Programme mixed urbex photo trip Armenia 26 Apr - 3 May 2025
Day 1: arrival Armenia
The programme of this urbex photo trip Armenia starts in Yerevan. In the evening we will meet, together with Nvard from Central Tour, in a cosy and creative guesthouse. You will be told all kinds of practical things for day 2.
Day 2: The world's oldest cathedral, a fortress, an abandoned telescope and a Yezidi temple
We begin this journey with a wide variety of locations. On this Sunday, we start at Etchmiatsin Cathedral (301). Close to our guesthouse. After this, we head into the mountains to visit a world-class urbex site in addition to a beautiful castle and abandoned church (overlooking the Ararat). A telescope complex with multiple telescopes and a fantastic control room. We spend the night at our guesthouse in Etchmiatsin. Armenia is home to Yezidi people. Since the 2014 genocide in northern Iraq, many have fled to safe Armenia. Here they also have space to express their faith. A unique Zoroastrian faith which you see almost nowhere in the world. We visit 1 of the handful of temples found on earth.
Day 3: An abandoned church, an abandoned textile factory, an abandoned electrical factory and Gyumri city
Today, we travel north. On our trip, we will visit diverse and unique urbex sites where you will actually get your time. We end our day in the country's cultural capital: Gyumri. We visit the old town and soak up the atmosphere. This is also where we spend the night.
Day 4: Pioneer camp, Molokans and a large abandoned carpet factory
From Gyumri, we travel eastwards. High in the mountains, we visit an abandoned pioneer camp, the scouts of the Soviets. Here there are beautiful mosaics and an abandoned swimming pool. We have lunch with a Molokan family. This is a Russian minority that has lived in Armenia since the 19th century. A religious minority who live together in a few villages where time seems to have stood still. In the afternoon, we visit a beautiful abandoned carpet factory. We spend the night in beautiful Dilijan.
Day 5: Abandoned monastery, ancient (UNESCO) monasteries, Lenin and abandoned cable car building
Against a mountainside lies an extraordinary abandoned monastery. Cultural urbex. Difficult to reach and therefore unique in its kind. Nearby are Armenia's most beautiful (UNESCO) monasteries: Haghpat and Sanahin. We also visit the church in Odzun with the oldest Mary and Jesus plaque. Near our hotel, we enter an abandoned office building with a unique Lenin mural. And as icing on the cake, we enter an abandoned cable car building. A beautiful piece of Soviet architecture with a rich past. We spend the night in Haghpat.
Day 6: Two abandoned sanatoria, a Soviet radio control room and an abandoned factory
Today, we travel towards Lake Sevan. This is a wonderful journey. Our journey begins by visiting two completely different abandoned sanatoriums. Photogenic spots with a unique history. We travel on to a place you don't just enter. A radio control room with historic equipment still in use. You won't believe your eyes. We end the day in an abandoned agricultural machinery factory. With beautiful Soviet mural. We spend the night in capital Yerevan.
Day 7: Highlights in Yerevan, Geghard monastery and Garni temple
A special mix today. First, we visit two major cultural highlights of Armenia. The Geghard monastery (partly carved into the rock) and the Garni temple (77). After this, we visit the highlights of Yerevan. Together with the group, we will agree on what you think is most enjoyable.
Day 8: Time in Yerevan, departure for home
A great day to enjoy Yerevan a little more, maybe buy some fun and goodies. We'll transfer you back to the airport for your journey back home.
