Tufa Stone Candleholder Workshop in Armenia: Create & Decorate

Design and fire your own Armenian stone candleholder

Create a tufa stone candleholder at Stone Art Guest House in Pemzashen, Armenia, working with local clay and decorating it with colorful pieces of the region's famed 48-shade tufa stone under the guidance of a skilled artisan. The workshop runs 90 minutes, includes a local guide in English, German or Russian, and ends with your finished piece fired in the kiln and ready to take home. Dried fruits, local baked sweets, and coffee or tea are provided.

The experience

What makes this workshop different is the material itself. Pemzashen's tufa stone comes in 48 distinct shades and has anchored Armenian architecture for centuries. You'll work with local clay to shape a candleholder, then inlay small pieces of this colored stone into your design before it goes into the kiln. The whole process takes 90 minutes, and you leave with a fired, finished piece, not a kit to assemble later.

A local clay and stone artist leads the workshop and walks you through each step, whether you've carved before or never touched clay. The setting is relaxed and built for all skill levels, so the focus stays on the making, not on perfection. Once your candleholder is decorated, it goes straight into the kiln. You'll collect it at the end of the session.

The experience includes dried fruits, local baked sweets, and tea or coffee: small touches that ground the afternoon in Armenian hospitality. A guide fluent in English, German or Russian is on hand throughout, so language is not a barrier to following along or asking questions as you work.

What’s included

• Local clay and tufa stone materials for your candleholder.
• instruction from a skilled local artisan.
• kiln firing of your finished piece.
• dried fruits and local baked sweets.
• coffee and tea.
• a guide in English, German or Russian.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 11:00, 13:00, 15:00 and 18:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Under 11: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, German and Russian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcome

Operated by Stone Art

Is this one for you?This workshop suits small groups or solo travelers who want to make something with their hands and leave with a tangible piece of Armenia. The 90-minute format fits easily into a day of sightseeing without requiring a full afternoon commitment.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, German and Russian.

What is tufa stone and why is it important to Armenian building?

Tufa stone is a porous volcanic rock that has been central to Armenian architecture for centuries. Pemzashen's tufa comes in 48 unique shades, and you'll use small pieces of it to decorate your candleholder during the workshop.

Do I need any experience with clay or stone carving to join?

No. The workshop is designed for all skill levels, and a local artisan guides you through every step. You'll learn as you work, whether this is your first time handling clay or you've done it before.

Will my candleholder be finished and ready to take home the same day?

Yes. After you decorate it with tufa stone pieces, your candleholder goes into the kiln during the workshop. It will be fired and ready to take with you when the 90 minutes are up.

What's included in the workshop besides the instruction and materials?

Dried fruits, local baked sweets, coffee and tea are all provided as part of the experience, giving you a taste of Armenian hospitality while you work.