Your Portion of Adventures in Armenia
When visiting Armenia, you can enjoy the still-unknown taste and aroma of the country, spend wonderful time in a warm and hospitable environment, and leave impressed with the intention of returning again. By the way, adventure Armenia is no less interesting—here everyone can find their own recipe of adventures in the right portion. Extreme leisure options exist for enjoying an adventurous fairytale. There are a variety of offers—just choose the one that suits you, enjoy it, and infect everyone with your bright emotions.
Rafting – real adrenaline
Looking for adventure, adrenaline, and unforgettable memories? The destination is Lori Province. You will go rafting on the Debed River in the green Lori region of Armenia, with a route length of 12 km and duration of 1 hour 20 minutes.
Services of Rafting in Armenia (tel. +374 94 129013) and Rafting Republic (tel. +374 77 090916) include equipment provision, experienced instructors, and insurance.
The 1 hour 20 minutes will feel like a moment. You should go rafting at least once in your life—why? Because in a very short time you will receive incredible, diverse emotions. Along the river you can see beautiful natural corners, understand your level of physical fitness, and simply enjoy contact with nature.
Oh, I forgot—be sure to bring a change of clothes. Girls, rafting doesn’t like makeup.
Canyoning – conquering the gorges
Sometimes travel impressions exceed your expectations—and canyon adventures are exactly from that category. Canyoning is a mixture of hiking, rock climbing, and active routes through cold water, wrapped in a ribbon of vivid emotions.
Canyoning is one of the wettest types of extreme entertainment.
Location: Devil’s Bridge, Syunik Province, about 4 hours from Yerevan. Ahead awaits a 2–2.5 hour adventure, during which you will rappel with ropes, jump into water from a 5-meter height, slide on natural water slides, and of course swim.
For first-timers, I should mention that the skilled instructor of Scream of soul (tel. +374 93 835959) will introduce several rules at the beginning of the canyoning route. By following them, you will get a large dose of adrenaline, enjoyment of the process, and beautiful landscapes visible only through this sport.
The canyoning starts with a descent from about 20 meters using ropes. Believe me, even for the view alone it is worth descending from 100 meters. All fears and panic disappear. The price per person is 20,000 AMD (48 EUR).
And only at the bottom do you understand why locals considered this place built by the hand of the devil. The natural bridges are astonishing monuments formed over centuries.
Zipline – a bundle of emotions
Here, anyone can feel like a hero. It doesn’t matter whether you are a beginner, amateur, or professional in extreme sports—entertainment options with varying difficulty levels are available for everyone. Just choose where to start.
The offer is wide:
In Byurakan (ZipWine Byurakan, 25 km from Yerevan; includes a wine tasting center; ticket price 8,000 AMD / 19 EUR),
In Kapan (GrandHouse, +374 93 212000), where Armenia’s longest zipline is located. It takes about 5 hours to get there, but the beauty of the road won’t let you get bored. This zipline is unique even in the world because it passes over the city and an intercity road. Ticket price: 15,000 AMD (35.90 EUR).
In Yenokavan (Yell Extreme Park, +374 41 010030), located in Tavush Province, 142 km from Yerevan. Adventure ticket price for adults is 20,000 AMD (48 EUR), for children under 13 it is 16,000 AMD (38.50 EUR). The ticket allows you to use the zipline, adventure park, and via ferrata in one day. Five different cable flights at heights of 150–200 m with lengths of 135 m, 200 m, 268 m, 375 m, and 750 m.
In Tsaghkadzor (Tsakhkadzor Zipline, +374 43 292900), maximum height reaches 130 m, ticket price 10,000 AMD.
In Tatev (Rope Land, +374 44 166911), flight route length is 2.5 km, height 126–127 m, price 12,000 AMD (28.75 EUR).
In Dilijan, and of course in Yerevan (Yerevan Zipline Airlines). The first route is approximately 870 m, the second is 650 m. This is the only zipline in the world that passes under a bridge. Ticket price: 14,000 AMD (33.50 EUR).
Before the flight, you are introduced to safety rules and participation conditions. Incredible views open during the flight. Each flight has its own unique bundle of sensations—they never repeat. If you have time, try several—you will see what I mean.
Hiking – enjoying nature in centimeters
The mountainous country offers a variety of hiking options for everyone.
Armenia is unique in its kind—legends, myths, traditions, stories, views, and a sense of mystery. Traveling here, you encounter places with beautiful names and stories. If you want to get closer to legends, I recommend including Mount Azhdahak, Aragats, and Khustup in your list. Their unusual beauty leaves a long-lasting impression. Azhdahak is snow-covered most of the year and has a beautiful crater lake at its summit. One of the most impressive mountains is Aragats, whose northern peak is the highest point in Armenia, and Khustup rising in Syunik. The expression “blinded by beauty” can only truly be understood in these mountains.
I don’t even know how to convey a piece of the luxury of Armenia’s mountains to you—I keep choosing colors and shades in my mind again and again, but it’s useless. These are places that are spoken about silently, only felt.
Hiking clubs are in high demand among both foreigners and locals. I highlight Armenian Geographic (+374 43 005165), ArmLand (+374 44 880058), Trichq (+374 96 814211), North Peak Mountain Club (+374 93 850385), Chanaparhord (+374 91 321211), Armenian Discovery (+374 94 113989), Hatis (+374 93 554595).
I also share the HikeArmenia (+374 11 445326) hiking app with ready routes and short descriptions. It is very convenient and free to download. Through the app you can also use mountain guide services—just choose the direction and difficulty level.
In 2018, CNN Travel included Armenia in the list of the best hiking tourism routes, stating that some of Europe’s best hiking trails are located here. The 11-day Transcaucasian Trail allows you to discover Armenia and Silk Road routes, connecting UNESCO-protected Sanahin and Haghpat monasteries, passing through mountain trails and green forests, and offering hikes in the Geghama mountains and ascent of Aragats.
I also share two platforms: Camp.am (Arshaki 1, Yerevan), where you can buy and rent missing equipment, and Shopme.am (H. Kochar 7), where you can also complete your tourist gear.
Armenia from a bird’s eye view
If you have experience in paragliding, you know each flight has its own unique memories, and you don’t need wings to fly. In a few seconds you find yourself at 1000 m altitude. Panic disappears after the third minute of flight. From an unfamiliar perspective, incredible, beautiful, and unique views open up.
It is difficult for me to share the feelings I experienced because they are very different for every flyer. I can say that I lost my sense of time in the sky. I understood that a paraglider in the sky is like a bird. And like everything else, the sky also has character. Most often it is kind and gentle, but careless and thoughtless behavior can change everything. If you “win the heart of the sky,” it rewards you with countless unforgettable moments.
For a calm flight at 1000 meters, you can contact Sky Club Armenia (+374 98 055119) and Aero Club Armenia Paragliding Club (+374 98 002828). The price is 45,000–55,000 AMD (107.80–131.75 EUR), including transportation and GoPro filming. You can discover Armenia’s beauty almost every day, but it is truly more beautiful from a bird’s eye view.
Diving into the depths
60 km away from Yerevan, you arrive at Lake Sevan, one of the largest high-altitude freshwater lakes in the world. It is an excellent place for high-altitude diving. Underwater there are about 250 species of plants and fish found only in Sevan. Dive and see everything you cannot see elsewhere.
If you want to learn technical diving, Sevan is the best place to start, as its terrain, water temperature, and depth are suitable. ArmDiving (+374 91 40-93-20) can help with that. Water transparency varies by season and weather but can reach 4–10 meters. At the bottom of the lake there are stromatolites, considered among the oldest living organisms in the world. Very few places in the world still preserve them.
Water adventures do not end here—windsurfing and wakeboarding are also available in Sevan. Don’t hesitate—approach the youth, they will guide you to Armenian Camp (+374 99 003991), where you can rent equipment. Kayaking and SUP boarding are also available. If you are thinking of spending one day in Sevan—yes, do it. You won’t get bored. Just bring warm clothes; it gets cold quickly in the evening.
Adventure journey into the depths of the earth
If you are a fan of extreme sports, beauty, and peace, then cave exploration is for you. At least once in life, a cave journey should be planned. In Vayots Dzor Province, about 2 hours from Yerevan, you can visit several caves at once: Bird’s Cave, Areni-1 Cave, or Magellan Cave, one of the largest caves in Armenia, whose beauty will stay in your heart for a long time.
Caving in Armenia is organized by Arm Speleo Team AST (+374 95 597585) and Armenian Speleo Club: Black Bat (+374 77 966115).
Maybe that one time will become continuous, and if not, it will definitely remain an interesting experience unlike anything else.
The taste of Armenia – with a jump
If you love extreme sports and feel the taste of life through risk, then definitely include rope jumping in your trip. Before the “start,” the Scream of soul team (+374 93 835959) will introduce you to safety rules. Ready to jump?
Price: 20,000 AMD (48 EUR), without transportation. The canyon called “Hell’s Gorge,” where the jumps take place, is not far from Yerevan. By the way, these rocks are also suitable for rock climbing. I know you’re surprised—being a mountainous country, rock climbing is still a developing sport here.
Enjoy
High cliffs are very favorable for developing more stable rock climbing packages for guests visiting the country in the future. Of course, we already have a climbing community—you can connect with them through the Alpine and Mountain Tourism Federation of Armenia (+374 98 911000). The Federation also handles rescue operations registration, meaning you can share your coordinates and go on your chosen route with peace of mind.
And in general, if you have questions, you can call any of the above clubs. Remember—we are all ready to help and make your vacation unforgettable. Before you come to Armenia, you are a guest, but here—you are a member of our big family.
The article was prepared for Travel34
Main photo by Hrachuhi Ayvazyan
