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.

Europe

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

Ashtarak is a peaceful,  smallish town in Aragatsotn Province, which is not without interest.

Ashtarak

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I passed through Ashtarak and didn't find anything particularly interesting about the town, although it is very pleasant. Ashtarak is a rural town with some old buildings, like a 16th century bridge and some beautiful 19th century houses. Ashtarak is interesting for other things - mostly because it is centrally placed for the numerous monasteries hiding in the region, such as the unmissable 7th century Karmravor church or 6th century Tsiranavor. So altogether I don't recommend staying in Ashtarak, especially as the town is only 15 kilometres from the capital Yerevan, and you could easily visit it in a day , including visiting the surrounding monasteries, if you want a good trip into <a href="/armenia/">rural Armenia</a>.

Ashtarak is a peaceful, smallish town in Aragatsotn Province, which is not without interest.

Ashtarak Vacations

Ashtarak: How to get there?

Ashtarak: See when to go ?

Ashtarak: For how long?

Ashtarak: What to see nearby?