Azat Reservoir Sub-Boarding

Paddle across the still, turquoise water of Azat Reservoir, where dramatic volcanic cliffs rise straight from the shoreline and the only sounds are your board moving through the water. Tucked into Ararat Province less than an hour from Yerevan, this is one of the most photogenic natural settings in the country — and gliding across it on a paddleboard is the best way to experience it. The ride to the reservoir from Yerevan takes about one hour in a comfortable vehicle.

The day begins with a transfer from Yerevan and a full introduction on arrival: your instructor covers technique and safety, and gets beginners comfortable before anyone heads onto the water. No previous experience is needed — the reservoir's calm surface makes it an ideal place to learn, while confident paddlers are free to range further.

Out on the water, the landscape does the rest. The basalt formations surrounding the reservoir — cousins of the famous Symphony of Stones columns in the nearby Garni gorge — glow ochre and grey above the blue water, and every direction offers another photograph. Pause mid-lake to float, swim in the clean mountain water, or simply drift and watch the cliffs.

The pace is entirely yours: sub-boarding is gentle enough to be relaxing yet active enough to feel like you have earned the day. Equipment and guidance are included throughout, so all you need is swimwear, a towel, and sunscreen.

Running May to October, roughly seven hours door to door from Yerevan, this experience suits travellers who want to balance Armenia's monasteries and museums with a day of pure nature — and leave with photos their friends will not believe were taken in Armenia.