A long single day from Tbilisi to the cave monastery of Vardzia, taking in Borjomi's gorge and the restored Rabati Castle in Akhaltsikhe along the way.
- —Covers three distinct regions of Samtskhe-Javakheti in one day: Borjomi, Akhaltsikhe and Vardzia
- —Rabati Castle in Akhaltsikhe, a fully restored Ottoman-Georgian fortress with mosque, church and museum inside the same walls
- —Drive through the Borjomi gorge along the Mtkvari river, on the edge of Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park
- —Khertvisi fortress, one of the oldest standing strongholds in Georgia, seen from the road on the way to Vardzia
- —Honest 2026 note: part of Vardzia is closed for conservation work, we tell you exactly which sections are open before you book
- —Private car with driver and licensed guide, door to door from your Tbilisi accommodation
Map: OpenStreetMap · Road route and driving times: OSRM · Times exclude stops.
- ✓ Private transport by car or minivan, driver included
- ✓ Licensed English-speaking guide for the full day
- ✓ Hotel or apartment pickup and drop-off in Tbilisi
- ✓ All road tolls and parking fees
- ✓ Bottled water during the drive
- ✓ Entrance ticket to Rabati Castle
- ✓ Entrance ticket to Vardzia cave city (checked at booking, prices and open sections can change)
- — Lunch in Akhaltsikhe
- — Personal expenses and souvenirs
- — Gratuities for driver and guide
- — Any optional golf-cart or additional access inside Vardzia if offered on the day (checked at booking)
- · This is a long day: around 4 hours' driving each way, plus stops, roughly 13 hours door to door
- · Vardzia involves stairs, uneven cave floors and some low passages; moderate fitness is needed to see the upper levels
- · Part of Vardzia is closed for conservation work in 2026; we confirm the current open sections before departure
- · Dress modestly for the monastery sections of Vardzia (shoulders and knees covered)
- · Mountain weather in Borjomi and Akhaltsikhe can be noticeably cooler than Tbilisi, bring a layer
- · Mobile signal is patchy in the Vardzia gorge
Is all of Vardzia open to visit in 2026?
No. Part of the cave complex is closed for repair work through 2026. We tell you which tunnels and churches remain accessible when you book.
How long is the actual driving time?
About 4 hours each way from Tbilisi, more if the Borjomi gorge road is busy. The day runs roughly 13 hours in total, door to door.
Can this be done as an overnight trip instead?
Yes, see our Vardzia, Rabati & Borjomi — 2 Days tour, which allows more time at each site and an overnight in the region.
Is the price per person fixed regardless of group size?
No. Pricing is per person and depends on how many travel together: solo, two, three, or four to six, shown at checkout.
Prices are per person for two travelling together, in euros; solo travellers and larger groups are quoted on request. Every departure is private and adjusted to you. Hotels, wineries and restaurants on our routes are verified by GTour.
The cave city of Vardzia carved into the cliffs above the Kura River gorge. · Photo: Valen1988 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
| Group | Per person | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 traveller | €392 ≈ $437 · 1,135 GEL | €392 ≈ $437 · 1,135 GEL |
| 2 travellers | €245 ≈ $273 · 709 GEL | €490 ≈ $546 · 1,418 GEL |
| 3 travellers | €233 ≈ $260 · 674 GEL | €699 ≈ $779 · 2,023 GEL |
| 4–6 travellers | €208 ≈ $232 · 602 GEL | €832 ≈ $928 · 2,408 GEL for four |
Private tour: your own car and driver and English-speaking guide. Conversions at today's National Bank of Georgia rate.
Free cancellation up to 7 days before the tour. Between 7 days and 48 hours: 50 % of the price. Less than 48 hours or no-show: no refund. If a mountain road closes and the tour cannot run, you choose a new date or a full refund.
20 % deposit confirms the booking. Deposit by card or bank transfer when the date is confirmed; the balance in cash or by card at the start of the tour. No hidden fees — fuel, parking, driver and guide are included; entrance tickets, meals and hotels are listed per tour.
Since 1 January 2026 every foreign visitor to Georgia must hold health and accident insurance with cover of at least 30,000 GEL — see our guide to the rule. Our vehicles carry passenger liability insurance; your travel policy covers you.
Full booking conditions · Terms of use · What "Verified by GTour" means
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DepartureYour hotel — we collect you
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Departure TimeThe time you prefer — every departure is private
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Return TimeAt your hotel
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