Introducing Armenia
Watching over revered Mt Ararat, Armenia spans rocky highlands while also boasting lush forests and serene, turquoise Lake Sevan. There are remote regions and monasteries to explore (Vayots Dzor & Syunik, for example), but highlights are as likely to be Yerevan’s buzzing arts scene, the Mediterranean mind-set and café culture, or a spontaneous shared meal – and tipple – with locals.
Much of the current tourist traffic comprises diaspora Armenians seeking a slice of their homeland. Their high standards enticed some international hotel chains and caused overdevelopment in places like Sevan. Yet it’s still easy to escape to hidden gems, including stalactite-filled caves and summer villages inhabited by Yezidi Kurds and Armenian shepherds. The Debed Canyon is rich with history and culture, and Goris is a fascinating time-warp town that warrants a few days' exploration. As most travellers whiz through on a brief side trip between other places, serious explorers will have the best sights to themselves.
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Latest headlines for Armenia
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Aznavour to become Armenian envoy
13 February 2009 1:50PM
The French singer, Charles Aznavour, agrees to become ambassador to Switzerland for his ancestral homeland of Armenia.
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12 February 2009 3:50PM
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4 February 2009 2:41PM
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