Antuan Ananyan, Vice President of the Armenian Federation of Alpinism and Mountain Tourism, has spent decades of his life in the mountains. He is actively involved in the development of mountaineering and adventure tourism in Armenia. His love for mountains and cliffs led him to Vayots Dzor, a place that became not only his favorite destination but also a space where ideas were brought to life.
Here, in the mountains of Areni community, Antuan has created the "Sareni" adventure center, where people can not only relax, but also participate in rock climbing, caving tours, hiking, and meditations.
"Initially, the idea for us was to create a corner where climbers and like-minded people would come and unwind. Then, we decided to transform it into a tourist destination where anyone, even those, who are not involved in sports, could enjoy a peaceful rest in nature. What makes this place unique is that it is completely disconnected from society. This is where Hrashqaberd is located,” Antuan Ananyan said in an interview with EcoLur.
The idea for “Sareni” was born within the framework of “White Irbis” club, which was also founded by Antuan Ananyan. “White Irbis” was established under the Federation and offers advanced training in mountaineering and adventure tourism, including ascents, rock climbing, and diving. Antuan emphasizes that with the state support, adventure tourism has great potential in Armenia.
“The field is currently underdeveloped and progressing slowly, step by step, but the potential is huge. Right now, it is mostly individuals working in this sector. We, for example, buy gear from our own salaries and leave it on the cliffs so other young people can use it for training and climbing,” he said.
According to Antuan, for foreign tourists — especially Germans, Spanish and French — Armenia has long been known since the 1990s as a destination for hiking, historical, and cultural tourism. “Armenia is quite well-known in that sense, but it’s only now beginning to emerge as a destination for cycling, rock climbing, and caving,” he noted.
The development of “Sareni” was supported by the Living Landscapes for Market Development in Armenia (LILA) project, thanks to which a second cabin was built, and solar panels and technical equipment were provided. However, according to Antuan, the most important part is to connect the people with each other.
“LILA connected us with other small businesses and passed on skills and knowledge in business management, hospitality, and food safety. We often do not know each other even when we work in the same areas. LILA helped us connect and learn how to support one another,” he said.
Today, “Sareni” has started generating movement within the Areni community.
Antuan Ananyan added, “we’ve begun using local services — involving villagers in hospitality and using their produce”.
Antuan also acknowledges that Armenia still lacks a well-established culture of environmental responsibility. He hopes that “Sareni” will become a platform for teaching respectful behavior toward nature.
The Living Landscapes for Market Development in Armenia LILA is a conservation and sustainable tourism development project, which is implemented by the World Wide Fund for Nature Armenian office (WWF Armenia) and the Strategic Development Agency NGO (SDA). The project is funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
April 18, 2025 at 14:38