Lastiver Cave

Ijevan, Tavush Province, Armenia

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Lastiver Cave is a striking artificial cave system set in a deep, forested gorge of the Khachaghbyur River, located near the village of Yenokavan in Tavush Province, about 10 kilometers from the regional center of Ijevan and roughly 130–140 kilometers from Yerevan.

The cave sits on a steep cliff face and is accessed by a historic wooden ladder that resembles a raft, giving the site its Armenian name “Lastiver,” meaning “up the raft.” Inside and on the surrounding rock walls are carved reliefs, sculptures, and bas‑reliefs that look like ancient pre‑Christian art but were actually created by the Soviet‑era sculptor Benik Petrosyan in the 1970s.

Layered over older chambers and carved cells that may date back to medieval times when locals used the caves as refuges. The area combines hiking through lush forest, rock‑climbing and zipline routes, a powerful waterfall at the base of the gorge, and a small campground, making Lastiver a popular destination for ecotourism, adventure sports, and cultural‑history excursions in northeastern Armenia.