Tepli Vody (Berehove)
- Location
- Hankavan, Province de Kotayk, Armenia
- Water type
- iron-rich, sodium chloride
- Temperature
- 38 °C
- pH
- 6.3
Water profile
Soothing — neither hot nor cold, perfect balance.
Rich in active gases or metals — a strong mineral character.
Dense, salty water — you float without effort.
In the deep gorges of the Marmarik River, at around 1,500 metres altitude in Armenia's Kotayk Province north of Yerevan, Hankavan stands as the country's principal thermal resort. The village, sheltered between slopes dense with birch and Armenian beech, offers a preserved seclusion and mountain air quality that heighten the experience of the baths.
The iron-rich, sodium-chloride waters emerge from ancient volcanic rocks at 38 °C with a pronounced mineral character. Their faint amber tint and velvety feel are hallmarks of Caucasian ferruginous springs. Armenia's thermal bathing tradition runs deep, and Hankavan's establishments carry this heritage forward in a setting that retains traces of Soviet-era architecture — an unexpected historical patina that adds a layer of character to the visit.
Beyond the baths, the Marmarik gorges open onto hiking trails through dense forests of hazel and wild cherry. The Armenian highlands, blanketed with wildflowers in spring and ablaze with warm colour in autumn, make each season a different frame for discovering this quietly authentic thermal retreat.