Aparan, a small town that is as severe as it is picturesque, lies at the foot of Mount Aragats, Armenia's roof. A small town in the high plateaus, buffeted by the winds, dry and freezing in winter, it is an ideal point of departure for climbing Aragats.

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If someone were to ask you what Steve Jobs, Kim Kardashian and Princess Diana have in common, what would you answer? They are all of Armenian origin... of course! Sometimes more known for its famous expatriates than for itself, Armenia is a multifaceted country still widely unexplored and seldom frequented by Western tourists. But what riches are hidden there! From the capital Yerevan to the emblematic and legendary mountains (Mount Ararat, Mount Aragats), Armenia boasts churches and monasteries listed in the UNESCO list of world heritage sites, a thousand-year-old culture of incredible variety. With a rocky landscape of canyons and high plateaus, 90% of the land is situated above 1000 metres altitude to delight the soul of the lost wayfarer. Traveling in Armenia also means meeting a proud, hospitable and warm people, always overjoyed to be able to share with passing visitors and to assist them in discovering their country and its resources forged over several millennia more intimately. Don’t wait a moment longer, you too can create your tailor-made trip to Armenia. Բարի գալուստ Հայաստան (Bari galust Hayastan or Welcome to Armenia)!

Armenia

Aparan

The symbol of a country which recalls the riches of its history and the bitterness of its defeats.

Mount Ararat

Areni's excellent red wines  are produced in a small village in the south west of the country on the border with Azerbaijan

Areni

The ruin of the Amberd Fortress is 2300 m above sea level; it is a symbolic monument perched on top of a stony setting and at the foot of Mount Aragats. Just next to the Vahramashen church (11th century) is another architectural and scenic gem.

Amberd

The town of Noraduz lies close to the shores of Lake Sevan and is famous mainly for its incredible old cemetery.

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The small town of Noraduz, which lies a few kilometres from the shores of Lake Sedan and has a population of around 7,000, stands in a quiet and peaceful rural location. The town lies at a height of 1,900 metres at its highest point and is not an especially interesting place in itself, though it does contain a few houses built in the region's traditional style as well as an attractive 9th century church. However, what the town is really famous for is its incredible cemetery, at which, atop a verdant plateau, an anarchically haphazard collection of traditional Armenian-style carved tomb and gravestones can be seen. These are known as "khachkars". Some of the ones bearing inscriptions engraved in the stone using ancient techniques date from the 10th century and are incredibly well-preserved. I was absolutely bewitched by this place, finding it to be almost otherworldly, especially at sunset, when the cemetery takes on a quasi-mystical appearance. It all made for a wonderful experience, and I thoroughly recommend making a trip here <a href="/armenia/">when visiting Armenia</a>.

The town of Noraduz lies close to the shores of Lake Sevan and is famous mainly for its incredible old cemetery.

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