Best Places to Visit in Lori

Lori province is without a doubt one of our favorite destinations to visit in Armenia when we’re on the road. There are so many sites to see in Lori that we discover something new each and every time we pay the region a visit!

The region is famous for its medieval monasteries Haghpat and Sanahin located in the picturesque nature of Lori. The rivers Pambak, Dzoraget, Debet, and Aghstev flow through this beautiful region. The important towns of Lori are Alaverdi, Spitak, Stepanavan, and Tashir. It is considered to be one of the most beautiful regions of Armenia.

Lori has a number of towns, villages, and cities worth seeing while you’re in the area. Of course, this list isn’t exhaustive! These are some of our favorite places that we’ve been to and would suggest. So, rent a car and go to visit that amazing place. By the way, car rental in Armenia is a perfect way to visit all out-of-city places.

Vanadzor

 Vanadzor is the third-largest city in Armenia and the most populous in Lori. This city, which has a population of slightly over 86,000 people, was previously known as Kirovakan during Soviet times and has been inhabited since the Bronze Age.

Odzun

 The town of Odzun is another excellent site to explore in Lori. By population standards, it is a rather large village, and it is undoubtedly one of my favorite locations to visit in Armenia! It is located above Debed Gorge, just a few kilometers south of Alaverdi, and is known for Odzun Church, one of the most beautiful and oldest monasteries in the country!

Odzun is also a fantastic starting point for exploring the north, including the UNESCO-listed monasteries of Sanahin and Haghpat. It is also close to Horomayri Monastery and Ardvi, a lovely village.

Debed

 The lush village of Debed in Lori is another one of my favorite villages in Armenia. Vanadzor and Dsegh are both close to the village.

Debed is an excellent stopping station on the motorway, with a population of slightly under 1,000 people and a location on the Araleks River. COAF established a SMART center there in 2018, which serves as an educational hub for both children and adults.

Ardvi

Ardvi is without a doubt one of the most beautiful villages I’ve ever seen. The little village is located just south of Odzun and was included in Sergei Parajanov’s film “The Color of Pomegranates.”

In Ardvi, you can visit the Surb Hovhannes Monastery, which sits atop a hill, or the Red Church, which is located near the village’s entrance. Both are unique and will leave you speechless!

Stepanavan

 I used to travel through Stepanavan on my trip from Tbilisi to Yerevan back in the day. After a while, the routes were changed, and I no longer went that way, which was a real bummer because I loved our little stops in town.

Stepananvan, which has a population of roughly 10,000 people, is a lush and beautiful destination to visit if you enjoy being outside! It is home to the famous Stepanavan Dendropark, which is a must-see for anybody visiting!

Make a point of visiting the Stepan Shahumyan Museum while you’re in Stepanavan. It’s also an excellent site to start a Lori journey from, as Lake Kyubishev and Lori Berd are both close by (and more).