Georgia and Armenia Country Dossier

"The ex-Soviet republics of Georgia and Armenia occupy the farthest reaches of Europe and Asia, nestled in the Caucasus Mountains where ancient cultures once collided. Sandwiched between Russia, Persia and the Ottoman Empire, and at various times colonised by them all, Georgia and Armenia borrow elements of each but retain distinctive cultural identities and styles of architecture. The capital cities of Yerevan and Tbilisi are packed full of cultural gems, with imposing churches and some of the best museums you’ll find anywhere in the world, while further out in the countryside monasteries and cathedrals loom large over small towns and villages. Georgia is home to Europe’s highest mountains – the High Caucasus, still a very remote area dotted with medieval villages, where traditional customs still hold sway despite centuries of occupation. The hospitality here is amazing, as well as the cuisine, and best of all the region remains well off the tourist circuit. For those looking for something intriguing, exciting and unusual, Georgia & Armenia shouldn’t be missed."

Factfile

Capital Cities: Georgia: Tbilisi; Armenia: Yerevan
Official Language: Each country has its own national language and alphabet. Russian is also widely spoken.
Religions: Orthodox Christian, but of varying denominations.
Voltage: 220 Volts, 50 Hz. Sockets are of European two pronged round pin variety. Power surges are common.

Preparing to go

Visas

The visa requirements for Georgia and Armenia vary according to your nationality. Please see your Trip Dossier for detailed information or discuss this with your travel agent.

Money

Local Currency

Georgia
The unit of currency in Georgia is the lari (GEL). One lari = 100 tetri.
Notes are in denominations of GEL100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1.
Coins are in denominations of 50, 20, 10 and 5 tetri.

  • 1 Pound Sterling = 2.91 GEL
  • 1 US Dollar = 1.46 GEL
  • 1 Euro = 2.27 GEL

Armenia
The unit of currency is the Armenian dram (AMD). One dram = 100 luma.
Dram notes are printed in denominations of AMD50,000, 20,000, 10,000, 5000, 1000, 500, 200, 100, 50, 25 and 10.
There are plans to phase out notes of less than 100 dram. Coins are in denominations of AMD500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 1, and 50 and 20 luma.

  • 1 Pound Sterling = 608 AMD
  • 1 US Dollar = 306 AMD
  • 1 Euro = 475 AMD

The Imaginative Traveller Recommends: Carry a supply of small denomination notes as many places cannot change large notes and there is a general shortage of change.

XE.com is a useful site for currency conversion.

Changing Money, Credit Cards & ATMs

Georgia
The main banks will change traveller’s cheques, with Thomas Cook and American Express the most widely accepted. Carry some of your money as traveller’s cheques, but most in US$ cash, which can be changed at exchange kiosks in many locations. There are some ATMs which work with Visa or Mastercard.

Armenia
Traveller’s cheques can be exchanged most easily at HSBC banks in Yerevan. Ones in US$ are preferred, but Euros are also accepted. There are a few ATM machines in Yerevan which will work with a UK HSBC card. The easiest way to obtain local currency is at one of the many currency exchange offices throughout the country. US$ are the preferred currency but Euros are often accepted as well. Most of your spending money should be in US$ cash. Notes should be unmarked and in good condition.

Working out your Budget

The Pre Departure Booklet contains general information about the things you will need to consider when budgeting for your holiday. Below are some specific notes relevant to our tours in Georgia and Armenia.

Entrance Fees

Adventurer trips do not include any entrance fees. Your Trip Dossier will give you details on how much you should allow for this, however please note that all prices are subject to increase and the amounts given are estimates only.

Meals

Meals are provided as indicated in the Trip Dossier. Approximate costs for meals and snacks are given below but please note that the exact cost varies widely depending on whether you are in the capital cities or smaller regional towns:

Armenia

  • Simple snack: US$1-3
  • Light meal: US$3-7
  • Fancy restaurant: US$7-15

Georgia

  • Simple snack: US$4-8
  • Light meal: US$8-14
  • Fancy restaurant: US$14-20

For a guide to the type of food you will find in Georgia and Armenia see the Local Food & Drink section of this dossier.

Drinks
All drinks (i.e. bottled water, soft drinks) are at your own expense but are fairly inexpensive. We advise travellers not to drink the tap water. Mineral water is widely available and is cheap – in Georgia a 0.5l bottle of Borjomi or Nabeghlavi will cost around US$0.35. Armenia is know for its spring water, and you will often see picnic tables placed at roadside springs – the water is always safe to drink. Bottled mineral water is nearly always carbonated; Jermuk is a popular brand, as well as Dilijan and Bjni.

Local Transport

Your tour leader will be able to advise you of the best way of getting from A to B during free time on the tour. There are a number of options:

Georgia
The most common way of getting around is by flagging down a marshrutka minibus taxis which have the fare shown on the windscreen – you pay the driver when you get off, usually around 50 tetri. There are also taxis – the official ones are red, and these are generally safer. Tbilisi also has an underground metro system, trams and trolleybuses. Roads are fairly poor and driving standards can be low.

Armenia
Minibus taxis are called marshrutny in Armenia, and ply hundreds of routes round Yerevan and further afield. There are taxis within the city which can be booked by phone, and it is common practice to flag down private vehicles moonlighting as taxis.

What to Take

The Pre-Departure Information that you will receive once you have booked your tour contains a comprehensive list of items that you should consider bringing with you.

Clothing

As in most countries, it is advisable for women to avoid wearing particularly revealing clothing as this can attract unwanted attention. At certain religious sites you may need to cover your shoulders and legs. Your tour leader will advise you of this during the course of the tour.

Prepare Yourself
Whilst few of our tours can be described as physically demanding you will find all activities more enjoyable if you are reasonably fit and active.

Cultural & Environmental Guidelines

General

Please make sure that you adhere to normal standards of responsible travel – such as conserving electricity and water, not littering and taking care not to disturb wildlife.

Walking

Please make sure that you keep to the established paths in the National Parks that you visit, so as to protect the local flora and fauna.

Photography

You should always ask permission before taking anyone's photograph and respect their decision if they say no.

Arrival

Arrival Transfers

Upon arrival, please look for our representative who will be holding an Imaginative Traveller sign. He should be waiting for you in the area immediately before you reach Customs and Immigration.

Making Your Own Way

The Meeting Point for your tour should be clearly marked on your travel vouchers.

On Tour

Safety

Most people find that Georgia and Armenia are very friendly and safe and feel quite comfortable wandering around alone during the day. However, as with any area you are not familiar with (and in particular in large cities), it is recommended that you exercise more caution at night and generally take taxis rather than walk, especially if you are a lone female.

Areas of Georgia are politically unstable, such as Svaneti and Abkhazia, but we do not visit these areas on our tours.

Tour Leaders & Guides

Your Tour Leader's role is to ensure all aspects of the trip run smoothly. He/she will share their local knowledge, advise on how to fill your free time and co-ordinate the day to day running of the tour – although occasionally he/she may need your understanding if things do not go according to plan. If you have any problems on the tour, please let your Tour Leader know so that steps can be taken to put it right. Tour Leaders are supported by our regionally based office staff and, in most cases, a locally based manager.

Please note that some styles of trip, such as Imaginative Escapes or Imaginative Honeymoons, do not have a Tour Leader. However, there will be representatives on hand who will be able to assist you in arranging any excursions that you wish you take.

Accommodation

Our main criterion for choosing hotels is cleanliness. On Adventurer tours our accommodation can best be described as comfortable ’simple hotels’. Most hotels offer en suite facilities but some may offer shared bathrooms.

Please bear in mind that hotels can sometimes suffer from minor problems and technical difficulties. Georgia is short of accommodation generally and conditions vary. Armenia is well catered for after an ambitious hotel-building program in Yerevan, and some Soviet-era hotels have been refurbished.

At each hotel your Tour Leader will try to organise the rooming arrangements to suit everyone's requirements. If you are travelling alone you will be allocated a room with another group member of the same sex. If you are travelling as a couple please note that we cannot guarantee the availability of double beds.

Laundry

A laundry service is available in many of the hotels we are use (especially in cities and sizable towns). The prices vary widely but your tour leader will be able to advise you where is best to get laundry done.

Local Food & Drink

Food

Georgia
Georgian food has Turkish and Persian influences, and a Georgian meal is served with many small dishes. Kharcho is a spicy mutton stew with vegetables and rice, and there are many variations of this. Shashlik, or mutton shish kebab, is popular, especially at outdoor snack stalls. Chicken is widely used, either in stews or fried. There are many different kinds of cheese, and many kinds of bread. The national snack is khachapuri, a kind of cheese-filled pastry. Feasts are important in Georgia, known as supra, and there are continual toasts in rituals that can go on for several hours.

Armenia
If anything, Armenian cuisine is even more influenced by Persian than in Georgia. Lamb tends to be the most common meat, and a typical Armenian dish would be lamb stew with all manner of other ingredients from leeks to quinces. The fruit and vegetables are often of a very high standard. Beef is less good – it’s a curious breed known as the Caucasian Brown, which can be quite tough. Lavash is a traditional unleavened flatbread served at almost every meal. Soups can be a meal in themselves, and often include fruit. Barbecues are popular. Armenian restaurants tend to have fairly repetitive menus; for the really traditional cuisine you’ll need to be invited to someone’s home.

Your tour leader will be able to advise you on all the best places to eat and the various specialities of each country.

Drinks
Wine is the most common alcoholic drink found in the region and there are many excellent local varieties – almost every village produces its own. Vodka is less common than in Russia; in Georgia the national firewater is called chacha. Soft drinks such as Coke and Fanta are easy to find. Tea, coffee and fruit juices are available everywhere.

Armenia is famous for its brandy, and also produces many reasonable wines. Wine and spirits are normally only drunk while eating, and there is a ritual of toasts to be observed. Vodka is also produced. Coffee is Turkish in style, and there are a range of herbal teas that are popular. Many styles of fruit juice are available, and the spring water is always good.

Special Dietary Requirements

Vegetarians
Finding food suitable for vegetarians is not always easy as this is something that has not yet caught on in the region. Fish is sometimes available but if you do not eat fish or meat, you may need to prepare yourself for a lack of variety. Your tour leader will be able to advise you on best options for restaurants and dishes.

Food Allergies
If you have food allergies or preferences, please make them known to your Tour Leader who will do their best to ensure that your requirements are met.

Please note: Unfortunately we can give no guarantee that special requirements can always be met.

Communications

Email
There are a few internet cafés in Tbilisi. Connections may be slow. Yerevan and major resorts in Armenia are better served.

Phone
You can buy tokens from kiosks to use in public phones, or get a card from the Post Office for cardphones. The Post Office is usually the best place to make international calls.

Post
The Armenian postal service is completely unreliable, the Georgian one marginally worse.

General Information

Weather

Armenia
Much of Armenia lies over 900m above sea level, and the country has a predominantly alpine climate. During the summer, days can be hot and dry with temperatures falling sharply at night. Winters are extremely cold with heavy snow. May to June and September to October are good times to visit when the weather is warm but mild.

Georgia
The climate in Georgia varies widely depending on terrain; on the coast it is mainly subtropical, in the east it can be dry and continental, and in the High Caucasus it is alpine and can get very cold. Generally there are hot summers with mild winters. Heaviest rainfall is in the south-west.

Georgia Meteorological Authority

Armenia Meteorological Authority

Suggested Reading

Guidebooks

  • Georgia with Armenia (Bradt Travel Guide) – Tim Burford
  • Armenia with Nagorno Karabagh (Bradt Travel Guide) – by Nicholas Holding

Background Reading

  • Eastern Approaches – Fitzroy Maclean
  • Where nights are longest – Colin Thubron
  • A Dry Ship to the Mountains – Daniel Farson

Contact Details

UK Office
The Imaginative Traveller
1 Betts Avenue
Martlesham Heath
Ipswich
Suffolk
IP5 3RH
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)1473 667337
Fax: +44 (0)1473 614566

24hr Emergency Contact
(MOB): +44 (0)7815 097432 (UK)