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How to experience apricot blossoms in Armenia

Japan gets a lot of attention for its blooming sakura trees every year, but who’s to say that Armenia can’t or shouldn’t get as much fanfare? Armenia’s well known for its delicious fruit. Rich volcanic soil, 300 days of sunshine on average per year, and lots of water from snow melt and natural underwater wells means Armenia’s fruit are super tasty. Fun fact: Armenia ranks 5th in the world for fruit consumption per capita!

But lots of travelers overlook the fact that the trees that provide these fruit bloom in an impressive display of color and fragrance every spring. Cherry, almond, peach, pear, apple, and plum trees all bloom in Armenia throughout the spring and summer months. But the most celebrated blossoms in Armenia are the apricot blossoms. That’s because apricot trees are the very first to blossom every spring, and because apricots are Armenia’s unofficial national fruit.

Every year local people excitedly await the blossoming of the apricots as the de-facto start of spring. Apricot blossoms are also downright beautiful, especially when experienced in an orchard that’s at peak bloom. Here’s where, when, and how you can experience Armenia’s apricot trees in full bloom.

Where to see apricot blossoms

The best places to see and appreciate apricots and other fruit trees blossoming in the spring season is in the Ararat and Armavir provinces, both bordering Yerevan. These provinces make up the Ararat Valley. Named after Mt. Ararat, the valley is Armenia’s breadbasket, yielding 40% of the country’s agricultural output despite making up just 4% of total land area. It’s in these provinces where you’ll find seemingly endless orchards of apricot, cherry, almond, peach, pear, apple, and plum trees that all bloom at various times beginning in the spring months.

As soon as you leave Yerevan heading south or west, the valley will open up before you, and you’ll see that there are lots of places where you can see blooming apricots and other fruit trees in the season. Of course, these orchards are all the private properties of local people. Don’t worry though – if an orchard is not fenced off, you can venture in, being respectful and keeping in mind that this isn’t just someone else’s property but also how they make their livelihood. That said, we advise against climbing trees or interacting with them in any way that can cause damage. If you do run into a local person while exploring the orchards, just let them know that you’re a tourist (most local people understand the word “tourist”). More often than not they’ll be glad for you to see the fruits of their labor. They may even invite you to their home for a cup of coffee, or a shot of fruit spirit (if they have apricot spirit, definitely try that)!

When to go

This is perhaps the trickiest of all factors when trying to experience Armenia’s apricot blossoms. Armenia doesn’t have a blossom tracker like Japan does (yet), but there are a couple telltale signs to figure out when apricots will be at peak bloom.

The first sign to look for is the sprouting of new flower buds. According to local knowledge, once the flower buds appear, and if temperatures don’t go below zero degrees celsius at night, the buds will be fully matured and blooming in about 2 weeks. This typically lands sometime in the month of March. But there’s a catch – the weather forecast can be pretty unpredictable in March, which is why local people call the month “crazy March” (the word for March in Armenian, mart, is very similar to the word for human, mard). Forecasts and temperatures can change dramatically in March – one day it could snow, and the next it could be sunny. This of course affects when fruit trees begin to blossom, and how long they will stay bloomed and beautiful before the flower petals begin to fall.

Assuming that temperatures remain steady, apricot trees begin to bloom 2 weeks after the flower buds appear, and they’ll stay bloomed for 7-10 days. That’s not a very long window of time to experience them, but luckily for you, Armenia’s elevation profile means that orchards at higher elevations bloom later than those in the Ararat Valley due to cooler temperatures.

If you’ve missed the blooms in Ararat and Armavir, try heading north to the Aragatsotn and Kotayk provinces where you should find late bloomers – expect them to be at peak bloom in the month of April. You can venture into the villages of Ohanavan and Saghmosavan to not only catch blooming orchards but also see trees directly in villagers’ yards blooming and decorating the rooftops and lining the narrow cobblestoned streets. There’s even a hiking trail that links the two villages that you can hike and enjoy the fresh mountain air perfumed by apricot blossoms.

What to do once there

What do you do once you’ve found that idyllic orchard that’s at peak bloom? Enjoy it! If you’re a planner, definitely pack a picnic lunch and any outdoor gear you may need to get comfortable, like an outdoor mat, blankets, pillows, and chairs. Do keep in mind though that these orchards are private property, so don’t get too comfortable. Always show the land and the trees the utmost respect, and if you do bring a picnic lunch with you, clean up after yourself and leave no trace behind.

If you’re not a planner, don’t worry. You’ll notice many makeshift stands along the highway where local villagers sell fruits and vegetables grown in their orchards and gardens. If you’re in need of snacks, or just want a taste of the delicious local fruit the Ararat Valley is known for, these stands are the best places to stop.

If you ask you may even get to see the very orchard where the fruit were grown! For more things to do in the Ararat area, including where to eat and sleep, check out our Ararat regional guide.