How to Choose a Local Guide in Armenia

I am Suren, a hiking guide in Armenia, and I have been organizing and leading tours for over 10 years. I work in English and Russian and have an intermediate level of German. I provide private and group hiking, sightseeing, off-roading, and urbex tours across Armenia.

Raising the flag of Armenia at the top mount Ararat

As of December 2025, it’s important to note that there is no official accreditation or certification process for guides in Armenia. Unfortunately, this means that anyone — even those with little knowledge of history, the country, or the language can offer guiding services. This is a major problem that should be addressed, but in the meantime, travelers need to choose guides carefully.

Hiring a guide through a tour agency can also be tricky. Some agencies try to pay guides as little as possible, sometimes hiring random people who have nothing to do with tourism just to avoid higher costs — even while charging you a lot.

Choosing the Right Guide

Suppose you’ve found a guide you are interested in. Here are some steps to ensure a quality experience:

1.     Check photos from past tours – Images should reflect real experiences, not random photos from the internet.

2.     Have a short call – This helps verify their language skills and gives insight into their knowledge and education.

3.     Request a tour itinerary – A carefully designed itinerary with clear information often tells you more than online reviews. If history is important to you, ask whether the guide can provide detailed explanations. Some guides who focus on off-roading or hiking may offer zero historical context. Decide what is most important for your trip.

From my experience, Russian-speaking tourists often ask detailed historical questions — sometimes even about random plants! English-speaking tourists are usually less curious about these details, but it varies.

My car is a Mitsubishi Pajero 4. After camping on the shore of Lake Kari at 3100 meters above sea level, the weather was perfect, but the next day it turned terrible. Now we’re discussing our next plans.

The Vehicle

The condition of the vehicle is another key factor. Ask for photos of both the interior and exterior. Off-road vehicles may look impressive outside but be in poor condition inside. Check whether the car has air conditioning, especially for hot summer days. In dusty areas, such as the rocky terrains of the Geghama Mountains, you can’t simply open the window hoping for fresh air — the thick dust makes that impossible. Keeping the windows closed is a must in those conditions.

Additional Tips for Choosing a Local Guide in Armenia

Check Online Presence – Look for guides with a professional website, Instagram, or Facebook page. A well-maintained and long-standing online presence with engaging content often indicates reliability and experience.

Ask About Special Interests – Some guides specialize in certain types of tours, such as hiking, off-roading, urbex, or historical walks. Choose a guide whose strengths match your interests.

Confirm Group Size and Tour Type – Ask whether the tour is private or shared, how many people typically join, and if the itinerary is flexible based on your preferences.

Look for Safety Standards – For off-roading or hiking tours, check whether the guide provides hiking or camping equipment — and whether it’s included in the price or comes at an additional cost.

Check References – Ask for previous clients’ feedback. Sometimes a personal recommendation is more reliable than reviews on generic websites.

Language Skills – Even if a guide knows English or Russian, confirm their proficiency, especially if you want detailed explanations about history, culture, or nature.

Payment Terms – Clarify costs, what’s included (entrance fees, meals), and the payment method to avoid surprises.

Cultural Knowledge – A good guide should offer more than basic facts — they should share stories, traditions, historical context, old photos for comparison, and local insights that make your visit genuinely richer.

Guiding tourists to the summit of Northern Aragats

Flexibility – Check whether the guide is open to adjusting the itinerary based on weather, traffic, or your personal interests. Ask whether extra stops are possible along the way, or if the guide strictly follows a fixed itinerary. Some guides may be unwilling to stop even for simple requests — for example, if you want to check out a Soviet-era bus stop you spotted on the road.

Trust Your Instincts – If something feels off during communication before the tour, it’s better to look for another guide. A reliable guide should be professional, clear, and responsive.

It's always a good idea to contact several guides and choose the one who best fits your expectations.