Selim Caravanserai
1332 Silk Road inn on the Selim pass
- Area Vayots Dzor
- Type Historic site
- Time needed 30m
A stone caravanserai built in 1332 on the Selim pass, the high crossing between Vayots Dzor and the Sevan basin. It is the best-preserved Silk Road inn in Armenia, and it survives because the pass road was in use for centuries after the caravans stopped.
Open in the planner →Getting there
About 93 km from Yerevan, roughly 1h 42m by car, on the winding pass road above Yeghegnadzor. The building sits a few metres from the tarmac, so there is no walk-in.
What you see
A single long basalt hall, very dark, with a vaulted roof and stone troughs down both sides where pack animals were tied. Carved animal figures flank the entrance, and the only light comes from small roof openings and the doorway. Outside, the pass gives a wide view down both valleys.
What to pair it with
Easily combined with Noravank and the Yeghegis valley on the south side, or with Lake Sevan and Noratus if you are crossing northwards.
When to go
Late morning to mid-afternoon, when enough light reaches the hall to see the vault. The pass can be snowbound or closed from roughly November to April, and conditions change quickly in cloud.
What is hard about it
It is one room and most people are done in twenty minutes. There is no interpretation on site beyond a plaque, and the interior is too dark for casual photographs.
Common questions
How long should I allow?
Half an hour is plenty, including time at the viewpoint by the road. It works best as a stop on a longer drive rather than a destination.
Is there an entrance fee?
There was no staffed entrance when last reported, but this can change. [VERIFY — confirm current details]
Can I get there in winter?
Often not. The pass is high and is among the first roads in the region to close in snow, so check conditions before committing to the route.
Nearby
- Noravank13th-century monastery in a red cliff canyon
- Areni-1 CaveCave where the world's oldest leather shoe and winery were found
- Areni ChurchMomik's 14th-century church above the wine village
- SmbataberdRidge-top fortress high above the Yeghegis valley
- Tsakhats Kar MonasteryHillside monastery near Smbataberd
- JermukSpa town known for its mineral water, gorge and waterfall
More of the same kind
- Garni TempleFirst-century Hellenistic temple above the Azat gorge
- PtghnavankRoofless 7th-century basilica above the Kasakh
- Zvartnots Cathedral ruinsRuins of a 7th-century circular cathedral
- MetsamorBronze Age metallurgy site and museum