Programma fotoreis Georgië en Armenië
Day 1: arrival
Our programme of the photo trip to Georgia and Armenia begins in Yerevan. In the evening, we meet up with Nvard from Central Tour, in one of the cosy restaurants in bustling Yerevan. You will be told all kinds of practical things for day 2. Afterwards, we stroll through Yerevan and head towards our hotel.
Day 2: Yerevan, Garni and Geghard
Yerevan itself has many extraordinary culturule objects. The city has existed for thousands of years and you can feel it. We visit the Blue Mosque, the genocide monument, the cascade, victory park and St Gregor the Illuminator cathedral. In the afternoon, we visit the photogenic Roman temple from 77 in Garni and the Unesco monastery of Geghard. We sleep at our hotel in Yerevan.
Day 3: Khor Virap, urbex textile factory, Noravank
We leave Yerevan early in the morning and head for an iconic spot: Khor Virap. Located right in front of the mighty Ararat (over 5000m), this monastery is a particularly photogenic spot. We continue on our way for a special visit to an abandoned, but still fully stocked, Soviet-era textile factory. A photogenic uniqueness. After a delicious lunch, we drive before nightfall to one of Armenia's hidden monasteries: Noravank. In the middle of the (red) mountains and accessible only through a narrow gorge. We want to be here by sunset. A magical moment. We drive to Yeghegis to spend the night there.
Day 4: Selim pass, Sevan lake, Sanahin and Haghpat
From Yeghegis, we drive up the beautiful Selim pass. The views, the landscape, the colours...it is overwhelming. Underwerg we stop at the ancient Orbelian caravanserai. Coming out of the mountains, we reach the beautifully situated Lake Sevan. Here we visit an iconically located church. A beautiful place for photography. This day is further dedicated to visiting some of the very best monasteries and churches in the most beautiful places in Armenia. Haghpat and Sanahin (both Unesco) are places you need to land for a while. Have to take your time to see everything, take the best pictures and enjoy the mystique and beauty of the place. We spend the night in Haghpat, in the middle of the mountains and with stunning views.
Day 5: Tbilisi and Akhmeta
We leave Haghpat and then drive towards Georgia. We reach Tbilisi around noon so we have part of the afternoon left to stroll through old Tbilisi, photograph the beautiful old houses and get used to our new country: Georgia. We spend the night in Akhmeta.
Day 6: Kvetera, Jinvali and Khevsureti
We are heading to one of the most unique and secluded areas of Eurasia. The road there does not come naturally. Our experienced driver knows this road like the back of his hand and first takes us past Kvetera. This ancient (8th century) fortified town in Kakheti houses a beautiful church from the 10th century. This is a great place to walk around and take photos. We drive towards civilisation one more time to stop at the Jinvali dam. A great view and, of course, equipped with a beautiful church. And then our spectacular journey high into the Great Caucasus Mountains begins. The route there is breathtaking. You cannot imagine that people still live in this area. Yet there are. So we end up in medieval and fortified Shatili. Breathtaking and photogenic from really all sides. A highlight of our trip. We spend the night in this unique place.
Day 7: Shatili, Mutso, Arkhoti, Abudelauri lakes and Mtskheta
We continue along the border with the Russian Federation to end in Mutso. Once an important outpost in the kingdom of Kakheti. A beautiful, desolate and mysterious place, high in the mountains. We ride back in the shadow of Arkhoti mountain and dazzling Abudelauri lakes. These come in all sorts of colours. We visit the most accessible one. After this, we slowly drive out of the mountains, past Tbilisi, to find our final destination in Mtskheta. Here we spend the night and visit one of the country's most important and beautiful churches.
Day 8: Motsameta, Gelati and Kutaisi
We drive west today and visit the beautiful martyr church of Motsameta. A unique site and shrine for Georgians. After leaving this 11th-century monastery, we visit the also 11th-century church complex of Gelati. This UNESCO building fulfils an important and distinguished place in Georgia's history. You can wander around in search of the most photogenic spot. We end the day and the trip together in cosy Kutaisi and spend the night here as well.
Day 9: Kutaisi, departure
This is the last day of our photo trip to Armenia and Georgia. Here ends our photo trip programme to Georgia and Armenia. Everyone will continue or return home on their own. There are direct flights from Kutaisi to, for instance, Dortmund.