Armenia travel advice
Armenian wine & cognac
Nune Tatunts, from our supplier Arara, with some tips for wine lovers:
“Armenia has more than 10 endemic grape varieties such as Areni, and many local producers. The Areni village holds an annual wine festival on the first weekend of October, and there is also the Yerevan Wine Days festival held in early May on Saryan Street which is full of wine bars. Armenia wines have taken many gold medals in recent international competitions. Cognac/brandy making is also popular here, the most famous company being Ararat. We have over 100 years experience in brandy making, so you can expect some good stuff!”
Exploring Yerevan
Natalie Fordham from our supplier Wild Frontiers on the capital’s cultural highlights:
“We always include the Matenadaran, and the Erenuni archaeological district, for the history. The Armenia Genocide memorial is an important place to visit, and we recommend visiting Yerevan over a weekend so you can see the Versaj open air market. Yerevan is far and away the most modern part of the country and you really notice it as soon as you venture beyond.”
Our Armenia Holidays
Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia holiday
A scenic journey through Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia
From
£2915 to £3065
15 days
ex flights
Armenia small group holiday
Stunning UNESCO churches and remote mountain territories
From
£1495
9 days
ex flights
Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia tour
Small group tour of the Caucasus
From
£2970 to £3325
19 days
inc UK flights
Armenia holiday, Ancient Armenia
The best of Armenia from stunning churches to local culture
From
£1035
7 days
ex flights
Armenia tailor made holiday
Armenia's ecclesiastical architecture and amazing history
From
£1490
9 days
ex flights
Georgia and Armenia holiday
Churches, monasteries, snow capped mountains, lakes and waterfalls
From
£1999 to £2049
14 days
inc UK flights
Georgia & Armenia cultural holiday
Journey to the furthest reaches of Europe
From
£2245
16 days
ex flights
Georgia and Armenia tour
Journey through the Caucasus region of Central Asia
From
£2175 to £2489
16 days
inc UK flights
Georgia and Armenia small group tour
The cultural and scenic highlights of Georgia and Armenia
From
£1949
14 days
ex flights
Armenia and Georgia motorcycle tour
Enjoy Armenia & Georgia by motorbike ride
From
£3772
16 days
ex flights
Caucasus small group tour
Charms and contradictions of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia
From
£2595
15 days
ex flights
Oman to Georgia tour, Persian Caravan
Overland from the Arabian Peninsula to the dramatic Caucasus
From
£5670 to £5835
27 days
ex flights
Georgia and Armenia overland tour, 18-35
Encounter a welcoming land of mountains and monasteries.
From
£1290
12 days
ex flights
Beijing to Istanbul overland tour
Expereince the Silk Road and the beautiful Caucasus
From
£8000 to £8110
42 days
ex flights
Bishkek to Istanbul overland tour, 78 days
Follow in the footsteps of Alexander the Great
From
£3285
11 weeks
ex flights
Baku to Tbilisi holiday, Georgia, Armenia & Azerbaijan
Overland in the stunning high Caucasus Mountains
From
£3840 to £4055
21 days
ex flights
Caucasus holiday, Armenia and Georgia
Experience the Caucasus in all it's beauty
From
£1795 to £1950
12 days
ex flights
Georgia Armenia & Iran tour
Unforgettable journey around the three majestic countries.
From
£2616
17 days
ex flights
Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan highlights tour
Three stunning countries in one unforgettable tour
From
£1640 to £1814
13 days
ex flights
Istanbul to Ashgabat overland tour
Overland adventure through Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, Iran, Turkmenistan
From
£2175
44 days
ex flights
Armenia and Georgia cultural holiday
Armenia - Georgia tailor made tours in 2019
From
£1795
10 days
ex flights
Armenia & Georgia hiking tour
Discover the culture & nature of Armenia and Georgia.
From
£1609
11 days
ex flights
Armenia holiday, private departure
Independent tailor made holidays to Armenia
From
£671
8 days
ex flights
Armenia archaeological tour
Explore the main archaeological sites of Armenia
From
£1189
9 days
ex flights
Caucasus holiday, Armenia, Azerbaijan & Georgia
Journey through three Caucasus states
From
£2990
14 days
ex flights
Armenia walking holiday, small group
Armenia walking tour, mountains and forests with sightseeing
From
£959
11 days
ex flights
Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan small group tour
A comprehensive tour through Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia
From
£2599
20 days
ex flights
Armenia and Georgia food and wine tour
Discover this mouthwatering Caucasian food and wine
From
£1296
10 days
ex flights
Great for vegetarians & vegans
Great for vegetarians & vegans
Nune Tatunts, from our supplier Arara, shares some highlights of Armenian cuisine:
“Apricots and pomegranates are very special in Armenian culture – the Latin name for apricots is fructus armeniacus, while the pomegranate is another symbol that often appears in Armenian architecture and old carvings. Typical Armenian foods everyone should try include spas, which is a white soup you can eat hot or cold; khash, which is a beef broth said to have medicinal properties and eaten ritually, and khorovats, our delicious barbecue. But Armenia is not just for meat eaters; our cuisine uses many vegetables, fruits and herbs so we have no problem creating different menus for vegetarians and vegans.”
Visiting monasteries
Visiting monasteries
Natalie Fordham from our supplier Wild Frontiers on Armenia’s religious highlights:
“Each monastery has its own distinctive features and while there is probably such a thing as too many, we try to include them wherever they fit into an itinerary. Tatev with its cable car, and Khor Virap with Mt. Ararat in the background are the most visually impressive. We always suggest Etchmiadzin too, because it’s such a significant place, and Geghard offers something fun and a little different. Visitors need to dress modestly; knees and shoulders should be covered. Women will sometimes need a headscarf so we recommend packing one.”
Jim O’Brien from our supplier Native Eye on the monastery experience:
“Armenia’s monasteries and churches are so atmospheric, especially if you happen to be visiting during any kind of service. You can expect lots of singing, scented candles being burned – very interesting just to watch quietly from the back.”
Cultural encounters
Cultural encounters
Jim O’Brien from our supplier Native Eye on visiting Armenian villages:
“Many of the ethnic villages that we visit aren’t particularly ‘opened up’ for tourism yet, so it’s really a case of wandering around, occasionally stopping to meet and have a chat with the locals. It’s interesting just to learn a little about their history and how they came to end up in this far flung corner of the Russian empire. At Garni we sometimes have lunch in a local home, with opportunities to help prepare it too which is a fun activity.”
Buzzy working
Buzzy working
Nune Tatunts, from our supplier Arara, explains why Armenia is so sweet:
“In rural areas almost every family keeps bees and makes honey, usually naturally and organically. Some people take it very seriously – they have special big cars or even buses which they sleep in, and load shelves with beehives. Then they drive their bees from place to place to catch seasonal flowers for a good honey harvest – you see it especially in alpine areas.”
Our top Armenia Holiday
Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia holiday
A scenic journey through Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia
From
£2915 to £3065
15 days
ex flights
Small group travel:
2019: 27 Jul, 18 Aug, 29 Sep
2020: 18 Apr, 2 May, 16 May, 30 May, 27 Jun, 11 Jul, 15 Aug, 19 Sep, 17 Oct
2019: 27 Jul, 18 Aug, 29 Sep
2020: 18 Apr, 2 May, 16 May, 30 May, 27 Jun, 11 Jul, 15 Aug, 19 Sep, 17 Oct
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Armenia or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.
Armenia tips from our traveller reviews
At Responsible Travel, we think the best people to advise our travellers are often... other travellers. They always return from our tours with packing tips, weather reports, ideas about what to do – and opinions about what not to.
We have selected some of the most useful Armenia travel tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your holiday – and the space inside your suitcase.
The walks to the monasteries are mostly uphill over rocky ground - the transport cannot get you closer than a few hundred yards in most cases and in some the walk is a lot longer 
– Baron-Vahl Amos
“Be prepared to have your eyes opened as to the depth of Christianity practised in both Armenia and Georgia, both in the past and still today. Bring healthy appetites, for the food is very good and tasty and so plentiful. If you can extend your trip by a couple of days (before and/or after the guided sections), you can experience more of the local capitals. “ – Judy Schneider
“The trip is advertised as a cultural holiday and the itinerary mentions that many monasteries will be visited. Complaints about "not another monastery" are unwarranted. The variety and environment in which all of these are found varies and the journey to and from them is quite spectacular.” – Maddy Ball
“The trip is advertised as a cultural holiday and the itinerary mentions that many monasteries will be visited. Complaints about "not another monastery" are unwarranted. The variety and environment in which all of these are found varies and the journey to and from them is quite spectacular.” – Maddy Ball
Try the local home made produce you can get from vendors outside the monasteries.
– Wayne Smith
“Travelling through Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan means an action-packed 2 weeks, but you'll see everything from grim Soviet-era relics to incredibly beautiful ancient monasteries on remote mountaintops. Be flexible, wear good walking shoes, and come prepared for all sorts of weather.” – Paula Lozar
“The walks to the monasteries are mostly uphill over rocky ground - the transport cannot get you closer than a few hundred yards in most cases and in some the walk is a lot longer and over the time that the holidays are offered the temperatures the heat is in the upper 20's and low 30's but some days the thermometer is above the 35 degree centigrade mark, be prepared. “ – Baron-Vahl Amos
“Try the local home made produce you can get from vendors outside the monasteries. The bread filled with herbs we bought at Tatev was delicious and the walnuts wrapped in fruit was also very good. Fruit brought from roadside sellers also recommended.” – Wayne Smith
“The walks to the monasteries are mostly uphill over rocky ground - the transport cannot get you closer than a few hundred yards in most cases and in some the walk is a lot longer and over the time that the holidays are offered the temperatures the heat is in the upper 20's and low 30's but some days the thermometer is above the 35 degree centigrade mark, be prepared. “ – Baron-Vahl Amos
“Try the local home made produce you can get from vendors outside the monasteries. The bread filled with herbs we bought at Tatev was delicious and the walnuts wrapped in fruit was also very good. Fruit brought from roadside sellers also recommended.” – Wayne Smith
More about Armenia
The most popular time of year to visit Armenia in terms of climate and scenery tends to be autumn.
Armenia is where East meets West - the landlocked Caucasian country bridges Asia and Europe, resulting in an especially rich cultural heritage.
Almost every trip to Armenia will feature a sprinkling of the key monasteries, some light hiking, and a day or so in Yerevan.
Armenia is more than just ancient monasteries – although they are, of course, the focus of many trips here.
You can easily spend a week or more exploring Armenia in depth, but a popular option is to combine it either with Georgia, and possibly also Azerbaijan.
If you've always wanted to explore in the furthest reaches of Eastern Europe but didn't know where to start then read on as we explain why visiting Armenia and Georgia together is a really worthwhile experience.
Armenia is great for families, allowing for a mix of outdoor activity, interesting cultural excursions and relaxation.
You don't have to be deeply devout to be curious about the churches and monasteries in Armenia.
There’s never been a better time to think about how to make a positive difference on your holidays.
protection
Photo credits: [Page banner: ReflectedSerendipity] [Wine : Narek75]
[Exploring Yerevan: Diego Delso]
[Food: Ralf Steinberger]
[Visiting monasteries: Oleg Sidorenko]
[Jim O'Brien - monasteries: A Lads Club Escapette]
[Cultural encounters: Arian Zwegers]
[Buzzy working: Jez Timms]
[Review introduction: Vigen Hakhverdyan]
[Review 1 - Baron-Vahl Amos: Oleg Sidorenko]
[Review 2 - Wayne Smith: Oleg Sidorenko]
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