Mt. Hadis 300

Mount Hatis is part of the Geghama volcanic range in central Armenia, north-east of Yerevan — a stark, treeless mountain of grass, dry burrs and obsidian scattered across every slope. The site opened for hang-glider pilots in the 1970s and 1980s and for paragliders from the 1990s, and locals still call it a 'learning and exploration' site: the thermals here are narrow and a little aggressive, so a pilot who learns to read the air on Hatis will find most other places forgiving by comparison. Summer daytime temperatures run 25–40 °C, cooling to single digits at night. The thermal peak sits around 12:00–15:00 from mid-spring to mid-autumn, with occasional exceptions in either direction.

Launch & conditions

TO1 (beginners' takeoff): 145 m above the camp, a rocky 30–35° slope cleared of stones. TO2 ('300m'): 210–235 m above camp, an 80×70 m area cleared of rocks and burrs where about 10 pilots can prepare and launch. TO2 is reachable by 4WD.

Getting there & local rules

The mountain is in Kotayk region, central Armenia, north-east of Yerevan (approximately 40°18'32''N 44°43'32''E).

Local rules & hazards

Prevailing upper wind is from the south-east. Surface wind is driven by local micro-climate — usually good south-slope wind for takeoffs, gusty 2–4 m/s in mild conditions and 2–8 m/s in summer, occasionally stronger. Small dust devils can form; pay attention and give the instructor room to warn. Springtime brings the most variable wind, sometimes going calm and shifting direction, making launch impossible.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Mt. Hadis 300, read the wind and thermals for the site itself, confirm the day's rules with the local club, and remember the standing rule — when in doubt, don't launch. In the free OutDare app you can open Mt. Hadis 300 with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.