Would you ever board a flight with no known endpoint? No, this is not the plot of a thriller; it is a real experience offered by Hungarian airline Wizz Air. A journalist, Niamh Kirk, took on this challenge and ended up discovering a new up-and-coming city break destination.
All she was told was to get to Luton Airport for 7am for a 9am flight, and that the destination would have a temperature between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius. As a chronic overpacker and overthinker, ceding such control was no easy feat. Arriving at the airport, she looked for clues but found none. Her boarding pass simply said 'unknown', and even the departure boards listed 'unknown' as the destination, causing confusion among other passengers.
The airline had the flight removed from FlightRadar to prevent curious travellers from sneaking a peek online. The crafty planners at Wizz Air were committed to the surprise. Buckled up, the flight took off. Three hours in, she looked out of the window to see snowy-topped mountains. It could have been anywhere. Just over five hours after takeoff, the plane descended. The cabin crew finally made the big reveal: they had landed in Yerevan, Armenia.
Arrival in Armenia
Walking off the plane, she was hit with a blast of heat that melted her worries away. The city is nicknamed the 'pink city' and has a bustling feel, surrounded by mountains and greenery. The trip was in collaboration with the Armenian tourist board, and it is safe to say the people of Armenia love their country. It is a nation with strong patriotism and a complex modern history, having been under Soviet rule until the 1990s and at war with neighbouring Azerbaijan as recently as two years ago. As Armenia emerges from its troubles, it is beginning to flourish, with beautiful nature, historic temples, and impressive churches sitting side by side.
Local Cuisine and Wine
After the long mystery flight, it was time to tuck into local food. The cuisine centres on roasted vegetables, fresh flatbreads, grilled meats, and wine. She particularly enjoyed lavash, a traditional flatbread baked in a clay oven, and sarma, grape leaves stuffed with rice and meat. Armenia is a big exporter of wine, so a tour of the local winery in Yerevan was in order. At the Armenian Wine Company, she saw how different glasses of vino are made and sampled some; they were light-bodied and smooth. The country also exports brandy, with Ararat Brandy being a popular local drink, known for its strength.
Religious and Historical Sites
Aside from food, religion is a core plank of Armenian culture. Over four days, she visited several remarkable spiritual sites. First was the Garni Temple, an old pagan ruin on a cliff edge overlooking the Azat River gorge. Next was the Geghard Monastery, a unique cathedral carved into the cliffs, where choir singers performed. She also saw the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin church, built in the 4th century and the oldest state-built church in the world. To visit these landmarks, one would need to rent a car or join a guided tour, as they are not within walking distance and public transport is limited.
Accommodation and City Life
Her hotel for the weekend was the DoubleTree by Hilton, located in the heart of Yerevan. It offers beautiful views of Mount Ararat, spacious modern rooms, a luxury spa, gym, and sauna. The city itself is vibrant, with stone buildings that are older than Rome, bustling coffee shops, restaurants, shops, and bars where a beer costs around £1.50. While Armenia had never been on her radar, she is happy to have experienced life there and is excited to watch it become more popular.
Wizz Air flies from Luton to Yerevan on Mondays and Fridays from June 8, with one-way fares from £45.99.
