When you imagine must-see places around the world for avid touristsyou may not even think about including the Caucasus on this list. But Armenia, a landlocked country with underrated beaches surrounded by mountain views.And Georgia, a country famous for epic hiking trailsboth are worth the hike. Add Azerbaijan to this list and you will get triple the pleasure of hiking. What about a combination of all three? Touted as the first international walking trail in the Caucasus, the Transcaucasus Trail will cross all three countries and two continents. The trail takes hikers through vast valleys, rural meadows and mountain peaks, connecting pastoral trails with ATV trails and other trails.
The Transcaucasian Trail is a particularly new option when it comes to long-distance hiking routes. Newly opened in 2022, the lesser-known route has been in development since 2015 and is sure to be on the lists of avid hikers. As of 2025, the trail will be walkable in multiple sections in all three countries, including a long section in Armenia that stretches over 500 miles and takes up to 45 days. Once completed, the trail will test hikers' endurance, stretching 1,864 miles through the diverse landscapes of Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan.
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How to walk the Transcaucasian Trail
Aerial view of Dilijan National Park in Armenia – trabantos/Shutterstock
The Transcaucasian trail is included in our list 25 Best Long Distance Hiking Routes Around the Worldand not without reason; it is full of extraordinary natural beauty. Since the trail is still broken into sections, when to take the trail will depend on what country you'll be traveling through. In Armenia, the route is best taken from mid-May to mid-October. In parts of Georgia, you'll likely need a later start due to the high altitude, so early July to mid-October is the most ideal time to hit the road. Since Azerbaijan's climate is a bit milder, you'll likely be able to hike at any time of the year, with some variations.
For those who decide to trek the majority of the route through Armenia, most tourists depart from Yerevan, the country's capital, to stock up on supplies. From Yerevan, they then take a bus to Meghri or Gyumri and take a taxi to Lake Arpi to begin the route. This trek requires a lot of planning, so it's best to spend a few days in Yerevan, triple-checking your list of essentials before heading out.
Along the way, you will see magnificent views of the Geghama Mountains and Lake Sevan, pass through traditional villages and the Arevik National Park. Most of the hike will involve wild camping, but along the route there are several Armenian drams, cash-only guesthouses that cost between $13 and $16 per night and include breakfast. If you don't feel ambitious enough to complete the entire trek, you can also hire guides for multi-day hikes on sections of the trail in Dilijan National Park, Geghama Mountains and Vayots Dzor Province.
Other useful information for hiking along the Transcaucasian Trail.
Sevanavank Monastery overlooking Lake Sevan in Armenia – Christophe_cerisier/Getty Images
On Thread on the r/Ultralight subredditRedditor u/Prestious-Mango479 talks about his experience hiking along the Transcaucasian Trail from July to October 2023. “This route has a little bit of everything: beautiful mountains, deserts, forests, tiny villages with wonderful people, amazing food, wild camping, guest houses, historical sites, adventure and much more.” In the thread, u/Prestiious-Mango479 also provides the necessary information such as the cost, length, equipment they used, as well as how and where to resupply food, and what the conditions of the route were.
Keep in mind that there are no physical route maps, meaning downloading route planning apps is mandatory. Interactive maps, guides and GPS data for routes can be found on the website TKT official website. Hikers will also be added to a Slack channel, giving you direct access to route planners as well as recent hikers, which contain a wealth of information. Some tourists have begun to connect unfinished sections of the route through Georgia and Armenia. You can join TCT Pioneers Programa hiking support program that provides helpful maps, tips, and other resources to fill out the most underdeveloped sections.
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