Traveling alone for a month (Armenia - Georgia)

my friend, with whom I traveled to Iran, Myanmar, and India, really wanted to take a one-month trip to Armenia and Georgia. So we booked our flights (June 21 to July 19), but disaster struck—she can’t travel anymore due to serious family reasons.

Now I’m heading off on this adventure alone. It’s not that I’ve never traveled solo before—I spent three months exploring Southeast Asia by myself last year—but I still have a few questions, and I’d really appreciate your input.

* I don’t think traveling alone in these countries is very risky—what do you think? * Maybe I could hire a driver? What would that cost, since some places seem tricky to reach by public transport. Do you have any driver recommendations? * I don’t want to rent a car—the driving seems too unpredictable, especially in Georgia. * I’d love to do some nice hikes—are there any guides available?

Here’s my rough itinerary: YEREVAN and surroundings YEGHEGNADZOR for Noravank GORIS and TATEV LAKE SEVAN DILIJAN HAGHPAT TBILISI and surroundings The CAUCASUS toward Mestia UPLISTSIKHE VARDZIA Return to Yerevan for my flight

Thanks to anyone who can share their experiences or answer my questions!

In Georgia, there’s a huge choice of hikes in the Caucasus, in Svaneti, at Kazbegi, in Tusheti, ...

* I think traveling alone in these countries isn't very risky, what do you think?

I traveled alone and independently (hostels, guesthouses, public transport, etc.) in Georgia in December 2014 (~15 days). No problems at all. By following basic safety rules, it really doesn’t seem risky to me 🙂

Hi,

I traveled alone to Armenia and Georgia in 2013, staying with locals and using public minibuses (the marshrutkas) and sometimes a taxi. There’s no problem traveling alone in either country. Taxis are very cheap. In Armenia, many prices are fixed—either for a given route or at least per kilometer.

You’ll find my travel journal in my profile. I didn’t visit all the same places as you, but it might give you an idea of the country. I only talk about Armenia in it (since I preferred it to Georgia).

I think traveling alone in these countries isn't very risky—what do you all think?

No particular danger; people are really welcoming, especially in Armenia based on my experience (more of a Slavic temperament in Georgia).

Maybe I could hire a driver—what would that cost? Some places seem pretty tricky to reach by public transport. Do you have any driver recommendations?

There are marshrutkas to get almost everywhere, the only downside being the south of Armenia: while it’s easy to get to YEGHEGNADZOR from Yerevan, it’s harder to catch one on the way to another destination. The simplest option is to go from town to town and use a taxi for day trips from there (around 25/30 € for a full day, which you can split if you’re traveling with others).

I’d love to do some nice hikes—are there any guides available?

My itinerary in a few stages:

YEREVAN and surroundings: trip to Lake Sevan

YEGHEGNADZOR for Noravank: the most beautiful part of the country, in my opinion. There’s a great hike starting from Gnishik and ending at Noravank

GORIS TATEV: several hiking options in the region

DILIJAN: haven’t been there

You're absolutely right. You really know the nuances of traveling in Armenia.

I think traveling alone in these countries isn't very risky, what do you think?

No riskier than in France, except on the road where driving is, let's say, quite "eastern" (but not aggressive).

Some places seem really complicated to reach by public transport

Yes, but for getting around a city, taxis aren't expensive. And between cities, there are usually marshrutkas (shared minibus-taxis). There are trains from Tbilisi to Zugdidi (a small town at the mouth of the Enguri Valley, the river that flows down from Mestia), and from Tbilisi to Yerevan.

I'd love to do some nice hikes

I haven't hiked in Armenia yet, but in Georgia, yes, there's plenty to do! I found the Mestia region really beautiful, whether a bit downstream at the foot of Ushba or upstream toward Ushguli.

Right now, I'm traveling alone in Armenia (and in Tbilisi), and it's a really easy country. The gg app to get around everywhere in Yerevan. Bookaway for a minivan to Georgia, etc.

Currently alone in Armenia,

Hi Annie,

I’ve been drawn to Armenia for a while now, and I see you were there a few months ago. I was wondering if it’s easy to get around everywhere by public transport and if it’s a "safe" country for a woman traveling alone?

Thanks in advance.

Hi there,

I’m a guy, and I was there last year with my partner. We didn’t run into any particular issues. Transportation is easy to find and cheap (on some routes, it’s better to book in advance, like between Yerevan and Goris if you’re taking the bus), but of course, there are a few exceptions (we sometimes had to hitchhike because some monasteries are in the middle of nowhere, but it wasn’t really a problem).

Have a great trip!

Hi there,

Thanks so much for your reply.

For hitchhiking, no matter the country, I don’t do it much. I think it’s safer with two people than for a woman alone, but maybe with a taxi you can reach spots that aren’t served by public transport.

Hi Marie, It’s a very easy country for a woman to travel in (and therefore for a solo man too :)) Everyone speaks Russian but sometimes English.

With GetYourGuide, transfers to Tbilisi for 20 € In a comfortable minibus.

Day trips galore, with people from all over... ... In Tbilisi, Bolt and Booking.com are there... it’s more Westernized. Have a great day! A

Thanks so much, Annie, for all this info!

I had the impression that getting around without a car was complicated, but apparently it’s not the case. It’s true that apps like Bolt make things easier.