Armenia | ZHO Travel & Tourism

In Armenia you take your morning coffee facing Mount Ararat, and cross the Vorotan gorge by cable car to Tatev Monastery on its rock.

The destination

About Armenia

Armenia is one of the finest destinations in the Caucasus, combining mountain landscapes, ancient monuments and warm hospitality. Whether you want a quiet break in nature or modern cities to explore, it offers a blend that suits every kind of traveller.

Journeys usually start in Yerevan, the pink capital overlooked by Mount Ararat. From there it is under an hour to Garni Temple and Geghard Monastery, an hour to Lake Sevan at 1,900 m, and on to the forests of Dilijan. In the south, Tatev Monastery stands above a deep gorge, reached by the Wings of Tatev cable car.

The country is small and distances are short, so its highlights fit into a week by private car, staying in Yerevan with a night or two in the mountains. Summer is mild at altitude, a favourite season for Gulf families escaping the heat.

Yerevan has the historic Blue Mosque, where Friday prayers are held, and Iranian and Arab restaurants serving halal food. We arrange guides, private cars and chosen hotels, and suggest restaurants at every stop.

Best timeMay to June and September to October; summer is mild in the mountains

FlightNo direct flights at present; about 6 to 7 h with one stop via Dubai

Visae-Visa for Saudi citizens through the Armenian foreign ministry portal (up to 3 working days). Residents of Saudi Arabia from 111 nationalities enter visa-free from 1 July 2026 to 1 July 2027 with a residence permit valid 6 months.

CurrencyArmenian dram (AMD)

LanguageArmenian; Russian and English widely spoken

Time1 h ahead of Saudi Arabia

Ideal stay5 to 7 nights

Ideal for

Family travel Honeymoons Travel with friends

Regions

Where to go

01 · City

Yerevan

The capital known as the pink city for the rosy tuff stone of its buildings, with Republic Square and the Cascade looking out to Mount Ararat.

02 · Lake

Lake Sevan

The largest lake in the Caucasus, 1,900 m above sea level, overlooked by Sevanavank Monastery on its peninsula.

03 · Highlands

Dilijan

Known as Armenia's Switzerland for its dense forests and green landscapes, ideal for rest and long walks.

04 · Region

Tatev Monastery

An architectural masterpiece on a high rock above a deep gorge, reached by the Wings of Tatev, the world's longest non-stop double-track cable car.

The colonnaded Greco-Roman temple of Garni under a blue sky

05 · Region

Garni and Geghard

Garni is the only Greco-Roman temple still standing in the region, while Geghard is a UNESCO-listed monastery partly carved into the rock.

Experiences

What to do

The deep, wooded Vorotan gorge near Tatev, crossed by the Wings of Tatev cable car

The Wings of Tatev and Tatev Monastery Tatev Monastery A cable car ride over the Vorotan gorge to a ninth-century monastery on a cliff edge. A long day or a night in the south by private car.Discover

Panorama of Geghard Monastery at the head of the Azat valley among cliffs

Garni Temple and Geghard Monastery Garni and Geghard Half a day from Yerevan between a Roman temple above a gorge and a monastery carved into the mountain, with a village lunch and lavash from the tonir.Discover

Yerevan at dusk seen from the top of the Cascade, Ararat faint on the horizon

City and shopping The Cascade and the view of Ararat A vast stone stairway of gardens and sculpture in central Yerevan, with a view over the city to Mount Ararat. Read more

The Church of the Holy Apostles at Sevanavank above Lake Sevan

Culture and heritage Sevanavank above Lake Sevan Two ninth-century churches on a peninsula above the largest lake in the Caucasus, with a fish lunch by the shore. Read more

Haghartsin Monastery among autumn forest near Dilijan

Nature The forests of Dilijan and Haghartsin A walk in the forests of Dilijan National Park to Haghartsin Monastery and Lake Parz, then a stroll down old Sharambeyan Street. Read more

Khor Virap Monastery on its hill with snow-capped Mount Ararat behind

Culture and heritage Khor Virap beneath Mount Ararat A monastery on a hill in the Ararat plain, with the snowy peaks of Mount Ararat directly behind it, about 45 minutes from Yerevan. Read more

A freshly baked sheet of lavash at a roadside bakery near Noravank

Gastronomy Baking lavash in the tonir A visit to a village house to watch lavash stretched and slapped onto the wall of the tonir, and try it yourself. Read more

Where to stay

Hotels and resorts we recommend

View all 3 stays

Charles Aznavour Square in front of Grand Hotel Yerevan on a summer evening

Yerevan Grand Hotel Yerevan Historic palace Explore

The heated outdoor pool and stone buildings of Tufenkian Avan Marak Tsapatagh, Lake Sevan beyond

Lake Sevan Tufenkian Avan Marak Tsapatagh Lakeside Explore

The stone house and wooden galleries of Tufenkian Old Dilijan Complex on Sharambeyan Street

Dilijan Tufenkian Old Dilijan Complex Historic palace Explore

Taste and addresses

Flavours and places to know

Armenian cooking is about grilling, bread and herbs: khorovats over charcoal, dolma in vine leaves, thin lavash bread recognised by UNESCO, and gata pastry. Pork is common on the grill, so we order lamb, beef or chicken for you and suggest halal restaurants in Yerevan.

Skewers of khorovats and vegetables grilling over charcoal

To tasteKhorovatsԽորոված

To tasteDolmaՏոլմա

To tasteLavashԼավաշ

Slices of Armenian gata pastry in a basket on a patterned cloth

To tasteGataԳաթա

The turquoise tiled dome of the Blue Mosque in Yerevan

Landmark · Yerevan The Blue Mosque, Yerevan An eighteenth-century mosque with a dome and minaret in blue tiles, where Friday prayers are held. Read more

Armenian carpets laid out for sale at the Vernissage market in Yerevan

Shopping · Yerevan Vernissage market An open-air market of crafts, carpets, antiques and silver, at its liveliest at weekends. Read more

The History Museum on Republic Square, Yerevan, lit at night and reflected in the fountain pool

Landmark · Yerevan Republic Square Yerevan's main square, with pink tuff buildings and dancing fountains on summer evenings. Read more

Questions

Before you go

Do Saudi citizens need a visa for Armenia?

Yes, an e-visa applied for on the Armenian foreign ministry's official portal, issued in about three working days, for a stay of 21 or 120 days; we apply for you. Residents of Saudi Arabia from 111 nationalities can enter visa-free from 1 July 2026 to 1 July 2027 if their residence permit is valid for at least six months from entry.

When is the best time to visit Armenia?

May to June and September to October, when it is mild and the landscape green or in autumn colour. July and August are hot in Yerevan but mild at Sevan and Dilijan. Winter is cold and snowy and suits skiing at Tsaghkadzor.

How do I get to Armenia?

There are currently no direct flights from Saudi Arabia to Yerevan, so you fly with one stop, most easily via Dubai, about six to seven hours depending on the connection. We choose the best flights and the shortest connections.

Is halal food available?

Yerevan has Iranian and Arab restaurants serving halal food, which we suggest. Outside the capital pork is common on the grill, so we order lamb, chicken, fish or vegetable dishes, and fresh herbs, cheese and bread are everywhere.

Where can I pray in Armenia?

Yerevan has the historic Blue Mosque, with daily and Friday prayers. There are no mosques outside the capital, so we plan prayer times at the hotel or a suitable place during tours.

How do I get around Armenia?

The best way is a private car with driver, since the sights are spread through the mountains and country roads need a driver who knows them. From Yerevan: Garni 40 minutes, Sevan an hour, Dilijan an hour and a half, Tatev about four hours.

What is the currency, and are cards accepted?

The currency is the Armenian dram. Cards are accepted in Yerevan's hotels, restaurants and shops, but carry cash for markets and villages. Dollars and euros are easy to change at banks and exchange offices.

Armenia, mountain monasteries and Lake Sevan