Kim Kardashian has already taken her young daughter North West to the likes of Paris, New York and London, and now the reality TV star has taken her little one back to her roots in Armenia.
Kim, whose late father Robert Kardashian was a third-generation Armenian American, has always expressed a desire to understand her dad’s culture and the country’s history. Now, together with her rapper husband Kanye West and daughter, she is visiting Armenia just weeks before the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide.
As Kim draws sets about learning more about her heritage, the Hello Magazine takes a look at the largely undiscovered travel gems the Eurasian country has to offer…
YEREVAN
Armenia’s capital is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It’s home to dozens of charming boulevards dotted with cafés, parks, elegant squares and beautiful 19th-century buildings. Several museums in this antique city also offer an education of the country’s history. The Armenian Genocide Museum in Yerevan is a gripping walk through history, from the pre-genocide era to heart-wrenching interviews, eyewitness reports and films that speak of the intense anguish of the genocide survivors.
THE DEBED CANYON
Particularly beautiful and rich in monuments, the Debed Canyon is perfect for exploring Armenia’s culture and history. Here you’ll find the monasteries of Sanahin and Haghpat, both World Heritage-listed, as well as numerous little villages, each of which has a chapel, church or old fort of interest.
GORIS
This ancient mountain town is found high up in the mountains of Syunik, where the pace of life is slow and time appears to have stood still. Don’t miss the Rock Forest – a labyrinth of rocky pyramids, columns and obelisks.
LAKE SEVAN
As one of the biggest highland freshwater lakes in the world, it’s little wonder Lake Sevan is known as Armenia’s “blue-eyed beauty”. Come summertime, its shores become a veritable riviera where locals flock to enjoy the sunshine and sparkling turquoise water.
MOUNT ARAGATS
This breathtaking mountain is also home to some medieval architecture including a monastery, fort and observatory/weather station. Although warm in summer, Aragats has a snow cap for about 250 days a year.
TATEV
The gorgeous scenery of the Vorotan River Canyon is what draws most visitors to Tatev, as well as the hikes along, within and atop the canyon that offer spectacular views. The amazing monastery of Tatev, a World Heritage Site, perched on a rock fortress is a jaw-dropping bonus.
