Diaspora Community
Explore your Armenian heritage in the homeland, visiting the birthplace of the Apostolic Church; the cradle of its civilization and birthplace of a new country.
No visit to the homeland should miss the opportunity to explore the culture firsthand, in a home stay, village overnight, or by visiting one of many Diaspora-funded projects that are helping to build the new Armenia.
Sights
There is so much to do and see it is impossible to visit everything in one visit. Use these ideas in shaping your own itinerary.
Yerevan
Take a Walking Tour of the Old Abovian Quarter, with its Armenian Belle Époque charm and lively street life; stroll down Ring Park and stop for coffee at one of its many fanciful summer outdoor cafes; walk up Mashtots, stopping by the Contemporary Art Museum, Opera, Artist Vernissage at Saryan Park; spend an evening at Cascade, viewing the Florentine gardens and modern art on the huge monument steps. Watch the sun set from the top of Cascade, at Monument, one of the great vistas of Yerevan and Mt. Ararat.
Visit the Genocide Memorial at Tsitsernakaberd, where you can 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.
Spend time in the State History Museum to refresh your history, then a little more in the same building at the National Gallery, with frescoes and paintings by Armenia’s great classical masters. Visit Erebuni, birthplace of Yerevan. Go to the Matenadaran, repository of 24,000 manuscripts and manuscript fragments, some dating to the pre-Christian era. The Armenian miniatures on display are a marvel of excellence and artistry. Next take in a home museum, like the world renowned artists Martiros Saryan, Yervand Kochar, and Sergei Parajanov. Contemporary art fans will enjoy the artwork on display at one of the many galleries in the city. Others will want to take in the Near East/Marcos Grigorian Museum behind the National Gallery, the Avetik Isahakian, Aram Khachaturian or Yeghishe Charents Home Museum. Still others will enjoy the Natural History, Geological and Botanical museums.
Visit the Wine & Brandy Distillery, which gives daily tours that include tasting.
Shopping: 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.
Performance: Take in a play, opera, ballet or concert at one of Yerevan’s many theatres and concert halls; attend a folk music and dance performance; enjoy the activities at one of Armenia’s festivals, like the Golden Apricot Film Festival, the International Theater & Music Festival, Voski Ashun, or Pan-Armenian Games.
Sample Armenian cuisine at one of Yerevan’s Restaurants and bistros; eat Armenia’s legendary Khorovats at one of the BBQ establishments on Proshian Street (a.k.a. “khorovats street”); enjoy a bit of Yerevan’s sweet past with a warm, sweet-cream filled ponchik at Ponchikanots on upper Mashtots Ave, or one of Armenia’s delicious full cream frozen desserts. Take a breather at one of the city’s hundreds of summer cafes, where less than $1 still buys a cup of rich Armenian surj and entitles you to sit as long as you like, observing the local scene.
Nightlife: Stop by a music club or bar and sample some of Armenia’s latest trends in music (Pop, jazz, ethnic); dance the night away in one of the city’s growing number of discos.
Near Yerevan
Visit Echmiadzin/ Metsamor, exploring the beginning of human civilization on the Ararat valley and the beginning of the apostolic church. At Metsamor you will find a 5000 BC complex of metal kilns (the oldest known to forge bronze), petroglyphs, unique pagan altars and a 2800 BC astral observatory that still points to the night sky. Echmiadzin/Zvartnots is a World Heritage Site, including the 301 cathedral complex, a treasury, the Martyrions at Sts. Guyaneh and Hripsimeh, and the remains of the mid-7th century Zvartnots Cathedral, when built, the tallest church on earth.
Not far from Echmiadzin is Oshakan, site of important Bronze Age and Hellenistic excavations and the final resting place for St. Mesrop Mashtots, who, along with the 4th-5th century Catholicos St. Sahak, is responsible for the invention of the new Armenian Alphabet. A few kilometers north is the large early bronze Age excavation at Agarak, an important archeological discovery that confirms an advanced civilization in the valley as early as 5000 BC.
A half day trips combines visits to the ancient capitals of Armavir and Argishtihinili with the memorial battlefield at Sardarabad, site of a key battle that secured Armenia’s independence and the short-lived First Republic. The complex includes one of Armenia’s best ethnographic museums.
Take a half day/1 day tour of Garni/Geghard.
Garni has several 4th-9th century churches and the 1st century Greco-Roman temple, one of the finest examples of its type in the Near East. The temple overlooks the dramatic Garni Gorge, a natural wonder and the Khosrov Nature Preserve, home to endangered species of Caucasian bearded Goats and the Persian Leopard. Next visit the rock-carved monastery of Geghard , an ascetic community of monks established by St. Grigor Lusavorich in the 4th century, and once the repository of the Geghard (Holy Lance) believed to have pierced Christ’s flesh. Add a hike or picnic in the Garni Gorge for a full day visit.
Watch the sun rise at Khor Virap, where St. Gregory was imprisoned for 13 years before he began the conversion of the country in 301. The pit was once part of a dungeon in the 2nd century BC city of Artashat, “Carthage of the East”, and envy of Rome. A short drive from Khor Virap are the ruins of Dvin, the capital of Armenia from 428-1236 and one of the most powerful cities in the Near East in its day, enriched by the treasures and lore of the Silk Road.
Another day trip explores the southern slopes of Mt. Aragats, visiting the dramatic fortress of Amberd, a summer retreat for scores of Armenian kings; the modern observatory and ancient churches at Biurakan; and the enchanting Mountain Monasteries of Hovhanavank, Saghmosavank and Tegher. At Tegher you can enjoy local cuisine at an authentic folk restaurant overlooking the entire Ararat Valley.
Central
Lake Sevan This highly recommended trip explores the aquamarine world of one of the largest high-altitude lakes in the world. There are over 200 beaches on the north shoreline (most with overnight cottages and picnic facilities), a Water World Amusement park, and ample opportunity to engage in your favorite water sport: swimming, sailing, skiing, windsurfing or jet skiing. While there, visit the 4th-9th century Sevanavank on the peninsula, once a prison keep for errant princes; the vast collection of khachkars at Noradus, and the beautiful church of Hairavank; set on a cliff overlooking the immense surface of the lake. Dine on fresh caught fish at a beach side restaurant; spend the night in one of the lake’s hotels, cottages or resorts.
Tzaghkadzor is home of Armenia’s first winter ski resort, rapidly upgrading to international standards. Summer visitors will also find cottages, hotels and wooded retreats.
Just north of Sevan is idyllic Dilijan, “Armenia’s Little Switzerland,” with over 100 B&Bs and guest houses, many overlooking the vast Dilijan National Forest. Newly graded roads and forest trails lead to the nearby mountain monasteries of Haghartsin, Goshavank and Jukhtakavank. Dilijan is also home to what locals say is the best mineral water in Armenia, and some fine mineral baths, located in remote places tucked in the wilderness. Locals will cheerfully lead the way.
North
Visit Armenia’s second city, Giumri, worth a couple of days by itself. Take a walking tour of Giumri’s historic center (Kumaiyri or Alexandropol); one of the great town centers of the 19th century. Over a thousand 18th and 19th century homes and workshops remain, forming the nexus of a great arts and crafts center in the Russian Empire. Owners entered into gentle rivalries over the grandness of their homes; detailing buildings with red and black tufa stone and intricate carvings that hailed back to Armenia’s golden ages of culture. A piece of Armenian Belle Époque, Old Giumri is home to comfortable hotels, B&Bs, guest houses, restaurants and cafes. Just outside Giumri is Marmashen, the 4th-13th century monastery and seat of power for the Pahlavunis; rivals for power to the Bagratuni kings in Ani. Giumri Museums include the Dzitoghtsian Home and Museum, Merkurov Studio Museum, Avetik Isahakian Home Museum, Azlamanian Sisters Gallery, Mher Mkrchian Museum and Shiraz Home Museum. Nearby is the dramatic monastery of Harichavank, and the World Heritage Site nominee, Yereruik.
Travel through Lori marz, one of the last remaining forest districts of the country, to two of Armenia’s World Heritage Sites, the Monasteries of Sanahin and Haghbat. Along the way you can spend a day or two exploring mountain trails that lead to the amazing frescoes at Kobair, the elaborate Chalcedonian church of Akhtala, and a number of sites at D’segh, with its fairy tale ruins of Bardzrakash S. Grigor deep within its wooded gorge. Nearby, at Stepanavan, are the last lakes in the Caucasus that preserve the Armenian Water Lily.
South
Explore the south beginning at one of Armenia’s most striking regions, Vayots Dzor; its thrusting rock formations and deeply etched landscape punctuated by oasis of vineyards, trees and rolling hills of wild grass and flowers. Visit the wineries of Areni, sampling award winning brands in cool wine cellars. Explore the Arpa River gorge and the 13th century architectural jewels of Noravank, Gladzor or Smbataberd before visiting the spas at Jermuk. Jermuk has undergone major renovation, bringing several spas up to international standards. Spa treatments feature hot mineral water baths, mud baths, massage, and enjoying the variety of hot mineral waters at the Galleria. The clean mountain air, nearby nature paths and friendly atmosphere makes for a great stay and chance to catch your breath in the midst of your travels.
Upper Siunik
Continue to the gates of Zangezur, and the high alpine meadows leading to Sissian, with its 5000 BC observatory (Karahundj or “Zorats Kar”), believed to be the oldest on earth. Descend into the rugged Vorotan Canyon; soak in the steaming waters of the Satanic Bridge; stand beneath a 300 meter waterfall under Tatev Monastery, one of the glories of Armenian architecture in a dazzling landscape of forests, mountains and river canyons. Stay at Goris, an 18th century French town that still oozes old world charm, its stone houses adorned with wooden balustrades and gates. Tour nearby Khndzoresk, a village of 3000 families that lived entirely in caves carved out of stone spires and canyon walls. Most of the cave homes remain, testament of human settlement at the site dating to the Neolithic era. Continue south or west to Karabakh.
Lower Siunik
Below Goris, the road quickly plunges 300 meters to the Vorotan River floor, and just as quickly ascends into primeval forests, populated by 6th century monasteries and castles; remnants of the ancient Siunik Kingdom. Kapan is a town strikingly built on the steep hills of the Voghji River, which meanders past Vahanavank and the base of Mt. Khustup, its rocky crevices lined with trees vanishing in the morning mists. Spend a day or two at Meghri, an oasis in the desert, located next to Iran. The old town is a network of winding alleys and 18th century homes, its sun-dried fortress towers overlooking the town’s gardens ripe with figs and pomegranates. Following the Iranian border highway to Shvanidzor, take the new highway to Kapan, which skirts the Shikhahogh Forest, one of the last virgin forests in the country. The forest is home to a number of rare and endangered species of plants and animals, among them the Caucasian leopard, wild cat and lynx. Nature treks and camping can be arranged at several points on the way.
Visit a project
Combine your sightseeing with a visit to a favorite charity, NGO, or other sponsored project. See Associations and NGOs to find Diaspora-funded projects and NGOs to include in your itinerary. Also visit the Armenia Diaspora Projects site (http://www.armeniadiaspora.com/projects/index.html).
Some Diaspora sponsored projects include the Children’s Reception and Orientation Center, Orran Family Center, Armenian Dental Association and Mobile Clinic, Pyunik Sports Association for the Disabled, Armenian Bone Marrow Project, and the Armenia Tree Project.
Volunteering
Many wish to add volunteering to their visit, or make it the primary focus of a trip to the homeland. See the Volunteering section for a list of organizations that accept volunteers.
