Dilijan

People call Dilijan the Armenian Switzerland. It's a cliché — but not an entirely groundless one. Forest, clean air, small streets lined with old buildings — Dilijan has something that many Armenian towns simply don't. People who book a social package in Dilijan often say once isn't enough. They're right.

It's about an hour and a half from Yerevan. After the tunnel, everything shifts. The air is different, the colours are different, the pace is different. The moment you arrive in Dilijan, you understand why people keep coming back.

Social package deals in Dilijan cover accommodation and meals, often including an outdoor rest area, sometimes a pool or wellness services. The choice of hotels is wide — old villas, modern guesthouses, small woodland cottages that were practically designed to be photographed.

Shaghagh street — spend half an hour there and you'll understand what makes Dilijan special. Craftsmen, old architecture, cafes that exist nowhere else — the soul of Dilijan is right here.

Haghartsin and Goshavank are both nearby and both among the most beautiful monasteries in Armenia. You can see both in a single day, but rushing through them would be a mistake.

Best time is summer and autumn. In autumn the Dilijan forest turns colours that photographers make special trips for. But winter in Dilijan has its own character — snow, quiet, smoke rising from chimneys.

When booking a social package in Dilijan, book early — especially in summer and during autumn holidays. Dilijan fills up fast, and the best places go first.