Armenia Travel Guide

Armenia is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region situated at the junction of W Asia and E Europe, it is bordered by Turkey to the W, Georgia to the N, the de facto independent Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and Azerbaijan to the E, and Iran and the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan to the S. A former republic of the Soviet Union, Armenia is a unitary, multiparty, democratic nation-state with an ancient and historic cultural heritage. The Kingdom of Armenia was the first state to adopt Christianity as its religion.

Dominated by the presence of Mt Ararat, Armenia spans rocky highlands while also boasting lush forests, turquoise Lake Sevan. There are many remote regions and monasteries to explore, but highlights are as likely to be Yerevan’s buzzing arts scene.

Much of the current tourist interest comprises diaspora Armenians seeking a slice of their homeland. Their high standards have enticed some international hotel chains and caused overdevelopment in places like Sevan. Yet it’s still easy to escape to hidden gems, including stalactite-filled caves. The Debed Canyon is a popular tourist attraction and is rich with history and culture. Also notable is Goris, a fascinating time-warp town that warrants a few days' exploration. As most tourists travel through on a brief side trip between other places, serious explorers will have the best sights to themselves.

While the country's ancient monasteries, candle-lit churches and high-walled forts are obvious highlights, your fondest memories of Armenia will most likely lie with the locals themselves. You’ll easily find friends among these gracious, humble and easygoing people.

Although Armenians carry a lot of psychological baggage from a traumatic 20th century, you’ll hardly notice it. The rapidly modernizing capital, the boutique tourism industry and the warm welcome you’ll receive everywhere seems to belie the country’s reputation for tragedy. Rather than letting past woes weigh it down, Armenia has built its memorials, dusted itself off and moved on. Politicians have set their sights on EU membership, while businessmen are enjoying a booming economy dubbed the ‘Caucasian Tiger’.

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