Guest Feedback

See what our previous guests are saying.

“Glorious Location“

“I visited Camp Bjni in October 2024.

The glorious location of the camp makes it one of the most beautiful places in Armenia to visit.

The camp is surrounded by the Dzaghgunyats mountains and the Hrazdan river. It is within walking distance to several must-see locations, such as the Bjni Fortress, the Dzag Kar national monument, many ancient and picturesque churches, quaint chapels and high relief monasteries, not to mention many hiking trails. The hamlet of Bjni also gives visitors a glimpse into Armenian village life with enduring traditions in force and many opportunities to interact with the hospitable native population.

Whether you like nature, history, walking, hiking, meeting new people or just relaxing, the camp offers visitors a great opportunity to enrich the senses with beauty in its peaceful location and surroundings.

The proprietors are on site and are very attentive to details and the needs of guests, which was very important for me. I highly recommend Camp Bjni and plan to return in 2025.”

– Lucine Karjian, a part time repat diasporan from New Jersey, USA

“Beautiful”

“My partner and I had the pleasure of visiting Camp Bjni in October 2024, before the official opening. We were amazed and overwhelmed by the beauty of this Armenian village and encampment. The Bjni Fortress, Mountains and River loom over the entire hamlet. Everyone knows everyone here and the whole village was so welcoming.

Our Camp Bjni hosts were incredibly hospitable and a fabulous resource for hiking excursions, on-site events, lavash baking master classes, mineral water baths and more. We can only imagine how much fun it will be in the spring, summer and fall to camp and hike here with friends and enjoy rural Armenia. We encourage everyone to go and have a blast!”

– Charlie Varadian, Brooklyn, NY, USA

“Peace in Armenia”

“My time at Camp Bjni provided me with a day and night of reflection and peace in Armenia. Surrounded by mountains on all sides, Camp Bjni gave me respite during a demanding two weeks of volunteer work. The hospitality shown by all was the epitome of the Armenian spirit. I sat with new friends, engaged in great conversation with other Diasporans, and enjoyed wonderful music and food. Two highlights were conversing in depth with one of the camp’s founders, walking the lovely grounds and spending some time talking with a neighbor near the camp. We all conversed in Armenian, and they understood exactly what I meant when I said that I felt like I was at home on Armenian land. It is my hope that I can return to Camp Bjni with my family members as soon as possible and show them the beauty of Armenia and its people. Thank you to all of those people who made this trip possible.”

– Zach Kowalski, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, USA

“Անմոռանալի յիշատակներ“

“Որպէս Լիբանանահայ եւ Հ.Մ.Ը.Մ.ական, մանկութիւնս ու պատանեկութիւնս անցուցած եմ բանակումներով ու արշաւներով՝ Լիբանանի եւ Հայաստանի տարբեր բանակավայրերու մէջ։ Ամէն Հայաստան երթալուս կ՛այցելէի այն բանակավայրերը որոնք ծանօթ են բոլորին։ Անցեալ տարի 2024-ի ամռան, առիթը ունեցայ այցելելու տակավին կառուցումը չ՛ամբողջացած Գեմբ Բջնիին։ Անմիջապէս զգալի էր բանակավայրին մտերմիկ մթնոլորտը եւ բնութեան գեղեցկութիւնը, շրջապատուած լերնաշղթաներով։ Հոն գտնուող լճակը հանգստութիւն կը պարգեվէ, միեւնոյն ժամանակ արշաւներու տեսականին խանդաւարութիւնդ կը գռգրէ, մանաւանդ երթը դէպի Բջնիի բերդը, ուր կ՛ապրիս ամբողջ պատմական ժամանակաշրջան մը։ Անմոռանալի յիշատակներ ունեցած եմ Գեմբ Բջնի այցելութեան ընթացքին որոնք դրոշմուած են յիշողութեանս մէջ, ինչպէս մեր նարտիի մրցույթները, դարմ Բջնիի ձուկ ուտելը եւ գիշեռային խարոյկները։ Հիւրընկալ եւ իւրայատուկ անձնակազմը ինչպէս նաեւ բնակավայրի հաւատարիմ շնիկները պատճառ կը հանդիսանան որ ամէն տարի դարձեալ այցելեմ Գեմբ Բջնիին։”

– Կարապետ Շ., Պէյրութ, Լիբանան

“This is the place you’ve been waiting for”

Camp Bjni is not just a retreat, it’s a journey into the heart of Armenia, blending intellectual curiosity, cultural immersion, and profound human connection. As someone who had the privilege of attending with my 9-year-old daughter, I can confidently say that this experience reshaped her worldview in ways I could not have imagined.

From the moment we arrived in the picturesque village of Bjni, nestled between rolling hills and ancient monasteries, it was clear that this was no ordinary trip. Camp Bjni is meticulously curated to foster deep engagement with Armenia’s history, traditions, and contemporary life. The program strikes a perfect balance between structured learning and organic exploration and intimate exchanges with local families.

For my daughter, the most impactful part was connecting with a local family. She spent afternoons playing with their children, visiting their school, and even helping tend to their farm—feeding animals, picking fruits, and learning about sustainable living. These simple yet profound interactions opened her eyes to a way of Armenian life far removed from anything she has experienced. This is the real Armenia. She returned home not only with a newfound appreciation for Armenia’s rural beauty but also with a deeper understanding of community, resilience, and shared humanity.

What sets Camp Bjni apart is its intellectual depth. Evenings were spent in stimulating discussions about Armenian resistance, literature, and history, while days were filled with excursions to nearby landmarks such as the 11th-century Bjni Fortress and wildly beautiful and remote churches I had not seen on my previous three trips to Armenia. The organizers are passionate, knowledgeable, and deeply hospitable. They ensured that every activity was both educational and emotionally resonant.

For my daughter, this wasn’t just a trip; it was a pivotal chapter in her growth. She came home with stories, friendships, and a sense of connection to a place and people she’d never known before. For me, witnessing her curiosity blossom and her heart expand was magical.

Camp Bjni is more than a curated experience; its connection to the other Armenia outside of Yerevan, a catalyst for personal transformation, and a testament to the power of immersive travel. If you’re seeking an adventure that nourishes the mind and soul, look no further. This is the place you’ve been waiting for.