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Armenia - 04 Nights

 

For our second trip, we decided to go somewhere affordable and relatively nearby. Armenia popped up as an attractive tourist spot, with the weather being fantastic just at the end of March, ticket prices being very cheap from Air Arabia in Sharjah and the whole trip costing around AED 4600 for a couple for 04 nights. 


Armenia, nestled in the Caucasus region, is a land of rich history and breathtaking landscapes. From the vibrant capital city of Yerevan to the serene beauty of Lake Sevan, Armenia offers a diverse range of experiences. We explored the ski resort town of Tsaghkadzor, savored the wines of Areni, and immersed ourselves in the culture and natural beauty of this fascinating country.

 

Air Arabia from Sharjah proved to be a very affordable and comfortable flight, with the flight duration being around 3 hours. E-Visa is required for indian citizens who are U.A.E. residents. It is affordable and a very easy process. We received our visas within 3 working days. 


We decided to plan our excursions before – hand via trip advisor, ski resort town of Tsaghkadzor, Lake Sevan, Khor Virap, and Areni Winery were covered within 02 days. The remaining days we spent walking in the center of Yerevan, where our hotel was booked within walking distance of major attractions and restaurants. Holiday Inn Express popped up at Agoda, with an attractive rate for 04 nights, and major landmarks and restaurants, as well as the pick up point for Trip Advisor excursions being within walking distance, making it a very easy choice. 

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Helpful Links

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Getting There

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Air Arabia from Sharjah had very cheap tickets to Yerevan, presumably since it was off season in March. The journey was just around 3 hours. Baggage and meals included. ​

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Armenia offers e-visa for U.A.E. residents with a very easy process and costs just 8 USD per person for 21 day stay. We received our visas within 03 business days of sending the application.

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We made the unfortunate mistake of exchanging currency at the airport. Later realized that we ended up with a horrible exchange rate. Fortunately we exchanged a part of our budget, just for getting the sim card and calling a taxi at Yereven. The currency Armenian Dram (AMD) is weaker compared to both the United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED) and the United States Dollar (USD). Approximately, 1 USD equals 385 AMD and 3.67 AED, while 1 AED equals 105.26 AMD.

 

Before departure we downloaded the app Yandex GO which is basically like Uber for Armenia. Also decided just to get a sim card at the airport. For us that was more convenient at the time. ​​​

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Accommodation

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During our planning we decided to check out popular attractions in Armenia, and tried to find hidden gems in the city by browsing various forums, reddit, TripAdvisor etc. After mapping out pins on google maps and discovering that the center of Yerevan is an ideal parking spot for us, since the streets are walkable, and many attractions are nearby. The pick up point for our excursions was also within walking distance, albeit a bit further down the block. 

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Our criteria for choosing a hotel were as below:

  • Must include breakfast

  • Close to most attractions within the city

  • Cheap but comfortable

We finally ended up on Holiday Inn Express as our hotel of choice. 

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Itinerary

 

  • Day 1

    • Arrive at Yerevan

    • Transfer to Yerevan Hotel

    • Walk the streets of Yerevan, Republic Square, Vernissage - Souvenirs, antiques & local foods are among the finds at this well-known open-air street market.

    • Dinner at Phoenix Iranian Restaurant

    • Overnight in Yerevan

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  • Day 2

    • Breakfast at Hotel

    • Walk towards TripAdvisor pick up point

    • Group Tour: Tsaghkadzor (Kecharis Monastery, Ropeway), Sevanavank Monastery, Lake Sevan, Trout barbecue treat

    • Lunch during the group tour at a hotel suggested by the tour guide

    • Return to Yerevan

    • Dinner at Zeitouni Restaurant

    • Overnight at Yerevan

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  • Day 3​

    • Breakfast at Hotel

    • Walk towards TripAdvisor pick up point

    • Group Tour: Khor Virap, Noravank, Hin Areni Wine Tour, Tasting and Birds-Cave

    • Snacks for Lunch during the tour

    • Return to Yerevan

    • Dinner at Lavash Restaurant

    • Overnight at Yerevan

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  • Day 4​

    • Breakfast at Hotel

    • Spent the day roaming the surrounding streets of the center of Yerevan

    • Lunch at Taboule Restaurant

    • Further spent the day exploring the streets

    • For Dinner we entered a local grocery and tried the local snacks and confectionaries

    • Overnight at Yerevan

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  • Day 5​

    • Breakfast at Hotel​

    • Transfer to Yerevan Airport

    • Departure for Sharjah

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Cost

 

The currency Armenian Dram (AMD) is weaker compared to both the United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED) and the United States Dollar (USD). Approximately, 1 USD equals 385 AMD and 3.67 AED, while 1 AED equals 105.26 AMD.

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Below is the total cost of our trip. 

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Final Thoughts, Tips and Advice

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  • Check whether you require a visa to travel.

  • Majority of the people speak Russian, a few of them speak broken english. Use a translate app to help yourself in conversations. 

  • If you plan to deal in Cash, make sure to get your currency exchanged anywhere but the airports. Cards are accepted in majority of places, but we personally dealt in cash.

  • Compare your roaming packages or opt for an e-sim if it is cheaper than getting a sim card in Yerevan (which cost us 3000 DRAM or 7 US Dollars).

  • March can be quite cold. Temperatures were ranging from 1°C to 12°C (34°F to 54°F). Make sure to pack warm clothing, including a good coat, gloves, sweaters and thermal layers. 

  • A lot of sightseeing locations and landscapes are at high altitudes, like Lake Sevan and Tsaghkadzo, and can be extremely chilly and windy so keep that in mind. 

  • Despite the cold, days can get sunny. Get suncscreen & moisturizers to take care of your skin.

  • The center of Yerevan is very accessible for walking and the weather is great as well. March is off-peak season, so you can enjoy popular tourist spots without large crowds. 

  • If you do want to go a bit further away from the City, opt to use Yandex GO, the Uber alternative in Yerevan. 

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​Overall we had a great time in Armenia. It offers a rich tapestry of history, stunning landscapes, and unique cultural experiences, making it an enchanting and affordable destination for travelers.

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Check out our Other Destinations! Click here. 

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