Why Dilijan Is The New Off-The-Beaten-Path Destination In The Caucuses
Routes through the Caucuses (Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Iran, and Russia) have been an up-and-coming travel trend due to its breathtaking scenery, unspoiled nature, tasty foods, quaint villages, and hospitable people. Nestled within the lush mountains directly between Tbilisi and Yerevan hides one of the Caucuses’s gems: Dilijan. Having started out as a resort town due to its clean, crisp mountain air and mild climate, Dilijan has become the development and education hub of Armenia. It is also known to the locals as the “Switzerland of Armenia” due to its magical forests and alpine meadows.
As off-the-beaten-path backpackers have already begun discovering Dilijan as a great place to spend a couple nights in-transit between Georgia and Armenia, mainstream tourists are only now learning about its travel appeal. If you aren’t already sold on adding Dilijan to your bucket list, here are some reasons why it should be there:
- Exploring the adorable town. If you want a relaxing time in Dilijan, you can stroll around town and explore with ease. Dilijan is full of nice walking routes, including a lake and a large park. You can explore the old town where you can find a romantic amphitheater, meet traditional crafters on Sharambeyan Street, stop by the EcoTnak to purchase local organic foods, and visit the art museum.
2. Spectacular hikes and nature. The fairy-tale nature surrounding Dilijan is an incredible sight at any time of the year. The Dilijan Tourist Information Center has a multitude of beautiful hikes on marked trails throughout the surrounding mountains, and the TransCaucasian Trail system passes through the Dilijan woods, however there is still so much hidden nature to explore. There are meadows the locals can point you to, mineral water fountains deep in the woods, to the beautiful Parz Lake, to charming streams running down the hillsides, and oh so many amazing camping spots! You can also rent camping gear and mountain bikes at the Dilijan Tourist Information Center.
3. Its thriving community. What sets Dilijan apart from other towns in Armenia is its thriving community and youth population. The Dilijan Community Center is where the Diamond Challenge Armenia is based, which is a youth entrepreneurship competition. Dilijan is also home to TUMO Center for Creative Technologies where students come to learn about robotics, photography, web development, and more. Additionally, the only United World College, an international high school, in the Caucus region is in Dilijan. Aside from youth, there are thriving social enterprises that live in Dilijan, such as Armmat, a women-owned social enterprise that provides financial and technological literacy training to unemployed women. A quick walk throughout the town can demonstrate the warm, connected community that is Dilijan, with inclusive street murals and various beautification initiatives.
4. Delicious restaurants and cozy cafes. For a small town in the mountains, Dilijan has some incredible food options. Some of the tasty restaurants and cafes include Kchuch, who is famous for their pizza and desserts, Losh, Carahunge, Cafe #2, and Flying Ostrich. Cafe #2 is unique as it employs teenagers from the age of 14, providing the opportunity to get their first professional education. In addition, Tava is a cozy wine lounge located just above Losh. Yeghnikner is a restaurant located on the way down the mountain towards Dilijan from Yerevan that hosts Anahit’s Armenian Kitchen, an opportunity to learn how to cook Armenian food!
5. Magical monasteries. As Dilijan is a great access point for hikes, it is also a good central spot for monastery-hopping! On the way from Yerevan to Dilijan is the famous Sevanavank located on a peninsula on Lake Sevan. Near Dilijan, you can visit the beautiful Haghartsin Monastery, where you can purchase unbelievably fresh white honey and uniquely flavored gata (a delicious Armenian pastry), as well as the Goshavank Monastery, where you can peruse stalls that sell antiques and souvenirs. Additionally, Jukhtak Vank is an 11th century monastery is on the edge of Dilijan that is definitely worth a visit.
6. A hub for women-owned businesses. Another element of Dilijan that makes it unique is the number of women-owned small businesses. Kchuch, Losh, and Tava that were mentioned above are all women-owned, Pine House, a vegan cafe, as well as Caffeine Brew Lab, an eccentric soviet-style coffee shop that makes gourmet drinks (which unfortunately has been closed as of January 2019) and Garage Pub, a thriving bar that plays both Armenian and international hits to get people out on the dance floor.
7. An up-and-coming football culture. The Dilijan Football Club (DFC), started in October 2018, has become a force for the Armenian football scene to reckon with! With a brand new time coming out of this small town, the DFC army is growing by the minute. Started by an English man who fell in love with Dilijan, the team has begun to take national headlines and attract the attention of big sponsors. Try to stop by a DFC game if you’re in Dilijan during the football season to witness some great competition and buy yourself a DFC jersey to support the team!
Dilijan is beautiful, unique, up-and-coming tourist destination that shouldn’t be missed if you find yourself exploring the magic of the Caucus regions!