't play well. So maybe we'll play football instead? At least I think the ball won’t hit my head. 😄
We found a puppy. It was so cute that it immediately ran over to us, wanting to play. It had been hiding in the shade and we didn't notice it at first, but it came over to us later.
This place surprised us not only with the mountains and nature but also with a small pool. We didn’t expect to be able to swim here. The pool isn't very large, but swimming with these views will be amazing. I think it’s a big plus that the hotel has this area. There is also a small zoo inside the hotel. They had rabbits. They were so adorable, some were completely white and some were grayish... Though most of them seemed tired from the heat and weren’t moving much. It reminded me of when my grandmother had rabbits and when they had babies, the mother would reject them if they smelled like humans. That's why we were never allowed to pick them up.
It was time for lunch. The inside of the restaurant has a very stylish and peaceful atmosphere. We placed our order and gradually, our meals started arriving. There’s really relaxing music playing here and the ambiance feels like a lounge. Everywhere we looked, we could see magnificent mountain views.
For lunch, we had a cheese platter, chicken with potatoes, fresh greens and vegetables, Armenian yogurt "Matsun", pickles, Armenian lavash bread and homemade compote on the side.
For dessert, there were chocolate and strawberry pancakes, as well as melon and watermelon. We definitely filled up successfully.
Afterward we left the hotel and realized there was a market right across the street. We went there too. It's a really big market. It has everything: drinks, wine, cognac, even charcoal and firewood. I can say it’s about the same size as the markets near our home in Yerevan.
We wanted to take a walk and explore the village. We were hoping to see some interesting places and historical sites along the way. This is truly a traditional Armenian village. Everyone has their own garden, fruit trees and a small vegetable plot. We checked Google Maps and saw that there was an old church right in the center of the village.
This church had been severely damaged in an earthquake but still stands as a historical monument. We wanted to visit it too. The atmosphere here reminded me of the days I spent at my grandmother’s village as a child. The same smell, the same feeling. The scent of nature here is also different, grass, earth and... a bit of cow scent. 😄 Most people come here by their own vehicle and that’s really an advantage. It makes it much easier to visit all these beautiful places. Since we came by taxi, we would have to arrange some way of transport here.
We went down to a residential area and found a horse. Honestly, I was a little hesitant to approach it because it could move at any moment and I might accidentally get kicked. 😅 It had so many flies on it, you wouldn’t believe it. But it looked well-groomed, its fur seemed brushed. It seemed to be shivering, but maybe it was just nervous because of me. Or maybe it was trying to shoo away the flies?
In the center of the village, there's a small park, the municipal building and a few shops. In the market we visited, fresh fruits and vegetables were being sold.
But just think about it, children born here must be so used to these magnificent mountain views that they probably don’t even notice them. For us tourists, this view is incredible. Everywhere we look, there are magnificent mountains and natural beauty. But for the people who live here, it’s just part of daily life. I think if someone born and raised here ever moves to a regular city, they would definitely feel like something is missing.
There was a small market here and we checked the prices: The prices were similar to those in Yerevan. Watermelon was 150 dram/kg (~0.50 dollars), melon, tomatoes and onions were around 0.50dollars, plums and peaches were 1 dollars and grapes were about 1.5 dollars.
By the way, even in the village, there are public water fountains. These fountains are found all over Armenia, so there's no need to go to the market to get water. Many people say Armenia has some of the world’s tastiest water, so maybe that’s why they’ve put fountains everywhere.
And here it is, the old church from the 19th century. It was severely damaged in the earthquake, but some parts are still standing. The entrance door is intact, but nothing is left inside, not the icons, nor the decorations. In fact, even grass has started growing between the walls. We didn’t have much intention to go inside because it seemed like it could collapse. But then we noticed there was a small prayer room and there were icons inside. From the outside, it looked like a special area, but once we went in, we realized all the icons had been moved there.
On our way back to the hotel, we were once again accompanied by breathtaking views along the road.
For dinner we had cheese and vegetables, olives, pasta, compote, meatballs, Caesar salad and of course, lavash. The Caesar salad here is made with sour cream and garlic sauce instead of mayonnaise, so it's lighter and healthier.
The next morning, for breakfast, we had omelet, sausage, cheese, matsun, jam, bread, lavash and fresh fruits. They also served compote. It was a very delicious breakfast and we were ready for a wonderful day.
We booked a tour from the hotel, as we couldn’t find such services in the village. Without a car, it would be difficult to explore these places. Our hotel had a big list of tours and we selected one from it. Our driver picked us up and 30 minutes later, we arrived at our first amazing destination. We were traveling comfortably in a V&V Hotel branded car. Our first stop was Arevatsag Canyon. The Debet River flows here. This place is very popular with people who camp to watch the sunrise. In fact, the name of this place comes from the stunning beauty of the nature here.
The panoramic view from the canyon was breathtaking. Below there’s a monastery, which we also visited, but the beauty here is dazzling. We really didn’t expect Lori to be this beautiful. It’s an incredible combination of nature, greenery and mountains.
Next we descended to Hnevank Monastery. This 6th-century monastery was transformed into Armenian style in the 10th century. It’s currently awaiting restoration, but it’s still a very popular site. Inside, there are different rooms where people used to pray, cook and live. The interior of the monastery has been preserved and there are even icons and candles. This monastery is truly ancient, yet much of it is still intact.
Our final stop was Dzoraget River. This is really a special place. We reached the riverbank and were greeted by an amazing view. It felt like we had arrived in Switzerland. It was a place of breathtaking beauty.
Exploring these places in Lori was such a wonderful experience. If you ever come here, I highly recommend not missing out on these natural wonders.
The river is clean and there are spots where the depth changes. Waking up to such magnificent views every morning could make you feel like you’re in paradise. This is truly a beautiful place. I would love to stay here for a few days camping. Especially if there’s a place to make tea or coffee, it would be absolutely delightful. I think you’d need a gas canister and a portable stove to cook comfortably. There was a bridge visible on the road, maybe you can walk across that bridge. But this valley is so vast, it’s possible to explore it for a long time. Every location offers different, unique views. We reached a beautiful rock section here. It’s a huge valley and we came here after descending from the mountain peak, seeing all this beauty.
We are very grateful to our friends who recommended the Lori region to us. I loved this place so much that I didn’t want to leave. The population is so sparse. we saw a few people passing by on the road, but generally, there was no one around. It was so enjoyable to witness these beauties.
The rewards earned on this comment will go directly to the people( @davideownzall ) sharing the post on Reddit as long as they are registered with @poshtoken. Sign up at https://hiveposh.com. Otherwise, rewards go to the author of the blog post.
Thanks so much! 🙏
You can check out this post and your own profile on the map. Be part of the Worldmappin Community and join our Discord Channel to get in touch with other travelers, ask questions or just be updated on our latest features.
I saw some very interesting pictures my friend
I'm happy you enjoyed them 🙏
The natural beauty is truly beautiful and extraordinary ♥️
Thank you so much! I am glad you enjoyed it. 😍
I loved going on this journey through your post!
Lori looks like a beautiful place with all the mountains and greenery. Your pictures and descriptions make it feel so peaceful.
I didn’t know much about Armenia before, but now I really want to visit! The little wooden bungalows sound like a perfect getaway.
Were the bunglows comfortable to stay in? Also, how was the local food? I love trying new dishes when I travel. Thanks for sharing your experience, it really felt like I was traveling with you!
Thank you for your lovely comment. I am happy you felt like you were traveling with us , that's the best compliment. The bungalows were indeed very comfortable and cozy. The local food was delicious too – you absolutely must try dolma and lahmajun.😍
It's more than just pretty; it's a profound connection to something larger than ourselves, a feeling of awe and wonder that transcends words. The serenity, the peace, the sense of being completely enveloped by nature's embrace – it's a feeling I'll cherish forever.
I'm so touched by your words. That feeling of awe is what makes this experience so meaningful. I'm so glad you felt it too.
an awesome and fantastic trip views are all beautiful a good memories to be kept
I'm happy you enjoyed the beautiful views. 😍
Travel Digest #2466.
Become part of our travel community:
- Join our Discord
Hiya, @ybanezkim26 here, just swinging by to let you know that this post made it into our Honorable Mentions in Your post has been manually curated by the @worldmappin team. If you like what we're doing, please drop by to check out all the rest of today's great posts and consider supporting other authors like yourself and us so we can keep the project going!Thank you so much 😍
Keep up the great work 💪
Thank you so much 🤗