Armenia small group vacation

Planet

We are promoting the natural beauty and ancient heritage of Armenia through visiting Dilijan National Park. Visiting such sites helps sustain the traditions and natural ecosystems of Armenia through tourism. We will be hiking on the Transcaucasian Trail which has been created to promote peace through ecotourism in Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia.

By keeping the group size to a maximum of 12, we can also minimise the human impact on the fragile sites and ecosystems we visit.
Throughout most of the trip we will be traveling in minibuses. Traveling as a group in a small bus contributes less pollution than a multitude of vehicles. We will also be exploring areas on foot, by horse or bike, to not only soak up the amazing sights at a slower pace, but to reduce our environmental impact and footprint along our journey.

We attempt to reduce plastic bottle use wherever possible by promoting use of reusable and filtered water bottles. Our partnership with Water-To-Go provides a discount on filtered water bottles to our clients. We do not provide water from plastic bottles to our clients in country but always ensure there is regular access to drinking water on our tours.

People

The best way to share stories and meet new people is over a plate of great food and a glass of wine in hand. Armenia is known for its fantastic food and wine, with a unique identity formed around 2000 years ago. On Day 5 we will drive to the 'Armenian Switzerland' region of Dilijan where we will enjoy a cookery masterclass on ‘tolma’ - the traditional Armenian dish combining minced meat, rice, various herbs and spices, rolled in grape leaves. Supporting the local food and wine industry in Armenia not only maintains the cultural identity of Armenia, but connects cultures through the most ancient of pastimes, eating!

In the Caucasus - and in particular in Georgia - we have developed unique relationships with many of the mountain peoples of the region and through our form of interactive tourism with a social conscience we have helped them by providing an important additional income. On this trip we travel through regions where conditions are harsh and there is limited opportunity for earning an income. By visiting local families, we are able to put much needed funds directly into the local communities. In addition, all foods are produced locally so several members of the village benefit financially, which improves several families’ standard of living. The wonderful thing about this kind of interactive tourism is that it benefits everyone – providing the local families with financial support and providing us with a truly wonderful and unique experience of their culture and country.