Tatev

Tatev (Տաթեվ) is a village in Southern Armenia which is famous for its medieval monastery and for the Wings of Tatev, which is, as of 2019, the longest reversible aerial tramway built in only one section, and holds the record for longest non-stop double track cable car.

Get in
If it is raining or there is fog you may not see anything of the landscape, if you intend to take the cable car. The advantage of a car or taxi is that you can stop and visit the Devil's Bridge enroute. But you might only take the cable car one way and the other way go by marshrutka, taxi or on foot. The road between the two cable car stations is 13.4-km long and sealed as of Sep 2019.

By bus
Marshrutkas depart Goris to Kapan (and stop at Tatev) at 09:00 and 14:30, cost 800 dram (as 2022), and take 60 min. The return times are 07:30 and 14:30 (to be checked before).

By taxi
A taxi from Goris to the Wings of Tatev cable car terminal at Halidzor should cost around 3,000 dram one way and 4,000 dram return. Though, some drivers may want an extra 1,000 dram per hour waiting time. Just take a taxi one-way, there will be more than enough alternative rides happy to take you back to Goris.

If you intend to go the whole way into Tatev itself, prepare yourself for a steep increase in the price since the taxi has to go down into the Vorotan Gorge and back up again, potentially waiting for you. But of course, you can always try arguing on the regular 100-dram/km basis.

By cable car
See below.

On foot
You can also hike from/to Halidzor. The 13.4 km long hike is a very hilly and zig-zagging. You pass a series of pools near the Devil’s Bridge. You’ll also get a view of some abandoned monastic cloisters, and pass the Lord of the Rings-like Harsnadzor Watchtower atop another mountain about 3/4 of the way back to Halidzor. There are excellent views from the watchtower. If you’re walking, be sure to stock up on water before embarking.

On foot
Tatev is about 1 km in diameter and thus easily explored on foot.

By cable car
This connects the village of Halidzor and the village of Tatev, which is a short walk from the monastery. The 5.7-km-long cable car system over the Vorotan River Gorge is the world’s longest non-stop double-track cableway.



See










Eat
There are cafés and restaurants near the monastery.

Sleep


Many accommodation options (and information) can be found on the semi-official Tatev BnB homepage, including:



Go next
You will probably head back via Goris and go on from there, see suggestions there.