Yes, you can go paragliding in Armenia, and you need no experience to do it. Two Yerevan-based clubs fly tandem passengers from hills around Mount Hatis, Lake Sevan, Aparan, Tsaghkadzor and Vedi, usually for 10 to 30 minutes, with a pilot doing all the work. In 2025–2026 listings a standard flight cost roughly 45,000–65,000 AMD, often including the drive from Yerevan and a GoPro video.
We are a Yerevan tour team, not a paragliding club, so this guide is built from what the clubs publish and what visitors report, and we say where information is thin. It is a small scene with a handful of pilots and flights that depend entirely on the wind, so treat it as a flexible extra, not the fixed highlight of a tight itinerary.
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| Main take-off areas | Mount Hatis (Kotayk), hills above Lake Sevan, Teghenis above Tsaghkadzor, Aparan, Vedi and the Azat reservoir |
| Who flies tandems | Mainly Aero Club Armenia and Sky Club, both based in Yerevan |
| Flight time | Usually 10–30 minutes; longer only on good thermal days |
| Price (2025–2026 listings) | Around 45,000–65,000 AMD for 10–20 minutes; up to about 150,000 AMD for an hour or a cross-country flight |
| Season | Mostly May to November; clubs fly year-round when the weather allows |
| Best time of day | Morning; summer afternoons are bumpy |
| Weight | About 40–100 kg without issues (Sky Club); outside that, ask in advance |
| Experience needed | None for a tandem flight |
| Video | GoPro footage is usually included; check on the cheapest option |
Where can you go paragliding in Armenia?
There is no single famous launch. Pilots choose between several hills within one to two hours of Yerevan and decide on the morning which one suits the wind. The sites below appear on the clubs’ own websites or in 2025–2026 listings.
Mount Hatis (Kotayk)
The most-used site close to Yerevan. Hatis is an isolated volcanic cone northeast of the capital, near Abovyan. Aero Club Armenia lists four take-off areas on it, from about 1,675 m up to the summit at around 2,495 m, reached by 4×4 on dirt tracks, with wide flat fields for landing. The club notes that spring and late autumn give the best conditions here, while summer air is dry and turbulent.
Lake Sevan shore
The hills above the western shore near Tsovagyugh village are often described as the main tandem site: easy access by car, generally smooth air and the blue lake beneath you. The lake itself lies at about 1,900 m, so it is noticeably cooler than Yerevan (around 1,000 m).
Teghenis above Tsaghkadzor
Teghenis is the mountain behind the Tsaghkadzor ski resort, and both clubs list it as a take-off. Aero Club mentions that cars or a ropeway bring passengers up to take-off areas, which fits the resort’s lifts. Kecharis monastery is in the town below.
Aparan and the Kasakh canyon
North of Yerevan, the open, high hills around Aparan and the upper Kasakh canyon are listed by both clubs. We could not find a 2025–2026 source naming Mount Arailer specifically as a launch, so do not book expecting that particular peak.
Vedi and the Azat reservoir
In Ararat province, small hills near Vedi and above the Azat reservoir are used, with Mount Ararat filling the horizon. Aero Club calls Vedi a small site.
Dilijan, Buzhakan, Yeghvard and others
Sky Club also lists Dilijan, Buzhakan and Yeghvard, and one resale listing adds Haghartsin and Garni. Experienced pilots also fly Mount Gutan and the hills above Yenokavan in Tavush.
What about Garni and Jermuk? Garni appears only as one option in a third-party listing, and we found no current evidence of tandem flights from the Garni (Azat) gorge itself or from Jermuk. If an operator offers either, ask exactly where the take-off is.
Who offers tandem paragliding in Armenia?
Two clubs do most of the tandem flying. Both are named in independent overviews of the sport and both appear in 2025–2026 listings:
- Aero Club Armenia (Armenian Paragliding Club): a paragliding and hang-gliding club with its own flight school. Its tandem flights page lists Hatis, Aparan and Sevan for tandems, plus Teghenis and Vedi.
- Sky Club Armenia: operating since 2009 and says it has flown more than 10,000 tandem passengers with licensed pilots. Its meeting point is Hostel Glide on Kalents Street in Yerevan, and its flights are also resold on international booking platforms. Details are on skyclub.am.
Some Yerevan agencies and adventure clubs also list paragliding and usually book one of these pilots; just ask who will actually fly you. The first paraglider flights in Armenia took place in 1996, and the Armenian Paragliding Sport Federation was founded in 2008.
How much does a tandem flight cost, and how long is it?
These are prices as we found them, rounded. Confirm the current price and what is included before you book:
- Aero Club Armenia: 55,000 AMD, including transport and GoPro filming. The average flight lasts about 20 minutes and gains around 300 m, depending on the weather.
- Sky Club (2026 listing): about 45,000 AMD for 10 minutes and 65,000 AMD for 20 minutes, plus 3,000–5,000 AMD for the transfer; about 90,000 AMD for 30 minutes and 150,000 AMD for up to an hour or a cross-country flight of up to 50 km.
- International booking platforms: a similar flight sold as a package from around USD 180 per person in a 2026 review, including transfer, video, insurance and a flight certificate.
Booking directly in drams is clearly cheaper; a platform gives you an English booking process and a written refund policy. Plan on half a day. Flights are sometimes cut to about 10 minutes when there are no thermals; that is the air, not the pilot cutting corners.
When is the best time to go paragliding in Armenia?
Most flying happens from May to November, though the clubs advertise flights in every season when conditions allow. For tandem passengers, late spring (May–June) and September–October are the sweet spots: green or golden hills, more stable air and comfortable temperatures. See our guide to weather in Armenia.
Mornings are best. Summer heat makes the air bumpy from late morning, and Aero Club notes that on Hatis the evening wind turns in July–September. Clubs usually meet in the morning, and the platform version of the Sky Club trip picks up around 6:00. Expect a chilly wait at take-off.
Weight, age and health: who can fly?
No club page we found states a hard maximum, but Sky Club’s FAQ says passengers between about 40 and 100 kg fly without issues; if you are outside that range, tell them in advance. Under-18s need parental permission and children must be accompanied by an adult, and Sky Club asks to be told about passengers over 60. Platform listings say the flight is not recommended for people with heart problems or other serious medical conditions, or during pregnancy. You need to manage a few running steps at take-off.
Aero Club adds three simple rules: do not fly after drinking alcohol, while you are ill, or when there is smoke in the air. Give your real weight: the pilot picks the wing and launch technique by it.
What happens on the day, and what if the weather is bad?
- You book in advance. The pilot watches the forecast, which is only reliable two or three days ahead, and proposes a date, time and site.
- You meet in Yerevan and drive to the take-off, usually one to two hours.
- Short briefing, harness and helmet on, a few running steps and you are airborne.
- In smooth air the pilot may let you steer briefly, but never during take-off or landing.
Strong or wrong-direction wind, rain, storms or low cloud mean no flight, and a good pilot cancels without hesitation. Platforms typically offer a new date or a full refund when weather cancels. Schedule the flight early in your trip so there is a spare day to move it.
What to wear, and can you get photos and video?
- A long-sleeved jacket and long trousers, even on a warm day; it is cold and windy at take-off.
- Sturdy shoes or boots with grip. No sandals and no smooth soles.
- Sunglasses and sunscreen.
- Pockets that zip: anything you drop from the air is gone.
GoPro footage is included in Aero Club’s price and in most standard Sky Club packages, but the cheapest 10-minute Sky Club option may not include it, so ask. You may take your own camera, but only if it is strapped to you.
Is paragliding in Armenia safe? How to check an operator
Tandem flying with an experienced pilot in suitable weather is a well-established activity, but it is an air sport with real risk. For Armenia the evidence is thin: we found no public accident statistics and little beyond the clubs’ own claims and reviews. Check the basics yourself:
- Licence and experience: ask whether the pilot holds a tandem rating, how many years they have flown and roughly how many tandems they have done.
- Equipment age and condition: ask how old the wing and harnesses are and when they were last inspected.
- Reserve parachute: a tandem harness system should carry a reserve. Ask to see where it is.
- Insurance: ask whether the passenger is covered and by whom.
- Attitude to weather: a pilot who cancels on a gusty day is the one you want.
Separately, check your own travel insurance. Many standard policies exclude paragliding or require an adventure-sports add-on. Our Armenia travel health and insurance tips cover what to look for.
Can you learn to paraglide in Armenia?
Yes. Both clubs teach. Aero Club Armenia runs a flight school, and Sky Club’s course page describes a beginner pilot course of about ten flying days (with up to 16 days allowed for weather) in groups of two to four, including equipment, theory, one tandem flight and a national licence. That page listed 190,000 AMD, but it is several years old, so treat the price as outdated and ask for the current one. Paramotor courses and paramotor tandem flights have also been offered since 2017.
How to combine paragliding with sightseeing
Since you fly in the morning, the afternoon is free:
- Hatis + Garni and Geghard: both are in Kotayk province. Fly early, then spend the afternoon at the temple and monastery; see our Garni and Geghard guide or join the Garni and Geghard half-day tour.
- Sevan + Sevanavank + Dilijan: fly above the lake, then visit the peninsula monastery and drive on to the forests of Tavush. Our Lake Sevan travel guide and the Lake Sevan and Dilijan day trip fit well.
- Teghenis + Tsaghkadzor: Kecharis monastery and the ropeway are right there.
- Aparan + the Kasakh canyon monasteries: Saghmosavank and Hovhannavank stand on the canyon edge on the way back to Yerevan.
- Vedi + Khor Virap: the monastery with the classic Ararat view is a short drive away.
For more adrenaline, see our hub on adventure and extreme sports in Armenia and our ziplining in Armenia and rafting in Armenia guides, plus summer activities in Armenia.
Want to fit a tandem flight into your Armenia trip? We do not run paragliding flights ourselves, but we can help arrange one on request through local partners and plan a flexible day around it, or combine it with one of our tours. Write to us or browse our tours.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need any experience for a tandem paragliding flight in Armenia?
No. On a tandem flight the pilot handles the launch, the flight and the landing. You get a short briefing, take a few running steps at take-off and follow the pilot's instructions.
How much does paragliding in Armenia cost?
In 2025–2026 listings a 10–20 minute tandem flight cost roughly 45,000–65,000 AMD booked directly with a Yerevan club, often including transport and GoPro video. International booking platforms sell similar packages for considerably more.
What is the best time of year for paragliding in Armenia?
Most flights happen from May to November, and spring and early autumn usually give the smoothest air. Mornings are best; summer afternoons get hot and turbulent.
Is there a weight limit for tandem paragliding?
Sky Club says passengers between about 40 and 100 kg fly without problems and asks anyone outside that range to tell them in advance. Always give your real weight when you book.
Can I go paragliding near Lake Sevan or Garni?
Lake Sevan, yes: hills above the western shore are a regular tandem site. We found no current evidence of flights from the Garni gorge itself, but a morning flight from Mount Hatis combines well with an afternoon at Garni and Geghard.
Does normal travel insurance cover paragliding?
Often not. Many standard policies exclude air sports or need an adventure add-on, so check your policy wording for paragliding before you fly, even if the operator says its flights are insured.
