Private guides and guided tours in Armenia

Armenia

CAPITAL CITY OF Armenia: Yerevan
LANGUAGE OF Armenia: Armenian
CURRENCY OF Armenia: Dram (AMD)
COMMENTS ABOUT Armenia:

This Eastern European country is most well known for its amazing mountains and its ancient monasteries. Your private guide in Armenia will take you on a journey of discovery as you explore the many interesting aspects of this historical area. 

Armenia is famous for its rocks, (hence the nickname Country of Stones )from the smallest semi-precious stones used by local craftsmen, to the Ughtasar rock images in Sisian, to the Holy Biblical mountain: Ararat. Many visitors have their private guide Armenia take them to see other famous rocks, such as Devils Bridge and the Cave Habitats in Goris. Also in Goris you will want to see the Tatev monastery, one of the many ancient temples in the country that is home to the oldest Christian churches in the world.

Armenians are a friendly people, welcoming guests with open arms, mouthwatering cuisine in abundance, and their spectacular cognac. There is much fun to be had in places such as the casinos in Argavand, the awesome ski resorts, and Sevan Lake, “The Sea of Armenia.” The capital city of Yerevan also offers museums, opera and theaters, as well as the colorful outdoor arts and crafts market at Vernissage.

CLIMATE OF Armenia: The climate in Armenia is markedly continental. Summers are dry and sunny, lasting from June to mid-September. The temperature fluctuates between 22° and 36 °C/71-97 °F.
RELIGION OF Armenia: Armenian Apostolic 94%, other Christian 4%, Yezidi (Zoroastrian/animist) 2%
POPULATION OF Armenia: 2,991,360>>
ECONOMY OVERVIEW OF Armenia: Under the old Soviet central planning system, Armenia had developed a modern industrial sector, supplying machine tools, textiles, and other manufactured goods to sister republics in exchange for raw materials and energy. Since the implosion of the USSR in December 1991, Armenia has switched to small-scale agriculture away from the large agroindustrial complexes of the Soviet era. The agricultural sector has long-term needs for more investment and updated technology. The privatization of industry has been at a slower pace, but has been given renewed emphasis by the current administration. Armenia is a food importer, and its mineral deposits (copper, gold, bauxite) are small. The ongoing conflict with Azerbaijan over the ethnic Armenian-dominated region of Nagorno-Karabakh and the breakup of the centrally directed economic system of the former Soviet Union contributed to a severe economic decline in the early 1990s. By 1994, however, the Armenian Government had launched an ambitious IMF-sponsored economic liberalization program that resulted in positive growth rates in 1995-2003. Armenia joined the WTrO in January 2003. Armenia also has managed to slash inflation, stabilize the local currency (the dram), and privatize most small- and medium-sized enterprises. The chronic energy shortages Armenia suffered in the early and mid-1990s have been offset by the energy supplied by one of its nuclear power plants at Metsamor. Armenia is now a net energy exporter, although it does not have sufficient generating capacity to replace Metsamor, which is under international pressure to close. The electricity distribution system was privatized in 2002. Armenia's severe trade imbalance has been offset somewhat by international aid and foreign direct investment. Economic ties with Russia remain close, especially in the energy sector.