HIKING IN THE CAUCASUS
PHOTOGRAPH: JUSTIN FOULKES
Armenia lies on the crossroads of Asia and Europe, and even - determined interpreters of Biblical clues say - on the site of the Garden of Eden. The mountains of the Lesser Caucasus run the length of the country, and despite their name these summits frequently force walkers to crane their necks. Fractious relations in the region make it tricky to set up long-distance hiking routes (Armenia’s borders with Turkey and Azerbaijan are closed) but enthusiasts are working on one project: the Transcaucasian Trail. Pioneers can help to wear-in this route with Intrepid Travel’s new itinerary, which includes two nights of wild camping, a visit to World Heritage-listed Noravank Monastery, and sampling wines in one of the world’s oldest grape-growing regions.