Ancient country making a comeback in the 21st century.
One of the cradles of civilisation, mountainous Armenia offers visitors some extraordinary natural and cultural treasures in a small parcel of territory. The 1990s saw a profound economic slump in this ex-Soviet state, but recent boomtimes have vastly improved tourist services.
Destination Facts
Capital: Yerevan
President: Serzh Sarkisyan
Prime Minister: Tigran Sarkisyan
Government: Republic
Time zone: GMT +4
Area: 29800
Population: 3.020.000
Languages: An ancient Indo-European language with distant links to Persian (Farsi).
Armenian Orthodox (94%)
Currency: Armenian Dram ()
Country Dialing Code: 374
Getting There
Autumn (September-October) is probably the most beautiful season, with long, warm days, crisp nights and beautiful colours floating around on the air. April to June is also good, but the weather tends to be more variable. If you want to avoid winter's chill, any time from about May to October is fine. If you like sliding down the icy slopes with skis on then Armenia has a small but rapidly expanding resort at Tsaghkadzor, 40min drive north of Yerevan. December to March is the time for skiing.
Getting there and away
Flying to Yerevan's Zvartnots airport takes about five hours from major European cities. There are lots of flights via Moscow, and a growing number of flights to Middle Eastern hubs such as Dubai. By land, the only option is to enter from the south via Iran or from the north via Georgia. The borders with Turkey and Azerbaijan are currently closed and unlikely to open soon, though oddly enough you can fly between Istanbul and Yerevan.
Getting around
Minivans (marshrutkas) are the most reliable form of transport, and will get you to most places in the republic. The trip from Yerevan to the furthest point of the country at Agarak, on the Iranian border, takes about 10 hours by marshrutka. Buses are not recommended as they are slow and unreliable, but often they are the only option you have to reach some villages. The train network is very limited, though Yerevan's single-line subway is efficient and very cheap. You can hire cars, but traffic conditions and local driving habits can be very challenging. The worn state of Armenia's roads has improved dramatically after donations from the Armenian diaspora and the major highways are now up to scratch.
Visa:
You only need a valid passport and an onward ticket to be granted a three-week visa (30.00) on arrival at any airport or border post. Extensions are possible, though tricky unless you speak Armenian, but it is common practice for people to stay an extra week or two and pay a moderate fine on departure of 3.00 for every overstayed day.
Weather
Most of Armenia has a dry, high-altitude climate except for verdant rainy pockets in Lori, Tavush and Syunik.The hot summers peak somewhere around 34° C (93° F) in July. November to April/May is the wettest season, though this varies a great deal from one region to another. Armenia's interlacing mountain ranges create a wide range of local climates. August in Yerevan can be 40° C (104° F) for days at a time, while conditions can be damp and foggy just 120km (74mi) away in Dilijan. At regions about midway in altitude, January can yield a daytime temperature range of between -2° C (29° F) to -25° C (-13° F).
Warning
Conflict over the status of Nagorno/Karabakh, to the east of Armenia proper, makes this area hazardous to travellers. Borders with Azerbaijan are closed and occasionally dangerous. Borders with Turkey are also closed.
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