What to put in your suitcase when travelling in Armenia

Now that you've decided that you'll be travelling to Armenia for your next holiday, the moment has come to prepare your suitcases and, above all else, make sure you don't forget to take anything with you.

Firstly, with respect to the clothes you'll need to take, you simply need to be aware that Armenia has a continental type climate. In other words, if you visit in winter you'll be facing sub-zero temperatures, whilst in summer the thermometer can easily reach as high as 40°C So take this into account when choosing the items to take with you, and above all ensure you have the right kind of clothing for the time of year you'll be visiting.

As for your first aid kit, you should include in it the basic items needed to deal with minor everyday complaints. In particular, consider taking plasters to use to treat blisters. These will come in particularly handy if you're planning to do lots of walking. Also take some sun cream with you to protect your skin from the effects of the sun's rays. If you're not a fan of daubing yourself in this stuff, you may unfortunately end up having to do something similar anyway to ease the pain of the sunburn you suffer as a consequence.

So that you will be able to show people pictures of this still largely undiscovered country and give them an idea of what the land that produced Charles Aznavour – arguably the world's most famous Armenian – actually looks like, be especially careful not to forget your camera or camcorder. You'll also need your passport in order to gain entry to the country, and a major credit/debit card will allow you to both withdraw cash and pay for things in some of the shops, hotels, etc. And finally, if you're planning to give yourself more freedom to travel around by hiring a car once you're in the country, you will need to have an International Driving Permit with you to present to the rental agency.

Things to include in your suitcase

1. Light clothing to keep you cool in summer
2. Warm clothing to protect you from the cold in winter
3. Good walking shoes/boots to enable you to go on beautiful hikes
4. A full first aid kit so you can deal with everyday cuts and bruises etc.
5. Mosquito repellant
6. A good quality sun cream for safe suntanning
7. A photocopy of your passport, which is always useful to have with you in case you should lose the original
8. A major debit/credit card to enable you to withdraw cash
9. A camera or camcorder so you'll have wonderful photos/films to bring back with you
10. An International Driving Permit to enable you to rent a vehicle once you're in the country