Tigran Varag
Hrachuhi Ayvazyan
Artsrun
Hiking guide
Favourite hike: Eastern Summit of Mount Aragats
Interesting fact about Artsrun: 50000 cells in my body died and were replaced by new ones, while you were reading this sentence
Few words about Artsrun: I like nature since my childhood, and I started to go to the mountains when I was 15 years old, and since then I never stopped. I’m always telling our guests about surrounding mountains, places of interest and stories about previous adventures. If everything goes as planned I also like showing something more to our guests that our route doesn’t include. I know how to keep calm during the extreme situations, and find fast way out.
Gor
Hiking Guide
Favourite hike: Northern Summit of Mount Aragats
Interesting fact about Gor: I always take with me coolest playlist with best blues, rock and folk music of Armenian and foreign artists. I have a tradition: I always buy a beer for me and my group after successful climb from the very first shop on the road back.
Few words about Gor: I like adventures and nature. I do trekkings and mountaineering from 16 years old. And now I started practicing endure biking as well. During our tours I always enjoy it as much as my tourists and my most favorite part is seeing your euphoria on the top of Aragats or Azhdahak mountains or when we reach to some uncharted waterfall or lake in the forests of Dilijan.
Hrach
Hiking Guide
Favorite hike: Baghatssar, Khustup (Though I could also say Tsrasar instead of these two)
Interesting fact about Hrach: I live… I love… I love waterfalls and the scenes from the tops.
Few words about Hrach: Hello, I’m Hrach, already Ara-Ivanyan. I have many dreams and after reaching any of them I find the new ones. The literature, especially Armenian literature, football, particularly English football and the mountains on that bank of river are my passions. As we are destined to live on the highland and our fields and forests are stretching up to the mountain, I also joined that crazy hike and I found friends that are even crazier than me. It has been 10 years that I do hiking in Armenian Highland. I cannot describe the scenes, let along transfer my impressions but I can definitely recommend you: do hiking, climb up and discover your real potential.
Karen
Hiking Guide, SUP instructor
Favorite hike: Khustup Mountain and The Northern summit of Aragats
Interesting fact about Karen: The important ingredients of my life are mountains and water. They feed my soul
Few words about Karen: I’m a trainer and a pedagogue by profession and as a person. My dreams always come true in an interesting way. When it seems like the important doors are closed definitely a hole is opened and the end seems like going out of the cage. In this way I appeared in this list. For me the safety is the sponsor of craziness and the craziness is the fuel of the life.
Garnik
Hiking Guide
Favorite hike: Tsakkar Lake
Interesting fact about Garnik: Gardening makes me happy and calm
Few words about Garnik: My first hike to the mountain was with my grandfather, when I was 5-6 years old. Since I live in the village (Gugark), I have always been in touch with nature. The village is in the mountains. I always wanted to climb them, to discover more. Since I have always loved it, I decided to become a hiker. Then I wanted to share my knowledge and experience in this field. I think that hikers are like apostles whose mission is to involve as many people as possible in hiking. In Vanadzor I am engaged in the production and sale of flowers, and the goal of becoming a mountain guide is to spread the hiking culture in our region (Lori).
Gevorg
Hiking Guide
Favourite hike: Mt. Azhdahak
Interesting fact about Gevorg: Any dish prepared by Gevorg is inexplicably delicious.
Few words about Gevorg: In the lap of nature, I become the most peaceful and carefree person. I consider myself a part of the mountains and, willy-nilly, connect all my life’s goals with mountaineering. I can confidently say that I wouldn’t trade anything in the world for mountain climbs and the views from their summits. There are feelings that you can never describe with either words or pictures. That’s why you should just start hiking, and after that, it will be impossible not to love the mountains. Also, I want you to know that mountains are like magnets; they always attract you.
Lilit
Hiking Guide
Favourite hike: Eastern peak of Mt. Aragats
Interesting fact about Lilit: My homeland was the rocky Sasun, where valleys transform into canyons, and mountain peaks – into ravines.
Few words about Lilit: I am a biologist by profession, closely connected to nature and the animal world. However, my love for nature dates back to my childhood years. As a child, I would often join my friends in embarking on little outdoor trips. The view of mountains has always inspired me, giving me the joy of life. I learnt a lot about how to appreciate the beauty of nature and gain indescribable strength from it. Once during a very difficult period of life, my grandfather took a look at the Sasna Mountains and said, ‘Today it is cloudy on our mountain; tomorrow the sun will rise again.’ This has become my life motto, guiding my journey.
Lena
Hiking Guide
Favourite hike: Mt. Khosrovasar, the Western Peak of Aragats, and those summits I’ve never visited before.
Interesting fact about Lena: I bought a ticket to Cambodia and stayed there for one year.
Few words about Lena: I returned to Armenia five years ago. I’m still learning Armenian, and sometimes I mix up the endings. All the unforgettable experiences in my life are connected with nature: getting stuck in a swamp, driving through the tundra, falling into a gorge, walking through the jungle, swimming in ice holes, living in the Arctic Circle, and seeing the ocean. I believe that there is no such thing as bad weather; I value every season equally. Hiking provides strength, wisdom, and character. And, you can also find yourself there!
Arthur
Hiking Guide
Favourite hike: Through the Aregunu Mountains to Gosh Lake.
Interesting fact about Arthur: I go to the mountains by bicycle, leave it at the foot, and then climb to the top.
Few words about Arthur: I am a tourism specialist by profession, but I don’t like this “dull” type of tours much. I prefer living an active life. At first when I had moved from my native village to the urban site, I didn’t know if there were any travel agencies which organized expeditions. As a proverb goes, you don’t appreciate what you have until you lose it. After moving from Koghb to Yerevan I started to feel disconnected from nature, and hiking was the activity that really helped me.
I enjoy expressing myself in various ways: by making photos, painting, blogging. I have never liked these boring urban views since I heard nature calling for me.
Gagik
Hiking Guide
Favourite hike: Mt. Khustup, Mt. Azhdahak
Interesting fact about Gagik: Everyone thinks I am from Lichk village, but I am actually from Meghri.
Few words about Gagik: My grandfather was my first guide. He used to take me from Lichk village to see some mountain views in the summertime. Even though my grandfather is gone, I still have memories of the places we explored together. I really appreciate the moment we were having fresh mushrooms as a lunch beneath a solitary tree. So guiding people to the mountains I want to share with them things I learnt from my grandfather, who was a real mountain lover.
The beauty of mountains is timeless so I hope everyone may have this experience.
Arthur
Hiking Guide
Favourite hike: Mt. Aragats, Mt. Azhdahak, Khachaghbyur gorge to Okonavank monastery.
Interesting fact about Arthur: Come on a hike with me, and you will know.
Few words abour Arthur: As I am a programmer I work in the office during the week. That is why I prefer to spend my weekends outdoors. Mountains have always called me. I spent my childhood and youth in the Ararat Valley enjoying the views of Ararat and Aragats, two giant mounts. I will always remember the moment I climbed Aragats for the first time. I encourage people to step out of their comfort zone and climb a mountain at least once.
Taguhi
Hiking Guide
Favourite hike: Mt. Khustup
Interesting fact about Taguhi: I hate rainy weather in the city, but I love it when it starts to rain while I’m hiking.
Few words about Taguhi: I work as an IT project manager and spend most of the time in the office. I’ve found a way to reduce the stress and boost my energy which is to be closer to nature. The idea of climbing a mountain never crossed my mind until 2020. I’ve explored a number of mountains and valleys of Armenia to discover the beauty of my homeland and totally fall in love with it.
Hayk
Hiking Guide
Favourite hike: Mt. Khustup, Mt. Masis
Interesting fact about Hayk: I am an engineer, but my true passion is musicy.
Few words about Hayk: Initially I started hiking just to explore unknown parts of my homeland. But then it has become more than a hobby. Hiking has become a really significant part of my life. A mountain hiker’s way of life provides me with a unique opportunity to discover Armenia and myself.
Areg
Hiking Guide
Favourite hike: All the summits of Mount Aragats.
Interesting fact about Areg: I love Aragats so much that I named my Rock Band after it!
Few words about Areg: From Monday to Friday, I work in the IT field as an HR-specialist. After work, I try to dedicate as much time as possible to music. I play the electric guitar and love listening to analog music (vinyl, cassette). I’m crazy about 70s British rock bands. After a long week, I escape to the mountains to recharge and find new inspiration.
Nona
Hiking Guide
Favourite hike: Every hike is uniquely beautiful and deeply cherished.
Interesting fact about Nona: I am a big fan of football and professional tennis.
Few words about Nona: I am 26 years old and have been actively hiking for 1.5 years, only with ArmGeo. I have a dog (Akita, and no, its name is not Hachiko). I love books, space, football, professional tennis, and listening to the interesting thoughts of interesting people. I firmly believe that people change in the mountains, and once they return, they are never the same again.
Tatevik
Hiking Guide
Favourite hike: The Yeranos’ long route, the North Summit of Aragats.
Interesting fact about Tatevik: Before hiking, I was the most sedentary person in the world.
Few words about Tatevik: I am an accountant, I practice yoga, I love swimming, traveling, trying interesting foods, and reading books. I am a huge cinephile, I love animals, and at the same time, I’ve had both a dog and a cat… I’ve also had turtles named Raphael and Michelangelo. I started hiking in 2022, which has been one of the best decisions of my life. My favorite region in Armenia is Lori, as I was born there…
Ani
Hiking Guide
Favourite hike: In Armenia, Khustup from Verin Vachagan.
Interesting fact about Ani: During my first ascent of Mount Ararat, I was forced to go down from 4800 meters, but I reached the summit no matter what, and after that, I climbed several other 5000+ meter peaks.
Few words about Ani: I work in IT from Monday to Friday, and disconnect from the world on weekends. I have been hiking for 6 years, I am a peak enthusiast, and I love discovering new things and gaining new experiences in different fields.
Krist
Cultural Guide
Favourite hike: Mount Qajkar, Vorotan Gorge.
Interesting fact about Krist: I have a mountain unofficially named after me.
Few words about Krist: I have always been interested in hiking and wanted to participate, but never took the first step. I remember wanting to go to Azhdahak with ArmGeo back in 2018. After COVID, I decided to become a guide, completed the necessary training, and started working. However, one day, while hiking to Tsaghats Kar, I realized that through hiking, one can better understand and discover their own country than through classic tours, and I decided to shift my focus to hiking combined with culture. Now, as a guide of ArmGeo, I have fulfilled my 2018 dream.
Gohar
Hiking Guide
Favourite hike: Mount Azhdahak, and I am sure it will remain in the top position.
Interesting fact about Gohar: People say I can view images from different angles (and photograph them), and I am a selenophile— the Moon lover.
Few words about Gohar: I am Gohar, a physicist by profession. I work as a programmer at DataArt and live as a photographer and a hiker. I decided to start hiking very spontaneously. My goal was to reach Ararat. My first mountain was the second summit of the Geghama Mountains, Spitakasar, and since then, I haven’t been able to be away from the mountains… Through hiking, I met the best friends of my life, had the most memorable days, and, of course, started to understand and love my homeland more deeply. The mountains taught me to be more persistent, determined, patient, and to think of new heights, both as a hiker and in daily life. In topological space, the infimum point is at the peak of the mountain; life, self-discovery, and infinity begin from there.
Marush
Hiking Guide
Favourite hike: At the moment, Mount Dimats, but I believe my answer to this question will change very soon.
Interesting fact about Marush: I love to plan everything, but the best moments of my life turn out to be quite random, and it was by chance that I became a hiking guide.
Few words about Marush: I’m Marush, but I have nothing to do with the delicious pastry shop you all are familiar with)) I love nature and people in nature. My favorite moment during hikes is drinking coffee on the summit. I have many hobbies, one of which is solving puzzles and photographing people with a film camera. If we hike together, my camera might just smile at you)) Oh, and I forgot to mention that I’m crazy about our homeland.