Armenia by International Mountain Leader Paul Walley
I live and work in Armenia, heading up the outdoor education program at UWC Dilijan, an international school with 81 different nationalities. The possibilities for outdoor activities here are almost endless, ranging from volcanoes, to limestone gorges tucked away in forested valleys and pretty much everything in between. We have strong seasons with cold, snowy winters, providing plenty of opportunities for snowshoeing and skiing, and hiking and mountain biking throughout the warmer months. With peaks reaching up to 4090 metres there really is something for everyone here!
How easy is it to get to?
Unfortunately, there are no direct flights yet from the UK, although various airlines fly here with one change. So, it normally takes 8 to 9 hours from the UK to get here. Once here, taxis are cheap and the local minibuses, Marshrutka, are even cheaper!
Can you tell us about the most memorable moment of a recent trip?
On a recent four day hiking and camping trip through a wilderness area to the north of the school we camped by a remote farm one night. The family who lived there invited all of us in for coffee straight after we’d set our tents up. They invited us back again in the morning for fresh milk straight from the cow and homemade cheese and bread. An absolutely amazing experience for the students getting a real glimpse into rural life here.
On a solo trip in the summer I got invited by shepherds, living up at 3000 metres in a remote area, to come in for Khash, a local stew/delicacy involving most parts of a sheep, which I’d just seen them slaughter on the end of their summer hut! Then after this they showed me a hot spring tucked away which you could soak in with stunning views of the mountains all around, another absolutely amazing experience!
What are your top tips for anyone travelling to this area?
Try and avoid drinking too much homemade vodka! See as much of the country as possible as there’s so much different terrain here. There’s plenty of potential for week long hikes and chances of seeing people other than shepherds or farmers out in the mountains is very low!
What else is there to do, other than mountaineering, in this area?
The area is great for birding with plenty of migratory birds passing through here every year. You can see birds of prey throughout the year, including Golden Eagles and Vultures. There’s good ski-touring in the winter if you know where to look and stunning mountain bike trails through some high mountains in the summers. There’s also a pretty much endless supply of churches and monasteries tucked away high up in the countryside.
Are there any dangers or annoyances here?
Life is not always easy for females here. It’s definitely worth hiking and camping in groups rather than as a solo female traveller.
There are large animals such as bears and wolves here even though the chance of coming across one is very slim. I’ve seen wolves a few times but I have only seen bear prints, not the real thing.
You can message Paul on Facebook or email paulwalley@gmail.com – and find more pictures of the region on Instagram @pablokiev.
