Goris

Stone town ringed by cave-riddled hoodoos

Area Syunik
Type City landmark
Time needed 1h

Goris — Photograph: See above / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

A small town in southern Syunik laid out on a grid in the nineteenth century, built in pale local stone and surrounded by eroded rock pinnacles full of old cave dwellings. It is the usual base for the far south and is pleasant to walk for an hour.

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Getting there

About 242 km from Yerevan, roughly 4h 24m by car on the main southern highway. The approach drops into the basin in a series of switchbacks with good views over the town.

What you see

Straight streets of two-storey stone houses with carved window surrounds and iron balconies, a central square and a park. On the eastern slopes above the town, hoodoos and rock faces are honeycombed with cut chambers from the older settlement. The surrounding rock formations are visible from almost everywhere in town.

What to pair it with

The base for Old Khndzoresk and Tatev, and a sensible overnight stop before Kapan or the Shikahogh forest.

When to go

Spring and autumn suit walking the town best. Summer afternoons are hot in the basin, and the climb to the caves above town is better early or late.

What is hard about it

As a sight in itself it is modest: a nice grid of stone streets rather than a monument. The climb to the old cave quarter is steep and unsigned, and many of the cave openings are unfenced.

Common questions

Is Goris worth a stop on its own?

As a town, only briefly. Its real value is as a comfortable base for Khndzoresk, Tatev and the deep south.

Can I visit the caves above the town?

Yes, on foot up the eastern slopes. The paths are informal and steep, and there is no fencing at the openings.

Where should I eat or stay?

There is a reasonable range of guesthouses and places to eat in and around the centre. Specific names and current prices need checking locally. [VERIFY — confirm current details]