The remote mountain village of Tandzaver is definitely off the beaten track—far from main roads and rarely visited even by Armenians from other regions. Mikayel Shelemetev and Paloma Rubio moved here from Spain to develop tourism exploring the natural beauty and historical monuments of their new home. With the help of locals and the support of the community leader, Bagrat, Mikayel and Paloma finished developing a beautiful trail to Vanand Fortress, which you can enjoy on foot or bicycle.
This 7-kilometer trail takes you through forested terrain that abounds in both flora (particularly deciduous/broad-leaved species of plants) and fauna (including 200 species of vertebrates and over 30 species of birds). The primary destination is the ruins of a fortress—locally known as Vanandaberd—which was one of the Kingdom of Syunik’s 43 fortresses in the 11th and 12th centuries.
From there, you will continue on to a charming, hidden waterfall and then to Davit Bek Reservoir, also known as Lake Chayzami, to enjoy more of the area’s natural beauty. Here and along the trail, Mikayel and Paloma will share their extensive knowledge of this beautiful corner of Armenia, in order to help you better appreciate the richness of Tandzaver’s natural history and cultural heritage. You may return to Tandzaver the way you came or, for the more adventurous, by off-road vehicle.
For those who like art and nature, the couple also offers ‘land-art’ experience in the Magic Forest Open-Air Museum. For those who enjoy bicycling, the team offers bike rentals, both e-bikes and mountain bikes.
Meet your hosts
Meet Mikayel and Paloma, the founders of Pegasus Tandzaver, a young couple who relocated from Spain. With the support of the community leader, they became involved in developing tourism in the area, especially hiking and biking tours to the surrounding natural and historic treasures. Mikayel will tell you that he knew nothing about the village before visiting it. However, once he visited this hidden corner of Armenia tucked away in the mountains near the iconic Tatev Monastery and tram, it felt like home to him. He was fascinated by everything: the nature, people, mountains, gorges, tranquility, clean air, and the prospect of engaging in tourism activities. The appearance of Mikayel and Paloma in the village is not only a story about two young people finding their new home in this wonderful corner of nature. It also stresses how this enabled the locals to redefine their opinions about the village and the surrounding environment.
