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

The Azat River Canyon forms one of Armenia's most distinctive landscapes. At the heart of the volcanic Geghama Mountains with their basalt cliffs, it is home to two of the country's major attractions - Garni and Gueghard. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Cañón Azat 

Albania

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From Yerevan, I arrived in the 55 km-long Azat Valley via the Azat Reservoir, formed by one of the country's largest dams. Up above, a wondrous landscape was awaiting me.
The first main stop in the Azat is the ancient Garni temple, built on a rocky headland perched above the Azat River Canyon.
 It is one of the country's most beautiful natural sites - where the Goght flows into the Azat, an enormous natural basin lined by cliffs and basalt columns has been formed, as beautiful to admire from above as from inside it, where you will find an 11th century bridge!
Then there is the Gueghard monastery, a bit further upstream, which is an exceptional place.
 Beyond, the natural scenery of the Armenian Lesser Caucasus takes over, with boulders, cliffs, shepherds tending flocks of sheep, and protected mountain wildlife. Climbing to the source of the Azat, where it meets the Sevan plateau, is a delight for any nature lovers. Then all that is left is to climb the Ajdahak volcano, which dominates the mountain pastures like the Cantal of Caucasus.

Cañón Azat Vacations

Cañón Azat : How to get there?

Cañón Azat : See when to go ?

Cañón Azat : For how long?

Cañón Azat : What to see nearby?