One of the trips I am currently planning to do in 2020 is to re-visit Georgia & Armenia. And I’m really excited. The level of excited where I have changed my itinerary at least 10 times. And where I am wondering if I need to take four weeks off instead of two to see everything I want. The level where I have been reading the guidebook religiously on the train to work. So, you know, excited.
I visited both countries very briefly in April 2017, when three friends and I travelled through Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia in 10 days. I absolutely loved that trip, but three days in each country was just not enough time. At all.
Here are just a few reasons why I’m so looking forward to this trip – and reasons why a trip to Georgia and Armenia should be on your radar for 2020.
Read more: Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia in 10 days
Georgia & Armenia: why now?
In 2020, both Georgia and Armenia will be easier to visit than ever before. Firstly, Ryanair has entered both markets for the first time, connecting Kutaisi and Tbilisi in Georgia and Gyumri and Yerevan in Armenia to a host of European cities including Bergamo, Rome, Berlin and Cologne. Wizz Air is also expanding its operations in both countries, focusing on Kutaisi and Yerevan.
6 reasons I’m excited to go back to Georgia & Armenia
1. The Caucasus mountains
The famous church overlooking Kazbegi, Georgia | Credit: cindy-dam
The Caucasus mountains look beautiful. Our last visit was in April, meaning visiting just wasn’t an option – the roads closed due to snow and hiking was a no-go. I am so excited to go and visit in June and get out into the mountains. This time around, I am planning to visit both Kazbegi (Stepantsminda) and Mestia in Svaneti.
If you need any more inspiration, I would fully recommend Caucasus Trekking, run by Josef from Slovakia, this blog has everything you need to research a hiking trip.
2. Discovering more of Yerevan
Respublika Square, Yerevan
I’ll be honest – I didn’t fall in love with Yerevan the first time around. Our time in the Armenian capital was short (to say the least) as we spent most of our time in Armenia on day trips. Recently reading blog posts from MyWanderlust.pl and following Absolute Armenia, I can see that there is a lot of burgeoning bohemian life in Yerevan that I’m really excited to see more of.
My overwhelming memory of Yerevan was of unemotive concrete buildings and I am hoping another visit will change that.
3. Georgian food
Khinkali in foreground, khachapuri in background
Georgian has to be my absolute favourite cuisine. I am really looking forward to relentlessly eating khachapuri and visiting the homeland of Adjaran khachapuri. It feels like a pilgrimage in a way.
Read more: Your 101 guide to Georgian cuisine
4. Supporting growing tourism
The Orthodox Cathedral in Tbilisi
If the press reports are to be believed, then both Armenia and Georgia are in for a record year in terms of tourism. Georgia is aggressively increasing its flight routes from Europe and being a big fan of budget airlines, it’s important to me to try and promote and support these new connections. Reports also suggest that the so-called flight ban implemented by Putin last year to hurt Georgian tourism is not having the desired detrimental effect. (After several protests in Georgia against Russia last year, Putin banned direct Russia-Georgia flights, hoping to put political pressure on the country, which was heavily dependent on Russian tourists.)
Meanwhile, Armenia found itself the belle of the ball in countless ‘best places to visit in 2020’ lists at the end of last year, including those from Conde Nast, Financial Times and the Evening Standard. It’s safe to say that a lot more people will be taking note of Armenia in 2020.
5. Armenian culture
The Haghpat Monastery with a view of the Debed Canyon in the background, Armenia.
One reason I am excited to go back to Armenia remains unchanged from my first visit: I am really captivated by Armenian culture; the history, the beautiful alphabet and most importantly – the amazing Armenian pop scene.
It won’t be news to many that I am a huge Eurovision obsessive fan and a lover of foreign language pop music from across the continent. Armenia has one of the best local pop scenes in my humble opinion (although I’m not sure it can hold a candle to Ukraine…) and I’m excited to go back to the country that produced these colourful hits.
No-one can tell me that this song by Hamburg-born Iveta is not a 100%-bonafide choon.
6. Visiting approximately 100 new places in Georgia
As I mentioned, my itinerary for this trip keeps getting longer and longer. The main reason is the countless places I keep discovering in Georgia, including: Borjomi, the Kakushka narrow-gauge train, Vardzia cave town, Batumi, Tskaltubo, Sighnaghi… – the list goes on.
Some of these destinations I found in MyWanderlust’s guide to day trips from Kutaisi, some from my Lonely Planet guide (obviously), but most I have recently come across by following the #VisitGeorgia hashtag on Instagram. Here are some images to whet your appetite.
Wow that’s an ambitious trip, but I totally get it. After going to Georgia for the first time last year I cannot wait to get back, particularly for the food. I think I gained three kilos in three days there!
Remember when travel was a thing…? 🙁