Caucasus WildLife Refuge (CWR)

Amazing spot for a unique stay in Armenia! The cabin we stayed in is BEAUTIFUL and so well-planned. It is beautifully decorated and has everything you need. There is also so many nice touches like a Bluetooth speaker and natural soaps in the shower. There are a few things to keep in mind if you’re staying here - 1) come with everything you need (food, water, etc) as it’s quite far from anything, 2) the road is a little rough to arrive. We had a normal sedan and it was fine, but had to drive slow since it’s a dirt road with a lot of pot holes and 3) Have a cell phone with service and communicate your specific arrival time with them. There is a gate to enter and you have to tell them when you’re there for someone to come down and open the gate. We had service, but it wasn’t working and had to flag someone down to help us call. I’d recommend letting them know in advance of your exact arrival time. It’s a great place for a relaxing stay. We spent the evening sitting on the porch in the peaceful nature and it’s one of the highlights of our time in Armenia!

In July, my friend and I spent a full day at the Caucasus Wildlife Refuge, about 1.5 hours drive from Yerevan. The main center and lodge is location in the desert mountains at 1,250m above sea level. We were greeted by 2 nice ladies who worked there and was served a delicious brunch, with vegetarian options available. Our jeep tour into the reserve was scheduled to start in the afternoon. While waiting, we spent a couple of hours walking around the area checking out the brown bears and horses, and then in the pool surrounded by amazing views of the mountains to cool off in the hot summer weather. Wifi is provided with very good connectivity.

At 3pm, our guide and driver promptly arrived to start our jeep tour and I was so excited! On the way, he bought us ice cream and water. As we veered off from the main road into the mountains, we started climbing the dirt road, it was a real adventure and the views were nothing short of breathtaking.. we made a few stops to take in the landscape and finally after about an hour, we reached the top at about 2,300m elevation. We took a walk, it was very windy and pleasant but still hot nonetheless!

On the way down, we stopped at a local family’s house who kindly offered us some snacks, fruits and coffee.. four generations of the family was there, who come to live in the mountains from May to October. They had chickens, horses, cows, dogs and rabbits, and also a superbly glorious vegetable farm that grows cucumber, tomato, pepper, chilli, basil, beans and melons to name a few. They also had a water source from the mountains which they divert to their house, for the animals and also the farm. There were also ruins from a really old village nearby, with Kachkars dating back to the 12th century. It was incredible and truly the highlight of the tour.

Alas after almost an hour, it was time to leave, we bid our goodbyes to the sweet family and started our way back to the lodge through a different route down the mountains, which took about an hour. We spent the rest of the day back in the pool, enjoying the sunset and again, a scrumptious dinner. At night, the weather and blowing wind was extremely pleasant and peaceful, which we enjoyed watching the moon and stars, a perfect ending to a wonderful day.

It`s an amazing place, where one, who loves to be close to nature, should visit. We just made a visit without overnight, but we will be back to stay at their hotel and be more close to the nature and wildlife. They have an amazing staff, beautiful territory, fantastic views, soooo nice sunsets, lovely animals living there and a nice garden with fruit trees and vegetable. i`m in love with this place.

Absolutely fantastic place! Perfectly situated. Very hospitable staff. Delicious food.

great initiative of local community

Turismo sostenibile, paesaggi incredibili, accoglienza super, cibo fantastico.

Esperienza che mi sento davvero di consigliare in quanto unica!! Dopo aver visitato le principali attrazioni turistiche armene, per caso, sono arrivato a questo rifugio.

Se ti piace vivere un esperienza autentica, non puoi perdertela.

Non troppo distante da Yerevan (1h e 30min in auto) questo rifugio è una testimonianza dell'impegno verso la conservazione della flora e della fauna del paese. Inoltre coinvolge attivamente la comunità locale. Questo mix è magico.

Per gli amanti dell'ecoturismo, è un ottima destinazione. Nel rifugio è presente una piscina, ristorante, camere e bagni pulitissimi, WiFi.

A due passi trovate la riserva con Cavalli, Orsi ed altre specie di animali. Come guida turistica aggiuntiva, avrete alcuni simpatici cani che vi seguiranno ovunque (in cambio di qualche carezza).

Posto ideale anche per viaggiatori singoli.

Durante il soggiorno ho prenotato un escursione in jeep. Fantastico. 3 ore di fuori strada tra le montagne e caffè offerto da una famiglia del posto.

La sera, panorama e stelle + vino.
Accoglienza super, inglese migliorabile (ma per me ok, ha reso l esperienza ancora più autentica).

Il cibo.....che spettacolo. La marmellata è indescrivibile. Tutti le verdure sono coltivate da loro.

Spero di tornare, ma non per una sola notte.

Անմոռանալի վայր՝ լեռներով շրջապատված:

Please note that this place is not open to the public nor is there a restaurant. It is only open to guests staying overnight.

Refuge plein de bonnes intentions qui s'occupe des animaux blessés, abandonnés
J'ai été surpris en revanche par l'état de saleté des boxes à chevaux et de certains chiens avec des tumeurs qui saignaient.
3 étoiles pour encourager.
Le lieu est superbe, en pleine nature et mérite néanmoins d'être découvert

Բացարձակ չեն պատրաստվում հյուրերի ընդունմանը։ Սառնարանը անջատած ու տհաճ հոտով, 8 տեղանոց տնակում ընդամենը երեք աթոռ։
Տնակում` մկան կպչուն թակարդներ են, ու կեղտոտ... Մահճակալները չոր, զսպանակներ են ցցված։
Ամրագրելուց խոստանում են գետի մոտ հանգիստ, հասնելուն պես պարզվում է, որ այլ մարդիկ քեֆ են անում, ովքեր տնակ չեն վարձել, և եթե ուզում էս գոնե գետին մոտենալ, ստիպված էս վայելել արաղի հոտն ու լսել նրանց նկատողությունները` երեխաներիդ ուղղված։
Իսկ գետի մոտ գտնվելը միակ հով տեղն է, տնակում տոթ է, իսկ դիմացի տարածքում ուժեղ արև։
Խոսրովի արգելոցի տնակ հասնելու համար, քանի որ ճանապարհը օֆռոուդ է, առաջարկում են մեքենա 15000 դրամ, այն դեպքում, երբ իրանք միևնույն է գալու են, որ քեզ տեղավորեն։ Եթե սնունդ էս պատվիրել, աշխատողին նույնպես տեղափոխում են այդ մեքենայով։ Իսկ այս ամենի մասին բարձրաձայնելուց, պարզապես ասում են, դժգոհություն ունեք֊գրավոր դիմեք։
Աննկարագրելի հիասթափված եմ ու էլ երբեք չեմ վերադառնա այստեղ։
Սնունդը֊համեղ էր ու տնական, բայց խոստանում են մի քանի տեսակ, մատուցում' կեսը։
Տեսարանը, աստղաշատ երկինքը աննկարագրելի էր, բայց անտարբեր վերաբերմունքը, ամեն առիթով փող պոկելը և այն միտքը, որ քնում էս մկներով լի տնակում, շատ տհաճ։