How to Visit the Caucasus Wildlife Refuge in Armenia (& Stay Overnight!)
I have visited some really stunning places in Armenia over the years, but one place I can’t shake from my memory is the Caucasus Wildlife Refuge, situated at the border of Khosrov Forest State Reserve.
In this guide, I will show you how to visit the Caucasus Wildlife Refuge, including how to plan an overnight visit there. Before I dive into the post, I will state that it is best if you have a car for this trip, as it is hard to reach by marshrutka or taxi (but not impossible if you’re flexible).
Caucasus Wildlife Refuge Quick Info
Don’t have time to read the entire post but still keen to visit the Caucasus Wildlife Refuge? Here are some quick links to get you started!
🛌 Where to stay at the Caucasus Wildlife Refuge:
- Glamping Igloos (located at the Visitor Center; 2 available)
- EcoLodge (has a few rooms in a house close to the Visitor Center)
- Wooden House (one large room with a garden view by the Visitor Center)
- Rangers’ Campus (two large cabins that can accommodate a lot of people – it is about 8km/5mi away from the Visitor Center)
🇦🇲 Tours of the Caucasus Wildlife Refuge:
- Wildlife tour (a wildlife spotting safari throughout the refuge)
- Birdwatching tour (will be with a certified ornithologist)
- Horseback riding tour (can see the main highlights and wildlife on horseback)
🚗 Planning to travel around Armenia independently? Find and compare the cheapest rental car rates here!
I will also include tips for your trip, as well as a few tour options that you can take that will help you make the most of your time at the Caucasus Wildlife Refuge (or CWR for short!).
If you have any questions about visiting the CWR, please let me know in the comments or send me a message. Thanks!
In this guide, I’ll walk you through the following:
About the Caucasus Wildlife Refuge (CWR)
The Caucasus Wildlife Refuge is situated in the Ararat marz in Armenia. Established in 2010, it is in the Urtsadzor community and was founded by the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets, or FPWC.
They are also the ones operating and funding projects and its existence today. FPWC focuses on biodiversity conservation, community development, environmental education, and raising public awareness in the community and Armenia as a whole. You can learn more about what they do here.
CWR is about 70 kilometers (44 miles) from Yerevan and is a fantastic day trip… but I had way more fun staying there overnight!
It is a beautiful spot where you can learn more about the biodiversity in Armenia and how to protect it now and into the future. CWR’s 30,000 hectares act as a migration corridor and a spot to increase populations of species that were struggling as a result of poaching, logging, and overgrazing.
This privately managed conservation area is the first of its kind in the Southern Caucasus. Today, you can take tours, go glamping (or stay overnight in a cabin like I did), and learn about the biodiversity in Armenia and the region.
Wildlife at CWR
At the Caucasus Wildlife Refuge, you can see quite a few endangered species like the Caucasian lynx, Caucasian leopard, Syrian brown bears, bezoar goats, Armenian vipers, skinks, and more. The best way to see these animals is via a tour offered there.
There is also an astounding number of birds that call CWR home! You can learn more below (under the ‘Tours’ section) about how to see them.
Wildlife Rescue Center (WRC)
One of the most important places in the Caucasus Wildlife Refuge is the Wildlife Rescue Center (WRC for short). This is the first wildlife rescue center in the country after it was created in 2016 and it serves as a sanctuary for animals that have been injured in Armenia and from afar (there were some brown bears from Siberia when I was there). This is also a place that helps orphaned animals.
Some of the residents can be nursed back to health, but several of them are unable to be rehabilitated, so they will spend their remaining years at WRC. It is nice to see a group of people who care so much about animals and giving them a life worth living, despite the circumstances.
There were many Caucasian brown bears when I was there and you could visit their cages (from the outside) and learn more about what brought them there. More often than not, it was slimy humans causing the problems.
CWR Tours with SunChild Eco Tours
SunChild Eco Tours is part of the FWPC, and they operate an array of activities, including some of my top pics that you can see below.
Horseback Riding Tour
A popular tour you can take in the Caucasus Wildlife Refuge is a horseback riding tour of the complex. You will join a knowledgeable guide and pass through valleys, mountains, and gorgeous landscapes. There are also several architectural and archaeological sites along the way.
Prices start at 7,000 AMD (about $18) for 30 minutes and go up to 40,000 AMD (about $100) for an all-day trip that includes a picnic lunch. Click here to check rates and availability for the horseback riding tour.
Birdwatching Tour
Another tour you can take there is a birdwatching tour… this is something I am definitely returning for because I had no idea it was such a special birdwatching spot before my trip!
There are around 349 species of birds at CWR, including prairie species like the Grey-necked bunting, Trumpeter finch, and the Mongolian finch. There are also several types of water birds, seabirds, vultures, and ducks. Some of these birds migrate to Armenia from as far as South Africa!
Prices start from 80,000 AMD (about $200) for a full day with an ornithologist. Check rates and availability for a birdwatching tour here.
Wildlife Tour
If you want to take a tour to several places and see the highlights of the CWR, you can join a wildlife tour that will take you to spot several animals, including some of the 44 mammals, 33 reptiles, and several bird species that call the CWR home.
Prices start at 40,000 AMD (about $100) for a half-day tour and are 60,000 AMD (about $150) for a full-day tour that includes a picnic lunch. Click here to check rates and availability for a wildlife tour.
Tips for Visiting the Caucasus Wildlife Refuge
I visited during late spring, so I was able to avoid the summer heat! Here are a few tips worth considering as you’re planning your trip to the CWR:
✅ This is a drier area and a habitat for snakes. There are not many poisonous snakes in Armenia, but there are four that are poisonous out of the 22 species that live there. The Armenian viper does live in the CWR, so just be vigilant. I never saw any while there.
✅ You probably won’t see a Caucasian leopard. There are only estimated to be 8-13 left in Armenia today.
✅ It can be super hot in the summer months and with little shade, if you’re out and about in the refuge. Bring sunscreen, a hat, and water.
✅ There are always rangers around, and many are trained locals who know the land better than anyone else in the world. They may not speak English, but if you’re with a guide and have questions for them, feel free to ask.
How to Stay Overnight at the Caucasus Wildlife Refuge
One of my favorite things about the Caucasus Wildlife Refuge is that you can stay overnight there! There are a couple of places to stay within the conservation area and I have visited the spaces and stayed in one of them.
Here is a quick list of the places you can stay at CWR:
- EcoLodge (has a few rooms in a house close to the Visitor Center)
- Wooden House (one large room with a garden view by the Visitor Center)
- Rangers’ Campus (two large cabins that can accommodate a lot of people – it is about 8km/5mi away from the Visitor Center)
- Glamping Igloos (located at the Visitor Center; 2 available)
Around the visitor center area, there is a small eco-lodge and a couple of glamping igloos. There is also a wooden house that you can stay in.
Another option for staying overnight is at the rangers’ campus… which is what I did. It is 8 kilometers (5 miles) into the park and away from the visitor center. This area is home to two large wooden lodges with tons of beds for guests. The one I stayed in (the Holiday Home) could have fit like 20 people or something! The Superior Chalet fits around 9-10 people.
There was a fireplace, a large kitchen, an outdoor BBQ, and a river out front. It was one of the best sleeps I have ever had, and waking up to 100% quiet was such a treat if you need to unwind from the chaos of Yerevan!
You can pre-arrange to have food delivered (I had dinner and breakfast brought out to me) and there is a space inside to eat it, or outside if the weather is nice. This service is available year-round and you can book the ranger campus year-round.
One thing to note is that the rangers’ campus is far removed and will require a Jeep to get there (the rangers will take you). If you’re not a fan of off-roading, it is best to stay around the Visitor Center and not head into the refuge that deeply.
Another thing to note is that you will need to make your own fire to keep warm. I visited in late spring, but it was still a bit chilly out there. This required getting a fire started (wood was provided) and keeping it maintained throughout the evening.
Caucasus Wildlife Refuge (On a Map!)
How To Use This Map
You can use your fingers/mouse to zoom in and out. To get more info about a place, simply touch/click the icons. Want to save this map for later use? Click the ‘⭐’ by the map title and it will add it to your Google Maps account (Saved > Maps or ‘Your Places’).
How to Donate
If you are interested in donating to the Caucasus Wildlife Refuge in Armenia, you can do so by visiting their website. Any amount helps, and you can donate in honor of someone as well.
Do you have any questions about visiting the Caucasus Wildlife Refuge? Let me know in the comments – thanks!
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