If you like the crowd's throng, traffic jams and
long queues for a brief glance over many heads at important historical item,
Armenia is not your choice. The tourism, increased enormously throughout the
world in recent years, is at an early stage of development in Armenia. You'll
be in an exclusive company here. Armenians are not jaded from an influx of
visitors and will welcome you with a smile and help you in any possible way. A
friendly smile is just that, not the beginning of a sales pitch. If you like
untouched nature you'll find it here too. Tourism in Armenia is the industry of
tomorrow. Join us! Take the advantage of this!
PRE-HISTORIC AND EARLY CHRISTIAN MONUMENTS
Through all the centuries, Armenia has managed to
preserve a wealth of today's evidence of the evolution of humankind. There are
innumerable historical monuments in Armenia. 40,000 are available for visiting
and are waiting for an admiring traveller. Most of them are churches. However,
only some 4,000 are readily accessible and commonly visited because of the
difficulty of reaching the rest. Normally they are open round-the-clock without
any admission charge. Join us! Take the advantage of this!
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES & EXCAVATIONS
The density of archaeological sites is
unbelievable The very capital Yerevan was founded in 782 BC as fortress Erebuni
(Happy Site). Another Urartian citadel inside Yerevan - Karmir Blur was built
on the ruins of early Bronze Age settlement. Universe maps of Metsamor
(Neolithic settlement 3 - 4000 BC), forty-five centuries old observatory of
Karahunj, capital of ancient times Armavir, caravan inns alongside Silk Road
are just a few examples of what you can see during your tour. Keen traveller
can visit dozens of active excavations starting from Paleolithic to Medieval
periods. Join us! Take the advantage of this!
MOUNTAIN CLIMBING
Armenian highlands are a perfect place to practice
mountain climbing, from beginner to expert. Thoroughly experienced instructors will guide you. Get acquainted
with the tour alternatives available. Join us! Take the advantage of
this!
HIKING
Most beautiful landscapes a little off the beaten
tracks provide an ideal setting for people seeking rest and recreation for both
a beginner and the experienced. Many tour alternatives are available. Join us!
Take the advantage of this!
WINE & BRANDY TASTINGS
Tours of the wineries and tasting of wine and
cognac are very popular in Armenia. Excavation results prove, that first wine
grape was cultivated on Armenian Highland thousands of years ago and today the
descendants of ancient clans try to retain that heritage. Armenian winegrowers
produce three main assortments:
Ordinary table wines
Branded wines made according to special
recipes and maturated from 2 to 5 years
Special quality branded wines aged for no less
than 3 years
Armenia produces an
unchallenged quality brandy (cognac). Armenian cognacs of numerous special
brands are aged in oak barrels for 3 to 50 years and are from 40 to 57%
proof.
The unique flavour and smooth quality of Armenian
cognac and wine is something you must sample for yourself while you are in the
country. Join us! Take the advantage of this!
ARMENIAN CUISINE
Armenian cuisine is noted for its pleasing aroma,
as a result of the expert mix of spices employed. Armenians use also many
unusual herbs and greens in their cooking. The most exotic are collected at
alpine meadows and combined in the most unexpected way. The taste will
challenge even the most refined expert.
Many of Armenian specialities
are barbecued. You can taste traditional shish-kebab almost everywhere. The standard bread of the country, called
lavash, is renowned for its quality. It is only about the thickness of one or
two sheets of newspaper and the best is like a parchment Armenians like to eat
lavash with local cheese or shish-kebab and fresh uncooked greens, using it for
wrapping the food as a sort of sandwich. Ask an Armenian how lavash is made or
visit any village to see it yourself. You'll be surprised and impressed.
European conventional bread and common European
foods are also readily available. Restaurants, ranging from the luxury class to
simple grills cater for all tastes. Join us! Take the advantage of this!
FRUITS
Armenia is famous for its fruits, some of which
are recognised as superior to the same fruits cultivated in other countries at
such latitudes.
Grapes of some 40 kinds grow on the territory of
Armenia, mainly on the Ararat valley. Peaches and apples, pears and cherries,
pomegranates and figs are delicious.
Apricot grows in Armenia from time immemorial. It has an incomparable taste and
is considered the queen of Armenian fruits. You can taste it yourself. Join us!
Take the advantage of this!
MINERAL WATERS
Armenia is rich in thermal and mineral waters such
as Jermuk, Bjni, Lichk, Ararat, Lori, Dilijan, Arzni, Hankavan. Near the most
famous spas health resorts have been established. Every year they welcome
thousands of visitors seeking recreation or curative treatment. Join us! Take
the advantage of this!
CULTURAL ACTIVITIES AND LOCAL
FESTIVALS
There is a variety of events for any taste in
Armenia: folk festivals, art exhibitions, chamber music, opera, modern and
ballet dance, light music and jazz. Performances, by local artists, meet the
most exacting standards. Permanent repertoires of theatres and orchestras are
supplemented by a wide range of guest performances The theatrical fare of
Yerevan is varied and interesting enough to please the most discriminating
connoisseur. The bargain prices will amaze you. Churches and monasteries keep
their customs and traditions alive and annual religious festivals and public
feast days are celebrated with tremendous enthusiasm in a remarkable
atmosphere.
Armenia is deservedly proud of its unique cultural
heritage and is always glad to share it with you. Join us! Take the advantage
of this!
AN ECONOMICAL VACATION
How much would you pay for a world-class concert
or opera? In Yerevan you would have one of the best seats in the house for
about $6 US. In principal, the same relative cost applies to just about
everything in the country. To see the third-rich collection of painting of the
former USSR you have to pay $2 US.
How about a respectable bottle of wine for $2-7
US? The diversity of wine and brandy sorts is simply astonishing. There are
round-the-clock markets at any block of Yerevan. All homemade products - meat,
grapes, fruit, cheese, etc. - are 100% natural because of simple absence of
steroids and chemical fertilisers in Armenia.
This country is ideal for many kinds of
shopping and you can find good values in antique and new hand made carpets,
jewelry, souvenirs in various forms and other objects of popular art and
traditional craft Prices are commonly about 25% lower than in Western
Europe.
Shopping for souvenirs is especially gripping at
Vernissage- a weekend Arts and crafts fair where local painters, artists,
artisans and hand crafts people display and sell their wares. Also, in the same
park, there is a gold market that runs Monday to Friday. Expect the prices to
be 1/3 of what you would pay at home for artisan's products from jewellery to
carvings to modern and antique rugs and everything in between. You can find
some truly remarkable and skilled work at the Vernissage, and, with a bit of
luck, items of exceptional value and rarity.
Silver, semiprecious stones, mainly obsidians,
hand-made souvenirs, carvings, jewellery, paper crafts, embroidered fabric and
wooden products will be a particularly good bargain, not only at the Vernissage
but also at the regular stores. As a broad indication the following can be
mentioned as the main shopping areas:
Republic Square - Abovian street
Matenadaran - Mashtots avenue
Opera House - Tumanian street
Marshal Bagramian Avenue - Kassian street - Komitas street
A stay in Armenia can be arranged to cater for any budget level.
Join us! Take the advantage of this!
