Travel to Armenia

Armenia & Karabagh (The Stone Garden Guide)

Format: Paperback
Author: Matthew Karanian
ReleaseDate: September, 2006
Publisher: Stone Garden Productions
Rating:

The Definitive Guide to Armenia & Karabagh
You feel that the authors were there the day before your visit and give you all the tips and advice that can make your trip a memorable one. Having just come back from a months stay in Armenia including a short visit to Karabagh, I am amazed at the amount of up to date and useful information contained in this book. The color photographs as well as the glossy pages are of the highest quality, ensuring it a permanent place on any bookshelf or coffee table. .

What a greak book!
(I think that an excellent travel guide should be very enjoyable to read cover to cover, but one sign of an expertly written guide is that it delivers meaningful info even when read in snippets only. I haven't finished reading all sections of this travel guide yet, but I can say confidently that this is a very helpful, succinct, and insightful guide. )

The writing is very straight-forward, jargon-free, and easy-to-understand. I've been also impressed with all the detailed info such as how to make phone calls, where to wash your laundry, which bus or train to take to go from point A to point B, how to deal with the local culture, etc. One thing I did not expect to see from a travel guide to Armenia was the in-depth discussion of the environmental concerns and issues bound to arise during a trip to this neglected land. It was good to hear that there are many out there who are paying attention to improving Armenia's environment, and to learn how even those of us who are not as conscious and committed can contribute to preserving this precious heritage.

This guide will be most helpful to those who have only a minimum of knowledge about Armenian culture, history, language, etc. The authours have thought of everything one would need to enjoy the trip to its maximum.

In my case, although my planned trip to Armenia will be my first ever, I am not overly concerend about how I'll manage since I speak Armenian and feel confident I could get around fairly easily. Nevertheless, the info in this guide makes me feel I could pretend I've been there and done that many times before!

Another important point for those who, like me, will do brief and hasty trips only and will not fully explore this tiny land before your retirement, is that reading this book makes you feel you have a good feel for how life is in the out of the way spots. You will become an armchair expert on Armenia's flora and fauna, the topography, the local habits, etc.

Finally, one point I really found neat was the description of the B+B scene. Not only did I learn that Ottawa's own Antoine and Sheila Terjanian operate a cozy B+B an hour's drive south-east of Yerevan, which I hope to visit, but it was reassuring to know that there are a few simple alternatives for those who are seeking a more intimate setting for their sejour.

Overall, I think this guide is a great read and can help plan your trip with minimum fuss and worry. .

Best Guide to Armenia
The photos are beautiful and the writing is excellent. I volunteered in Armenia for two months and this book was an indispensable guide throughout my time in Yerevan and beyond. I am looking forward to an updated version that includes sights from historical Armenia.

Please don't be discouraged by those who have given the book poor reviews. They are looking at the book in a political context rather than as a guide book.

Related products:
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	Adventure Armenia: Hiking and Rock Climbing
	Armenia with Nagorno Karabagh, 2nd: The Bradt Travel Guide
	Georgia, Armenia & Azerbaijan (Lonely Planet Travel Guides)