Our path to revival
Arahet is the path to the rebirth of Armenian identity. By restoring our vital connection with the mountains, we rediscover the awareness and inner strength of being devoted to our homeland.
Arahet is an annual hiking championship, first held in 2023. Its mission is to foster and develop hiking and mountaineering culture among the wider public.
When and where?
Arahet 2026 will take place on June 20–21 in Vayots Dzor, featuring two hiking routes designed for amateur and professional teams.
Amateur Route (16 km)
Yelpin → Vardanesi Lake → Shreshtasar → Yelpin
Professional Route (35 km)
Yelpin → Ditavank → Mknasar → Karkatar → Yelpin
Format and Participation Terms
Teams interested in mountaineering and hiking can participate in Arahet 2026.
General Conditions
- Duration: 2 days
- Accommodation: Tent camping
- Participation: Teams of 6 members*
- Age limit: 16+**
* The team leader must be an adult.
** Participants aged 16–18 may join only with written consent from a parent or legal guardian.
Participation Route
To participate in Arahet 2026, each team must complete one of the following routes together:
Amateur Route
- 16 km — Yelpin → Vardanesi Lake → Shreshtasar → Yelpin
- AMD 100,000 / team
- Suitable for beginner and intermediate-level teams
Professional Route
- 35 km — Yelpin → Ditavank → Mknasar → Karkatar → Yelpin
- AMD 120,000 / team
- A challenging route designed for experienced teams
Movement along the entire route is strictly on foot.
After the start of the race, the team must stay together at all times, pass through all designated checkpoints, successfully complete the assigned tasks, and finish the route at the final point.
Registration and Payment
Registration deadline: May 25
Registration is considered confirmed after submitting the application form and completing the participation payment.
The participation fee includes:
organization of the championship, logistics, route support, a 2-day cultural program, and tent accommodation.
The final team composition can be submitted after registration, no later than June 5.
Awards
In each category, the top 3 teams with the best results are awarded valuable prizes.
Each year, the Arahet hiking championship offers a variety of prizes related to the hiking lifestyle, designed for both professional and amateur teams.
The organizing team supervises the entire hiking process.
* Information about the Arahet 2026 prizes will be announced soon.
Our Mission
We restore the vital connection between the Armenian people and the mountains by fostering hiking and mountaineering culture and building a strong community prepared to face both physical and spiritual challenges.
Alongside developing mountaineering culture and enhancing physical endurance in mountainous conditions, the championship also:
- strengthens the human–nature connection
- highlights the benefits of mountain sports as a healthy and accessible form of activity
- encourages homeland awareness and exploration
- develops teamwork and in-team cooperation
- promotes healthy collaboration among hiking, sports, and related teams
- contributes to the development of adventure tourism
Arahet 2025 Results
Participating Teams | Amateur
Participant Teams | Professional
Participants
Volunteers
Amateur Route Distance (km)
Professional Route Distance (km)
Expected Outcomes
It is planned that each year the Arahet Championship will surpass the results of the previous year by increasing the number of participating teams and enriching the event with new and engaging hiking and sports elements.
In the coming years, the Arahet Hiking Championship is envisioned to become a pan-Armenian festival, bringing together Armenia and the Armenian Diaspora.
Participating Teams
Bardzunk
Arahet Timeline
The Arahet Hiking Championship has been held since 2023. Below is a year-by-year overview of the championship’s history.
Arahet 2025 took place on June 21–22 in Martz village, Lori Province. For the first time, participants completed two separate routes, designed for amateur and professional teams.
Professional Teams (28 km)
Martz – St. Sargis Church of Karinjj – Yeghnakhaghats – Mrakar – Dzharasar – Martz
Amateur Teams (11 km)
Martz – Khachkars (40°57′56.27″N, 44°41′46.67″E) – St. Sargis Church – Karinjj Cross – Martz
In 2025, the championship brought together 25 teams — 15 amateur and 10 professional.
Amateur Teams
- AMD Armenia Team 1
- AMD Armenia Team 2
- ArmGeo Runners
- TriClub Girls
- ZARK
- Real School – Yerevan
- Real School – Ijevan
- Real School – Vanadzor
- Lernahayastan
- Hayki Sharavighner
- Sebastatsi
- Vary Varenk
- Don Union of Armenian Youth
- Mantashyants 1
- Mantashyants 2
- The winner of the amateur route was ArmGeo Runners.
Second and third places were secured by the youth teams ZARK and Sebastatsi, respectively.
Professional Teams
- Hiking with Friends
- North Peak Mountain Club
- TriClub Hamestner
- Azatazen
- Aregi
- Youth Union
- Lavash Tour
- Ler
- Kharuyk Hiking Club
- Martz
- The winner of the professional route was Kharuyk Hiking Club.
Second and third places were claimed by TriClub EVN and North Peak Mountain Club, respectively.
Each year, the Arahet Hiking Championship offers a variety of hiking- and outdoor-related prizes.
The winners of Arahet 2025 received gift cards from our partners Camp.am and the Karapp app, intended for the purchase of hiking equipment and self-education opportunities.
Prizes by Category
Amateur Route
- Gift card — AMD 400,000
- Gift card — AMD 300,000
- Gift card — AMD 200,000
Professional Route
- Gift card — AMD 1,000,000
- Gift card — AMD 800,000
- Gift card — AMD 500,000
The organization of Arahet 2025 involved approximately 25 partner organizations and 70 volunteers.
The Amrots Foundation served as the sponsor of the amateur route, while Azatazen and OMA Vanadzor supported the organization of intermediate competitions. Several partners — including Arm Marathon Foundation, Mihr Cultural, Educational and Sports NGO, and others — contributed by providing equipment.
Cultural events were supported by Vary Varenk Cultural and Educational NGO, Khazer Choir, Vahag Rash, Lilit Pipoyan, and Hayk Petrosyan.
Additional partners included Vitamina, MEM, the ZARK program, and others.
Arahet 2024 took place on June 23. The route passed through the Gegharkunik and Tavush Provinces, stretching from Semyonovka to Mets Maymekh, Yeghjervasar, Lake Parz, and Goshavank.
In 2024, the championship brought together 20 teams:
- North Peak Mountain Club
- Azatazen
- Kharuyk Hiking Club
- Lavash Tour
- TriClub EVN
- Youth Union
- Trichk Hiking Club
- Hiking with Friends
- Shirakatsi Lyceum
- Verelk Hiking Team
- MMT
- ArmLand
- ZARK Program
- HayKing Hiking Team
- Armenian Hikes
- Elevation Hiking
- ArmCyber Sports
- OMA Gyumri
- Hayasa Hiking Team
- Share Your Path Hiking Team
For the second consecutive year, Hiking with Friends was declared the champion.
Second and third places were secured by TriClub EVN and North Peak Mountain Club, respectively.
Each year, the Arahet Mountain Hiking Championship offers a variety of hiking- and outdoor-related prizes.
The winners of Arahet 2024 received gift cards from our partner Hiking Shop Armenia, intended for the purchase of hiking equipment:
- 1st place — gift cards totaling AMD 720,000
- 2nd place — gift cards totaling AMD 360,000
- 3rd place — gift cards totaling AMD 180,000
On June 18, 2023, the first Arahet Mountain Hiking Championship took place in Vayots Dzor Province.
The route covered a distance of 25 km, stretching from Goghtanik to Vernashen village and passing through Teksar, Srkghonk, and Proshaberd mountains, as well as Spitakavor Monastery.
Participating Teams – 2023
- North Peak Mountain Club
- Azatazen
- Kharuyk Hiking Club
- Trichk Hiking Club
- Hiking with Friends
- TAMPA – OMA
- Tsovers
- ZARK Program
- National Legion Military-Patriotic Club
- VOMA Bidzek Detachment
Prize Winners
- 1st place — Drone
- 2nd place — GPS device
- 3rd place — Radio communication equipment
The winner of Arahet 2023 was the Hiking with Friends team.
