This Shirak Armenia camping guide uses Pemzashen as a managed camping base and treats Gyumri and Lake Arpi as distinct outings. The open plateau and mountain slopes can feel very different from Armenia’s warmer valleys, so choose bedding and clothing for the actual elevation and forecast.

Nature and places to explore

Lake Arpi National Park offers a highland wetland setting, while the wider Shirak landscape includes open volcanic country and mountain views. A national-park visit needs its own route and access checks. Do not assume a Pemzashen pitch is on the lake or that a scenic lakeshore permits unrestricted camping.

Camping, published prices and facilities

Stone Art Guest House & Camping in Pemzashen publishes own-tent and camper stays at 3,000 AMD per person per night. Its tent-rental line is 5,000 AMD per person per night; ask whether this is the total accommodation charge. The operator lists a shared outdoor kitchen, hot shower, toilets, laundry equipment and Wi-Fi as included campground facilities. Camper parking does not establish electricity or a dump station: confirm those separately. Ask for dates, availability and any maximum stay.

Free camping and overnight permission

No free Lake Arpi pitch with confirmed permission and stay limits is certified here. Ask park staff where overnight stays are allowed, especially near wetlands and nesting birds. Keep away from sensitive margins and border restrictions. A birdwatching stop or car park is not an allocated campsite.

Restaurants and local food

Cherkezi Dzor in Gyumri is a fish-farm restaurant highlighted by the city’s visitor website. Confirm the menu and reservations before your city day. It is a Gyumri dining stop rather than an on-site meal at Pemzashen; the camp’s kitchen provides an independent self-catering option.

Museums and cultural stops

Gyumri’s traditional streets, workshops and architecture make a good cultural day. Near the camping base, Harichavank is another heritage outing: Stone Art gives a published distance of about 13 km from its guesthouse. Confirm the chosen road and allow time for the site instead of treating that figure as a walking route.

Season, access and a practical itinerary

Suggested plan: settle at Stone Art, take a local heritage day, then allocate a separate day or base for Lake Arpi. Pack wind protection and warm night insulation even when the valley forecast looks mild. Confirm roads after poor weather. The tourism authority quotes roughly an hour from Gyumri to Lake Arpi; that is not a campground transfer time and should be rechecked for the actual route.

Sources and booking checks

• Stone Art: campground rates and facilities
• Stone Art: location and Harichavank distance
• Smithsonian My Armenia: Shirak
• Armenia Travel: Lake Arpi
• Visit Gyumri: Cherkezi Dzor

Sources checked 20 October 2026. Prices are published references, not a booking quote. Confirm dates, the billing unit, facilities, access and permissions directly. No operator was contacted. This guide is based on research, not a personal visit.

Explore more of Armenia

Compare all provinces and Yerevan in our Armenia camping guide.