Private tour: Yerevan city tour, ARARAT Brandy Factory, Megerian Carpet factory, Matenadaran
Yerevan, ARARAT Brandy Factory, Megerian Carpet factory-museum, Matenadaran – The Museum of Ancient Manuscripts
1. Yerevan (main sights)
40-60 min
Yerevan is the capital city of Armenia, a city, which is 29 years older than Rome! It dates back to 782 BC, when the fortress of Erebuni was built by king Argishti The First. Yerevan is often referred to as "The Pink City" for many buildings are made of pink tuff stone. The capital city is a major tourist destination thanks to its numerous landmarks, extensive nightlife, great museums and lovely parks. A walking tour is the best way to really get immersed in Yerevan's culture, history and cuisine. One of the truly magnificent sights is Republic Square with musical fountains: from early May till mid-autumn there is a fantastic singing-dancing fountains show, accompanied by some great music of various genres. Another sight not to be missed is Cascade Complex, offering absolutely breathtaking views from the top to the city. You can fully enjoy it at night, when Yerevan lights up.
2. ARARAT Brandy Factory
60-70 min
ARARAT brandy is not just a drink – it is Armenia captured in flavor: its sun, mountains and centuries-old traditions. Each glass feels like a journey into old Yerevan, where oak barrels guard the secrets of master distillers and amber liquid matures slowly in the soft shadows of the cellars.
The ARARAT Brandy Factory is a true temple of Armenian brandy, where every step feels like a journey through time, from the grapevine and its fruit to the ancient barrels infused with the noble aroma of aging spirits. The factory museum preserves over 120 years of history, a story of passion and skill passed down through generations of Armenian craftsmen.
The moment of revelation comes with the tasting, when amber drops slide along the glass, unfolding rich notes of nuts, dried fruit, caramel and subtle spices.
Guests can choose from three journeys:
Every visit to ARARAT is a meeting with a legend, where taste and aroma turn into history and Armenia itself shines in the golden reflections of its brandy.
* Guests under 18 cannot participate in the tasting.
The ARARAT Brandy Factory is a true temple of Armenian brandy, where every step feels like a journey through time, from the grapevine and its fruit to the ancient barrels infused with the noble aroma of aging spirits. The factory museum preserves over 120 years of history, a story of passion and skill passed down through generations of Armenian craftsmen.
The moment of revelation comes with the tasting, when amber drops slide along the glass, unfolding rich notes of nuts, dried fruit, caramel and subtle spices.
Guests can choose from three journeys:
- Standard package – Tour and tasting of "Three Stars" and "Ani" (7-year-old) brandies at 12.15 USD p/p;
- "ARARAT Flavors" package – Tour and tasting of "Ani" (7-year-old), "ARARAT Apricot" and "ARARAT Coffee" at 20.26 USD p/p;
- Advanced package – Tour and tasting of "Akhtamar" (10-year-old), "Vaspurakan" (15-year-old) and "Nairi" (20-year-old) at 27.01 USD p/p.
Every visit to ARARAT is a meeting with a legend, where taste and aroma turn into history and Armenia itself shines in the golden reflections of its brandy.
* Guests under 18 cannot participate in the tasting.
3. Megerian Carpet factory-museum
40-50 min
Carpets are far more than woven fabrics – they are chapters of history, where each motif carries the hidden voice of generations. In Armenia, the art of carpet weaving has long been one of the most vivid expressions of culture and worldview. Every ornament is a symbol, every thread a living memory, tying the present to the depth of centuries.
For more than a century, the Megeryan family has preserved and enriched this craft. In 1917, they founded their carpet business in the United States and soon the name "Megeryan" became synonymous with mastery and refined taste in the restoration of Oriental rugs. Their work breathed new life into ancient pieces, giving them a second existence. Yet with time came the desire not only to restore, but also to create.
Thus was born the "Megeryan Carpet" factory – a place where tradition merges with modern design. Here, carpets are woven that embody the Armenian spirit, blending ancient symbols with contemporary trends. Its walls shelter a vast collection of carpets with unique ornaments, including rare pieces – the oldest dating back to the 17th century.
Today, "Megeryan Carpet" is not merely a factory but a living museum, where one can touch the eternal beauty of the Armenian carpet, feel its warmth and understand why each creation is considered a true work of art.
For more than a century, the Megeryan family has preserved and enriched this craft. In 1917, they founded their carpet business in the United States and soon the name "Megeryan" became synonymous with mastery and refined taste in the restoration of Oriental rugs. Their work breathed new life into ancient pieces, giving them a second existence. Yet with time came the desire not only to restore, but also to create.
Thus was born the "Megeryan Carpet" factory – a place where tradition merges with modern design. Here, carpets are woven that embody the Armenian spirit, blending ancient symbols with contemporary trends. Its walls shelter a vast collection of carpets with unique ornaments, including rare pieces – the oldest dating back to the 17th century.
Today, "Megeryan Carpet" is not merely a factory but a living museum, where one can touch the eternal beauty of the Armenian carpet, feel its warmth and understand why each creation is considered a true work of art.
4. Matenadaran – The Museum of Ancient Manuscripts
70-80 min
On the northern slope of Mashtots Avenue rises the Matenadaran guardian of Armenia's ancient wisdom and timeless secrets. Its very name, meaning "repository of manuscripts" in Classical Armenian, evokes an almost mythical treasury where each manuscript is a silent breath of the past. Here are preserved scrolls and codices once copied by the hands of monks in the glow of candlelight, passed down like sacred fire through generations. More than twenty thousand volumes and fragments open entire worlds to the reader from philosophical treatises and epic poems to medical manuals and celestial maps.
The building itself, designed in the mid-20th century by architect Mark Grigoryan, stands as a modern temple of knowledge monumental and austere, yet filled with the spirit of grandeur. At its entrance, visitors are greeted by the sculptural group of Mesrop Mashtots and his disciple Koryun, symbolizing the birth of Armenian writing. Above them, carved in stone, stand figures of great scholars and chroniclers from Movses Khorenatsi to Toros Roslin guardians of knowledge watching over the threshold.
Matenadaran is not merely a library, but a bridge between myth and history, past and present, eternity and the moment. Standing before its walls, one cannot help but feel that every stone and every manuscript is imbued with the soul of Armenia.
The building itself, designed in the mid-20th century by architect Mark Grigoryan, stands as a modern temple of knowledge monumental and austere, yet filled with the spirit of grandeur. At its entrance, visitors are greeted by the sculptural group of Mesrop Mashtots and his disciple Koryun, symbolizing the birth of Armenian writing. Above them, carved in stone, stand figures of great scholars and chroniclers from Movses Khorenatsi to Toros Roslin guardians of knowledge watching over the threshold.
Matenadaran is not merely a library, but a bridge between myth and history, past and present, eternity and the moment. Standing before its walls, one cannot help but feel that every stone and every manuscript is imbued with the soul of Armenia.
Inclusions
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Professional drivers
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Air-conditioned vehicles
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Bottled water
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Free pick-up & drop-off within Yerevan
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Vehicle & passengers insurance
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Extra stops on the route upon request
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The "Standard package" is foreseen for brandy factory
Exclusions
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Significant deviations from the route
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Alcoholic beverages if lunch option selected
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Audio guides
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Wi-Fi in the vehicles
What to expect
- Visit the city, which is 29 years older than Rome
- Savour exquisite Armenian brandy
- Get immersed in the best traditions of Armenian carpet weaving
- Explore the surviving, unique and inestimably valuable Armenian manuscripts
*Children under 18 y.o. will not be able to participate in the tour
Booking conditions
Cancellation & modification
Meet our Guides
Ruzanna Hovhannisyan
RU
HY
While in Armenia, all your senses will be awakened: the wild nature and man-made masterpieces, the unique scent of mountain air, the unforgettable taste of Armenian cuisine, and the soothing sound of the duduk. And to experience all this, you simply need to come to Armenia! Welcome!
Narine Vardanyan
HY
EN
Hi or Barev. My name's Narine and I've been working as a tourist guide in Armenia since 2017. My greatest love and passion is my homeland – Hayastan! And I am here to create amazing experiences for everyone. I think my job is the best in the world. It offers the opportunity to meet new people, make them fall in love with new places, and create lasting memories. That's what I enjoy!)) Looking forward to showing you around beautiful Armenia.
Nelly Poghosyan
HY
EN
Hi! I'm Nelly, a certified tour guide. With work experience since 2012 and a unique set of skills – including deep patience, adaptability, and a sense of humor – I invite you to visit Armenia and explore this wonderful part of the world with me!
Poghos Varzhapetyan
RU
HY
My name is Poghos Varzhapetyan. I've been working in tourism since 2016. I love traveling. As a tour guide, my goal is always to make guests fall in love with Armenia so much that at the end of the tour they don't say goodbye, but instead say, "See you again, Armenia!".
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