Shirak Marz is in the northwest corner of Armenia. The region is flatter and higher than much of the country, with long, cold winters — and a welcome relief from the heat of Yerevan in August. Gyumri, Armenia's second largest city, is the main destination.
The climate is less hospitable than elsewhere in Armenia, and the region is less developed, but Gyumri has genuine character — it was the largest city in Armenia before incorporation into the USSR. This being Armenia, there are also a few outstanding monasteries in the surrounding countryside.