Almost everyone who visits Armenia sees Yerevan, Garni and Geghard and leaves. Dilijan, two hours north, is a forested national park with two of the finest monasteries in the Caucasus. Goris, five hours south, is a stone town beside an abandoned cave village, and the jumping-off point for Tatev and its 5.7 km cable car. The buses that link them cost a few hundred rupees and the country is small enough to cross in a day.
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When to go
May to June and September to October are the two best windows — green, mild, and clear. July and August are hot in the lowlands but fine in Dilijan's forest. Winter closes the southern roads regularly.
Dilijan right now and the next 7 days
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Dilijan, planned for you
Day-by-day timings, the route, what each part costs, where to sleep and eat, and a checklist. One PDF that works offline: print it, or send it to everyone going.
- Day 1 Arrive in Dilijan · Haghartsin monastery
- TravelMarshrutka from Tbilisi: Tbilisi → Yerevan, Ortachala station₹1,000
- 11:00Haghartsin monasteryFree
- 14:30Goshavank monasteryFree
- Day 2 Transcaucasian Trail day section
- Day 3 Tatev monastery & Wings of Tatev
₹49 once, 6 pages. Secure payment by Razorpay, instant download. Already bought? Get your download
Dilijan on the map
Tap anything in the list: the map zooms straight to it. Tap your starting city to see the way there.
The area
Getting there
Places to see
Day trips
Dilijan & Goris · Open in Google Maps ↗
Map by Google. Places are found by name, so check the exact spot in Google Maps before you go.
Step 3 of 11Next: Cost↓What your trip costs
Change anything and the numbers update. Every price is what the bus, room or ticket itself costs. We take no commission and sell no packages, so this is what you pay booking each piece yourself.
Ballpark ranges, not live quotes. Prices last updated 6 October 2026. Prices move with season and demand, so check live fares before you book. Spot a wrong price? Tell us and we fix it.
On the ground: stay, food, local travel and tickets. Pick a route above to add the journey.
Dilijan & Goris in 3 days: a day-by-day plan
Our suggested plan, in a sensible order with times. Move things between days, remove them or add more. It saves on this device, and you can share it.
- 11:00Haghartsin monastery2 h · free · In the forest above Dilijan. Free, and usually empty in the morning.
- 13:30Lunch break
- 14:30Goshavank monastery2 h · free · Half an hour from Dilijan, with a khachkar considered the finest in Armenia.
- 08:00Transcaucasian Trail day section5 h · free · Waymarked long-distance path through Dilijan National Park.
- 13:30Lunch break
- 08:00Tatev monastery & Wings of TatevHalf day · ₹900 each · Cable car over a gorge to a ninth-century monastery on a cliff.
- 13:00Lunch break
How to get to Dilijan
One-way prices per person. The cheapest sensible option is marked. Each button opens live times and fares for the date you picked above.
Marshrutka from Tbilisi Cheapest
₹1,000The cheapest international crossing in the region. Leaves when full, all morning.
Overnight train
₹1,600Seasonal. Slower than the bus and far more comfortable.
Yerevan → Dilijan / Goris Last leg
₹500Several daily. The Goris run goes over a 2,300 m pass.
Getting around once you're there
Marshrutka
₹300Links every town. No timetable to speak of — ask at the station the day before.
Shared taxi
₹900Worth it between Goris and Tatev, where the bus is infrequent.
Hitchhiking
FreeCommon, safe and socially normal in rural Armenia. Offer money; it is usually refused.
Tatev cable car
₹7005.7 km, the longest reversible cableway in the world. Worth every dram.
Where to stay in Dilijan
Price per night for the room. The buttons open live availability for your dates.
What to eat, and what it costs
Khorovats — grilled meat
₹200The national dish, cooked over vine cuttings. Eaten slowly.
Lavash, cheese, greens and tomatoes
₹120The default breakfast and the best cheap lunch you can assemble from a shop.
Ghapama or dolma
₹180Stuffed pumpkin, or vine leaves. Both often vegetarian.
Gata and coffee
₹60Sweet pastry at any roadside stop, with very strong coffee.
Places to visit and things to do in Dilijan
Tap “Add to my plan” and it goes into your day-by-day plan above.
Haghartsin monastery
FreeIn the forest above Dilijan. Free, and usually empty in the morning.
Goshavank monastery
FreeHalf an hour from Dilijan, with a khachkar considered the finest in Armenia.
Transcaucasian Trail day section
FreeWaymarked long-distance path through Dilijan National Park.
Tatev monastery & Wings of Tatev
₹900Cable car over a gorge to a ninth-century monastery on a cliff.
Khndzoresk cave village
₹200Abandoned cave dwellings reached by a swinging footbridge. Inhabited until the 1950s.
Old Khot & Halidzor ruins
FreeAbandoned stone villages almost no visitor reaches.
Day trips and next stops
Lake Sevan
₹250Marshrutka from Dilijan
Yerevan
₹400Marshrutka, every hour
Meghri & the Iranian border
₹600Marshrutka south from Goris
Jermuk & the waterfall
₹500Marshrutka via Vayk
Know before you go
Mistakes to avoid
- Do not attempt to enter Azerbaijan overland from Armenia — the border is closed and has been for decades. Route via Georgia.
- Visa rules for Indian passport holders, including residents of the Gulf, have changed more than once recently. Check the official source before you book.
- Southern mountain roads close in snow with little warning between November and March.
Ways to spend less
- The Tbilisi–Yerevan marshrutka is the cheapest good-value international bus in the region. ₹1,000, six and a half hours.
- Hitchhiking is normal here and it is how you meet people. Rural Armenia will almost always stop.
- Dilijan and Goris are at opposite ends of a small country. Five hours of bus links them for under ₹700.
Say it in Armenian
A few words go a long way, especially when you ask a price.
Russian is widely understood too.
The pronunciation is a simple guide, not a native recording. Spot a mistake? Tell us.
Before-you-go checklist
Dilijan in pictures
Tap a photo to see it full size.
Step 11 of 11Next: FAQ↓Questions people ask
When is the best time to visit Dilijan & Goris?
On our month-by-month scores, the best months are May–Jun, Sep–Oct. May to June and September to October are the two best windows — green, mild, and clear. July and August are hot in the lowlands but fine in Dilijan's forest. Winter closes the southern roads regularly.
How do I reach Dilijan & Goris?
Marshrutka from Tbilisi: Tbilisi → Yerevan, Ortachala station, 6 h 30 m, about ₹1,000 one way. Flight: → Yerevan (EVN), varies, about ₹30,000 one way. Overnight train: Tbilisi → Yerevan sleeper, 10 h, about ₹1,600 one way.
How much does a 3-day trip to Dilijan & Goris cost?
On the ground (stay, food, local travel and tickets), one person spends about ₹4,200 on a shoestring, ₹5,850 mid-range or ₹11,400 in comfort over 3 days. Add the journey: the cheapest sensible option is marshrutka from tbilisi (Tbilisi → Yerevan, Ortachala station) at about ₹1,000 each way.
How many days do you need in Dilijan & Goris?
3 days is right for most people. That covers Haghartsin monastery, Goshavank monastery, Transcaucasian Trail day section, Tatev monastery & Wings of Tatev without rushing.
Is Dilijan & Goris good for families or solo travellers?
Out of 5 on our scores: solo 5, couples 5, families 4, groups 4. It works well for families. It is easy to do on your own.
Is vegetarian food easy to find in Dilijan & Goris?
Better than its reputation. Armenian cooking is built on greens, beans, aubergine, lavash and cheese; dolma is frequently meat-free and lenten dishes (pasuts) are entirely vegan. Say 'bez myasa' or 'voch mis' and you will be well fed.
Will my phone and cards work in Dilijan & Goris?
Phone signal: Cheap local SIMs at the airport; coverage is good even in the mountains. Cards and UPI: Towns yes, villages no. Cash: Village guesthouses and marshrutkas.
Guides for Dilijan & Goris
Longer reads from our blog that cover this trip.
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Set your dates and group at the top, shape the days, then book each piece directly.
Back to the planner ↑Costs are indicative ballparks for doing it yourself and change with season and demand. Always check live fares, rates and opening rules before you book. Trip Under is not a travel agency: we don't sell packages or bookings, we take no commission, and we link to maps and official sites, never to booking sites. Every guide is free; our only paid products are optional downloadable trip plans and itineraries. Photographs come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; see credits.
By Gokul · Updated 6 October 2026 · Photo: Aleksey Chalabyan a.k.a. Xelgen · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Armineaghayan · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · Photo: Pandukht · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · Photo: Beko · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
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