Ughtasar Petroglyphs
Thousands of rock carvings on a volcanic plateau
- Area Syunik
- Type Historic site
- Time needed 4h
Thousands of prehistoric rock carvings on a high volcanic plateau above Sisian, pecked into dark boulders beside a glacial lake. It is one of the richest petroglyph fields in the region and one of the most awkward places in Armenia to actually get to.
Open in the planner →Getting there
About 199 km from Yerevan, roughly 3h 37m by car to the Sisian area, after which the ascent to the plateau is a separate rough-track journey of a couple of hours each way. Plan the day around the climb, not the highway drive.
What you see
Dark basalt boulders scattered across bare high ground, their upper surfaces covered with pecked figures: horned animals, hunters, dogs, wheels and abstract marks. Many are small and only show up in raking light. The plateau itself, with its small lake and bare slopes, is as much of the experience as the carvings.
What to pair it with
Combined with Sisian, Karahunj and Shaki waterfall, which fill the rest of a long day in the area.
When to go
Roughly July to September only. Snow lies on the plateau for most of the year and the track is impassable outside the short summer window.
What is hard about it
This needs a high-clearance 4x4 with a driver who knows the route, and it takes most of a day for a site with no facilities of any kind. At well over three thousand metres the weather turns fast and altitude can be felt.
Common questions
Can I drive my own hire car up?
No. The track requires a proper 4x4, and hire agreements usually exclude this kind of driving. Local drivers in Sisian run trips.
How long does the whole excursion take?
Budget around four hours on the plateau and the track, plus the drive from wherever you are staying. It does not combine with a Yerevan day trip.
How do I arrange a driver?
This is done locally in Sisian, and rates and availability are not published anywhere reliable. [VERIFY — confirm current details]
Nearby
- Tatev Monastery9th-century monastery on a cliff above the Vorotan gorge
- Wings of TatevRecord-breaking 5.7 km reversible cable car to Tatev
- Tatev Great HermitageFortified hermitage in the gorge below Tatev
- Karahunj (Zorats Karer)Prehistoric standing stones, sometimes called Armenian Stonehenge
- Shaki Waterfall18-metre waterfall near Sisian
- Old KhndzoreskCave village linked by a swinging footbridge
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