May 2025 Armenia Tour

I am co-leading a tour with Chuck Holton to Armenia this spring. Armenia is a conservative, first-world country landlocked between Turkey to the west and Azerbaijan to the east. The capital, Yerevan, dates back 2,700 years. During the Greco-Roman age, Armenia fought to maintain independence from Persia and Rome, not always succeeding but building elite militaries and cultures. Xenophon, the great Greek General and philosopher, student of Socrates, and peer of Plato, led an army through the country and recorded his experiences.

Today, Armenia is a prosperous society with a thick culture. However, it needs friends and has turned to the West for support. Like the United States, Armenia has a Christian history. In A.D. 301, the king converted to Christianity. Armenia became the first nation to officially adopt Christianity due to the influence of Gregory the Illuminator, who spent many years in an Armenian dungeon. The dungeon remains under a monastery called Khor Virap near Mount Ararat.

The land surrounding the mountain served as the cradle of post-diluvian civilization, where Noah and his family lived and re-instituted society.

In the 20th century, Armenia became a Soviet satellite country; this reality enormously influenced its culture, economics, and architecture. After the fall of the Soviet Union, Armenia gained independence.

Armenia is a window into the old world of Asia and Europe. The Silk Road crisscrosses the countryside and features ancient stone hotels. Other ancient landmarks, such as the Armenian Stonehenge, a massive mountain cave city, and old churches and fortresses, can be found on mountains and hills across the country.

Yerevan, the largest city, is an uncommonly safe, calm, and quiet modern metropolis. Near the central plaza, the Vernissage market offers Armenian handicrafts, like rugs, dolls, paintings, embroidery, chess boards, and old coins. It is worth a visit.

Armenia is an excellent place to vacation and explore: affordable, safe, first-world, calm, conservative, and enjoyable. The land is ancient and romantic and provides a window into ancient history and modern geopolitical challenges. The land of Armenia could have inspired the great C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia story world, and its beautiful land has inspired much virtue, art, and culture.

We will travel by bus through Yerevan, up the lush and picturesque north, and down to the mountainous southern tip. We will explore ancient places and enjoy Armenian food with Chuck Holton, a former Army Ranger, war correspondent, and world traveler.

Please let me know by the end of this month (January) if you want to join us. I look forward to meeting you there!