Old Khot

Old Khot sits on a shelf above the Vorotan gorge, a village of dry-stone houses, byres and a church strung along the slope, which was abandoned in the 1970s when its people were resettled in a new village on the plateau. Unlike Khndzoresk it was built rather than cut, and the walls, lintels and terraces are still standing among the grass. There are no facilities, no ticket and usually nobody else, which is the appeal.

What to look for

• The stone houses - dry-stone walls, lintels and byres standing along the slope.
• The church - the village chapel among the ruins.
• The terraces - agricultural steps cut into the hillside below the houses.
• The gorge - the Vorotan running below the village shelf.

When to go

May to October is the season. Spring and autumn are best for the walk down. Snow closes the track in winter and the grass is high in midsummer.

Things to know

The track in is rough and the last stretch is walked down a steep path. There is no signage, no interpretation and nothing on site. Finding the turning needs directions or a map.

Nearby

Sisian is northwest, and Shaki waterfall is on the same side of the valley.