Vardzia Resort — Hotel in Samtskhe-Javakheti, Georgia

In short

Vardzia Resort is a hotel and cottage complex in the village of Gogasheni, Chachkari, in the Akhalkalaki district of Samtskhe-Javakheti, close to the cave monastery of Vardzia. The hotel says it opened to its first guests in 2015. According to the hotel, the design places almost all of its rooms and cottages so that they face the surrounding landscape and the rock-cut city of Vardzia. The property combines a hotel wing, separate cottages, two restaurants, a lounge bar, a wine cellar, conference halls, a spa, two pools and a fitness room.

The building and its history

The resort stands in the valley below Vardzia, the medieval cave-monastery complex carved into the cliffs above the Mtkvari river. The hotel’s own account traces the wider story of Vardzia’s modern rediscovery to Nikoloz Natenadze, a lawyer, public figure, Rustvelologist and restorer active in the 1930s and 1940s, whom the hotel credits with leading the campaign to clear and restore the cave city after part of it had been used by Turkish shepherds as animal shelters. The hotel describes him as “the man who saved Vardzia,” a title it says is still used locally today.

• 1934 – an expedition is organised in the Mtkvari valley, initiated by Nikoloz Natenadze, to study the construction of power stations in the area.
• 1936–1937 – under Natenadze’s direction, large-scale restoration work takes place at Vardzia: more than 300 caves are cleared, the Dormition of the Mother of God church and its frescoes are restored, and archaeologists uncover a pharmacy dating to the reign of Queen Tamar.
• Following the restoration, Natenadze becomes the first head of the Vardzia tourist complex and museum that he helped establish, and his efforts also bring a water supply to the village of Gogasheni, still known locally as “Kolia’s water.”
• 2015 – Vardzia Resort, built by his descendants as a continuation of this family involvement in the area, receives its first guests.

The hotel presents its own creation as a continuation of this family history of involvement in Vardzia and the wider Samtskhe-Javakheti region, framed as a contribution to its cultural and economic development.

Rooms and suites

The hotel states that it offers 32 rooms and 7 cottage-type units, averaging 20 to 30 square metres, with almost all of them looking out over the landscape and the Vardzia cave city. A separate note on the homepage gives a current operating count of 27 rooms, all with panoramic views, broken down as 19 single or double rooms, 3 triple rooms, 2 suites/lux rooms, 2 family rooms and 1 suite. The categories listed on the site are:

• Standard double room with one large bed
• Standard double room with two single beds
• Triple room
• Family room with balcony
• Suite with balcony / Junior suite with balcony
• Cottage / Ethno cottage
• Premium cottage

According to the hotel, every room has a private balcony, a seating area, a minibar, free Wi-Fi, a hairdryer, bathrobe and slippers, toiletries, a flat-screen television, a work desk, and complimentary coffee and tea. The hotel says room rates include breakfast, Wi-Fi, toiletries, bathrobe, the hotel service charge, taxes required by law, and registration for foreign guests. It also states that discounted rates are available for tour groups, families and newlywed couples.

Restaurants, bars and venues

Restaurant. The hotel describes a restaurant housed in a separate building from the hotel itself, decorated in the style of a Meskhetian hall with walnut-wood ceiling beams. It serves Georgian and Meskhetian dishes alongside European cuisine, and the hotel says a buffet setup can serve up to 150 guests, with food described by the hotel as fresh, organic, natural and sourced locally. Wine from the resort’s own cellar is offered alongside the menu.

Lounge Bar. The hotel refers to its bartenders as being ready to offer an extensive choice of exotic drinks and cocktails at the lounge bar on the property.

Wine Cellar. Described by the hotel as an “oda-marani” wine cellar, this venue hosts tastings aimed at wine enthusiasts, covering several local wine varieties paired with dishes prepared by the resort’s chef. The hotel also offers a “wine evening for two,” which it says includes a bottle of white, red or sparkling wine, signature dishes from the chef, and a sommelier’s introduction to wine and tasting basics.

Wellness, pool and fitness

The hotel lists a spa centre, two swimming pools (described elsewhere on the site as open-air pools) and a fitness room among its facilities.

Meetings and events

The resort has two conference halls, which the hotel describes as suited to corporate conferences and other business events, with coffee and lunch breaks organised as part of the service.

Prices and booking

The site does not publish fixed room rates in the material reviewed; current prices are on the official site. The hotel states that the price shown for each room includes breakfast, Wi-Fi, toiletries, bathrobe, service charge, applicable taxes and foreign-guest registration, and that discounted rates apply for tour groups, families and newlywed couples.

Location and getting there

The resort’s address is given as Akhalkalaki district, village Gogasheni, “Chachkari,” in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region. The hotel states the property is 240 kilometres from Tbilisi. It describes itself as ideally positioned near the region’s main historical, cultural and natural landmarks, with the Vardzia cave monastery complex in the immediate vicinity.

Good to know

• The hotel states it has 32 rooms and 7 cottages in total, though 27 rooms are listed as currently operating.
• Average room size is stated as 20 to 30 square metres.
• Breakfast, Wi-Fi, toiletries, bathrobe, service charge, taxes and foreign-guest registration are included in the room price, according to the hotel.
• The restaurant buffet is designed to accommodate up to 150 guests.
• The resort has its own wine cellar producing and serving local wines.
• Discounted rates are offered for tour groups, families and newlywed couples.
• The resort’s adventure centre offers customisable extreme, cultural and wine-tour activities, according to the hotel.
• Contact details given by the hotel are +995 591 321 515 and info@vardziaresort.com.

Questions travellers ask

How far is Vardzia Resort from Tbilisi?

The hotel states the property is 240 kilometres from Tbilisi, in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region.

Is the hotel close to the Vardzia cave monastery?

Yes. The hotel says it is positioned near the region’s main historical, cultural and natural landmarks, with most rooms and cottages designed to face the Vardzia cave city.

What is included in the room rate?

According to the hotel, the room price includes breakfast, Wi-Fi, toiletries, bathrobe, the hotel service charge, legally required taxes and registration for foreign guests.

Does the resort have its own wine production?

The hotel operates a wine cellar described as an “oda-marani,” offering tastings of local wine varieties and a wine evening for two paired with dishes from its chef.

What facilities are available for events and meetings?

The resort has two conference halls, which the hotel describes as suitable for corporate conferences and business events, including coffee and lunch break service.

Sources

Profiled in depth by the GTour desk on 28 October 2026 from the property’s official website; photographs are the property’s own, from its official website, credited under each image. Not sponsored; tell us if something has changed.