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Lake Parz, Dilijan

Lake Parz near Dilijan: green water ringed by dense beech forest, a pedal boat on the lake and wildflowers in the foreground
Photo: Beko, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

The essentials in 10 seconds

Entry
Free; boats and zipline extra
Hours
The lake is open 24/7; boats, zipline, ropes course and restaurant run in the daytime on their own schedule
Time on site
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes.
1 h 30 min
With kids
Fine with kids
Entrance
Free — it is part of the national park, with no gate or ticket office
Boats, zipline, ropes course
Paid on site; no official price list published
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Time needed
1–1.5 hours at the lake; half a day with the trail to Goshavank
From central Dilijan
≈ 14 km by road, 20–25 minutes by taxi
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Swimming
Not allowed; boating is
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Payment
Bring cash dram; Visa and Mastercard at restaurants and hotels, not every stall
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Where
Dilijan National Park, Tavush Province, east of Dilijan
Coordinates
40.75139, 44.96056YesGo MapGoogleApple

Key facts

Freeto visit — the lake sits inside the national park, with no gate
3 sourcesArmenian Travel Bureauarmland.amOneWayTour
≈ 14 kmby road from the Mimino statue in central Dilijan, 20–25 minutes by car
2 sourcesYesGo measurement on OpenStreetMaparmland.am and OneWayTour give about 15 km
7.2 kmon the Transcaucasian Trail from the lake to Goshavank monastery
SourceTranscaucasian Trail — Dilijan National Park trail notes
≈ 1,330 mabove sea level
2 sourcesEnglish and Russian Wikipedia, Wikidata (1,334 m)armland.am, OneWayTour (1,330 m)
Under 400 mlong and about 100 m wide — a lap takes around half an hour
2 sourcesRussian Wikipedia and Armenian Travel Bureau (385 × 85 m)English Wikipedia (350 × 100 m)
“Clear lake”the meaning of the Armenian name Parz Lich
2 sourcesEnglish and Russian WikipediaArmenian Travel Bureau
2017the Transcaucasian Trail linked the lake with Dilijan and Gosh village
2 sourcesEnglish WikipediaTranscaucasian Trail
2002Dilijan National Park was created, from a nature reserve founded in 1958
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia, “Dilijan National Park”
≈ 240 km²of oak, beech and hornbeam forest in the national park
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia, “Dilijan National Park”
Ziplineacross the water, plus a ropes course, boats and a lakeside restaurant
2 sourcesEnglish WikipediaLive the World

Is there an entrance fee at Lake Parz?

No. Lake Parz is inside Dilijan National Park and there is no gate, ticket office or park fee to walk around it, at any hour. You pay only for extras: rowing boats and pedal boats, the zipline, the ropes course and the lakeside restaurant. No official price list is published and the figures quoted in guides differ, so we don’t give any — ask at the kiosks.

An hour to an hour and a half covers the lakeside loop, photos and a coffee; add the zipline and a boat and it is closer to two. With the trail to Goshavank, plan half a day and have your taxi pick you up in Gosh village instead.

How to get to Lake Parz

Step-by-step directions are below; the map shows where you arrive.

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destinationStreet view

Where are you starting from?

We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.

More tips

  1. Start at the Mimino statue on Dilijan’s central roundabout, where minibuses from Yerevan stop and taxis wait. There is no public transport to the lake.
  2. Agree the fare before you set off, and arrange the ride back at the same time — mobile signal in the forest is patchy and you may not be able to call a car from the shore.
  3. The road heads east on the Ijevan highway along the Aghstev river, then turns off at the sign for Parz Lich, crosses a bridge over the river and climbs through the forest.
  4. About 14 km and 20–25 minutes in total. Cars stop at the car park by the restaurant; the water is a two-minute walk.
  5. Head back the same way — or walk down to Dilijan on the Transcaucasian Trail, about 13 km to the Takhta neighbourhood.

Getting to Lake Parz from Yerevan

Dilijan is about 100 km from Yerevan via Lake Sevan. Marshrutkas (minibuses) leave from Yerevan’s Northern Bus Station and take roughly 1.5–2 hours, dropping you at the Mimino roundabout. From there it is a 14 km taxi ride to the lake.

Driving yourself, allow about two hours from Yerevan to the shore. Break the trip at Sevanavank on Lake Sevan, and after the lake carry on to Goshavank, which is off the same Ijevan road.

Hiking from Lake Parz to Goshavank and Lake Gosh

The best-known hike in Dilijan National Park starts here: a section of the Transcaucasian Trail. It is 7.2 km through the forest to Goshavank monastery in Gosh village, then about 4 km more to Lake Gosh. Guides put the whole Parz-to-Gosh walk at roughly 10–11 km.

The route is waymarked with red-and-white blazes. It crosses logging tracks, so keep an eye on the marks and carry an offline map — there is no reliable signal in the park. The only spring before Goshavank comes just after a switchback; fill up beforehand. After rain the clay gets slippery, so wear shoes with grip.

The easy way to do it: taxi to Parz in the morning, walk to Gosh, see the monastery and get collected there by a driver you booked in advance.

About Dilijan National Park

Dilijan National Park was set up in 2002 from a nature reserve dating back to 1958. It covers around 240 km² of mountains and forest around the town — beech on the northern slopes, oak on the southern, hornbeam everywhere. Brown bear, red deer, lynx and wolf live here, along with well over a hundred bird species.

Besides Parz, the park holds Lake Gosh and the monasteries of Haghartsin, Goshavank, Jukhtakvank and Matosavank. Lake Parz is the easiest way in: a road runs to the shore, while most other spots mean a longer drive or a walk.

Things to do at Lake Parz

  • Walk the lakeside loop — about half an hour on a flat path that works for kids.
  • Rent a rowing or pedal boat — from the water you see the forest rising straight off the shore.
  • Ride the zipline across the lake — the big draw for teenagers and adults.
  • Try the ropes course — routes of different difficulty, including easy ones for children.
  • Eat at the lakeside restaurant or picnic in the woods — and take your rubbish with you.
  • Set off on the Transcaucasian Trail towards Goshavank — follow the red-and-white marks.

Is Lake Parz worth visiting?

Yes, if you are already in Dilijan and want a taste of the forest without committing to a full-day hike. It is the simplest way into the national park, and with children it works especially well: boats, a ropes course and an easy path by the water.

It is not worth a trip from Yerevan on its own. The lake is small, and you can’t swim in it. Its value is in the combination — the lake, the trail to Goshavank and the monasteries around. The prettiest months are May–June and October, when the woods are fresh green or turning gold.

Money and payment

Bring Armenian dram in cash for the taxi, boat hire and small purchases at the lake. Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted at restaurants and hotels in Dilijan, but not at every rental kiosk. ATMs and exchange offices are easy to find in Yerevan and central Dilijan — there is nothing at the lake itself.

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Lake Parz vs Lake Gosh

Lake Parzyou are hereBy car almost to the waterRestaurant, boats, zipline, ropes courseFamilies and anyone with an hour or two≈ 10–11 km on the Transcaucasian Trail via Gosh
Lake GoshOn foot: ≈ 4 km on the trail from GoshavankPicnic clearing and a springWalkers who want quiet woods≈ 10–11 km on the Transcaucasian Trail via Gosh

Short on time or travelling with small children — Parz. Want quiet forest without the attractions — Gosh. Better still, walk from one to the other.

Lakes and water around Dilijan compared

Every waterside spot in and around Dilijan rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.

Lake Parzyou are here331 h 30 minFree—
Sevanavank291 hFree21.3 km
Lake Gosh262 hFree5.8 km

Dilijan and the forest in a day

Morning on the old street, then Lake Parz, the trail to Goshavank and Lake Gosh. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.

  1. Old Dilijan (Sharambeyan Street)45 min · Free
  2. 136 min walk from the previous stopLake Parzyou are here1 h 30 min · Free; boats and zipline extra
  3. 68 min walk from the previous stopGoshavank45 min · Free
  4. 33 min walk from the previous stopLake Gosh2 h · Free

4 places · about 8 h 57 min with walks · 237 min on foot in total

Go · my route

How to do it right

  • Come on a weekday morning — it is quieter and easier to get a boat.
  • Book the taxi both ways up front: there may be no car to flag down at the lake, and signal is weak.
  • Pair the lake with Goshavank — both are off the same road east of Dilijan.
  • Hiking on? Leave the lake before noon so you reach Gosh in daylight with time to spare.
  • In October the forest around the lake turns gold — the best time for photos from a boat.
  • On the way back, stop at Old Dilijan for a coffee on Sharambeyan Street.

Questions

Where is Lake Parz?

In Dilijan National Park, Tavush Province, north-eastern Armenia — about 14 km by road east of central Dilijan.

How do I get to Lake Parz without a car?

Take a marshrutka from Yerevan’s Northern Bus Station to Dilijan, then a taxi from the Mimino roundabout: about 14 km and 20–25 minutes. No bus goes to the lake.

Is there an entrance fee for Lake Parz or Dilijan National Park?

No. Walking around the lake is free at any hour; you pay only for boats, the zipline, the ropes course and food.

Can you swim in Lake Parz?

No, swimming is not allowed. You can rent a rowing or pedal boat instead.

How long is the hike from Lake Parz to Lake Gosh?

Roughly 10–11 km on the Transcaucasian Trail: 7.2 km to Goshavank monastery, then about 4 km to Lake Gosh. Allow most of a day.

How much time do I need at Lake Parz?

1–1.5 hours for the walk around and a boat, about two with the zipline, half a day with the hike to Goshavank.

Is Lake Parz worth visiting?

Yes if you’re in Dilijan and want an easy forest outing, especially with kids. Not worth a separate trip from Yerevan — combine it with Goshavank and Haghartsin.

What does Parz Lich mean?

“Clear lake” in Armenian.

Can I pay by card at Lake Parz?

Sometimes at the restaurant; bring cash dram for the taxi and the boat and zipline kiosks.

Have you been? Was it worth your time?

1 — no, 5 — absolutely

Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.

Sources and fact-check

  • English Wikipedia: “Lake Parz”; Russian Wikipedia: “Парз”; Wikidata Q2315006
  • English and Russian Wikipedia: “Dilijan National Park”
  • Armenian Travel Bureau (atb.am): “Lake Parz Lich” — size and directions
  • armland.am: “Lake Parz”; OneWayTour: “Lake Parz”; Armenia Discovery: “Parz Lake”
  • Transcaucasian Trail: “Dilijan National Park — map & trail notes”
  • Live the World: “Parz Lich Extreme Park” — ropes course and zipline
  • OpenStreetMap — route from the Mimino statue to the lake, measured by YesGo
YesGo editorial team · facts checked 30.10.2026 ·
How we checkedThere is no official website for the lake or its rentals, so we give no activity prices, and their hours, the swimming rule and payment are marked “verifying”. Other facts are checked against at least two sources. Sizes differ: 385 × 85 m (Russian Wikipedia, Armenian Travel Bureau), 350 × 100 m (English Wikipedia), 300 × 100 m (armland.am, OneWayTour), so we say “under 400 m”. Depth figures range from 5 to 10 m, so we leave depth out. Wikidata’s area (0.27 km²) disagrees with the others (0.03 km²) and looks like a decimal slip. YesGo measured the distance from the town centre on OpenStreetMap; armland.am and OneWayTour say about 15 km. Trail lengths to Goshavank (7.2 km) and on to Lake Gosh (4.2 km) come from the official Transcaucasian Trail notes; guides give 9.7–10 km for the whole walk.

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