Experience southern Georgia’s most spectacular medieval cave city with our carefully paced 2-day Vardzia tour. Starting at $268 per person, this tour explores the legendary Vardzia monastery complex, historic fortresses, and pristine mountain lakes across the Samtskhe-Javakheti region – without the exhaustion of a rushed day trip.

Why Two Days Make All the Difference

Most tour operators offer one-day trips to Vardzia from Tbilisi. We don’t, and here’s why: the total distance exceeds 500 kilometers. That’s over 10 hours of driving squeezed around brief site visits, leaving you exhausted and robbing you of the experience you traveled so far to enjoy.

Our philosophy is simple. We never include more than 350 kilometers of driving in a single day. We’re not here to show you as much as possible in the shortest time at any cost. We’re here to let you discover the genuine taste of Georgia and fully enjoy our country at a comfortable, enriching pace.

This 2-day format transforms your journey from a hurried checklist into an authentic exploration where you can actually absorb the history, savor the landscapes, and return home with memories instead of fatigue.

Day 1: Journey Through History to Vardzia

Morning: Departure and Borjomi’s Healing Waters

Your adventure begins in Tbilisi as we head south through the regions of Shida Kartli and Samtskhe-Javakheti. These valleys have connected civilizations for millennia, and today you’ll follow ancient trade routes toward the Turkish border.

Our first stop brings you to Borjomi Park, Georgia’s beloved mineral spring resort. This verdant park has drawn visitors since the 19th century to taste its naturally carbonated waters, believed to aid digestion and promote wellness. Stroll through the landscaped gardens, sample the famous mineral water straight from the source, and breathe in the pine-scented mountain air before continuing deeper into history.

Midday: Akhaltsikhe and the Rabati Complex

The landscape shifts as we enter Samtskhe-Javakheti, a region where medieval Georgia’s political, economic, and cultural power once concentrated. This explains why so many historical monuments cluster in this relatively small area – you’re traversing what was once the heartland of an empire.

In Akhaltsikhe, the Rabati Complex rises before you like a miniature city unto itself. This restored fortress showcases centuries of architectural evolution, from Georgian castle walls to Ottoman-era mosques, revealing the complex cultural layers that define this borderland. Walk its ramparts, explore its courtyards, and imagine the merchants and soldiers who once passed through these same gates along the main transit road between central Georgia and Byzantium.

Late Morning: Sacred Artistry at Sapara

Our journey continues the historical narrative at Sapara Monastery, a masterpiece of Georgian ecclesiastical architecture nestled in the forested mountains. Founded in the 10th century, Sapara showcases the artistic heights of medieval Georgia through its intricate stone carvings and interior paintings. The main church building dates from the 14th century, representing the architectural refinement that followed Vardzia’s era.

While less famous than Vardzia, Sapara offers intimate beauty – its peaceful setting and detailed artwork provide a contemplative counterpoint to Vardzia’s grand scale.

Afternoon: Fortresses Guarding the Valleys

As we follow the upper valley of the Mtkvari River toward Vardzia, history unfolds through stone. The Saro fortresses appear first, their weathered walls still standing sentinel over the strategic valley. Then comes Khertvisi Fortress, perched dramatically at the confluence of the Mtkvari and Paravani rivers. Dating from the 10th century, Khertvisi has witnessed countless battles and remains one of Georgia’s oldest surviving fortresses.

These weren’t decorative castles – they were working fortifications protecting the vital route to Anatolia. Standing in their shadows, you understand medieval Georgia’s strategic brilliance in controlling these mountain passages.

Evening: Arrival at Vardzia

As afternoon light begins to soften, the valley opens, and suddenly—there it is. Vardzia appears carved into the volcanic cliff face ahead, revealing the scale and ambition of Queen Tamar’s 12th-century vision. You’ll settle into nearby accommodation with the caves awaiting your exploration tomorrow, perfectly positioned to experience Vardzia without rushing.

Day 2: Vardzia and the Return Journey

Morning: Inside the Cave Monastery Complex

Dawn at Vardzia is something special. The complex awakens in morning light, and you’ll have time to truly explore this architectural wonder. The Vardzia Cave Monastery stretches 13 stories vertically into the cliff – once home to 2,000 monks and soldiers who lived, prayed, and defended Georgia from these interconnected chambers.

Queen Tamar commissioned Vardzia in the 1180s as both a monastery and fortress, a spiritual and military stronghold during Georgia’s Golden Age. You’ll walk through carved churches still adorned with medieval frescoes, discover hidden tunnels, explore monks’ cells and communal halls, and climb between levels through ancient stone staircases. The ingenuity of the water systems, ventilation shafts, and defensive architecture reveals engineering sophistication that rivals any medieval European construction.

A 13th-century earthquake partially revealed the complex, which had been almost completely hidden within the mountain. Today, approximately 600 rooms remain accessible from the original 3,000—still enough to wander for hours.

Afternoon: Mountain Lakes and Highland Beauty

Our route carries you across the volcanic Javakheti Plateau, a high-altitude landscape of extraordinary beauty and ecological significance. Here, mirror-still Lake Paravani and Lake Sagamo reflect endless skies, their shores hosting migratory birds that travel from Africa to breed in these protected wetlands.

The plateau sits at nearly 2,000 meters in elevation, creating a unique ecosystem and microclimate. In warmer months, wildflowers carpet the grasslands. Throughout the year, the stark highland beauty and vast horizons offer a striking contrast to the valleys you’ve explored.

Evening: Return to Tbilisi

We complete the circuit back to Tbilisi through landscapes now familiar, arriving refreshed rather than exhausted – exactly as a journey should conclude.

What Makes This Tour Different

The Right Pace for Real Discovery

Geography is non-negotiable. Vardzia sits 250 kilometers south of Tbilisi in mountainous terrain. A one-day tour means 10+ hours of driving with rushed visits that barely scratch the surface. Our 2-day format provides comfortable travel intervals, substantial time at each site, overnight accommodation near Vardzia, and the energy to actually enjoy what you’re seeing.

Historical Context Through Geography

The route itself tells Georgia’s story. As you travel from Tbilisi through multiple regions to the southern border, you’re tracing the medieval trade routes that made these fortresses and monasteries necessary. The Mtkvari River valley was the main transit road to Turkey (then Byzantium), positioning every fortress and monastery you visit at the crossroads of empires.

This concentration of monuments in Samtskhe-Javakheti isn’t random—it reflects the region’s historic importance as a political, economic, and cultural frontier. Understanding this context transforms ruins into narrative.

Comprehensive Regional Exploration

Rather than only Vardzia, you’ll experience the region’s full historical landscape: healing mineral springs, restored citadels, working monasteries, military fortresses, volcanic plateaus, and alpine lakes. Each complements the others, building a complete picture of southern Georgia’s natural beauty and historical significance.

Alternative Starting Point: Kutaisi

Travelers already in western Georgia can join this tour from Kutaisi. The price remains $268 per person, and the itinerary stays nearly identical with one geographic adjustment: the Javakheti Plateau portion (Lakes Paravani and Sagamo) is replaced with the route back to Kutaisi.

In summer months, this alternative routing can optionally include Abastumani and the scenic Zekari Road via Sairme, offering different but equally spectacular mountain landscapes on your return to Kutaisi.