Business Travelers
Business Centers
Business Centers and Business Travel Agents can smooth your business trip in Armenia. Services include temporary office rental, communications, translations and legal services.
[ATDA DATABASE]
Conference Centers/Hotels
Hotels in Yerevan are equipped for conferences of varying sizes, with staffing and translation services, business centers and reference to legal and other services.
Hotels and resorts in the regions are also outfitting their facilities to accommodate conferences and meetings; with the same audio-visual, translation and businesses services as in Yerevan, but with the added bonus of being placed in some of the most beautiful areas of the country.
[ATDA DATABASE]
Focus on Culture
Take a little time to learn something of the culture you are doing business in through short excursions and trips.
Yerevan
Walking Tours: Take a Walking Tour of Old Abovian Quarter, the heart of the New Yerevan; Cascade/Opera; Ring Park; or the Hrazdan Canyon and unwind in one of the popular cafes or restaurants en route.
Museums: The State History Museum and the Matenadaran will let you touch base with the culture’s essentials.
Souvenirs: Shop at one of over 200 stalls at the main Vernissage next to Republic Square, where you can buy fine Armenian carpets, carved wooden khachkars, fine jewelry, souvenirs, T-shirts, memorabilia, antiques, embroidery and so much more at the largest flea market in Armenia. Shop at one of a dozen souvenir shops, antique shops or art galleries in the city.
Eating Out: Restaurants are located throughout the city; catering to a wide variety of tastes. Business deals or normally concluded at one of the loud and raucous theme restaurants located outside the center (Hrazdan Canyon, Dzoragiugh, Ashtarak gorge, Near Yerevan). You should sample some of Armenia’s legendary Khorovats (“BBQ”) and Ishkhan trout.
Nightlife: Yerevan has a number of bars, several catering to business clientele. To unwind, visit a music club or disco.
Half-Day excursions
Yerevan is close to a number of spots that will illustrate the country’s proud heritage, and one worth visiting in its own right. Many are within 30 minutes drive from the city.
Half Day: Garni/Geghard
Garni/Geghard is an excellent 4 hour trip that explores Garni, the 1st century Greco-Roman temple and Roman baths set on top of a promontory overlooking the stunning Garni nature gorge and Khosrov Nature Preserve, with the equally awe-inspiring 4th-13th century monastery of Geghard, built at the site of a pagan cave with churches and mausoleum carved from solid rock. The word “Geghard” means “lance”; the monastery once held the lance believed to have been used to pierce Christ’s flesh.
Half-Day: Echmiadzin/Metsamor
This 4-5 hour trip combines a visit to Echmiadzin, the seat of the Apostolic church with 4th century cathedral and Martyrion, 7th century churches, and church treasury (relics include the True Cross, Noah’s Ark and the Holy lance), with a visit to the citadel and astronomical observatory at Metsamor, one of the oldest cities in the Near East and the oldest known foundry to forge bronze.
Half- Day: Erebuni Museum, Matenadaran, Tsitsernakaberd
This 2-3 hour trip includes Erebuni, the 782 BC citadel that was the birthplace of Yerevan; visit its excellent small museum of Urartian artifacts. Visit the world-class Matenadaran, repository of the largest collection of Armenian manuscripts and miniatures in the world, some of which are on display in its upper gallery. Visit the Genocide Memorial at Tsitsernakaberd, to lay flowers at the eternal flame commemorating the deaths of over 1.5 million Armenians in 1915. Visit the Genocide Museum, which documents the atrocities of the 20th century’s first holocaust.
Half-Day: Khor Virap, Artashat.
This 2-3 hour trip includes a visit to Khor Virap in the Ararat Valley, under the shadow of Mt. Ararat and a great place to watch the sun rise. The pit is believed to be where St. Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned before beginning his conversion of the country in 301. The pit was part of a dungeon keep in the 2nd century BC city of Artashat, the “Carthage of the East”, and envy of Rome.
Half Day: Agarak, Amberd, Mt. Aragats (Kari Lich)
This 4-5 hour trip starts at Agarak and the early Bronze Age temple complex that stretched two kilometers along the Amberd River. The complex includes one of the most important archeological finds in Armenia in recent times; a stone-carved royal tomb and a complex map of the night sky believed to show the positions of the stars 5000 years ago. Next is the fortress of Amberd, one of Armenia’s most popular sites and home to Armenia’s royalty beginning in the Neolithic Era. Finish the excursion by driving to Kari Lich, base camp for mountain climbers tackling the four summits of that ring Mt. Aragats’ volcanic crater. The lake is rung by “khash” restaurants, a winter delicacy that is served on Mt. Aragats year round. Khash is a favorite of the male species, who down the soup with liberal portions of vodka.
1-2 Days: Tzaghkadzor
The winter ski resort of Tsaghkadzor is also a summer retreat and conference and meeting center. The area has forests covered by a web of nature trails that explore (half-day to 1 day hikes) the surrounding terrain, 7th century Tezharuik and the Greek village of Hankavan.
Armenia’s Regions
Business negotiations are now occurring more and more in Armenia’s regions, at business-outfitted hotels and resorts. They combine visits to idyllic locations with business meetings, conference centers and exploring the area. Trips begin from Yerevan.
Geghama Lehr/Sevan:
1-2 Day: Khor Virap, Areni, Noravank, Vayots Dzor, Jermuk, Sulem Pass, Lake Sevan, Noradus, Hairavank
This highly recommended cultural overview trip starts before dawn and lasts a full day circling the heart of the country; the Geghama Lehr mountain range. Start by watching the sun rise at Khor Virap and the ever-changing face of Mt. Ararat. Drive the length of the Ararat Valley, Armenia’s Cradle of Civilization and one of the most fertile plains in the Near East. Climb the mountain pass leading to Vayots Dzor, its grassy knolls interrupted by thrusting patterns of stone and lava spills. At Areni, visit a Vayots Dzor winery, tasting some of its award-winning vintages. Take the winding path between narrow canyon walls (themselves shielding primeval caves and endangered flocks of hawks and eagles) to Noravank, the 9th-13th century jewel of the Vayots Dzor kingdom, set against a stunning canvas of red and umber rock cliffs. Break the trip in half by staying at Jermuk in Vayots Dzor the first night, at one of the newly renovated spas with conference/meeting facilities.
Continue up the Geghama Lehr to the Sulemi Pass Caravanserai and the alpine meadows of Gegharkunik. Plunge down the eastern pass of the Geghama Lehr to the aquamarine world of Lake Sevan, one of the largest high-altitude lakes in the world. On its shoreline, visit the collection of 1000 khachkars at Noradus, and the beautiful Sevanavank, a 9th century monastery on a peninsula that was once an island for royal exiles. Dine on fresh caught fish at a beach side restaurant, spend the night in one of the lake’s resorts with conference/meeting facilities; or return to Yerevan, a mere 45 minutes away.
Central/North:
1-2 days: Sevan / Dilijan
Start at Lake Sevan, just 45 minutes from Yerevan, with its lakeside resorts with conference/meeting facilities, and excursions to the peninsula monastery and Noradus. Come early to watch the sun rise on the lake, one of Armenia’s great natural moments. Then drive an extra 45 minutes to Armenia’s Little Switzerland, Dilijan, with its authentically reconstructed 18th century old town, hotels with conference/meeting facilities, and guest houses and B&B’s overlooking the surrounding thick old growth forests. Forests are filled with hiking trails. Visit the nearby monasteries at Haghartsin and Goshavank, as well as Jukhtakavank, just outside the city limits. Spend a night at Sevan and Dilijan each for a 3-day weekend.
North:
1-2 days: Vanadzor-Sanahin-Haghbat-Tbilisi
This popular route takes the high mountain road to Armenia’s third city, Vanadzor, gateway to the Debed River and the northern forests. Excursion possibilities include D’segh, Kobaiyr, Odzun and the World Heritage Sites at Sanahin and Haghbat. A fully equipped luxury hotel with conference/meeting facilities is located at Dzoraget.
The same road leads to Georgia, crossing the border at Sadakhlo. From there it is 2 hours by highway to Tbilisi.
Giumri
Giumri is Armenia’s second city, its historic center one of the great town centers of the 19th century; over a thousand 18th and 19th century homes and workshops that formed the nexus of a great arts and crafts center in the Russian Empire. There is a hotel with conference/meeting facilities, and a number of industrial sites that will one day take advantage of the city’s strategic location. Giumri is also the gateway to Armenian communities in southern Georgia (Akhaltsikhe & Akhalkalaki); and a day’s drive from the Black Sea resorts at Batumi and Cabuleti; the winter resort at Bakuriani, or Tbilisi.
South:
1-2 days: Khor Virap, Vayots Dzor, Jermuk, Siunik, Tatev, Goris
Explore the south on this trip that includes conference/meeting facilities in one of the spas at Jermuk. En route, visit Khor Virap at the foot of Mt. Ararat; continuing to Vayots Dzor and the wineries of Areni. Visit 13th century Noravank and Gndevank. Stay at a spa at Jermuk, with conference/meeting facilities. Further excursions go into Siunik, visiting Armenia’s Stonehenge, the 5000 BC Karahundj astronomical observatory, and the impressive Tatev complex. Add a night in Goris (one hour drive from Karabakh) for a 3rd day.
For more ideas, see First Time Visitors, Short Stay Travelers and Diaspora Community.
