Highlander Travel - Tours in Georgia Gems of Georgia Svaneti and Vardzia tour – 10 days

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Gems of Georgia Svaneti and Vardzia tour – 10 days

Price for one tour per person

$1500

tour features

Tour Duration: 10 Days

Tour Location:Samtskhe-Javakheti, Svaneti

Tour highlights:

Tour is available From May to October

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This is the tour for travelers who want to see Georgia properly – not a rushed highlights reel, but a genuine journey through the country’s most compelling landscapes and historical sites.

Over 10 days, you’ll move from Tbilisi’s cobblestone streets through the alpine towers of Svaneti, then south to the cave monastery of Vardzia and the volcanic plateaus of Javakheti. Two UNESCO World Heritage sites. Four distinct regions. One route that connects Georgia’s medieval past to its mountain present.

We run this as a private tour, meaning your group travels alone with your own driver-guide. The itinerary adapts to your pace and interests – want more hiking in Svaneti? Done. Prefer wine tasting over monastery visits? We’ll adjust.

Day 1: Arrival in Tbilisi

Activities: Airport pickup, Old Town walking tour
Walking: 3-4 km, flat terrain
Overnight: 4-star hotel in Tbilisi

We collect you from Tbilisi International Airport and transfer to your hotel in the historic center. After settling in, we begin with a walking tour through Old Tbilisi – the dense, layered city center where sulfur baths sit beneath a 4th-century fortress and wine bars share alleys with Armenian churches.

What you’ll see:

  • Metekhi Plateau – The clifftop viewpoint overlooking the Mtkvari River, with the equestrian statue of King Vakhtang Gorgasali who founded the city in the 5th century.
  • Narikala Fortress – The ancient citadel walls visible from everywhere in the old town. We can take the cable car up or save it for your free time.
  • Abanotubani – The sulfur bath district with its distinctive domed roofhouses. The baths have operated continuously since the city’s founding.
  • Shardeni Street and Erekle II Square – The restaurant and café hub where Tbilisi’s social life concentrates in the evenings.

Optional welcome dinner at a traditional Georgian restaurant (not included, but we’ll recommend the best spots for your taste and budget).

Drive time: 5-6 hours total (with stops)
Walking: 3-4 km across sites
Overnight: 4-star hotel in Kutaisi

We leave Tbilisi heading west, stopping at two essential historical sites before reaching Georgia’s second city.

Morning: Mtskheta (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

Georgia’s ancient capital and spiritual heart. Two monuments here are non-negotiable:

  • Jvari Monastery (6th century) – Perched on a clifftop where the Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers meet. This is where Christianity was established in Georgia, and the architecture influenced church building across the Caucasus for centuries.
  • Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (11th century) – The burial place of Georgian kings and, according to tradition, the robe of Christ. The current structure replaced earlier churches on the same site going back to the 4th century.

Midday: Uplistsikhe

A rock-hewn town carved into a riverside cliff, inhabited from the early Iron Age through the medieval period. You’ll walk through ancient streets, a pagan temple converted to a Christian church, and a theater carved directly from stone. The site gives you a tangible sense of how old continuous settlement in Georgia actually is.

Lunch stop: A family winery in the Kartli region. This area produces wines differently from Kakheti – lighter, crisper styles. Lunch included with tasting.

Evening: Arrive in Kutaisi, Georgia’s second-largest city and former capital of the Colchis and Imeretian kingdoms. Short evening walk through the compact center before dinner.

Drive time: 5-6 hours total
Walking: 2-3 km (canyon + evening walk)
Overnight: Hotel in Mestia

Today we head north into Samegrelo region, then climb into the high Caucasus toward Svaneti.

Morning: Martvili Canyon

A geological wonder where the Abasha River has carved through limestone over millennia. We take a boat ride through the narrow lower canyon (included), gliding beneath 40-meter walls draped in moss and ferns. The upper canyon offers a walking trail to waterfalls – serene in the morning before crowds arrive.

Alternative: If you prefer, we can visit Okatse Canyon instead – a suspended walkway over a 140-meter gorge, better for those who want dramatic heights rather than boat rides.

Lunch: Zugdidi, the regional capital of Samegrelo, known for its spicier, more aromatic cuisine compared to eastern Georgia. Try gebzhalia (cheese in mint sauce) or kupati (spiced sausage).

Afternoon: The Road to Svaneti

The drive from Zugdidi to Mestia is one of Georgia’s great scenic routes. We stop at Enguri Dam – the world’s second-highest arch dam at 271 meters, a Soviet engineering marvel wedged between canyon walls. The road beyond climbs through increasingly dramatic gorges until Svaneti’s towers appear.

Evening: Arrive in Mestia around 5 PM. Walking tour through the historic Lanchvali and Seti districts – neighborhoods packed with medieval defensive towers, the defining feature of Svan architecture. Dinner at the hotel or a local restaurant.

Drive time: 30 minutes to Becho
Walking/Hiking: 4-8 km depending on options
Overnight: Hotel in Mestia

A day to understand Svaneti’s culture and see Mount Ushba, the dramatic twin-peaked mountain that dominates the western horizon.

Morning: Mestia’s Museums

  • Svaneti Museum of History and Ethnography – The region’s best collection of medieval icons, gold and silver religious objects, and manuscripts. Many pieces here were hidden in towers for centuries to protect them from invaders.
  • Margiani Tower House – A preserved traditional dwelling showing how Svan families lived: livestock on the ground floor, living quarters above, defensive tower attached.
  • Mikheil Khergiani House-Museum – Dedicated to the legendary Soviet-era climber known as “Tiger of the Rocks.” Worth visiting even for non-climbers – his story captures Svaneti’s deep mountaineering culture.

Afternoon: Becho Valley

We drive to Becho village for the best accessible views of Mount Ushba (4,710m). Options range from easy to challenging:

  • Easy: Walk through Becho village, visit the medieval church, photograph Ushba from the valley floor
  • Moderate: Hike toward Shdugra Waterfall (4-5 km round trip, 2-3 hours)
  • Challenging: Continue to the Ushba Glacier viewpoint (additional 4 km, adds 3 hours, steep sections)

We return to Mestia for dinner. Tonight’s meal can include a cooking demonstration of kubdari – the meat-stuffed bread that’s Svaneti’s signature dish.

Drive time: 2.5-3 hours each way
Walking: 3-4 km in Ushguli
Overnight: Hotel in Mestia

Today’s destination is the highlight of any Svaneti visit: Ushguli, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the highest continuously inhabited settlement in Europe at 2,200 meters.

The drive itself is an experience – 45 km of unpaved mountain road with river crossings and hairpin turns. We travel in a capable 4×4 with a driver who knows every pothole. The route passes through villages that see few visitors, with stops at viewpoints and a waterfall along the way.

In Ushguli:

The “village” is actually four tiny settlements – Zhibiani, Chvibiani, Chazhashi, and Murkmeli – home to about 70 families who live here year-round despite winters that regularly bring 3+ meters of snow.

  • Lamaria Church (12th century) – The iconic viewpoint with Mount Shkhara (5,068m, Georgia’s highest peak) as the backdrop. Every postcard image of Svaneti was shot here.
  • Chazhashi towers – The densest cluster of defensive towers, some dating to the 9th century. Wander the lanes between them.
  • Ethnographic museum – A preserved tower house showing traditional Svan life, plus a collection of religious icons.
  • Lunch with a local family – Simple, authentic food in someone’s home. This is how meals work in Ushguli – there are no real restaurants.

We return to Mestia by early evening. Free time to explore, visit the craft shops, or simply rest.

Drive time: 5-6 hours total
Walking: 1.5 km (cave tour)
Overnight: Hotel in Kutaisi

We leave Svaneti, descending back toward the lowlands with a stop at one of Georgia’s most impressive natural sites.

Prometheus Cave (Kumistavi)

Georgia’s largest show cave – 1.4 km of developed passages with stalactites, stalagmites, underground rivers, and lakes. The lighting is dramatic (some say overdone), but the geological formations are genuinely spectacular. The tour takes about an hour; an optional boat ride on the underground river adds 15 minutes.

Optional: Tskaltubo Spa

The town of Tskaltubo was a major Soviet-era spa resort, famous for its naturally warm, slightly radioactive mineral waters. The grand sanatoriums are mostly abandoned now (interesting for Soviet architecture enthusiasts), but a few spas still operate. If you want to try a radon bath – allegedly good for joint problems – we can arrange it.

Evening: Wine dinner at a family winery near Kutaisi. Imeretian wines are made in qvevri (clay vessels) like Kakhetian wines but with different grape varieties and a lighter style. Dinner and tasting included.

Drive time: 5-6 hours (mountain roads)
Walking: 1-2 km
Overnight: Guesthouse in Abastumani

Today we cross from western to southern Georgia via one of the country’s most scenic and least-travelled mountain routes.

Morning: Bagrati Cathedral

A brief stop at Kutaisi’s hilltop cathedral, originally built in the 11th century, destroyed in the 17th, and controversially reconstructed in 2012. The views over Kutaisi are excellent regardless of what you think of the restoration.

The Zekari Pass Route

From the spa town of Sairme, we take a gravel road climbing to Zekari Pass (2,182m) – a route that crosses the Lesser Caucasus ridge separating Imereti from Samtskhe-Javakheti. The road is rough but passable in summer; we use a 4×4 for this section.

The landscape shifts dramatically: from the lush, green west to the drier, more austere highlands of the south. You’ll see alpine meadows, shepherds with their flocks, and almost no other tourists.

Evening: Abastumani

A small resort town in a forested valley, known for its mild microclimate and 19th-century sanatoriums (tuberculosis treatment was big here). The real attraction is the Abastumani Astrophysical Observatory, built in 1932 on a peak above town.

Weather permitting, we visit the observatory after dark for stargazing. The altitude (1,650m) and dry climate make this one of the best spots in the Caucasus for astronomy. The Soviet-era telescopes are still operational.

Drive time: 2-3 hours total
Walking: 3-5 km across sites
Overnight: Hotel near Vardzia

A day exploring the historical layers of Samtskhe-Javakheti – from Ottoman fortresses to hidden monasteries.

Morning: Akhaltsikhe and Rabati Fortress

Akhaltsikhe (“New Fortress”) was an Ottoman administrative center for 250 years, and the massive Rabati complex reflects that mixed heritage. The recently restored fortress contains a mosque, a synagogue, a church, and a castle – the architectural evidence of the region’s religious diversity. Some find the restoration too polished; others appreciate the clear presentation of history.

Midday: Sapara Monastery

Hidden in a forested gorge 12 km from Akhaltsikhe, Sapara is one of Georgia’s most atmospheric monastery complexes. The 13th-century Church of St. Saba contains exceptional frescoes, and the setting – medieval buildings nestled among trees – feels genuinely remote despite being close to the city.

Afternoon: Village Saro and Khertvisi Fortress

  • Saro – A nearly abandoned village with distinctive stone houses and, above it, the remains of a megalithic fortress (cyclopean walls, pre-Christian era). Few visitors come here.
  • Khertvisi Fortress – One of Georgia’s oldest fortresses, guarding the confluence of the Mtkvari and Paravani rivers since at least the 2nd century BC. The current walls are 10th-14th century. Brief stop for photos and context before continuing to Vardzia.

Evening: Check into our hotel near Vardzia. The area has limited accommodation, but we use the best available options – typically family-run guesthouses with excellent home cooking.

Drive time: 5-6 hours total
Walking: 2-3 km (Vardzia complex)
Overnight: 4-star hotel in Tbilisi

An early start ensures we reach Vardzia before the tour buses arrive.

Morning: Vardzia Cave Monastery

Georgia’s most impressive medieval monument – a cave city carved into the cliffs above the Mtkvari River in the 12th century. At its peak, Vardzia contained 6,000 chambers, churches, and a complex irrigation system supporting a monastic community of several thousand.

An earthquake in 1283 destroyed much of the original structure and exposed the cave faces you see today. What remains is still extraordinary: 13 levels of caves connected by tunnels, the Church of the Dormition with its famous frescoes (including a portrait of Queen Tamar, who expanded the complex), and a functioning monastery where a few monks still live.

We spend 2-3 hours here, entering before 9 AM to avoid crowds and heat.

Midday: The Javakheti Plateau

The return route to Tbilisi crosses Javakheti – a volcanic highland plateau averaging 2,000 meters, sparsely populated and starkly beautiful. This is Georgia’s “Armenian region,” with villages where Armenian is the first language and churches reflect Armenian Orthodox traditions.

  • Paravani Lake – Georgia’s largest lake, sitting at 2,073 meters. Brief stop for photos and fresh air.
  • Sagamo Lake – Smaller, quieter, equally scenic.

The landscape here feels closer to Central Asia than the Caucasus – treeless grasslands, dormant volcanoes on the horizon, scattered herds of cattle. It’s the Georgia most visitors never see.

Evening: Arrival in Tbilisi by 6-7 PM. Final dinner at a restaurant of your choice (we’ll recommend options based on what you haven’t tried yet).

Breakfast at the hotel, then transfer to Tbilisi Airport according to your flight schedule.

Staying longer? We can extend the tour with additional days in Kakheti (wine region), Kazbegi (northern mountains), or the Black Sea coast. Ask us for options.

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What’s Included

  • All transportation in a private vehicle (sedan for 2, minivan for 3+, 4×4 where required)
  • English-speaking driver-guide throughout
  • 9 nights accommodation: 4-star hotels in Tbilisi and Kutaisi, best available hotels/guesthouses in Mestia and Vardzia region
  • Daily breakfast
  • 3 lunches (Day 2 winery, Day 5 Ushguli, Day 6 wine dinner)
  • 1 wine dinner with tasting (Day 6)
  • All entrance fees: Prometheus Cave, Martvili Canyon boat ride, museums, monasteries, Vardzia
  • Ushguli 4×4 transfer
  • Abastumani Observatory visit (weather permitting)

What’s Not Included

  • International flights
  • Meals not specified (approximately €15-25 per person for lunch/dinner at local restaurants)
  • Alcoholic beverages outside included meals
  • Optional activities (Tskaltubo spa, cable cars, etc.)
  • Travel insurance (required)
  • Tips for guide and service staff

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this tour suitable for older travelers or those with limited mobility?

Yes, with modifications. Most sites involve moderate walking on uneven terrain, but we can reduce hiking components and add rest time. Vardzia and Uplistsikhe involve climbing steps (100+ at Vardzia); let us know your limitations and we’ll advise honestly.

Can we customize the itinerary?

Absolutely – that’s the advantage of a private tour. Want to skip a museum and add a hike? Prefer a cooking class instead of a wine tasting? Interested in photography and need more time at scenic stops? Tell us your priorities and we’ll adjust.

What’s the accommodation like?

In Tbilisi and Kutaisi: proper 4-star hotels with reliable amenities. In Mestia: the best available hotel (standards are improving but still simpler than cities). Near Vardzia: family guesthouses with private rooms – basic but clean, with excellent home cooking. We don’t do dormitories or shared bathrooms.

How much driving is involved?

This is a touring itinerary covering significant ground. The longest driving days are Day 3 (Kutaisi to Mestia, 5-6 hours) and Day 9 (Vardzia to Tbilisi, 5-6 hours). All other days have 2-4 hours of driving with frequent stops. If you prefer less driving, consider our shorter regional tours instead.

Do we need a 4×4 for the whole trip?

No. We use a comfortable sedan or minivan for most of the route. 4×4 vehicles are specifically used for the Ushguli day trip and the Zekari Pass crossing – the only sections requiring them.

What if the Zekari Pass is closed?

Occasionally happens due to weather or road conditions, especially early or late in the season. If Zekari is impassable, we take the alternative route via Borjomi (paved, longer, but still scenic). The itinerary adjusts accordingly.

Is the Ushguli road dangerous?

The road is rough and unpaved but not dangerous with an experienced driver and proper vehicle. Our drivers make this trip regularly throughout the season. We monitor conditions and won’t attempt the road if it’s unsafe (rare, but possible after heavy rain).

Can we stay overnight in Ushguli instead of returning to Mestia?

Yes, for an additional €50 per person (covers different accommodation arrangements). Spending a night in Ushguli gives you sunset and sunrise in the village – highly recommended for photographers. Let us know when booking.

What should we pack?

Layers for variable mountain weather (10-25°C range in summer), comfortable walking shoes, a light rain jacket, and sun protection. The southern highlands are drier and sunnier than Svaneti. Bring cash in Georgian Lari – small villages don’t have ATMs or card machines.

Can vegetarians/vegans do this tour?

Georgian cuisine is meat-heavy, but vegetarian options exist at every meal (cheese dishes, bean stews, vegetable plates, fresh bread). Vegan is harder but manageable with advance notice – we’ll inform guesthouses ahead of time.

Book This Tour

Ready? Contact us with your travel dates and group size. We’ll confirm availability and send a detailed proposal within 24 hours.

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Why This Itinerary?

Most Georgia tours focus on either Svaneti or the south – rarely both, because connecting them requires commitment. The Zekari Pass crossing isn’t on standard tourist routes, which is exactly why we include it: you’ll see a Georgia that organized tours skip.

This itinerary also balances UNESCO sites (Mtskheta, Ushguli, Vardzia) with places that deserve more attention: the Javakheti plateau’s austere beauty, Sapara’s hidden frescoes, the megalithic ruins at Saro. You get the highlights without feeling like you’re on a checklist.

Ten days is enough to feel the country’s variety – the lush west, the alpine north, the volcanic south – without exhausting yourself or rushing through sites.

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