Like to get out and adventure when you travel? We’ve got just the place for you.
At a ceremony in Berlin this week, the PATWA International Travel Awards (organised by non-profit Pacific Area Travel Writers Association) awarded the title of Destination of the Year for Adventure Tourism to Armenia, a landlocked country in the south Caucasus region.
Why? Well, with its rugged, mountainous landscape, Armenia is prime for outdoor adventures. Hikers can take to trails in the Zangezur Mountains along the border with Azerbaijan, or go on multi-day treks in the central Geghama Range. The highest point in the country is Mount Aragats, for the very adventurous among us.
The landscape also lends itself to adrenaline-hitters like rock climbing and paragliding, and has a tonne of cultural sites to see, such as the Armenian Genocide and Memorial museum (to remember those murdered in the Ottoman Empire in the early twentieth century), and the stunning Cafesjian Center for the Arts, a striking, Soviet-era building with five exhibition halls and two garden galleries.
While Armenia has made a huge effort to promote sustainable tourism, much of it remains untouched by visitors. The roads in places are still pretty rough and transport can be hard to navigate, particularly if you don’t speak Armenian or Russian – but hey, what’s that if not an adventure.
Lusine Gevorgyan, chairman of Armenia’s tourism committee, said: ‘This recognition is a testament to Armenia’s natural beauty, diverse adventure tourism offerings, and the dedication of our tourism sector. We invite travelers from around the world to explore Armenia’s stunning landscapes and experience the thrill of adventure in a land rich with history and hospitality.’
Read more about Armenia on the tourist board’s website, and check out our list of the 25 best new things to do in the world in 2025.
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