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→Personal Experiences
== Personal Experiences ==
"The current system of getting your visa at the checkpoint makes life much easier. Just remind the driver that you need to step out at the checkpoint (Armenians aren't required to fill in any papers you see). As other posters mention below, make sure to have the name of a guesthouse to write down. Easy.
Stepanakert is easy to get around on foot, so depending on where you intend to go, just walk to the edge of town. Traffic between Stepanakert and Shushi is the heaviest in the region. I always carried signs, written in Cyrillic, which I found a great help. Stating the name of the place with a raised intonation is always a good reassurance... the driver will usually nod with a smile. Drivers here are very used to hitchhikers. While very little English is spoken, friendliness is palpable. However, there's no doubt that lacking knowledge of the Russian language was undoubtedly a drawback for me.
While you're normally never waiting more than 15 mins for a ride around Stepanakert & Shushi, on quieter days like Sundays be prepared to wait. When hitching back to Goris I stood for over 1hr on the highway beside the junction for Shushi (where I'd catch traffic coming from both towns). Of course everyone going past the junction is continuing all the way to Goris (maybe even Yerevan), so once someone picks you up you're sorted for the foreseeable future. Hitching to Agdam is possible (you'll get dropped off on the highway nearby), but unless you speak Russian or Armenian gaining entry is going to be difficult. The security forces are no longer permitting people to roam around the city, given the understandable sensitivity involved.
Random, perhaps irrelevant observation of mine.... people here tend to stare at you quite a lot (much more than Armenia proper). Being black haired and sallow skinned, I'm not sure why, but can only imagine it could be a little unnerving for female travellers. " - [[User:jamesor2|jamesor2]] (Visited May 2019)
"The people are friendly, fiercely hospitable, and perpetually intoxicated. Almost every car that passes will stop, and many drivers will go out of their way to help you reach your destination. You will be offered free food, snacks, and alcohol (and you won't be allowed to refuse!). Nagorno-Karabakh is sparsely populated and there are few cars on the road, especially in the north. After sundown there are no cars on the roads between cities. It is also possible to hitchhike into the abandoned city of Agdam, where military recruits will greet you with enthusiasm. Despite the region's excessive hospitality, waiting times can be long given the sparsity of cars on the road, and drive times (especially in the north) are long due to poor road conditions. I hitchhiked all of Armenia and Karabakh, entering the territory from the south, passing through Stepanakert and Agdam, and exiting through the north to Vardenis. I absolutely recommend hitchhiking in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, however, pack a tent or arrange accommodations, as the northern stretch of Karabakh is almost devoid of settlements." - [[User:vmpfc1|vmpfc1]]
" When I arrived I was suprised that I need a visa but finally it was very easy. You have to just fill some papers, pay 3000 AMD(6 euros) and that´s it. In papers you should write where you´re staying, but don´t worry I wrote there just "camping" and no one cares. Karabakh is really nice country. It´s similar to Armenia but it´s more in mountains and country is a litlle bit poorer. Locals are very hospitable and nice. Roads are not very good but almost everyone takes you. In Soushi you can find 2 empty mosques and one of them has open minaret so you can climb up and there is fucking nice view, let´s check it!" (Král všech moří, Semptember 2016)
I recently travelled to Karabakh, in May 2017. As a solo female traveller, who has hitch hiked alone in quite a few countries, it was the first time I felt afraid at times. Many times men touched my leg, and/or asked for sex. While I was hiking along the Janapar trail a man invited me to his home for lunch with his family. I have experienced this type of hospitality in Central Asia, and I never had any problems, so I happily accepted his invitation.
I also met many kind, friendly people, so overall, it was good, but sometimes it was difficult.
I heard from another solo, female traveller that she had similar problems, so I decided to post my experiences, because I think its important to just be aware and cautious. Generally, i had more problems in the more isolated places, often with Sheppards.
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