Checking into Noosh Guesthouse in Ashnak (& Making Sasna Klulik)

Post overview: This post explains why you should visit Noosh Guesthouse in Ashnak village, Armenia. It chats about what to expect there, how to book a culinary experience making Sasna Klulik (and other Armenian delights), and how to get to Ashnak from Yerevan.

Armenia is teeming with unique culinary experiences these days, and learning someone’s story and history through food is one of the things that makes Armenia so special. And one of the places you can do this is at Noosh Guesthouse in Armenia’s Aragatsotn province.

Noosh Guesthouse Ashnak, Armenia (making Sasna Klulik)

Two women prepare ingredients in small clay bowls at a wooden table in the orchard at Noosh Guesthouse, Ashnak, Armenia — Noosh Guesthouse in Ashnak, Armenia (making sasna klulik)

Noosh Guesthouse is located in Ashnak village and is run by friends Ani and Gayane. It is more than a guesthouse; Noosh is a retreat and one of the best escapes from the chaos of Yerevan.

In this guide, I will explain how to visit Noosh Guesthouse as an overnight guest or as a day visitor, where you can sign up for one of their culinary experiences.

Striped hammock and folding deck chair under ripe apple trees in the garden at Noosh Guesthouse, Ashnak — The green gardens at Noosh

At the end, I also explain how to get to Ashnak village and another project run by the Noosh team in Dsegh (Lori province). If you have any questions, please let me know in the comments. Thanks!

History of Noosh Guesthouse

Situated in the Ararat Valley in a semi-dry landscape, Noosh actually means ‘almond’ in Armenian, and the name is appropriate because of the 20 almond trees that dot the gardens around the guesthouse. Ashnak village is also known for its almond trees… as well as its Sasun history.

Aerial view of Ashnak village in Armenia, with stone houses among green trees and dry golden steppe beyond — Ashnak, Armenia

Sasun (Armenian: Սասուն) was a historical region in what was Western Armenia (now modern-day Turkey). Most Sasuns were killed during the Armenian Genocide, but the ones that survived mostly relocated to other areas of Turkey or to Armenia.

The village of Ashnak was one of the places that the Sasun refugees settled in Armenia, and Noosh Guesthouse even offers a culinary workshop dedicated to one of these historically famous Sasun dishes called Sasna Klulik (more about that below).

Two clay bowls of sasna klulik meatball soup served with tomato-cucumber salad, cheese, grapes and purple basil at Noosh Guesthouse — Delicious sasna klulik at Noosh

Noosh Guesthouse was founded in 2019 by friends Ani and Gayane. Ani was born in Ashnak and lived there before relocating to France to study at Sorbonne University. Gayane previously studied in China, and both are using their international experience to welcome tourists to Noosh, which is located on Ani’s family’s property.

Today, Noosh has a guesthouse, co-working areas, beautiful gardens, and a few culinary experiences that you can sign up for. All are run by locals from the village, and it has become one of the best getaways in Armenia!

Flagstone path along a stone guesthouse wall with window flower boxes and blooming roses at Noosh Guesthouse — Noosh Guesthouse’s gardens

Where is Ashnak Village?

Ashnak is a village located around 40 minutes from Ashtarak. Or you can get there from Yerevan, where it is only 45-50 minutes (provided you can escape Yerevan with little traffic). It is a wonderful stop if you’re heading to Gyumri from Yerevan or want to see the nearby Dashtadem Fortress or Talin Cathedral. Both are two of my favorite historical sites in the region.

Where Noosh is located (see full map here)

The easiest way to get to Ashnak from Yerevan is by rental car or taxi. A taxi is around 10,000 AMD one way (about $30 or so). If you are looking to get to Ashnak by marshrutka, it is probably best to get to Talin first and then find a local driver or bus from there.

Marshrutkas to Talin usually run from Kilikia station, and it can take around 1 hour and 30 minutes to reach Talin.

How to Stay Overnight at Noosh Guesthouse

Noosh has four rooms you can stay in. The Sunlit Room is the largest on-site, the Vineyard Suite is the newest and most private, and the double rooms named Almond View and Orchard View are cozy options with access to a common balcony.

Noosh Ashnak is open seasonally from May 1 to November 1 and is closed for the winter and early spring season. It is best to book the accommodation directly with them on their website.

Bold blue guesthouse room with a double bed, green bedspread, bedside lamps and an extra single bed

Double room at Noosh Guesthouse in Ashnak with warm peach walls, fresh towels and handmade embroidered wall art

Private bathroom at Noosh Guesthouse with marble-look tiles, pedestal sink, toilet and walk-in shower

Twin room with two single beds, wooden headboards and an orange armchair by a sunny window

Guesthouse bedroom at Noosh Guesthouse with a green double bed, a telescope on a tripod and a colorful parrot painting

Culinary Experiences at Noosh

My favorite thing about Noosh Guesthouse is that they offer culinary workshops! They can provide workshops for lavash, tolma, khorovats, gata, and most famously… sasna klulik.

You can inquire directly with them about the lavash, tolma, gata, and khorovats workshops, but here is a bit of info about the sasna klulik one, which I was invited to do as part of a previous project I was a part of.

Overhead view of clay bowls with grains, dried herbs, spices, flour and an egg on a wooden table during an Armenian cooking class — Making sasna klulik at Noosh

Sasna Klulik Cooking Class

📆 Seasonality: May 1 to November 1 (inquire outside of these months)
⏳ Duration: 1.5 hours or so
💬 Languages offered: Armenian, Russian, English
➡️ Check prices and availability here

The most popular culinary experience at Noosh is this sasna klulik one. Here, participants will learn to make the famous Sasun dish with local women. This dish is vegetarian by default but can be made with meat for tourists upon request.

Hands in blue gloves mixing a seasoned meat mixture in a large bowl during a cooking class at Noosh Guesthouse — Creating a non-veggie version

In this 1.5-hour workshop, guests will learn about the history of sasna klulik, a dish containing the following ingredients:

Broth made with pickled cabbage
Flour
Red and black pepper
Salt
Dry basil
Egg
Chopped onions
Tomato paste (just a tad!)

With assistance, you will mix the ingredients and shape them into small balls before placing them into the broth to cook. You will then get to enjoy your creation while young kids from the village show you some ancestral dances and play traditional music.

Young performers in traditional Armenian folk costumes with embroidered maroon vests and caps, standing in a row before a stone wall

This experience requires a minimum of 5 people (at $25 per person… so you can book for 5 if you want to do it but don’t meet the minimum number of people) and a maximum of 15 participants. It is wheelchair-accessible, but do let them know beforehand if you can to make sure everything is comfortably set up.

Covered outdoor dining area at Noosh Guesthouse with long wooden tables, red curtains and a view of green trees

Hands shaping a grain and herb meatball by hand over a clay bowl of mixture during an Armenian cooking class — Making sasna klulik at Noosh Guesthouse

Noosh’s sasna klulik experience can be booked for 10am, 12pm, 2pm, 4pm, or 6pm depending on your group’s preference and the guesthouse’s schedule. Click here to check rates and availability for a sasna klulik experience at Noosh.

Noosh Dsegh Boutique Hotel

Headed to Lori province instead of Aragatsotn? Noosh has a boutique hotel in Dsegh too! The guesthouse is located close to the Hovhannes Tumanyan House-Museum and not far from the Gikor’s Path trail.