taxi snowy meghri mountain road armenia

Hitching Snowy Mountains in Armenia – What Could Go Wrong?

Meghri to Kapan Road

It could’ve been deadly.

On an isolated road in southern Armenia – close to the Iranian border, I attempted to hitchhike over the mountains from Meghri to Kapan.

hitchhiking-meghri-kapan-mountain-road-armenia
MRP setting out from the town of Meghri. RIGHT: the road started out fine.

But after a lack of traffic, I let a rough, chain-smoking taxi driver persuade me to accept his ride.

I agreed to $20 for the 60 kilometer trip.

It was a good move.

taxi snowy mountain road Meghri to Kapan city in Armenia
Driving up the mountain roads, it got steeper, icy – hazardous towards the Meghri Pass.

The Meghri to Kapan Road


No vehicles, only the odd truck, mostly stopped because of the snow and ice coating the road. A few, with chains, still ventured forward.

snow mountain panorma at meghri pass on road to kapan in armenia
At the Meghri pass at 2500 meters on the road to Kapan, looking back toward Meghri.

However, even our car got in serious trouble as we slid down the road and halted just short of the edge (it would be my second-icy road disaster within as many days in Armenia).

The driver was shitting himself.

petrol tanker on snowy meghri kapan mountain road armenia
One of the very few other vehicles on the Megri to Kapan road this icy winter’s day.

And I confess, it got my heart racing.

But we spun out of it and slowly backed down-hill to a dry patch of road, before attempting the icy slope again.

scenes on the meghri to kapan mountain route in winter in armenia
TOP RIGHT. Looking out the rear windscreen – sliding down the road!!!

On the outskirts of Kapan, we stopped at a petrol station.

Soon I noticed a guy SMOKING A CIGARETTE RIGHT NEXT TO THE PETROL PUMP.

F*ck !!!

Deciding not to push my luck further, I walked away from the gas station and awaited the taxi from a safe distance.

It’s one thing to die an icy death; but another extreme to be burnt alive.

snowy mountain slopes and tree silhouettes in Armenia

We finally reached Kapan city, stopping in the quiet river valley downtown.

Thankful to have arrived without accident, I tipped him. He thanked me. His expression said, Yeah, I really worked for this extra cash.

Neither of us had expected such a mission.

Travels in Armenia – 2011

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