Travel reports in armenian. Traveling to Armenia on your own - a detailed guide

Report on a trip to Armenia (Yerevan). Walking through the sights (temples, monasteries), acquaintance with local cuisine and history, travel tips and photographs.

Foreword

I heard a lot of reviews about amazing and colorful Armenia. One day while on vacation, I decided that the moment had finally come to get to know this strong country. In April 2017, my friend and I bought tickets from Krasnoyarsk to Yerevan, and our dream began to come true. Upon arrival, a rented Toyota Corolla car was waiting for us and an interesting four-day travel plan throughout the country, which we carefully thought out for a long time. The car was booked on bookingcar.su. The cost came out to about 8,000 rubles for two.

In Armenia, the national currency is drams, but for convenience, I will convert everything into rubles. We were very lucky with the weather: it is usually cloudy in April, but we were met bright sun and clear skies. Later we realized what a bonus it was for Armenia.

Acquaintance with Yerevan

The first day.

On the first day we rested and walked around Yerevan. This is a very lively city with amazing and helpful people.

There are cute cafes and streets. The evening was spent in the cafe "Prisoner of the Caucasus". Inside, everything was furnished in the style of a favorite movie. We were served delicious pomegranate wine, which is poured free of charge as a compliment. The cafe has an amazing National cuisine: khachapuri, kebab, manti, beetroot balls with garlic and cheese (I don’t remember the name). I also advise you to try their local beer "Kelikia".

We walked around main square, went up to the observation deck. From there you can see all the beautiful Armenia. In the center of Yerevan there is a colorful souvenir shop with access to the garden and art gallery. In addition, there are a lot of flower shops in the capital, to which local men commented: "Only fools do not give flowers to women!"

Excellent roads, cars are mostly new and expensive, which surprised me. Locals most often refuel with gas, few cars run on gasoline. This surprised us too. We didn’t even see gas stations, mostly gas. I was also pleasantly surprised by Wi-Fi in the car, so we saved on communication and did not buy local SIM cards. We rented a hotel on Booking almost in the center of Yerevan. We stopped at Aviatrans on Abovyan Street. In a nutshell: the breakfasts are delicious, the Wi-Fi is good, the inside is clean and beautiful, the staff is polite. For three nights we paid about 12,000 rubles.

Journey to the north of Armenia

Second day.

In the morning after breakfast, we set off on our long-awaited trip around the country. First we moved north. We wanted to get to the Tatev Monastery - 250 kilometers one way.

The first in line was the monastery of Khor Virap, where, at the behest of King Trdat, Gregory the Illuminator was thrown into a deep pit for preaching Christianity. Only after many years of imprisonment, when Gregory the Illuminator miraculously cured Trdat of a serious illness, did the tsar proclaim Christianity as the state religion.

Khor Virap is the closest place to the majestic biblical Mount Ararat. From there we admired it, took pictures and thanked the weather for the gorgeous views. Armenians are very sensitive to Mount Ararat, they look at it with love and sadness at the same time. It was after this trip that I watched an interview with the Italian writer Tonino Guerra, who talked about Armenia, Ararat and the genocide (I advise everyone). For Armenians, this is the most painful topic. Even getting to know the youth, they, as representatives of the new generation, react very painfully, causing respect for their people and culture.

The road was good through the mountains. Sometimes there were signs about rockfall. At times there were small potholes along the road, but in general the path was normal. The views are really mesmerizing: there are mountains and wonderful gorges around. It is simply impossible to go fast - you want to look at everything and shoot on camera. We never met the police. We didn’t see her at all in Armenia. However, we did not violate traffic rules.

Then we arrived at the bird cave, walked around it with a guide, listened to interesting stories from history. It is very nice and neat inside: steps, ladders, lanterns and signs are located right in the cave.

The next in line was the Noravank monastery, which is located in the valley of the Arpa river gorge. There we were also told interesting historical facts. It is here that you can see doves flying towards each other on the walls, which means that Christianity came to Armenia from outside.

Then we only had to get to the Tatev Monastery. There are signs everywhere along the way, it is almost impossible to get lost. We had to catch the cable car, then to go back in the sun. In April, the cable car is open from 10:00 to 18:00.

The Tatev cable car is the world's longest passenger cable car, called the Wings of Tatev. It connects the villages of Halidzor and Tatev through the Vorotan Gorge. Tatev ropeway got into the Guinness Book of Records. The Armenians said that it was built in less than a year, and the money for the construction was given by local investors. It was originally planned that the passage would be free, but then they decided to set a symbolic price in order to restore the monastery with the proceeds. Tickets cost about 600 rubles in both directions, it takes about 15 minutes to ride the cable car.

We walked around the monastery, in some places reconstruction was really carried out. In one of the rooms we noticed a balcony, from which the gorge went straight down. According to legend, it was here that the architect of the monastery rushed with the words: "Let the Holy Spirit send wings." In the process of falling, his wings grew, and the monastery was named "Tatev", which means "Give me wings."

On the territory of the monastery there are guest houses with their own farm. We had dinner with homemade dolma and pickles, someone even drank some wine. We met a family from Moscow, with whom we ended up traveling all the way back to Yerevan. I advise you to go to Tatev with an overnight stay. There is an amazing atmosphere, strength and peace. Since we did not know this in advance, we had to leave earlier than we wanted - we had the whole next day scheduled.

We traveled all the way back without stopping, tired and happy. Upon arrival in Yerevan, they helped us fill the car with gas. By the way, it takes a lot of time - we definitely waited half an hour.

Journey to the south of Armenia

Day three.

On the third day we went south. Our plans included a visit to Lake Sevan. This day turned out to be not as emotional as the first, because along the way we did not see the majestic mountains.

Plain in Armenia

Mostly it was a flat area, only mountains were visible in the distance. We arrived at the village of Garni, where the temple of the same name is located.

Garni village and temple

Entrance to the territory of the temple is paid - about 150 rubles, unlike previous monasteries. We walked around the garden, the interior, the streets of the village. There you can buy marshmallow, hummus, cone jam, homemade wine, etc.

Mountain was the next stop. sports complex Tsaghkadzor. On the cable car, we climbed to the top, where there was snow in contrast, and some guys were running and playing snowballs. We drank mulled wine, took pictures and drove down - it really was very cold there.

On the way to the lake, we decided to spontaneously stop by the city of Dilijan, as we still had a lot of time left. We have read positive reviews about it. The roads in this city are, frankly, bad. We got lost, drove into some street under construction, almost got stuck there.

We barely found in this city the famous monument to the heroes from the movie "Mimino". Opposite is a cozy souvenir shop, in which, of course, we once again bought knick-knacks. I advise you not to spend a lot of time on this city, we didn’t see anything special there.

Monument to the heroes from the movie "Mimino"

Finally, we reached Lake Sevan. This is a very atmospheric place - when climbing to the observation deck, artists and artisans sit, there are many benches with natural stones around. We were presented with moonstones, which, as we were told, were mined from the depths of Lake Sevan. How true this is, I don't know.

On the shore of the lake, we ate delicious fish caught in the lake at the Collette restaurant. Very tasty and cheap - I recommend this place.

After that, we moved in the opposite direction, caught a traffic jam when we arrived in Yerevan. On this day, we still had a lot of time left, so we took a taxi and went to the cognac tasting at the Ararat factory. By the way, the prices for a taxi ride here are amazingly low: we drove through the whole city in a Mercedes and paid a little more than 100 rubles (translated into our money).

Brandy factory "Ararat" in Yerevan

Back to Yerevan

Day four.

On the last day, we walked around Yerevan, went to the Museum-Institute of the Armenian Genocide. The faint-hearted are not allowed to enter. However, I still advise you to go here to get to know the Armenian people and their tragic history better. The entrance is free.

We also visited the National Art Gallery, which had five floors with canvases. We spent an hour and a half there, but I think you can spend half a day here unnoticed.

National Art Gallery in Yerevan

We went to the local colorful market. What is not here: a lot of different vases and figurines in the form of a pomegranate, clothes, food, small household appliances, musical instruments. In short, everything in one place. Finally, we, of course, drank a glass of pomegranate wine with cheese and hummus in a street cafe.

I don’t see the point in advising certain cafes, coffee houses and pastry shops, since there are a lot of them. All are good in their own way. I will say one thing for sure: in every, even the smallest cafe, delicious and inexpensive food is prepared. Good and really friendly people live here.

The results of the trip

At the end, we can highlight the major points of expenditure:

1. Rent a car and gas: 8500 rubles (for two for four days).
2. Hotel: 12,000 rubles (for two).
3. All tickets: about 2000 rubles per person.
4. Food and cafe: 7000 rubles per person.
5. Souvenirs, cognac: 5000 rubles per person.

Hello friends! Today we have an article with a purely practical information. We tell you how to travel to Armenia on your own: what documents are needed, whether you need a passport, how to get there, what to eat, where to live, where to go and so on.

Are you planning a trip to Armenia? Read our detailed guide!

Documents and visa

Citizens of the Russian Federation, the CIS and Georgia do not need a visa to Armenia, and they can stay in the country for up to 180 days in half a year. Do I need a passport to travel to Armenia? No, the usual is enough: on January 24, 2017, an agreement was signed allowing citizens of the Russian Federation to enter Armenia with a general passport. They promise that from the summer of 2017 the new rules will come into effect, but for now you can go with a passport that is valid for the duration of the trip.

If you have foreign citizenship then a visa is required. It can be issued either at the consulates of Armenia, or upon arrival at the Zvartnots airport, or upon entry through the land borders with Georgia. The cost of such a visa will be 3000 AMD (for 21 days).

Entry into the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR)

Citizens of Russia need to apply for accreditation, which can be done at the NKR representation in Yerevan (17a, Zaryan St.), or in Stepanakert itself. In any case, upon arrival, it is obligatory to register at the consular service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Stepanakert (Azatamartikneri str., 28). Entry is carried out on a passport, and marks should not be put in it.

After visiting Karabakh, you may have problems with entering Azerbaijan, you should be allowed in, but a long conversation at the border cannot be avoided. However, Russian citizens are not stamped in their passports when visiting the NKR, keep an eye on this.

Foreign citizens need to apply for a visa to Karabakh in Yerevan in advance, its cost is only 3000 AMD (for 21 days). A regular visa is done within 5 working days, you can make an urgent visa by paying the same amount.

Documents for traveling to Armenia with children

• passport for a child, and if the child is under 14 years old, then it must be entered in your passport
• birth certificate
• if the child is traveling with one of the parents, then a notarized permission from the other parent is required.

How to get to Armenia?

By plane

Most convenient way to get to Armenia from Russia is an air flight. Direct flights are operated by Pobeda, Aeroflot, S7, UTAir, Ural Airlines, VIM, Georgian Airways from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Krasnodar, Sochi and others major cities Russia.

From Pobeda you can get tickets from Moscow to Gyumri for 999 rubles one way and 2000 round trip - this is the cheapest and most convenient way to get to Armenia. You can take 10 kg of luggage with you. Of course, prices are higher in summer, but still cheaper than others.

For other airlines, the cost of tickets from Moscow to Armenia in winter and summer differs little, in the low season you can find it for 8,000 rubles round trip, and in summer tickets cost about 11 thousand rubles.

There are also direct flights from Belarus, Ukraine, Kazakhstan.

Find cheap flights to Armenia:

By train

It is impossible to get from Russia to Armenia by train. At the time of the union, a branch line worked through Adler-Abkhazia-Georgia, but now, due to the Abkhazian conflict, this line does not function throughout its entire length.

It is possible to get to Armenia by train from Georgia: Yerevan and Tbilisi are connected by one train, it travels for a long time, but at night, so you can use it. In the summer, there is a flight from Yerevan to Georgian Batumi.

By car or bus

Land borders are open only with Georgia and Iran. Armenia's relations with Azerbaijan and Turkey are, to put it mildly, not very good, and therefore all checkpoints are closed. The only way to Armenia from Russia lies through Georgia.

In total there are three crossings between these countries, if you are traveling from Tbilisi to Yerevan, use the Sadakhlo / Bagratashen checkpoint, and if from Akhaltsikhe to Gyumri, then the Ninotsminda-Bavra checkpoint.

To enter Armenia by car, you will need the following documents:

• rights
• registration certificate
• lease agreement if the car is rental
• upon entry and exit, a customs fee of 2000 AMD is charged.

From many cities in southern Russia and Moscow there are buses to Yerevan, theoretically you can get on them, but physically it's hard: the journey from Moscow takes about 40 hours.

A trip to Armenia - where and when to go?

You can go to Armenia at any time of the year, depending on your goals. Temples and cultural heritage can be visited at any time of the year. In winter, you can have a great time on ski resort Tsakhkadzor, and in the summer go on an excellent trekking in the mountains or climb the most high mountain country - Aragats.

But still the most best time to visit is the middle of spring and autumn. In spring it is already warm, but not yet hot, nature blooms with bright colors, the slopes turn green and are covered with flowers. And in autumn, delicious peaches ripen. plums, grapes and other fruits, in the markets at this time they are very cheap. In addition, in autumn it is not so hot anymore.

Armenia is a small country, so the route consists of the following combinations:

Yerevan and surroundings (, Etchmiadzin,) - 3-5 days.

A trip to the south (, Sisian,) - 3-5 days.

If you wish, you can still go along the northern part: Ijevan, Gyumri, Stepanavan.

Thus, 10-12 days is quite enough to enjoy a leisurely trip to Armenia.

Read also:

Transport within the country

Many interesting places are remote from civilization, and public transport does not go there, so the best option is to come by car or take a taxi. Moreover, the cost of a taxi in Armenia is low - expect about 120-150 AMD per km for the whole car.

You can easily rent a car - the cost is about $40 per day, and all-wheel drive can be rented for $50. Recently, international car rental services have appeared in Armenia. Common and public taxis, for example, there are those from Yerevan to Karabakh.

Public transport has degraded, mostly minibuses travel between cities, but they are cheap.

The railway line connects Yerevan and Tbilisi, passing through Gyumri and Vanadzor, in summer electric trains run to Lake Sevan. The train is an almost useless way to get around Armenia.

Hitchhiking is very good, although there are money requests, but we never stood for a long time. Metro, buses, trolleybuses and minibuses operate from urban transport in Yerevan, and travel around the city costs 100 drams.

Housing in Armenia

Generally, tourism infrastructure is not very developed, and there is a large selection of hotels / hotels / hostels only in Yerevan. There is plenty to choose from: very cheap hostels at AMD 3,000 per night, modest hotels and hotels at AMD 7,000 per room, and there are more comfortable options.

You can rent an entire apartment in the capital - this will be the most comfortable option for families, and big companies. Read more about - 10 good options.

In other cities, housing is represented mainly by old Soviet hotels and guest houses. Here in the guest houses I warmly recommend staying! So you will have the opportunity to plunge into local life and customs. I stayed at a guesthouse in Tatev (near the monastery) - it turned out that the owner had lived in Omsk for 15 years! We talked all evening, the hosts treated me to delicious Armenian food, it was fun ;-) Locals can invite you to spend the night with them for free, with a certain level of your communication skills.

Find cheap hotels in Armenia:

money, cards

The currency of Armenia is called dram, and all transactions in the country are made only in dram. It is most convenient to carry cash, although there are also ATMs in Yerevan and other cities, you can withdraw there. Regardless of the currency of your account, the ATM will dispense the amount in AMD. Now for one ruble they give 7.5 drams, but check the current rates before traveling to Armenia.

Prices for groceries and food in a cafe

Armenia is very inexpensive country, here everything is cheaper than in Russia, except for goods brought from the Russian Federation. The hostel in Yerevan cost us $5 per person per night, including breakfast. City transport costs 100 drams (13 rubles), in Russia there have not been such prices for ten years. Intercity minibuses cost about 1.5 rubles per kilometer, that is, almost half the price of ours. It is easy to have a hearty meal together in a cafe for 3000 drams, we bought fruits and vegetables at the market and their cost at the end of summer was also very low, but what delicious they are! By the way, in cafes and restaurants, a tip of 10% is always included in the bill.

Communication and Internet

Making or receiving calls while roaming is quite ruinous, so buy a local SIM card right away. Now there are three mobile operators in Armenia: MTS VivaCell, Beeline, Orange. MTS and Beeline have approximately the same packages, and the quality of coverage, as far as I understand, is better with MTS. We took a SIM card for 1500 AMD (1500 minutes within the network, 1 GB of Internet, 150 SMS) and were satisfied. This is quite enough not only to get into the mail and social networks, but also to work a little. Wi-Fi is available in almost all hotels / hostels in the country, as well as in some cafes in large cities. In general, there were no problems with this.

Food

For the sake of one cuisine, it is worth going on a trip to Armenia! Meat-eaters, vegetarians, and sweet lovers alike will like it here. It goes without saying that you must go to the Ararat factory and try cognac (you can buy it there), as well as go to Areni and taste the local wine. It is hard to imagine Armenian cuisine without khorovats (barbecue), lavash, cheese, dairy products, and various snacks, such as peppers. I recommend trying dolma and zhengyalov hats.

What to bring as a gift from Armenia?

First of all, everyone brings the famous cognac "Ararat", "Noy" (there are other brands) and wine. Armenian craftsmen are famous for their products made of silver, precious stones, and ceramics. If the budget allows, then you can buy a real handmade carpet. A good souvenir will be Armenian sweets homemade halva, boiled fruit juice - doshab, sujukh (analogous to churchkhela), dried fruits. From the products you can also take cheese and dried herbs and spices.

We are often asked how Russians are treated in this or that country? Well, we answer: Russians are loved and respected in Armenia. Many people fondly remember the years spent in Russia, or point out that their brother/husband/son is now working for us. Although the official language is Armenian, some speak Russian and certainly understand almost everyone. We have the most pleasant memories of communicating with the Armenians, this people is famous for its hospitality, and our trip to Armenia independently confirmed this!

The locals are quite religious, but calmly relate to the observance of certain rituals. Women have equal rights with men, and it seemed to us that they feel quite free.

You will rarely be tried to deceive, which was surprising for us, especially given the general standard of living. They can call an inflated price for a taxi, but you can and should bargain. Sometimes there are interruptions in the power supply, we had no electricity in Dilijan all evening. As a rule, there is no central heating in houses. Roads in Armenia leave much to be desired: if the Yerevan-Sevan-Dilijan highway good quality, the road south towards the Iranian border is narrow and potholed. The road towards Georgia from Vanadzor to the border is of the same poor quality.

If you drive in Armenia, be careful - the locals drive famously, quickly, not really following the rules.

Although, in general, everything is in order with security in Armenia. One has only to exercise reasonable caution, not to shine in large amounts, not to walk at night in remote areas, and everything will be fine. And another point: if a girl travels alone, then she will certainly be given signs of attention, trying to get to know each other. That's all. Have rich adventures in Armenia!

Armenia road trip report 2017: sights of Yerevan, unique nature, monasteries, caves and cable car.

Dates and purpose of travel

The trip was purely touristic. The choice fell on Armenia, because there were vacation dates (from May 2 to May 6, 2017) and outstanding Aeroflot points. I wanted to fly somewhere, but suitable tickets were found only in Yerevan.

Why NOT to rent a car in Armenia?

Initially, we planned to rent a car and conquer Armenia on our own. They were even puzzled and picked up a company in advance that was ready to rent a car to a driver like me (I’m only 21, my driving experience has barely exceeded a year, and most car rental companies set the minimum conditions for 22/2). By the way, for those who are especially risky, here it is: https://travelcar.am/rent-a-car-in-yerevan .

To abandon plans for a trip without a local driver, one trip from the airport to the city center was enough. What the Armenians call traffic, I would call Brownian - just complete chaos. When turning, they don’t even try to look in the rear-view mirrors (and you can’t see these mirrors, all the cars are tinted tightly), they drive close to each other, in a good half of the cars at least one bumper is torn off.

The prohibitory signal of a traffic light is ignored in 90% of cases, and those who nevertheless stopped at a red one are indignantly signaled, they say, "why get up, come on, let's go!". But my favorite is a Mercedes, which cut a circle against the direction of travel right in front of the vigilant police.

Standard situation: the car passes on a green pedestrian

And it's all in the capital! Outside it is even worse, there are also roads in places that not every Russian is used to. Plus, get ready for traffic jams in the form of a herd of sheep or cows.

Typical Armenian traffic jam: sheep blocked the way

But it was all only "in the first place". As for "secondly", it is better to take a taxi driver, and not just a car, if only because the local population gives out the lion's share of the Armenian flavor. And no better way to get to know and feel the country than to drive through it with a real Armenian taxi driver. They are cunning, of course, but at the same time they are open, hospitable and much more pleasant than many of their brothers who moved to Moscow.

What to see in Yerevan?

I must say right away that there is nothing special to see in the capital of Armenia, it is not cities that go to this country to see. But all a few interesting places there is.

cognac factories. It is impossible not to notice them: "Noah" and "Ararat" stand opposite each other right at the entrance to the city and look like two warring fortresses. Although, they say that it was originally one plant in general. Both there and there, guided tours and tastings.

"Noah" and "Ararat" face to face

Republic Square. central square Yerevan is a roundabout surrounded by historical buildings. There and historical Museum, and the Government building, and the post office, and the main concentration of Yerevan taxi drivers.

central square

GUM market. "Masthev" for lovers of dried fruits, churchkhela and other sweets. Here they will be fed to death for a test, plus they will sell three kilograms, and then you will not know how to fit it all into hand luggage. The main thing is not to buy immediately at the entrance: a string of churchkhela from the first saleswoman cost 2 thousand drams, in the outback - only 1 thousand. Be sure to try what they give, even if you think you hate dried fruits. Since childhood, I have been intolerant of raisins, prunes and dried apricots, I was completely delighted with figs stuffed with walnuts and orange.

Armenia is practically the birthplace of dried fruits

Big Cascade. You need to visit it to put a tick, because this building of stairs is considered the main attraction of Yerevan. There is a really good view from there, but the fountains that were not working in May, flower beds that did not bloom and unfinished construction spoiled the impression a little.

Grand Cascade: view from below and from above

Walks around the city. To get an impression of Yerevan, it is enough to wander around it for a couple of hours. Immediately striking is the southern architecture with its pink tuff houses, the number of white and no other Neaves (considered a prestigious car here), a large number of abandoned buildings near the center and decorated arches-entrances to courtyards (there are really a lot of them). An obligatory point of the program is to buy khachapuri in the tent and eat it right on the go. We don't bake these.

Cozy Yerevan street

Variety of graffiti

What to see in the vicinity of Yerevan?

Realizing that before checking into the hostel there were still 4 hours, and we had already walked around the whole of Yerevan, it was decided to go to the Republic Square and go on a run through the surrounding churches. The first on our route was the Church of St. Hripsime.

Church of St. Hripsime against the backdrop of a sparse poppy field

Inside, Armenian temples and churches differ little from each other, but at the same time they definitely inspire some kind of awe even among staunch atheists.

Armenian church from the inside: a collective image

The next church we visited was Saint Gayane. An extremely interesting character lives here - a priest who gives advice and wishes to everyone who wants it, and not quite from the bullshit, but as if he really sees something in people right off the bat. And although most of them were still in the spirit of horoscopes, i.e. generalized and suitable for almost everyone, some of his advice was interesting to listen to.

The next point of the program is the monastery of Echmiadzin. The locals call it the Armenian Vatican and for a reason: not only the monastery itself is located on the territory, but also the residence of the Catholicos (like the Pope of Rome, only the Armenian Pope), a library of theological literature and much more. From what I liked the most - the painting of the monastery itself.

Painting of the Etchmiadzin Monastery

And the last point of our sortie was Zvartnots, for the sake of which we, in fact, were looking for a taxi. Here we are, however, very unlucky. The fact is that many sights in the vicinity of Yerevan are noteworthy because they stand against the backdrop of snow-capped peaks. And we got there when all the mountains disappeared behind the clouds. But if you mentally draw Ararat behind these ruins, then the spectacle will turn out to be the most beautiful. And, by the way, the first place for visiting which they took money.

The ruins of the once three-storey Zvartnots temple against the backdrop of the invisible Ararat

Khor Virap - Areni (city) - Noravank - Areni Cave

Early in the morning of the second day we set out. Initially, we wanted to split the trip into two days:

1. Only Tatev.
2. Only Khor Virap.

And both trips are return trips. But our taxi driver convinced us that it was not rational. He said that it’s better to just go overnight in Tatev or its environs and look at a whole bunch of interesting places along the way. For example, we didn’t know about any of Areni, but we simply weren’t going to Novarank, but in vain.

The first stop was the monastery of Khor Virap - a key attraction of the country, the hero of almost all souvenir postcards and the closest point to the symbol of Armenia, located in Turkey. Ararat turned out to be very secretive in general: we saw it in its entirety only from the runway, sitting on the plane. The rest of the time (and we drove past it three times) it showed up only in fragments, and, they say, this is almost always the case.

Khor Virap Monastery against the backdrop of the invisible Ararat

Part of Ararat came out

May poppy fields adorn any landscape

The second stop is Areni, the city of winemakers. All these tents that can be seen in the photo are shops that sell wine from their own harvest. They make this wine from anything: cherries, blackberries, peaches, raspberries, pomegranates, mulberries and, oddly enough, grapes. They also make cognac and mulberry - mulberry vodka, more like Serbian brandy.

Wine tents along the road

Tasting is carried out in tents, and wine is poured into unexpectedly clean glasses. But if you decide to buy wine (and it is very tasty), then do not expect glass containers: they sell it in cola bottles with a cap, for example, from Fanta. Gasoline is sold nearby in the same bottles - the main thing is not to confuse.

The next point of the cultural program is Noravank - the first two-storey monastery in Armenia. A beautiful gorge, painted red with clay, leads to it.

Red mountains around Noravank

Noravank itself

You can even go up to the second floor, but the steps are short, you need to hold on to the cable, and it’s more convenient to go down backwards. Near the monastery itself there is a chapel and a museum. It is worth going to the museum, where a very pleasant woman will tell about the history of the monastery, about the life and work of its architect, as well as about the composition of the paints that were used in Etchmiadzin, and myrrh - a special consecrated oil. The entrance to the museum is paid.

Myro Ingredients

Also on the territory of the monastery there is a cemetery where you can see old khachkars. Khachkars are monuments with flowers, crosses and other patterns carved on them. Purely Armenian art. It is believed that there are no two identical khachkars in the world, but I strongly doubt those small souvenir copies.

Khachkars at the Noravank cemetery

Road from Noravank to Areni Cave

The last attraction we visited that day was the Areni cave - the place where the oldest shoe and the oldest winery in the world were found. Maybe they will find something else, excavations are still underway here.

Breakdown into sectors for the convenience of archaeologists in the Areni cave

We spent the rest of the time before checking into the hotel and having dinner on the road. Here it has already become clear that we should not be particularly upset about the hidden Ararat, because something better awaits us.

On the way to Tatev

Everything is there

And a little more from there

Goris - Wings of Tatev and return trip to Yerevan

First of all, after breakfast, we went to the city of Goris, located in a mountain pit and surrounded by rocky ridges. The mountains here are really unusual. Everywhere more or less gently sloping, rather hills, but here they are sharp, as if wet sand has dripped like a turret. There are caves in these mountains, and women and children were raised in them in some unthinkable way during the war.

If you look closely, you can see the caves

We didn’t see anything special, except for the oldest amphitheater, hollowed out right in the cave, in the city. But it was also nice to just wander there - the views are incredible, and on the hills there are the remains of fortresses.

Goris

Then we went, finally, to the goal of our sortie - the Wings of Tatev. This is the longest cable car in the world, on which the five-kilometer gorge can be crossed in just 12 minutes. To be honest, it was useless to take pictures there, not a single camera can convey all that volume.

Travel by cable car round-trip cost 5 thousand drams.

In life, it's just breathtaking, but in the photo it doesn't come out like that

Cabin arrival point - Tatev Monastery

During the trip, there is a small excursion. "Look to the right, look to the left, break your eyes, because what we are talking about looks like the size of an ant from here." At good eyesight to find what they are talking about is quite real. For example, in the photo below is an abandoned monastery.

Abandoned monastery at the bottom of the gorge

The Tatev Monastery continues to be rebuilt, so there was a lot in the scaffolding. Nevertheless, there is a peaceful courtyard, an interesting museum and the purest mountain air.

Important! The Tatev Monastery is the first of all that came across on our way, where women were not allowed inside in shorts and with their heads uncovered. So it is better to have some scarves with you or to dress appropriately in advance.

And a few more views of Tatev (from the observation deck)

From the cable car

We drove back to Yerevan for six hours, no less, but this included stops for food and refueling.

Gas stations in Armenia

• They are few. Not just in Areni, bottled gasoline is sold on a par with wine. Therefore, the golden rule: I saw a gas station - just in case, refuel, because. The next one may not be very soon.
• Gas stations are a little intimidating, but they are all like that, so you don't have to choose.
• Gasoline costs about 380 drams per liter (about 47 rubles).

Unloaded track

Where to stay in Armenia?

In Yerevan, we checked into the hostel Yerevan (sorry for the tautology). His location was perfect or, as booking.com says, even great: no more than five minutes walk to Republic Square.

In fact, the hostel is a few apartments, where they just put locks on the door of each room. Clean, beautiful, toilets are shared, but there are two of them. There is a good kitchen, iron and ironing board, washing machine, TVs in every room and even a hair dryer. Every morning breakfast: rice, egg, fruit yogurt, cheese cutting, cake and a large glass of compote. You can eat, but in Armenia, without local cheeses, lavash and great coffee for breakfast, it’s somehow sad.

However, the staff is very friendly. Wifi is free but parking is not, it is public. For four nights in a room for two, they gave about 5 thousand rubles.

Contacts and photos of the hotel near Wings of Tatev

On the other side of the country, we spent the night at the eco-hotel Harsnadzor. In the parking lot of "Wings of Tatev" there is a huge stand with the nearest places for a possible overnight stay. There we found this eco-hotel when we stopped at the cable car on the evening of the third day.

If all the other proposals looked nondescript, then Harsnadzor is a cozy place where instead of ordinary rooms and restaurants there are large wooden barrel houses, food cooked on the grill and a mini-zoo with peacocks in the yard. About the air and the view of the mountains, I just keep quiet. Parking and Wi-Fi are free, one night spent 1300 rubles.

Attention! Rooms are in great demand there, so it is better to book houses in advance.

Taxi and food prices

When it comes to food and shopping, the same rule applies here as in the rest of the world: in tourist places prices are two or three orders of magnitude higher. It will also be tasteless. Here again, a plus in favor of the driver, because the chef brought us to a restaurant near Zvartnots, where we ordered so many high-quality and delicious national dishes for 8000 drams (about 1000 rubles) that we had to take it with us.

For the trip itself (the old Mercedes of our taxi driver ran on gas), they gave the driver 75 thousand drams, which in terms of rubles is about 10 thousand.

Initially, he called a much larger amount, so bargain! Here it is normal.

What to bring from souvenirs?

Armenia is a very tasty country, so the best souvenir will be dried fruits, churchkhela, semi-sweet fruit wines (bottles are sold in the market in the shape of the fruit from which the wine is made). Well, with the phrase "Are you going to Armenia? Bring cognac!" escort to rest, perhaps, anyone who has gathered here.

From the inedible, you can bring the duduk - the national wind musical instrument. It can be bought for 5000 AMD at the flea market in Yerevan. Of the magnets, the most interesting are small dried pomegranates. And symbolic, and beautiful, and weighs little, and not from China. They also bring small replicas of khachkars.

This year I am lucky, and at the end of June, at the invitation of one of our partners, I managed to visit Armenia. The impressions from the trip were wonderful, although it is clear that you won’t see everything in 3 days spent, and the guides drive mostly only in front places, and the inside remains hidden. The country is certainly very poor, there is no production, except for cognac. The territory is, as if in a blockade: the train only goes to Tbilisi, there is no car exit, the plane flies is limited, and Muslims are still propped up from three sides (Iran, Turkey and Azerbaijan). The population has little money, in many families the only source of income is transfers from working relatives in Russia. Often and in many places there is a strong smell of the Soviet Union. But enough about the sad, we flew in to see the sights and eat tasty food.

Our excursions began with a walking sightseeing tour of Yerevan. From the Cascade we walked to the Republic Square. Water flows on the cascade and there is a fucking cloud of sculptures. The French Armenians set up something like a modern art museum.

Sculpture of a woman at the Cascade. You can't hug her. Police vs.

Fish jump into the pool

Republic Square

Our five-star hotel was a stone's throw from this square. In the center of Yerevan, everything is quite advanced and developed. To eat we were taken to all sorts of tourist cafes. Fed tightly, almost to slaughter. I liked everything very much, lamb soups, stuffed eggplants and zucchini, kebabs, tan drinks and sea buckthorn compote. Fruits have an extraordinary taste, I have never tasted such.

Apricots are the size of a fist.

Prices for fruits and vegetables are ridiculous: a kilogram of tomatoes, cherries or apricots costs 20 rubles on the market (in terms of local dramas). Meat is also very cheap. Even in Armenia, natural tarragon and duchess are riveted, tastier than they were in the USSR. In Russia, there are no such lemonades anywhere, all around are solid nutritious chemicals, allegedly identical to natural ones. In addition, there are more than 2000 species in Armenia mineral water. The water is absolutely clean everywhere and you can drink it even on the street from drinking fountains.

Religion. A separate topic, because. Armenia adopted Orthodoxy in 301, much earlier than Russia. The church is called apostolic. It was created by the apostles. The Armenian Church is orthodox, there are similarities and differences with the Russian Orthodox, but in general, in my opinion, the majority is much more tolerant than some of our stubborn fanatics. It is worth coming here and seeing everything with your own eyes.

Where did you visit.

Temple of Zvartnots (near the airport of the same name). 7th century building. Partially restored in the 20th century. If you look closely, you can understand where the stones are modern, and where the old ones. Light - brand new.

Geghardavank Monastery. The whole complex, which began to be built in the 4th century. Includes rock-cut churches. Impressive buildings, very powerful acoustics inside. A local quartet sang a cappella for us - it gives you goosebumps. The spear with which Jesus was pierced was kept for a long time in the monastery. There are still the same spears in the Vatican, Austria and Poland (among them there are fake ones anyway).

Amberd fortress (7th century) and a church next to it (11th century). Altitude 2300 meters. Breathe easily and well.

On the way, we stopped by to poke at the Armenian alphabet (36 letters, a lot, you can’t do it).

Temple of Garni. Pagan temple, 1st century building, ancient Greek style. A miraculously preserved building. It was restored in the 20th century. Here, by the way, a remake is also visible (light stones). Epic building.

And finally, the Yerevan Brandy Factory. In fact, there are, of course, many more factories. Many, for example, like brandy from the Noy factory. The following stamps are issued in Yerevan: Ararat, Ani, Akhtamar, Nairi. They let us taste Ararat for 3 years (it is better not to drink it) and Akhtamar for 10 years (a good bodyaga).

This is a museum exhibit - cognac of 1902. At the factory, by the way, there are cognacs of all years of production. Naturally, the older, the smaller the number. Cognac in a barrel dries out on average by 5% per year. Natural decline. If converted into money - insane numbers will turn out.

Itozha, a country for calm (without fanaticism) tourism, is certainly suitable. You can see the sights, eat cheaply and tasty, and also swell in snot with cognac, moonshine, wine and even beer. All this is available in abundance. Armenians know how to welcome guests, and they really need our loot. End.

PS: I went on vacation today. If I'm not too lazy, I'll emboss a couple of words and photographs from Crete and from the next grand fishing-hunting trip.

I decided to write an online guide to Armenia based on my trip. useful information doesn't happen much.

Below you will find answers to planning questions, where to live, how much money you need, whether you need a visa and how to get around, as well as the route we traveled through Armenia. Based on it, you can make your own or use ours.

I am often asked: “Why go to Armenia, what to see there and whether it is worth spending time and vacation on this country at all.” And now I answer without hesitation: “Of course it’s worth it!”

I will say a banal fact, but Armenia is the country that was the first to adopt Christianity. Therefore, there will be no shortage of historical and architectural sights here even for tourists experienced in travel.

In addition, it is an amazing and diverse nature. The greenery of the north and the colored mountains in the south are worth coming here not for the weekend to see Yerevan, but to make a full trip around this country.

But nature and ancient monasteries are only half of the values ​​of Armenia. People, ordinary Armenians, who stayed in their own country, and did not leave for other countries, that's why it is also worth coming here. I am not afraid of these pathos statements, but the word "hospitality" was rediscovered for me.

And, finally, Armenia is not yet as crowded with tourists as neighboring Georgia or Azerbaijan. It is absolutely real to be somewhere alone, in the silence of mountains or monastery walls. Fortunately or unfortunately, but the main tourists in Armenia are ethnic Armenians who came to see their homeland, and Chinese tourists who are just everywhere. But the Armenians do everything to make the guests feel comfortable and they come and return again and again. And it is true.

Well, the prices here are not high, for Russian salaries. You can afford a little more, and this cannot but rejoice.

When is the best time to go to Armenia

If you want to see the whole country in one trip, then the best time to travel to Armenia is summer, starting from June and ending in September. Juicy Armenian fruits have ripened, a lot of cheap vegetables, the snow has melted in the mountains and on the passes and does not create obstacles for inspection and travel.

You can just come for a walk around Yerevan already on March 8. It is already warm enough, but you can still eat Armenian khash and keep warm.

If you are interested in skiing, then you need to go to the Tsakhnadzor resort from December to February / March.

Going to Armenia in August is almost perfect. But during the day in Yerevan and in the open area in the vicinity: Garni, Eribuni or Zvartnots, it will be quite hot, but tolerable.

Documents, visa and whether Armenia needs a passport

Fortunately, the Armenians are brothers to us, our army guards the border between Armenia and Turkey, and the Russians do not need a visa to Armenia. And a foreign passport to Armenia is no longer needed either. However, it's a pity. After all, he was given a beautiful stamp upon arrival with Big and Small Ararat.

In addition to Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians, Georgians and other residents of the CIS do not need a visa to Armenia either. The period of stay should not exceed 180 days.

And the rest is put on arrival and costs 3000 drams for 21 days or 15000 drams for 120 days.

You can cross the border of Armenia by land in Georgia and Iran, and by plane you can fly from any city with which there is an air connection (except Turkey and Azerbaijan).

Language in Armenia “And they will understand me”

Armenia has recently ceased to be one country with us, so the Russian language there, if not the second state, but the second, after the Armenian. It is obligatory at school, the older generation jokes about “I also died in a Russian school” and knows and speaks simply in fact, and also many Armenians go to work in large Russian cities. But I still cannot answer unequivocally that they will understand you. In Yerevan, in a cafe in the center not far from the fountains, the young waiters understood us only in English. But in general there were no problems with understanding. Still, as the Armenians themselves say: “Putin is our president,” that’s why they learn Russian, one way or another.

The Armenian alphabet is very beautiful and revered by the inhabitants.

Religion in Armenia

In Armenia, the Christian Apostolic Church. Yes, they are Christians, but they have their own customs, which are somewhat different from our understanding of religion. For example "mate".

In churches and monasteries, in principle, you can come in shorts and a T-shirt. I have never seen someone not let in or made a remark. The Armenians themselves do not give the impression of being very devout and believers, but they often go to churches, even if they are walking or driving past and there is time, then why not go in and light a candle.

Armenians are Christians, but not like us

In temples, there is usually one place where candles are placed. There is no difference what kind of health is here, and what kind of rest is elsewhere. You just bet, and God will figure it out, somehow. Do not put candles at different icons, again. But they are not. They try to leave churches in such a way that they do not turn their backs on the icons.

Armenians are baptized as Catholics, from left to right, but this is due to the language and pronunciation of the words "In the name of the father, son and holy spirit." The fact is that the Trinity must fall each to its place when you are baptized. Father on the forehead, son on the stomach, and the word spirit on the left shoulder. When this prayer is said in Armenian, the word order is slightly different. They say, not "Holy Spirit", but "Holy Spirit". It turns out that for the word "spirit" to fall on the left shoulder, you need to be baptized in the opposite direction.

I described my observations of life in the country in this article, it contains a little about religion.

Money, what currency to go with

The currency in Armenia is the Armenian dram and all payments are made only in local money. In addition to the souvenir market in Yerevan, here you can pay in rubles, and even at a mutually beneficial bank rate.

You can go with rubles, euros or dollars, but you should not change rubles for them before the trip. You will lose more when exchanging back and forth. You can change money in exchange offices in Yerevan, or in banks in other cities.

You can also safely withdraw local dramas from ATMs from a ruble card, I did just that. The commission is the usual bank, you can check with your bank.

It is better to have cash everywhere, but sometimes, in stores, it is quite possible to pay with a card. Rarely, but possible.

If you rent a car, then at each parking lot you will be asked for 200 drams, to buy fruits, kebabs or lavash to eat, to pay for the entrance to the museum or for travel in transport, cash will be needed everywhere.

Food prices, how much money to take to Armenia

As I said, Armenia is not yet so popular among tourists (but everything will change soon), so the prices are very, very attractive and encourage you to spend more.

I will write a separate article about prices in more detail, but in general, count on the following order:

Housing in Armenia can be found in different ways. It all depends on what you choose, a hostel in Yerevan and a guest house in the province, or good hotel in Yerevan and a sanatorium in Jermuk. On average, the price tag for accommodation in a hostel / not expensive, but a decent hotel, is 10,000 AMD for 3 people. We took beds in hostels in common rooms, and in hotels the price tag is the same, regardless of two or four. There will be a separate article about the hotels where we lived. I will write about the good ones and about the ones that turned out to be unsuccessful.

Eating in a cafe of traditional Armenian food costs from $5. We often bought groceries and ate in apartments that we rented or in hostels, where there is always a kitchen. The cost of living in a hostel almost always includes breakfast, sometimes very hearty, such as pasta with sausages, fruit and coffee.

For example, to eat kebab with baked vegetables, pita bread, cheese, wash it all down with okroshka tan and beer, which we bought to take away and ate by the river, cost 700 rubles for 4 and still left for breakfast. We also bought food in a store in Jermuk for dinner, vegetables, cheese, matsun, basturma, sweet gata and churchkhela, having spent 700 rubles and, again, we still had to have a hearty dinner. In a supermarket in Goris, we also bought food for 500 rubles for 4 people, and again it was enough for dinner and breakfast. If you eat in restaurants, then prices will be from $ 5 and more per person.

The cost of transport is based on the type of transport. Renting a car with a driver 20,000 AMD, without - from 15,000 AMD. The cost of minibuses depends on the distance. You can get to everything that is further than the outskirts of Yerevan for 1500-2000 drams from bus stations and minibus parking lots.

Food in Armenia

Armenian cuisine is wonderful! If we take into account the fact that everything is prepared from seasonal and fresh products, then you can even evaluate the taste qualities in absentia.

Vegetarians will have a harder time than meat eaters. But it’s harder in terms of giving up and explaining why you don’t eat meat. But the argument that you just feel sorry for the poor animals works, it has been verified. And so in the season from the end of May to September, the amount of vegetables and fruits will satisfy even the needs of raw foodists!

Armenian fruits

Housing in Armenia

Of course, in order to get a good price / quality option, you need to have a clear trip plan and not deviate from it. We had a route, but after we left Yerevan, it was not always possible to follow it, although we tried. Booking on the go, especially in season, is tricky if you're on a budget. Good and cheap (around 10 thousand drams for 2-3 people) is, but if you book in advance, there are more chances. If we understood that we did not have time to arrive where it was already booked, then we simply opened a booking and booked from what was available. For not coming in already booked hotel they didn’t take any fines, although it seems like the cancellation for the day was already with a fine of min 1 night.

The choice of housing is great and varied only in Yerevan. Here you can find hostels and a lot of apartments that are good and not expensive on Airbnb, if you book in advance, and even more so hotels. But the price tags in the capital are decent. We preferred to spend the night in hostels.

In the province, the choice of housing is not large, but it is. In Jermuk, in general, we had to use the theory of 6 handshakes and, through our driver and calls, look for housing within 10,000 drams (this was our ceiling for housing, 500 rubles per person).

Communication in Armenia

You can choose different cellular operators, which ones you trust more. There are Beeline and MTS and Orange.

Do I need insurance in Armenia

There is no such obligation for a trip to Armenia as insurance. No one will ask you for it at the border. However, it does not hurt to have insurance if you plan to actively spend time in the country. Insurance is not expensive and it is better to have it if something happens.

I'm not talking about conquering peaks now, but even simple trekking in the national park in Dilijan or rock climbing in the gorges near Garni can have consequences.

I buy insurance online before every trip. About insurance for active rest wrote in this article.

How to get to Armenia

The most convenient way to get to Armenia is, of course, by plane. You can fly to Yerevan or Gyumri from Russia and Georgia. All flights with the most high prices I collected in this article. There you will also find a calendar of flights to Armenia for the year ahead. It is very convenient to search for cheap tickets on it. Click on a month and it opens with the prices of flights by day.

By car, you can also get to Armenia, through Georgia or Iran. But in winter it can be difficult to move along the Georgian Military Road through the passes, they are sometimes covered with snow. However, I considered the budget for such a trip from St. Petersburg, and if there are 3-4 people, then you can get there on a budget, cheaper than by plane, if you don’t catch a cheap flight.

Route in Armenia

I can suggest our itinerary in Armenia. Except for visiting friends, it took us 7 days to see the maximum. Although it is possible to see everything at once in 10-14 days in the country, Armenia is not the country that needs to be “run through”. Still, oriental slowness reigns here and you need to make stops along the way.

Important note. In my opinion, to see the maximum in the country in a short time is possible only by car. Yes, there is public transport, it works, there is also a hitchhiking. But when you are limited in time, then a car is the best solution. If you do not drive yourself, then it is possible to take a car with a driver.

You can start from Yerevan, or if you come to Armenia from Georgia, then from the north from Alaverdi.

For each place from the guide there is a separate detailed article. Follow the turquoise link buttons if you want to learn more.

1 day

For the first 2 nights, feel free to book accommodation in Yerevan. Because the most visited places in the country are located near the capital and it is easier to return to the same place for the night. We lived in the Rafael hostel in the very center not far from Vernissage and singing fountains.

What see in Yerevan in one day?

If you are limited in time, then you can explore the capital of Armenia in one day, if quickly and briefly. We arrived in the afternoon and in half a day just walking around Yerevan managed to visit Gregory's temple, reached Republic Square, walked around northern avenue, climbed Cascade, looked at night Yerevan and statue of mother Armenia in Victory Park.

In addition, the very next day, having also spent half a day, we visited monument to the Armenian genocide visited the souvenir market Vernissage, watched the evening singing fountain show on Republic Square. Here in the square there is museums of the history of Armenia and an art gallery. We missed the collection of manuscripts Matenadaran but I will definitely go next time. You can also visit cognac factory Ararat, if interesting.

In a good way, you can walk around Yerevan for 3-4 days and it is worth a separate trip for a short weekend holidays. There are a lot of places in Yerevan that you can and should see. I personally advise you to take a guide and a personal tour. Then they will immediately bring you up to date, explain the features and local customs, and simply tell you a lot of interesting things.

2 day

Around Yerevan

In general, if there is not much time at all for a trip to Armenia, even moving by public transport there is a lot to see around Yerevan. And although most of it has been reconstructed, which many do not like, nevertheless you can see monuments and temples that are already many hundreds of years old.

Pagan Temple of Garni is located 30 km from Yerevan, and Geghard monastery a little further, 40 km. If you rent a car, you have the opportunity to make a stop on the way to these monasteries near arches of Charents. According to this Armenian poet (who you can see on the 100 dram bill), this is the best view of Mount Ararat. If you are lucky and there will be no haze.

We were not lucky enough to see Masis, but the views still deserve a stop.

Although Garni Temple is considered a remake, it is not. And this is the most unusual temple in all of Armenia.

The monastery in the rock of Geghard, despite the crowds of people, is impressive. It definitely cannot be excluded from the route in Armenia.

Former capital Armenia Erebuni worth a visit, no doubt, especially if you are interested in the history of Armenia. And a trip to Etchmiadzin, the Armenian Vatican, deserves attention if you want to learn about the history of religion and understand Armenia. If I had not had much time on my first visit, I would not have gone here. But with a week left and a rental car, be sure to come. For Armenians, these places are the most real, authentic and important.

And I advise you to end the day in the temple of vigilant forces Zvartnotse. Ararat can also be seen from here with a good combination of circumstances.

3 day

We're going south

In one light day you can visit the monastery Khor Virap and see the most famous symbol of Armenia - Mount Ararat, which Armenians call Masis. Find out that in Armenia there is not only cognac, but also make delicious wine. And before sleep drink mineral water in Jermuk straight from the waterfall.

If for some reason you don’t want to rent a car even with a driver, then you won’t be able to see everything in one day ( read about rent and transport here). However, you can buy a tour in Yerevan and see everything except Jermuk, because the bus will return to Yerevan again.

Day 4

You can see everything from our list for this day only by car. But for the first time, you can choose the very best.

Armenian stonehenge carahunge and Tatev monastery available without a rental car. First you can get to Karahunj by bus next to Sisian () or Goris, and then take a taxi or ride to Tatev. It is convenient to spend the night in Goris, there choice of cheap hotels, we stayed at the Nar Var hotel, it is more of a guest house. The hosts provided a kettle and crockery. If you do not have time in the evening, then inspect stone forest in Goris possible the next morning.

Vorotan pass
Karahunj - Armenian stonehenge
Caravanserai Katratz
stone forest to Goris

Day 5

Through the pass to Lake Sevan

See cave city Khndzoresk , which ceased to exist only half a century ago and which can be reached via a suspension bridge and chat with its inhabitants. And then, after resting Caravanserai standing on the Great Silk Road, through the Vardenyats pass to leave the scorched south.

See the largest collection of ancient Armenian cross-stones of khachkars near the city Noratuz just a must. Khachkar is one of the symbols of Armenia.

And after such a long day to find yourself by the Armenian sea - Lake Sevan will be just a gift. If you have time and money, stay here longer. However hotels on lake Sevan You need to book very early if you want to save money. Rest on Lake Sevan is very popular with the locals, still, the only place where, if you're lucky with the weather, you can swim and eat Sevan crayfish. If you don't find a suitable hotel for the price, feel free to leave to spend the night in Dilijan.

suspension bridge and cave city Khndzoresk
Caravanserai Orbelyans on the pass Vardenyats (formerly Selim)
Cemetery of khachkars in Noratuz
Hayravank Monastery on Lake Sevan

Day 6

Walks on national park and mountain resort

Dilijan, or rather the nature of this area, this is what I want to come back here for. Simple trekking through the forests and mountains, with access to the monasteries is not suitable for everyone, but just walking in the park and breathing fresh cool air after a week spent among the stone monasteries will definitely appeal to many. If you have not watched the movie "Mimino", then I advise you to do it before the trip, you will find out why Dilijan is called "sunny".

Old Dilijan

Just exploring the city will take time until lunch, after which you can boldly keep your way north to the city of Alaverdi, where it is convenient to make yourself a “base” for spending the night and visiting the monasteries in northern Armenia, because there is 7 days. It was created not so long ago, but is popular among locals and tourists.

If there is time, then turn deep into the mountains and look at the highest mountain in Armenia - Mount Aragats and also visit Amberd fortress. If you have a desire, then you can make a one-day ascent to the mountain. Although there is snow in summer, it is not so much. However, it is advisable to have at least minimal tour equipment for this. If you want, but it's scary, you can take a guide.

On this last day, we visited only the monument to the Armenian alphabet, and in the evening we walked along the Vernissage in Yerevan. Early in the morning there was already a plane home. And although we saw a lot on this trip to Armenia, there are still enough white spots where you want to go. And that's great.

Route map in Armenia

This is how our entire route in Armenia for 7 days looks like. If you open the map in full screen (the rightmost icon at the top), you can turn off layers and choose movement for each specific day.

Transport in Armenia, how to get around

I will list all the ways of transportation available for tourists in Armenia:

Metro in Yerevan.

Has a place to be. Sometimes it is convenient, if you are limited in time, to get to a certain attraction in Yerevan. But as the locals say, sometimes it is more convenient to take a taxi, it is not at all expensive in the capital.

rental car. Convenient, comfortable, fast. You are in full control of your time.

Rental prices start from $30 for a mechanic booked in advance (for a day of rent, booking on the eve of the trip, the price tag can already be $50). Renting a car with an automatic transmission starts at a price of $ 40, but on the eve of the trip you can fly over, economy models are dismantled in advance. For an SUV, you will have to pay $ 50-70 per day, depending on the type of transmission.

It is convenient to rent in, then you know exactly what you are taking. There are also local rental offices on the spot, but here it’s how lucky.

Car with driver. The price can be even cheaper than renting a car with an automatic transmission, especially if you book on the eve of the trip, and not much in advance. We did just that. It is convenient because you can take a driver not for the entire period, but only for those days when you plan to travel around the country.

Almost all local cars run on gas and it saves on fuel, gas is much cheaper than gasoline, and all cars for rent run on gasoline. Such a service costs 20000-25000 AMD for the whole day. You can bargain if you take for many days. The driver himself finds where he will spend the night along the way and will help you find an overnight stay if you do not book in advance.

Public transport. I have a large detailed article about transport in Armenia.

If you have a lot of time and do not have a goal to see the country in one visit, do not have a license or just want to save money, this is your way.

There are 5 places in Yerevan where buses, minibuses and private transport leave in different directions. But here is the number of flights per day in other big cities maybe 1-2. It is difficult to build a route with a large number of points in one day. There are no public transport routes to some attractions at all.

Hitch-hiking. It works, the Armenians are very located in this regard and can hospitably give you a lift not only along the way, but also a little further. However, it works well only for short distances and getting to places like Noravank or Caravanserai is not easy, relying only on hitchhiking.

Our rental car

What souvenirs to bring from Armenia

The main souvenir market Vernissage is located in Yerevan. It is difficult to guess which souvenir to bring to whom without knowing the person, but various Armenian motifs are very popular with tourists.

A mill for spices and coffee, coffee itself in Armenia is also good, finely ground, ideal for brewing in a Turk, and I also brought it to lovers. And it would be my desire, I would bring copper utensils!

Letters of the Armenian alphabet. The best ones were in Dilijan, I didn’t find them at Vernissage, but there were others.

All kinds of ceramics with symbols of Armenia, Ararat and pomegranate.

Duduk, also a symbol of Armenia, will be a great gift for a lover of musical instruments.

Chess! In Armenia, chess is taught at school as a regular subject from the 1st grade.

Sweets! Churchkhela and sweet gata.

Of course, cognac "Ararat" and "Noah". They are in duty free and can not be downloaded separately in the city. True, at the airport there is only a large volume of bottles.

If you have money and interest, then you can buy a carpet or a small rug, both on the floor and on the table. Armenian motifs in carpet weaving are as unique as the drawings on khachkars.

This guide is the author's and does not claim to be ideal. However, I have gone through everything that is mentioned in the article personally and I assure you, everything is more than possible and accessible. If for some reason you copy it to your site, ask permission from me.

The guide will be updated as new information becomes available. I have not told everything about Armenia from what I know. Come back!