Urban Exploration Tour with Carlus in a Lada Niva

Carlus, a traveler from Spain, joined my urban exploration tour in Armenia, during which we explored abandoned places and iconic Soviet-era locations in a Lada Niva he rented locally. This tour was especially nostalgic for me, as our family car was a red Niva, bringing back fond memories. Our journey took us from an abandoned cultural house to the Byurakan Observatory, the ROT54 telescope, abandoned pioneer camp, other Soviet-era sites, and eerie, abandoned copper tunnels, uncovering some of Armenia’s most hidden gems. Here is a brief overview of our tour.

Carlus, a traveler from Spain, reached out to me before his trip to Armenia to join one of my urban exploration tours. Being a big fan of the Lada Niva, he rented that iconic car in Armenia to explore the country and dedicated two days to our urbex adventures. So, instead of my usual Volkswagen Jetta, the tour took place in the legendary Niva!

On the first day, we met in Yerevan for a beer, and the next day he picked me up from our yard! I liked him right from the first handshake, and we instantly found a lot in common to talk about. He shared stories about his travels in his Toyota and how he navigated the roads of the Paris-Dakar rally, roaming Africa’s wild landscapes on his trusty iron horse!

With Carlus at the Byurakan Observatory, behind us is an iconic building designed by Sargis Gurzadyan, which houses the ZTA-2.6 telescope, the largest observational instrument at the BAO.

After the Byurakan Observatory, we headed to the nearby village of Ogov to see the legendary ROT54 telescope!

Carlus is sitting in the control room of ROT54

Then we headed to the Lori Region! Of course, we made a pit stop at the Gntuniq food court to fuel up with some local food before exploring a Soviet-era pioneer camp called "Fairy Tale."

For the night, we stayed near village of Odzun, where an old Soviet-era hotel is located. It was built in 1971 for the managers of the Alaverdi copper factory. I really enjoy this place, and it's where I usually suggest my guests stay!

The view from Odzun hotel

Situated at the foot of a mountain high above Odzun village, it offers a peaceful retreat away from the city buzz—no noise, just the whisper of nature and a beautiful view of Odzun village and the surrounding landscapes.

Across an old and rusty bridge we are heading towards a tunnels of the copper mine to capture unearthly photos! Crossing over this bridge is raising some adrenaline!

Our primary destination was the tunnels of the abandoned copper mine, which we explored the following day after visiting several other sites.

We concluded the day with a visit to an abandoned plane in Hrazdan! Night urbex... lol.

During our trip, Carlus shared many fascinating stories. Among them, he told me about an incredible location called Pozo Sotón. A quick note: Pozo Sotón is a historical coal mine situated in Asturias, Spain, near the town of San Martín del Rey Aurelio. It stands as a significant part of Spain's industrial heritage and has been repurposed into a captivating tourist destination. Visitors can delve into its underground chambers, gaining a profound understanding of miners' lives and the rich history of coal mining in the region.

By the time I was writing this article, Carlus had sent me photos showing that he had finally visited Pozo Sotón. I couldn't be happier for him!