Unusual road trips
Mount Dimats on a Lada Niva
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Duration
8-10 hours
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Vehicle
Lada Niva
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Road type
Paved + off-road
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Best season
June - September
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Why a Lada Niva?
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The Niva is far from the most comfortable car: a noisy cabin, manual transmission, small trunk, and seats up to 4 passengers. Taller passengers may find it cramped
But there's a reason it remains a legend of Armenian off-roading: even in stock configuration with no special preparation, the Niva has excellent off-road capability. That's exactly why the Dimats route is one of the best directions for this car
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Route of the day
SEE ON MAP
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09:00 - Departure from Yerevan
No later than 9:00 AM - to comfortably cover the whole route and return before dark
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Coffee stop
Coffee House Drive Thru on the way - grab a coffee to go and keep driving
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Food court in Tsovagyugh
Last stop before the off-road section - snacks, water, and picnic supplies for the summit
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Refuel in Dilijan fill the tank completely
There will be a smell of gasoline on the mountain passes - this is normal for the Niva. Make sure to refuel here
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Shaghot Waterfall seasonal
A scenic waterfall along the way - depends on season and water level
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Haghartsin village - start of the off-road section
This is where the most interesting part begins: ~ 1.5 hours of real off-roading one way - deep ruts, rocks, steep climbs. This is where the Niva shows what it's made of
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Elephant Rock
Don't miss it along the way - a striking rock formation shaped like an elephant's head, one of the most unusual natural landmarks in the area
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Summit of Mount Dimats
Panoramic views over the forested ridges of the Tavush region - fresh mountain air - picnic with supplies from Tsovagyugh
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Estimated Daily Budget
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Approximate costs - prices may vary. Fuel is calculated with higher off-road consumption in mind
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Lada Niva rental (1 day)
caravan.am |
~ 31,000 AMD |
| Fuel (off-road - high consumption) |
~ 24,000 AMD |
Coffee on the road
~ 1,500 AMD / person x 2 |
~ 3,000 AMD |
Lunch picnic at the summit
~ 6,000 AMD / person x 2 |
~ 12,000 AMD |
Total
for 2 people |
~ 70,000 AMD |
| ~ 35,000 AMD / person |
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Important warnings
| Season: from November to May, access to Dimats is usually impossible due to snow and mud. The route only works in dry weather - June through September |
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| Rain: driving during or right after rainfall isn't recommended - the road becomes impassable |
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| Equipment: our vehicles aren't fitted with a winch, shovel, or extra lighting - the trip is for dry weather only |
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| Signal: there's no mobile coverage across most of the off-road section - let someone know about your plans |
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| Required: notify Caravan Rent a Car staff about your planned trip before departure, mostly for an explanation of the transfer case levers |
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| Good to bring: warm clothing, an extra supply of drinking water |
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Good news: the route has become popular enough that on weekends you'll often run into other travelers. You won't be completely alone
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Vehicle for the route
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The only choice for this route
Lada Niva (manual transmission)
Noisy, cramped, but with exceptional off-road capability for a stock SUV. In dry weather it confidently handles every obstacle on the route with no special preparation. Seats up to 4 people
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FAQ
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No off-road driving experience?
We offer a professional driver service from Caravan to keep your trip safe
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Is filming allowed at the Dimats summit?
At the summit you're free to film yourself and the panorama, with a regular camera or a drone
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Are there emergency contact numbers?
911 - Crisis Management Center
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Dimats isn't just a trip. It's a real off-road adventure
Beautiful views, untouched nature, no sign of civilization, one of Armenia's best viewpoints - and pure adrenaline with the Niva
Book a Lada Niva at caravan.am |
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