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Whenever you think about must-visit locations around the globe for avid hikers, you may not consider together with the Caucasus on that record. However Armenia, a landlocked nation that has underrated seashores surrounded by mountain views, and Georgia, a rustic identified for epic mountain climbing trails, are each effectively value a devoted mountain climbing journey. Add Azerbaijan to that record and you’ve got a trifecta of mountain climbing bliss. However what a few mixture of all three? Touted as the primary worldwide mountain climbing path throughout the Caucasus, the Transcaucasian Path will span throughout all three of those international locations and two continents. The path takes hikers by way of huge valleys, rural meadows, and over mountain peaks, connecting shepherd paths to ATV routes and different pathways.
The Transcaucasian Path is notably the brand new child on the block relating to long-distance mountain climbing trails. Lately opened in 2022, the lesser-known path has been within the works since 2015 and is certain to make the lists of avid hikers. As of 2025, the path will be hiked in a number of completely different parts in all three international locations, together with a protracted portion in Armenia that stretches over 500 miles and takes as much as 45 days. As soon as totally accomplished, the path will check the endurance of hikers, winding 1,864 miles by way of numerous landscapes in Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan.
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The right way to hike the Transcaucasian Path
An aerial view of Dilijan Nationwide Park in Armenia – trabantos/Shutterstock
The Transcaucasian Path made our record of 25 finest long-distance mountain climbing trails around the globe, and with good purpose; it is stuffed with off-the-beaten-path pure magnificence. As a result of the path remains to be damaged up into parts, when to hike the path will depend upon which nation you will be trekking by way of. In Armenia, the path is finest hiked from mid-Could to mid-October. For Georgia sections, you will probably want a later begin because of excessive altitudes, making early-July to mid-October essentially the most ultimate time to go out. As a result of the Azerbaijan parts are a bit milder in local weather, you will probably be capable of hike in all seasons with some variations.
For many who resolve to trek the biggest portion of the finished path by way of Armenia, most hikers embark from Yerevan, the nation’s capital metropolis, to ensure they fill up on provides. From Yerevan, they then catch a bus to Meghri or Gyumri and take a taxi to Lake Arpi to start the path. This hike requires loads of planning, so it could be finest to spend a number of days in Yerevan triple-checking your record of necessities earlier than heading out.
Alongside the path, you will come throughout beautiful views of the Gegham Mountains and Lake Sevan, and you may make your manner by way of conventional villages and Arevik Nationwide Park. Many of the hike would require wild tenting, however there are a number of Armenian Drams, cash-only guesthouses, alongside the route that value anyplace from $13 to $16 per evening and embrace breakfast. Should you’re not feeling bold sufficient to finish the entire trek, it’s also possible to rent guides for multi-day hikes on parts of the path in Dilijan Nationwide Park, the Gegham Mountains, and the Vayots Dzor province.
Different useful data for mountain climbing the Transcaucasian Path
Sevanavank Monastery overlooking Lake Sevan in Armenia – Christophe_cerisier/Getty Photographs
On the r/Ultralight subreddit thread, Redditor u/Prestigious-Mango479 speaks about their expertise mountain climbing the Transcaucasian Path from July to October 2023. “This path has a little bit little bit of all the pieces: stunning mountains, deserts, forests, tiny villages with beautiful individuals, superb meals, wild tenting, visitor homes, historic websites, off-trail journey, and extra.” Within the thread, u/Prestigious-Mango479 additionally breaks down obligatory data like prices, size, gear they used, in addition to how and the place to resupply meals, and what the path situations have been like.
Needless to say there are not any bodily path maps out there, which signifies that downloading route planning apps is a should. Interactive maps, guides, and GPS information for the routes will be discovered on the TCT’s official web site. Hikers may also be added to a Slack channel, which provides you direct entry to path planners, in addition to latest hikers who’re a wealth of knowledge. Some hikers have began to attach unfinished parts of the path by way of Georgia and Armenia. You’ll be able to be a part of the TCT Trailblazers program, a thru-hiking assist program that gives useful maps, recommendation, and different assets for finishing the extra undeveloped sections.
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