Mount Khustup

Khustup rises to around 3,206 metres directly above Kapan and is the mountain southern Armenia orients itself by, a steep pyramid visible from far down the valley. The climb goes up through beech forest to alpine meadow and then a rocky ridge, taking most of a day up and back from the road end. The grave of Garegin Nzhdeh, a figure central to the region's early twentieth-century history, sits on the lower slopes and is a place of pilgrimage.

The landscape

• The summit pyramid - a steep rocky peak at around 3,206 metres.
• The forest and meadow - beech giving way to alpine grassland on the ascent.
• The ridge - the final rocky section to the top.
• The view - Syunik spread out below and the ranges running south.

When to go

June to October is the climbing season; snow lies on the upper slopes into early summer. Weather changes fast and cloud closes the summit often. Starting before dawn is normal.

What to expect

This is a long hard day with over fifteen hundred metres of ascent and no water on the upper mountain. The route is unmarked in places and a guide from Kapan is sensible. The four-wheel-drive approach to the trailhead is rough.

Nearby

Kapan is below, and Shikahogh reserve is west along the range.

Key facts