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Mystic South Georgia Tour: Ancient Caves, Volcanic Plateaus & Hidden Monasteries

Price for one tour per person

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tour features

Tour Duration: 4 Days

Tour Location:Samtskhe-Javakheti

Tour highlights:

Tour is available From April to November

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South Georgia exists in Georgian consciousness as a place apart a region where volcanic plateaus meet mountain gorges, where medieval monks carved monasteries directly into cliff faces, and where landscapes feel more otherworldly than the country’s better-known routes. This isn’t the Georgia of wine tours and mountain villages, though wine and villages appear here too. This is older, stranger, more mysterious Georgia.

The “mystic” label isn’t marketing exaggeration. Samtskhe-Javakheti region holds some of Georgia’s most spiritually significant and visually dramatic sites. Vardzia’s cave city, hidden inside a cliff, housed thousands of monks in the 12th century. Vanis Kvabebi’s meditation caves cling to vertical rock faces where hermits sought isolation and enlightenment. The volcanic Javakheti plateau, with its crater lakes and basalt formations, creates landscapes that feel almost alien. Abastumani’s century-old astronomical observatory searches the cosmos from mountain heights.

This four-day journey takes you deep into southern Georgia’s dramatic geography and layered history. You’ll explore cave monasteries that predate Europe’s cathedrals, cross volcanic highlands where Armenian culture dominates Georgian territory, visit fortresses that guarded ancient trade routes, taste wines from grapes that grow nowhere else, and ride horses through Europe’s largest untouched forest. The tour balances famous sites like Vardzia and Borjomi with places few tourists reach, Upper Tmogvi accessible only by jeep, Saro village, where families still make wine in buried qvevri, and Poka monastery on an island in a volcanic lake.

Small group size and local expertise mean you’ll understand contexts that guidebooks miss, access places that require local knowledge, and experience southern Georgia as more than just photo opportunities.

Why South Georgia Feels Different

Geography creates character. Samtskhe-Javakheti sits where the Lesser Caucasus mountains meet the volcanic plateau, where Georgian Orthodox tradition neighbors Armenian Christian culture, where subtropical valleys transition to continental highlands. The region’s position on historical trade routes between East and West meant successive invasions—Persian, Arab, Seljuk, Mongol, Ottoman, each leaving architectural and cultural traces.

The result feels distinct from other Georgian regions. Towns show Ottoman influence in their fortress architecture. The Javakheti plateau’s Armenian population means churches follow different traditions and villages speak a different language. The volcanic landscape crater lakes, basalt cliffs, sparse vegetation contrasts dramatically with Georgia’s usual lush greenness. Even the wine tastes different, made from grape varieties adapted to volcanic soil and high altitude.

Medieval Georgia built some of its most ambitious monuments here. When Queen Tamar’s armies controlled the Caucasus in the 12th century, workers carved entire cities into cliff faces—not just churches but libraries, wine cellars, bakeries, living quarters, defensive tunnels. These weren’t small projects but massive undertakings involving thousands of laborers over decades. The engineering ambition rivaled anything in medieval Europe, yet most Western travelers have never heard of Vardzia or Vanis Kvabebi.

The region also contains Georgia’s premier spa town. Borjomi’s mineral waters attracted the Russian aristocracy in the 19th century, then became the Soviet elite’s preferred retreat. The surrounding Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park protects the largest intact temperate forest in Europe, over 85,000 hectares of wilderness where bears, wolves, and lynx still roam.

Tour Highlights

  • Cave Monasteries & Rock-Hewn Sites: Vardzia (12th-century cave city with 600+ rooms carved into cliff), Vanis Kvabebi (hermit caves in dramatic vertical setting), Upper Tmogvi ruins (accessed via off-road jeep excursion)

  • Volcanic Plateau Landscapes: Javakheti volcanic region with Paravani Lake (Georgia’s largest, 2,073m altitude), Sagamo Lake, Paravani River gorge, dramatic basalt formations and crater landscapes

  • Medieval Fortresses & Monasteries: Khertvisi fortress (10th century, strategic gorge position), Rabati fortress complex (recently renovated), Sapara monastery (exceptional frescoes), Poka monastery (island setting in volcanic lake)

  • Natural Wonders: Dashbashi Canyon (volcanic canyon with suspended walkway), Borjomi Central Park (mineral springs and mountain setting), horse riding through Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park (Europe’s largest untouched forest)

  • Unique Cultural Experiences: Wine tasting and lunch in Saro village (local varieties grown in volcanic soil), Armenian-Georgian cultural crossroads in Javakheti, Abastumani Astrophysical Observatory (weather permitting, one of Europe’s oldest)

  • Off-Beaten-Path Access: Jeep tour to Upper Tmogvi ruins, village Saro (rarely visited by tourists), Paravani River gorge exploration, and authentic guesthouse stays

  • Flexibility: Optional routing—start Tbilisi/end Kutaisi or reverse, summer route variations available

4-Day Detailed Itinerary

Your journey into southern Georgia’s mysteries begins with a drive south from Tbilisi, initially following familiar routes before veering into less-traveled territory. The landscape transitions from the Mtkvari (Kura) River valley into higher elevations, the climate becoming noticeably cooler and drier.

Dashbashi Canyon provides your first dramatic stop. This volcanic gorge cuts through basalt formations, creating walls up to 100 meters high. A recently constructed glass bridge and suspended walkway allow you to walk above the canyon floor, where the Khrami River rushes through narrow passages it has carved over millennia. Waterfalls appear at various points, and the volcanic rock formations create shapes that seem almost deliberately sculptural. The canyon demonstrates the region’s volcanic origins this entire area sits on ancient lava flows that cooled into the basalt now carved by water and time.

Continuing south, you climb onto the Javakheti plateau, one of Georgia’s most distinctive landscapes. At over 2,000 meters in elevation, this volcanic highland feels more like Armenia or eastern Turkey than typical Georgia. The climate is continental cold winters, cool summers, and sparse rainfall. Villages here are predominantly ethnic Armenian, creating a cultural atmosphere distinct from Georgian Orthodox lowlands. You’ll notice Armenian churches’ architectural differences and hear Armenian spoken more commonly than Georgian.

Paravani Lake, Georgia’s largest natural lake, sits at 2,073 meters. The volcanic crater lake spans 37 square kilometers; its waters are cold even in summer (rarely exceeding 15°C). On clear days, surrounding peaks reflect in mirror-still water. The shoreline villages Tsalka, Paravani show Armenian influence strongly. This is one of Georgia’s least-known major landscapes, remote and austere but possessing stark beauty.

Poka Monastery occupies a small island in another volcanic lake, its stone buildings rising from the water like a vision from medieval manuscripts. The monastery’s isolation created ideal conditions for monastic contemplation—monks could row to the island for prayers and meditation, separated from worldly distractions by cold lake water. The setting combines natural drama with spiritual intentionality in ways that define this region’s character.

Sagamo Lake provides another volcanic crater stop, smaller but equally atmospheric. The lakes and the plateau’s volcanic formations create otherworldly scenery. This is the landscape that justifies “mystic” in the tour’s name.

Evening brings you to accommodation near Paravani or in the Javakheti region, where you’ll overnight and have dinner. The high altitude and clear air often produce spectacular stargazing; light pollution is minimal this far from cities, and the thin atmosphere at 2,000+ meters makes stars vivid.

Overnight: Javakheti region
Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Day 2: Vardzia and He

Today explores southern Georgia’s most remarkable medieval monuments cave complexes carved directly into living rock. The morning drive follows the Mtkvari River through increasingly dramatic gorges. The landscape here is arid, almost desert-like in summer, with eroded volcanic formations creating surreal shapes.

Khertvisi fortress appears first, perched on a rocky outcrop where the Paravani and Mtkvari rivers meet. The 10th-century fortress (though possibly older foundations) commanded this strategic junction for centuries. Multiple invaders fought over and occupied this position Georgians, Mongols, Ottomans each adding to the fortifications. The location demonstrates military logic: high ground, river access, visibility over approaching routes. From the fortress walls, you understand why control of this position mattered so much.

But Khertvisi is merely a prelude to the day’s main event. Vardzia represents one of medieval Georgia’s most ambitious projects a cave city carved into a cliff face during the reign of Queen Tamar in the 12th century. Walking through Vardzia requires understanding what you’re seeing: this isn’t a natural cave system but entirely human-made. Workers carved over 600 rooms into the mountain’s interior, creating a complex that extended 13 stories vertically and 50 meters back into the rock.

The complex functioned as both a monastery and a fortress refuge. During Mongol invasions, the population could retreat into Vardzia, defend the few narrow entrances, and survive siege conditions using the sophisticated water supply system that still functions. The cave church contains frescoes of Queen Tamar herself rare contemporary portraiture of Georgia’s most celebrated monarch. Wine cellars, bakery, library, living quarters, defensive tunnels all carved from solid rock with technology available in the 12th century.

An earthquake in the 13th century collapsed much of the cliff’s outer face, exposing rooms meant to remain hidden. This unfortunate catastrophe actually helps modern visitors appreciate the complex’s original scale. You walk through corridors, climb narrow stairs carved in rock, explore chambers ranging from tiny monk cells to large assembly halls, and comprehend both the engineering achievement and the desperate military necessity that motivated such construction.

After Vardzia, the afternoon’s destinations feel like variations on a theme. Vanis Kvabebi, carved into cliffs downstream from Vardzia, served as hermit monastery meditation caves for monks seeking extreme isolation. The caves cling to vertical rock faces accessible only by narrow paths. The location’s difficulty was intentional: spiritual progress required physical ordeal, and the isolation here exceeded even Vardzia’s remoteness.

An off-road jeep excursion takes you to Upper Tmogvi ruins a fortress village accessible only via rough tracks that regular vehicles can’t manage. The ruins sit on a mountain ridge with dramatic views over the gorge. Few tourists make the effort to reach Upper Tmogvi, meaning you’ll likely have the site to yourself. The drive itself becomes part of the adventure—rough terrain, river crossings, steep ascents that demonstrate why this location remained secure.

The day concludes in the village Saro, one of southern Georgia’s wine-producing communities. The volcanic soil here produces grapes with distinctive character, and local families make wine using traditional methods of fermentation in buried qvevri (clay vessels), varieties adapted to high altitude and volcanic terroir. Your wine tasting and lunch at a family table introduces you to wines you won’t find in Tbilisi shops.

The hospitality in Saro demonstrates Georgian tradition in rural setting—abundant food prepared from garden vegetables and local ingredients, toasting customs, and genuine warmth that transcends language barriers. This is wine culture experienced at its source rather than in commercial tasting rooms.

Overnight: Akhaltsikhe area or near Vardzia
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

rmit Caves – Georgia’s Hidden Cliff Cities

Morning brings you to Akhaltsikhe, historically important as Samtskhe region’s capital. The name means “new castle” in Georgian, but the town’s history extends back centuries. Rabati fortress complex, recently (and controversially) renovated, demonstrates the region’s multicultural history in architectural form. The complex includes Georgian Orthodox church, Armenian church, mosque, and synagogue physical evidence of the diverse populations that have called this region home.

Ottoman occupation left strong marks on Akhaltsikhe. The Turks held the town for centuries, and the fortress’s architecture shows that influence. Some historians and preservationists criticize the recent renovation as too complete, eliminating authentic aged character in favor of Disney-like reconstruction. Regardless of these debates, the complex provides context for understanding southern Georgia’s position between empires and cultures.

A short drive brings you to Sapara Monastery, hidden in forested hills outside Akhaltsikhe. While Rabati may feel over-renovated, Sapara retains authentic medieval character. The monastery’s church contains exceptional frescoes from the 13th-14th centuries. The artwork demonstrates Georgian artistic achievement at its peak sophisticated composition, rich colors that survive centuries, iconography that combines Orthodox tradition with Georgian artistic interpretation.

The monastery’s forest setting creates atmosphere that complements the spiritual architecture. Unlike cliff-face Vardzia, Sapara nestles into landscape rather than dominating it. The approach road winds through dense forest, and the complex feels integrated with natural surroundings. This represents a different architectural and spiritual philosophy than the cave monasteries’ dramatic isolation.

From Sapara, the route climbs north toward Borjomi, passing through mountain forests that grow increasingly lush. The landscape transitions from southern Georgia’s arid volcanic terrain back to the humid forests of the Lesser Caucasus. Borjomi sits at 810 meters elevation in a narrow gorge surrounded by mountains, its position creating microclimate ideal for the mineral springs that made the town famous.

Borjomi Central Park introduces you to Georgia’s premier spa town. The mineral water here—naturally carbonated, slightly salty, with a distinctive taste has been bottled and exported since the 19th century. Russians discovered the springs’ therapeutic properties and developed Borjomi into an elite resort. Soviet leaders continued the tradition, making Borjomi their preferred retreat. The park retains Belle Époque and Soviet-era architecture alongside modern development.

You can taste the water directly from the source, hot mineral water flows from springs in the park, and locals fill bottles daily. The taste takes adjustment (quite salty, minerally, carbonated naturally), but Georgians swear by its health benefits. Whether or not you believe the therapeutic claims, the cultural significance is undeniable Borjomi water appears on every Georgian table.

The surrounding Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park protects 85,000+ hectares of temperate forest—the largest intact forest ecosystem in Europe. The park contains bears, wolves, lynx, and over 200 bird species. Hiking trails range from easy walks to multi-day treks, but your tour focuses on horse riding through sections of this wilderness.

Afternoon or evening horse riding (depending on timing and group preference) takes you into the forest on horseback. Even a few hours on horseback reveals the forest’s scale and wildness. Riding allows access deeper than casual walking permits, and the horse’s movement creates a meditative rhythm conducive to absorbing forest atmosphere. This isn’t technical riding requiring expert skills local horses are accustomed to trail work, and guides accommodate all experience levels.

Overnight: Borjomi
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The final day’s routing depends on season, weather, and group interest. In good weather, a morning excursion to Abastumani Astrophysical Observatory (20km from Borjomi at 1,650m elevation) provides fitting conclusion to a “mystic” tour. The observatory, established in 1932 but occupying a site chosen for its exceptional sky clarity, has tracked celestial phenomena for nearly a century.

The observatory isn’t just a tourist attraction but a working research facility (though it also accommodates visitors). The location was selected for minimal light pollution, clear mountain air, and elevation that reduces atmospheric distortion. Soviet astronomers made significant observations here, and the facility remains active in post-Soviet Georgia, albeit with reduced funding.

A visit (weather and observatory schedule permitting) includes seeing the historic telescopes, learning about astronomical research conducted here, and understanding why mountain observatories matter for studying the cosmos. The connection between earth-bound cave monasteries you’ve explored and an observatory searching the heavens creates thematic resonance both represent human attempts to understand mysteries beyond immediate perception.

If weather doesn’t cooperate or the observatory isn’t available, the morning explores more of Borjomi’s trails and mineral spring culture, perhaps a longer forest walk or additional time in the Central Park.

The drive back to Tbilisi (approximately 150-160km, 3-4 hours depending on traffic) completes your circuit through southern Georgia. The route retraces your initial departure but in reverse, the familiar approach to the capital allowing reflection on the landscapes, monasteries, fortresses, and cultures you’ve experienced over four days.

The tour can alternatively end in Kutaisi (adding approximately 100km but opening western Georgia connections) or begin in Kutaisi and end in Tbilisi. Summer route variations might include different Borjomi-area activities or extended time in specific locations based on group interest.

End of tour in Tbilisi (or Kutaisi if arranged)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch (depending on timing)

What’s Included

✓ Professional English-speaking guide throughout the tour (Russian, German available on request)
✓ Comfortable private transportation suitable for both paved and off-road sections (4WD vehicle for Upper Tmogvi excursion)
✓ 3 nights accommodation in 3-star hotels and guesthouses (double/twin rooms with private bathrooms)
✓ Most meals: 3 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners
✓ All entrance fees to listed sites (Vardzia, Rabati, Sapara, national park, etc.)
✓ Jeep excursion to Upper Tmogvi
✓ Wine tasting and lunch in Saro village
✓ Horse riding in Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park (2-3 hours)
✓ Abastumani Observatory visit (weather and schedule permitting)
✓ Mineral water tastings in Borjomi

What’s Not Included

✗ Transportation to/from starting point (Tbilisi or Kutaisi)
✗ Travel insurance (recommended)
✗ Meals not specified (approximately 1-2 meals depending on routing)
✗ Alcoholic beverages beyond included wine tasting
✗ Personal expenses and souvenirs
✗ Optional activities not listed in itinerary
✗ Tips for guide and driver (optional but appreciated—10-15% customary)

Duration: 4 days, 3 nights
Start/End: Tbilisi (alternative routing: Kutaisi start or end available on request)
Total Distance: Approximately 750km over 4 days
Group Size: Small groups (2-10 people) or private arrangements
Difficulty: Easy—minimal walking required, horse riding suitable for beginners
Best Season: Late April through October (Javakheti plateau is cold outside this period, Borjomi activities best in warmer months)
Language: English (Russian, German on request)
Accommodation: Mix of 3-star hotels and family guesthouses—comfortable, clean, with private bathrooms

Physical Requirements:

  • Basic fitness for short walks at monasteries and viewpoints
  • Comfortable with mountain driving on sometimes winding roads
  • Horse riding requires no previous experience (guides accommodate all levels)
  • High altitude considerations at Javakheti plateau (2,000+ meters)—stay hydrated
  • Some sites involve stairs carved in rock (Vardzia)

What to Pack:

  • Layers for varying temperatures (Javakheti plateau is significantly cooler than lowlands)
  • Comfortable walking shoes
  • Long pants for horse riding
  • Light rain jacket
  • Sun protection (high altitude = stronger sun)
  • Modest clothing for monastery visits
  • Camera with extra batteries/cards
  • Binoculars useful for observatory visit
  • Personal medications

Route Flexibility: The tour can be customized to start or end in Kutaisi instead of Tbilisi. Summer months (late May through mid-September) offer additional route variations. Discuss preferences when booking.

Weather-Dependent Elements: Abastumani Observatory visit depends on weather and observatory schedule (cloudy evenings prevent observation). Horse riding continues in light rain but may be modified in heavy weather.

What makes this tour 'mystic'? Is that just marketing language?

It’s not just marketing—the tour truly has a mystical quality that comes from several factors. First, you’re visiting cave monasteries like Vardzia where medieval monks literally carved cities into cliff faces seeking spiritual isolation. These aren’t ruins on hillsides but hidden chambers deep inside mountains. Second, the Javakheti volcanic plateau creates otherworldly landscapes—crater lakes at 2,000+ meters, basalt formations, sparse high-altitude terrain that feels almost alien. Third, the Abastumani Observatory adds cosmic perspective, studying stars from mountain heights. Finally, the region’s remoteness and relatively few tourists mean you experience these places in contemplative atmosphere rather than crowded tourist chaos. When you stand inside Vardzia’s rock-carved church or watch sunset over volcanic Paravani Lake, “mystic” feels accurate rather than exaggerated.

Not at all—the horse riding is designed for all experience levels, including complete beginners. You’ll ride for 2-3 hours through Borjomi forest on well-trained horses accustomed to trail work with tourists. The guides select calm, experienced horses and match riders to appropriate animals. The pace is gentle (mostly walking with some trotting if you’re comfortable), and the trails are established routes without dangerous sections. Guides provide basic riding instruction before you start and accompany the group throughout. If you’re nervous, let the guide know and they’ll give you the calmest horse and extra attention. Children and elderly riders regularly participate. The only requirements are comfortable long pants (no shorts for riding) and basic balance. If you have back problems or mobility issues that make riding inadvisable, inform us when booking and we can arrange alternative activities during that time.

Photos cannot convey Vardzia’s scale or impact. This isn’t a natural cave system—it’s an entire city carved into a cliff: 600+ rooms extending 13 stories vertically and 50 meters deep into solid rock, created with 12th-century technology. You walk through narrow corridors carved in stone, climb stairs where millions of feet have worn the rock smooth, see wine cellars, bakery, library chambers, defensive tunnels, and a church with frescoes of Queen Tamar. The sophisticated water system still functions after 800 years. An earthquake exposed the complex (it was originally completely hidden inside the cliff), allowing you to see its cross-section. The engineering ambition rivals anything in medieval Europe. Most visitors say photos underprepared them for the reality—both the physical scale and the emotional impact of standing in spaces carved by hand centuries ago. If you only visit one cave monastery in Georgia, make it Vardzia.

Pack layers because you’ll experience significant temperature variation. The Javakheti plateau (Days 1-2) sits at 2,000+ meters elevation with continental climate—even summer days can be cool, and evenings are cold. Expect 10-20°C in summer, possibly near freezing in spring/autumn mornings. Borjomi (Day 3) is lower elevation (810m) and warmer—summer can reach 25-30°C. The key is layering: bring a warm fleece or jacket for Javakheti mornings and evenings, lighter layers for midday, and warmer clothes for Borjomi. Rain is possible year-round but more common in spring. Even in July-August, bring a light jacket for high-altitude areas. The volcanic plateau can be windy, making it feel colder than the actual temperature. Locals joke that Javakheti has winter nine months a year and bad weather the other three—but summer months (June-September) are genuinely pleasant, just cooler than lowland Georgia.

The Abastumani Observatory visit depends on two factors: (1) weather conditions and (2) observat

Ready to explore Georgia’s mystical southern region? Contact us to check availability and reserve your journey into volcanic plateaus, cave monasteries, and untouched forests.

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Why This Tour is Special

Most Georgia tours focus on the Kakheti wine region or the Svaneti mountains. Southern Georgia receives far fewer visitors despite containing some of the country’s most remarkable sites. Vardzia alone deserves international recognition comparable to Cappadocia, yet it remains relatively undiscovered. The volcanic Javakheti plateau’s otherworldly landscapes provide scenery unlike anywhere else in the Caucasus.

The “mystic” theme isn’t arbitrary marketing. This region’s cave monasteries, volcanic formations, astronomical observatory, and spiritual history create an atmosphere that feels genuinely mystical—ancient, mysterious, infused with significance that transcends ordinary tourism. When you stand inside Vardzia’s rock-carved church or watch sunset over Paravani Lake’s volcanic crater, you experience landscapes and monuments that inspire contemplation.

The tour also demonstrates Georgia’s cultural complexity. Javakheti’s Armenian population, Ottoman influence in Akhaltsikhe, cave monastery traditions, and Soviet-era observatory represent different cultural layers coexisting in a relatively small geographic area. You’ll gain an understanding of Georgia as a multicultural crossroads rather than a monolithic nation.

Small group size and local expertise provide access and context that independent travel can’t match. Upper Tmogvi requires both 4WD vehicle and local knowledge to reach. Saro village wine tasting requires family connections. Abastumani Observatory visits need coordination. Your guide opens doors and explains contexts that transform sites from pretty photo opportunities into meaningful experiences.

Four days allow proper exploration without rush. You’ll spend meaningful time at Vardzia, experience Javakheti’s atmosphere rather than just passing through, and engage with activities (horse riding, wine tasting, monastery visits) at a pace that permits understanding.

The “Mystic” Explained

Why “mystic”? Because southern Georgia’s character combines elements that create an atmosphere beyond ordinary tourist experiences:

Ancient spiritual sites: Monks carved Vardzia and Vanis Kvabebi, seeking isolation for spiritual practice. The sites retain that contemplative energy.

Volcanic landscapes: Javakheti’s crater lakes and basalt formations create scenery that feels primordial, almost alien.

Astronomical perspective: Abastumani Observatory’s century of celestial observation connects earthly experience to cosmic scale.

Cultural crossroads: Armenian and Georgian Orthodox traditions, Muslim Ottoman heritage, ancient trade routes—multiple cultures layered over centuries.

Authentic encounters: Villages like Saro maintain traditional life, including ancient wine-making methods, creating a connection to practices spanning millennia.

Remote wilderness: Borjomi-Kharagauli’s intact forest ecosystem represents nature on a scale increasingly rare in modern Europe.

These elements combine to create tours that transcend sightseeing. You’re engaging with landscapes and traditions that inspire reflection about time, culture, spirituality, and humanity’s relationship with dramatic natural settings.

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