By SJ Armstrong
Islands.com
Sitting in the shadows of the colossal Mount Ararat, the small nation of Armenia formed amid the mountains. Its ancient monasteries perch on cliff edges, its valleys of vineyards developed on an ever-present slope, and each of its scenic cities sit beneath vast crags. Despite Armenia’s dramatic enshrouding surroundings, travelers and conquerors have traversed through its sweeping canyons and along its rushing rivers since antiquity, bringing with them diverse cultural influences clearly visible in the country’s unique heritage.
History buffs can visit its Silk Road outposts and glorious mountaintop monasteries, while wine lovers can wile away the days in the vineyards that roll out from the foothills of Ararat. Outdoor adventure opportunities are also plentiful, from extreme cross-country trails that are only for experienced hikers to tranquil strolls along valley edges and lake banks.
Reaching Armenia is no non-stop hop. Several U.S. airports, including JFK, LAX, and Miami International, offer one-stop flight routes with layovers in the Middle East, Germany, or Austria, but from much of the rest of the U.S., multiple layovers will be required. However, once you arrive in the tiny nation, it’s very easy to access all of its highlights from the capital city of Yerevan on an arranged tour or by hiring a car. Given its lofty altitude, Armenia is subject to extreme seasons, so ensure you plan around the heavy snows, vibrant fall foliage, or wildflower-strewn springs.
Scattered throughout the dramatic crag of Armenia’s Caucasus Mountains, ancient monasteries perch on scenic peaks. Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as its official religion, traversed by two apostles and several saints. Explore its ecclesiastical heritage in the mountain-hewn tombs of Geghard or under the sweeping shadow of Mount Ararat at Khor Virap Monastery.
On the cusp of Asia and Europe, Armenia was an important segue for the famed Silk Road. The ancient trade way that linked Asia, Europe, and North Africa prospered in the small nation, according to Marco Polo’s 13th-century observations. The vestiges of its caravanserais, roadside stops for weary traders to recuperate, still stand in the vertiginous Armenian interior. Tradesmen, explorers, and Mongol conquerors weren’t the only strangers to work their way over the Armenian mountains. In Garni, a Greco-Roman temple pays well-preserved testament to the sprawl of the early European empires.
Old enough to get a passing mention in the Old Testament, Armenia’s wine industry has been a central component of its cultural heritage since prehistory. Neighboring one of Europe’s most underrated wine regions, Armenia’s wine scene is even further under the tourist radar, despite the world’s first-ever winery being unearthed in its sprawling cave systems. Cruise through the highland vineyards of Vayots Dzor, visiting the viticultural villages between Areni and Yeghegnadzor.
After a spell of ecclesiastical education and a few too many wines, recover in true Armenian style on the banks of Lake Sevan. Less than 40 miles from Yerevan, the vast alpine lake is a popular spot for city dwellers seeking solace from the day-to-day rush. Many travelers opt to take a sailing excursion across the lake, rent a kayak to explore solo, or tackle a high-altitude scuba dive to see the volcanic reef spanning below the surface.
Fringed by verdant forest and steep rising crag, the Debed River carves a sheer canyon through the Caucasus. Take to one of the trails that winds between the wildflower meadows on the canyon’s perch on foot or on horseback, setting out from the village of Odzun. The paths will take you past ancient monasteries, including the UNESCO-protected Sanahin and Haghpat. Hikers and bikers should also mark out the trails that traverse Dilijan National Park. Encompassing 93 square miles of dense forests and mountain peaks, the park’s vast network of trails feels a world away from the busy capital.
True adventurers looking to undertake a serious challenge should embark on the Transcaucasian Trail. In development since 2015, the thru-hiking route maps a course across Armenia and extends into Georgia, one of Europe’s most beautiful mountainous countries. The enormous undertaking will bring you along 500 miles in Armenia alone, bypassing ancient Silk Road caravanserais and the monasteries of the earliest Christians, traversing canyons, hills, and steep ascents.
