Destination: Armenia

Armenia tours for seniors:

Odyssey offers easy, convenient, and relaxed escorted small group tours across the Caucuses and beyond. We explore Armenia’s incredible natural beauty, its ancient Christian heritage, World Heritage Sites, and fascinating cities, with some truly spectacular scenery along the way. This and more is all waiting to be explored on one of Odyssey’s small group tours of Armenia, designed for the senior traveller, and led by experienced, and enthusiastic like minded people. Continues below

Armenia Tours

Hand crafted tours for mature world travellers

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Small Group Tour to the Caucasus | Armenia Azerbaijan Georgia

22 days

May, Oct

Small Group Tour to the Caucasus | Armenia Azerbaijan Georgia

Visiting Armenia, Azerbaijan

This small group program is designed to give people an opportunity to explore Tbilisi, Baku, Yerevan as well as important monuments, historical and religious sites, diverse landscapes and ancient architecture by visiting the Caucasus Mountains and the lowlands of Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. Led by local English speaking guides, there will be the opportunity to meet local people.

From A$11,835 AUD

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In few places is history as palpable as Armenia, an ancient country nestled in the Caucasus mountains. Armenians take pride in being the world’s first nation to adopt Christianity, and Biblical stories are woven through the beautiful landscape: according to Armenian tradition, Noah’s Ark is buried in the snows of Mt Ararat. The landscape is dotted with medieval churches and monasteries, ancient cave dwellings, and antiquities dating back to the ancient Silk Road. And the scenery of this landlocked country is equal to its history: snowy mountains, rugged cliffs, and the vivid blue Lake Sevan. Join our small group tours and uncover the history, culture and landscapes of one of Europe’s hidden gems.

Articles about Armenia

Yerevan, Armenia

Yerevan, Armenia

Article for senior couples and mature solo travellers to learn about the Armenian capital Yerevan. Reading material for a small group tour of the Caucasus that includes Georgia and Tiblisi as well as Azerbaijan.

27 Feb 20 · 4 mins read
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Affordable small group tours with Odyssey Alumni

Walking tours for active travellers – tips for seniors

For the active mature and senior traveller be they a couple or solo traveller this article outlines preparation for walking tours even for the over 80's. It may on the Wainwright, the lake district or a pilgrims walk across Europe or St James Way, the Camino. This artices give advice on getting fit, shoes and socks including for particular advice for women on this topic.

14 Jan 21 · 6 mins read
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Georgia

Among the Mountains: A Guide to the Nations of the Caucasus

Article that introduces the Caucasus to the mature and senior traveller with a small group tour to Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. The influence of Iran and the Ottomans as well as early Christianity are seen with this escorted group for couples and solo travellers.

25 Oct 19 · 10 mins read
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Gergeti Trinity church Tsminda Sameba , Georgia

Visiting Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia

Learn about the physical role the Caucasus mountains have played in shaping the history of the region. Join a small group tour for mature and senior travellers couples and solo travellers to explore and understand the fascinating and intertwined history of Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan including the origins of Christianity. in amongst the mosques of Islam.

4 Oct 19 · 18 mins read
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Noravank Monastery, Yeghegnadzor

Armenia's Religious Architecture: The Definitive Guide

Buildings and Christianity in Armenia | Small Group Tours Armenia In this post, we will look at examples of Armenia’s buildings and building design before and after its conversion to Christianity. These buildings represent some…

19 Feb 19 · 7 mins read
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Armenia, Caucaus mountains

Armenia: An Ancient Civilisation

Armenia: An Ancient Civilisation View over the city of Yerevan, capital of Armenia, with Mount Ararat in the background With a recorded history of more than 3,500 years, Armenia is home to one of the…

4 Oct 18 · 8 mins read
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Touring Armenia

The need to know

Getting around

Odyssey travels by coach and occasionally uses local transport, including trains and ferries. Specifics are always outlined in your tour itinerary. Taxis are widely available, and are inexpensive. Buses serve most major cities and smaller towns, so can make for a decent travel option. Yerevan does have metro system, though train services to elsewhere in Armenia might not be the most convenient option.

Accommodation

In major cities, Odyssey stays in centrally located 4 star hotels in Armenia, with easy access to public transport. In smaller towns or rural areas, we usually stay in family-run hotels or guesthouses. On our long stay tours, during which you spend the length of the tour in a single location, we use serviced apartments.

Tour Guides

Odyssey always engages local guides with regional knowledge to ensure an authentic experience during which you can learn as much as possible about the history and culture of places you visit.

Geography environment and weather

Armenia is a landlocked country, covering 29,800 square kilometres. Much of the terrain is mountainous, with about half of Armenia’s total land area having an elevation of at least 2,000 metres. Lake Sevan sits in the eastern half of the country, and is one of the largest freshwater high-altitude lakes in Eurasia.

Armenia has a highland continental climate, with warm summers and cold winters. Depending on the season you intend to travel, check weather reports and dress accordingly.

World Heritage sites

Armenia has 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. You can view the official list of the sites here (https://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/am).

Monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin, an outstanding example of Armenian religious architecture
Monastery of Geghard and the Upper Azat Valley, a remarkable monastery complex partially carved out of the rock of the surrounding mountainside
Etchmiadzin Cathedral, the mother church of the Armenian Apostolic Church

Festivals and events

Armenia has many festivals and events throughout the year to honour its past traditions and heritage. Several festivals are dedicated to the foods and produce of Armenia, including Syunik Mulberry Festival, the Dolma Festival and Yerevan Wine Days. The Taraz Festival in August showcases the taraz (traditional dresses) and distinctive clothing styles of Armenia’s people. A notable event to witness is the Vardavar Festival – intiially a pagan festival, Vardavar is now an annual midyear event whereby people splash water on each other in a lighthearted fashion.

Reading list

  • The Armenians, by Elizabeth Redgate
  • Tour de Armenia, by Raffi Youredijan
  • Armenia: Art, Religion, and Trade in the Middle Ages, by Helen C Evans
  • The Spice Box Letter, by Eve Marks

Eating and Drinking

Lamb, eggplant and lavash (bread) all feature prominently in Armenian food.

A mainstay of Armenian cuisine is dolma, which is a mix of vegetables, rice and sometimes meat wrapped up in grape leave.

Numerous dishes are prepared for certain religious occasions, with choereg sweet bread traditionally consumed during Easter, while Ghapama (a stuffed pumpkin filled with boiled rice, fruits and nuts) is a staple of the Christmas season.

Sweets and desserts often take the form of pastries, such as gata (sweet bread) and baklava (a sweet, dessert pastry).

Health and safety

Although much of the country is safe to travel in, however independent travellers should consider avoiding heading to either the Armenia-Azerbaijan border or the Nagorno-Karabakh regions due to underlying local tensions.

Electrical supply

Whenever you travel overseas, it’s always wise to take an appropriate travel adaptor. The electricity supply in Armenia runs at 220V and 50Hz. Armenia uses both the Type C and Type F plug types, so make sure you have the right travel adaptor handy.

Tour Reviews

Every day was different with so much to see and do. Volcanoes, craters (including the pseudo ones), bubbling mud pools, and the active Strokkur Geyser, the bird life, black sand beaches, and those beautiful Icelandic horses. The time flew by...

Participant 2016

Iceland cultural and wilderness small group tour

We felt safe in Turkey and found the people friendly and helpful. Prices were excellent and the food almost universally magnificent. There is so much to see in the natural and built environment and the wonderful archaeological sites. It is sad to see the ordinary people and businesses suffering from the lack of tourists. Mary B. Sep '17

Participant 2017

Small group tour of Ancient Turkey

Our guide was a great ambassador for his country, wide knowledge of literature, history, customs, industry, fishing - also a perceptive and sensitive person who inter-acted so willingly with all of us!

Participant 2016

Iceland cultural and wilderness small group tour

The country was apparently calm and safe. People were friendly and helpful. Such a pity there has been such a down turn in tourism. Ros & Tony S. Sep '17

Participant 2017

Small group tour of Ancient Turkey

Our guide Filiz was wonderful, very well informed, historical insights very helpful, her care for our well being exceptional. Could not have wished for a better tour leader.

Participant 2017

Small group tour of Ancient Turkey

The geographical wonders offered by Iceland and Greenland left me in awe. The grandeur and spectacle of the countryside is breathtaking. Our leader (Rob) was excellent: well-researched, friendly, organized and good-humoured.

Participant 2017

Iceland cultural and wilderness small group tour

I was impressed by the number of places we visited. It was a very full itinerary which I like. We saw things of interest every day. I see no fault with the tour.

Participant 2017

Anglo French Tour | Normandy, Brittany, Channel Islands tour

It is hard to believe that such a small country can contain so much dramatic scenery. Icecaps and glaciers, huge waterfalls, volcanos and hot bubbling mud, and those wonderful fjords and high mountain passes

Participant 2016

Iceland cultural and wilderness small group tour

FAQs

What time zone is Armenia in?

Armenia has a single time zone, Armenia Standard Time (UTC+4). Armenia does not observe daylight savings.

Is tipping customary?

If you’re on an Odyssey tour, we take care of tipping so you don’t need to give it a second thought. However, in your free time, or if travelling independently, it’s essential that you tip an appropriate amount for services, as is the case throughout much of Europe.

What about access to the internet?

Wifi should be available in most hotels, cafes and restaurants when travelling in Armenia

Can I use my mobile in Armenia?

Check with your cell phone provider to see whether you’re able to make calls and use data while in Armenia. Many providers will allow you to pay a daily fee that allows you to make calls and check the internet while only being charged your regular rates. However, be certain to inform your provider that you’re heading overseas, because just like a bank they can turn off your service as a result of unusual activity.

Articles about Armenia published by Odyssey Traveller:

Among the Mountains: A Guide to the Nations of the Caucasus

Visiting Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia: The South Caucasus

Buildings and Christianity in Armenia

Armenia: An Ancient Civilisation

For all the articles Odyssey Traveller has published for mature aged and senior travellers, click through on this link.

External articles to assist you on your visit to Armenia:

The Telegraph on why Armenia might be Europe’s ‘best kept secret’.

Lonely Planet: 48 Hours in Yerevan, Armenia.

Travel + Leisure: Where to go next – Armenia.

The Lake Sevan Resort: A Modernist Masterpiece

Responsible travel tips for Armenia:

  • Learn at least the local greetings to break the ice. Although some locals speak English, the more you know of the native language, the greater your experience of the country will be.
  • Carry a business card in your wallet or purse from your local hotel, to assist you with the return journey if you do become lost.
  • Always ensure that you are covered by travel insurance. If you need advice on this feel free to contact Odyssey and we’ll be able to help.
  • When travelling independently, make sure you check the opening hours of shops and museums so that you don’t miss out! Museums and galleries are often closed on Mondays. Also be certain to check whether your trip coincides with any public holidays, so you can plan accordingly.
  • Consider contacting your bank to inform them that you may be making purchases overseas. Otherwise, they may flag any activity on your account as suspicious. Also, check which ATMs and banks are compatible with your cards, to ensure you can withdraw cash with minimal fees.
  • Before departing, make sure you have a number of notes in a range of denominations in the local currency. You don’t want to be carrying around enormous amounts of cash, but take enough to make it easy to pay in locations that might not accept credit card. It will also help you avoid card transaction fees, and it makes tipping a breeze.

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