Jermuk
Height difference:
2100-2438 m
Track length:
3 km
Season:
12 December — 14 March
Jermuk is a small resort town in the southeastern part of Armenia, 180 km from Yerevan. From the times of the Soviet Union to the present day, Jermuk has been an excellent climatological and hydrotherapy resort; in its vicinity there are numerous mineral springs with water identical to the water in Karlovy Vary. The city is located in a natural “bowl” surrounded on three sides by mountains covered with alpine vegetation and open to the south. Jermuk is located on two sides of the mountain slopes, which are connected by a picturesque bridge. Below in the gorge flows the most full-flowing river in Armenia, the Arpa. One part of the city is residential, the other is resort.
The climate of Jermuk is mild, alpine, winters here are practically calm, with a lot of snow, the average temperature from December to March is -7 degrees. Many sunny days.
Due to such a favorable geographical position and suitable climate, in 2007 it was decided to build a cable car and ski slopes in the resort. So Jermuk turned into a full-fledged ski resort, which made this area even more attractive.
Working Hours
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10:00 — 19:00 | 10:00 — 19:00 | 10:00 — 19:00 | 10:00 — 19:00 | 10:00 — 19:00 | 10:00 — 19:00 | 10:00 — 19:00 |
Season
On average, the ski season in these parts lasts from mid December to late March.
Ski pass prices
Slopes
Medium:
1.6 km
Hard:
1.4 km
Total length of tracks 3 km. The vertical drop is 338 meters.
The track is 1.4 kilometers long for experienced skiers. It cannot be called super difficult, since the elevation difference is 400 meters and the slope is quite gentle. But there are unexpected obstacles on the track, you can develop a decent speed and get extreme impressions.
The second track, 1.6 kilometers long, is perfect for beginners and families with children. It is wide and shallow, prepared in accordance with all high standards. There is also a rescue service on the mountain, ready to help in any situation.
Lifts
Chairlift:
1
The slopes of the resort are served by one two-chair lift, the total number of seats is 200. The height of Mount Shish (popular name) is 2850 meters, the lift rises to a height of 2450 m.
Cable car timetables may vary depending on weekends and holidays, high or low season, and weather conditions.
Infrastructure
For visitors who want to get medical treatment, 4 sanatoriums have been built in Jermuk, of which “Armenia” is located 300 meters from the gallery with mineral water, “Olympia” is recently renovated, “Strana Jermuk” has the largest medical base, “ Ararat “- for mother and child.
For those who come here to ride, there are several hotels and guest houses to choose from, or housing in the private sector, which can be easily negotiated on the spot. An important feature of the hotels in Jermuk is that almost in each of them, visitors are offered free healing water obtained from local sources.
Separately, it is worth mentioning the delicious Armenian cuisine with traditional barbecue not only made from meat, but also from fish, with the indispensable Armenian brandy and homemade wines. All of these can be found in many restaurants and cafes. There are also saunas and spa services at the hotels.
Leisure
Apres-ski in Jermuk cannot be compared with the numerous entertainment of European and Russian resorts. Rest here will appeal to those who are looking for calmness, measuredness, delicious food, walks along eco-trails in the mountains.
Jermuk is not only a ski resort, but also an all-season resort. People who come here at any time of the year are sure to drink mineral water, which gushes out of the ground in more than 500 springs. But the most accessible springs are located right at the resort in the stone gallery.
And also tourists must climb the cable car to an altitude of 2450 meters, from where magnificent views of the mountains open. The cable car is considered to be one of the best entertainment in the resort. If you wish, you can, with guides or yourself, climb even higher, to Karabakh. It is very interesting to visit the hot springs in the mountains, the energy is much stronger there. By the way, you can also come here by jeeps, such services are provided in local travel agencies. The guides will show you the places where you can swim in the hot mineral springs.
You can also find many megalithic buildings, for example one of them, the most famous, is called a staircase to the sky, according to legend, carved into a sheer rock by the epic giant Mher and granting prophetic abilities to those who can climb it.
Armenia is an ancient country famous for its ancient buildings. There are many of them in the vicinity of Jermuk.
In 8 kilometers from the city along the old road there is the ancient village of Gndevaz.
The village has an ancient cave complex and the Gndevank Monastery, built in the 10th century. The monastery has its own apiary where you can buy excellent honey. The monastery itself is in excellent condition and is one of the main attractions of these places.
Another monastery named Noravank is located on the road leading from Yerevan to Jermuk. At one time, the monastery, which has a whole complex of churches, was a real cultural center. Now it has a museum with very interesting exhibits.
Another interesting and unusual excursion leads to the Gazavan monastery. You can reach it by cable car 5.7 km long, which in itself is a whole journey. The road passes over the gorge and sometimes you cry out from beauty, and sometimes from fright, such abysses open below. In Gazavan monastery, you cannot pass by the 8-meter column, installed in 904. According to legend, the column sways and thus notifies of earthquakes.
Armenia is also famous for its caves. In one of them, near the village of Areni, shoes were discovered, which are 5500 years old, as well as a winery. Wine was made there in 4000 BC. Near the Noravank Monastery there is the Claw Cave, it has not been fully explored.
Since Jermuk is surrounded by mountains from almost all sides, there are many waterfalls in this area. The visiting card of the resort is the Mermaid Hair waterfall. Its height is 68 m – it is the second largest waterfall in Armenia. There are many springs around, called jermuk, which means warm. The water flowing down in streams that gives the name to the waterfall is very cold.
And this is just a small part of where you can go, go and what you can see in the city and its environs.
History
The origin of the city of Jermuk is as old as Tsakhkadzor. In the vicinity of the city, you can find traces of ancient baths, both of a much later period and the period when the Syunik princes chose it as a resting place in the 10th century. And before them, the Artashesids fortress was built there in the II century BC. But the history of Jermuk goes back much more than millennia.
The modern city was built in the 40s of the 20th century under the Soviet Union. And he immediately became elite. Many sanatoriums were built here, which operate to this day, presenting a whole range of healing services and treatment with mineral waters containing many healing properties.