In the Gentle Buzz of Bees: A Unique Stay in Ijevan
What if a getaway could offer more than rest — and bring you closer to nature, too?
Tucked away in the city of Ijevan, Armenia, the Leader Guesthouse offers visitors a truly unusual experience: a chance to relax in the gentle company of bees through apitherapy.
The idea was born with the guesthouse’s owners, physicists Manana Tamanyan and Edmond Khachatryan, after one of their guests shared a story about a similar experience in Ukraine. Curious, they began exploring the concept themselves and discovered that apitherapy cabins already existed in Martuni and, more recently, in Lori.
“Visitors don’t have direct contact with the bees. They simply lie down inside the cabin, while beehives placed underneath provide ionized air. The gentle buzzing, similar to the vibration of sea waves, has a calming effect” Manana explains․
The Leader Guesthouse first opened its doors in 2019, starting with just two rooms. Over the years, the small family-run business has gradually grown, exploring new ways to make the guest experience more connected to nature.
A major step forward came in 2023, when Manana took part in a marketing training organized through the Union of Advanced Technology Enterprises (UATE) in cooperation with the FAR, and later received a grant through the BCPP program.
“We were able to purchase a water heater and an air conditioner, improve and level the area, install a fence, and relocate the cabin,” Manana says. “At that stage, this was a tremendous help for our newly established business.”
Today, apitherapy is especially popular among tourists visiting the guesthouse, although residents are increasingly curious about the experience as well.
For many visitors, the appeal goes beyond honey itself. The peaceful environment around the hives, the sound of buzzing bees, and the subtle vibrations of their wings creates an atmosphere designed for deep relaxation. Guests describe the experience as soothing and calming, with the natural vibrations offering a gentle, massage-like sensation.
The journey has not been without challenges. This year, the guesthouse experienced a decline in its bee colonies following the effects of the epidemic. But Manana and Edmond are already looking ahead: they hope to increase the number of bees next year, while continuing to improve and develop the surrounding area.
For the owners, these plans are part of a much bigger vision — creating a genuinely eco-friendly environment where hospitality and nature can exist side by side.
“It is important to help people realize that places like this exist — places where, after spending time in nature, you can feel better, reconnect with yourself, and perhaps rely less on medication,” Manana says. “Our goal is to help people find harmony with nature.”
At Leader Guesthouse, the idea of hospitality is simple yet inspiring: sometimes, slowing down means listening to the quietest sounds around you — even the hum of a thousand tiny wings.
Here every detail has been thoughtfully chosen. An old piano, a vintage telephone evoking another era, and a small poster carrying a simple reminder that feels universal: we are all searching for happiness — within ourselves and in the world around us.
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