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Step Back in Time: 2-Day Vardzia Tour

Discover the stunning ancient city of Vardzia on a guided tour. Explore its unique cave dwellings, historic frescoes and breathtaking views.
Price
$240 per person
Duration
2 Days
Destination
Samtskhe-Javakheti
Travellers
2

Discover the Beauty of Vardzia in Just 2 Days

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Discover the stunning ancient city of Vardzia on a guided tour. Explore its unique cave dwellings, historic frescoes and breathtaking views.

What's included

Destination
Samtskhe-Javakheti Discover Samtskhe-Javakheti
Departure Location
Costumer's hotel
Return Location
Costumer's hotel
Price includes
  • Accommodation in single twin share room
  • Guide service
  • Unlimited bottled water
Price does not include
  • First Entrance fees
  • Services not specifically stated in the itinerary
  • Tips to guide and driver

Vardzia Tour Highlights

Tour to Vardzia takes place in a region of Samtskhe-Javakheti. On their way from and to Tbilisi tourists will pass regions Kvemo Kartli and Shida Kartli. The central point of the tour is the Vardzia cave monastery complex in the upper valley of the river Mtkvari, which used to be the main transit road between central Georgia and Turkey, earlier than Byzantium. So these places used to play important roles in medieval Georgian politics, economics, and culture. That’s why there are located so many historical monuments in a comparatively small area.

We do not make one-day tours to Vardzia, as the total distance from Tbilisi to Vardzia and back is above 500 km. Such a long drive is exhausting both for tourists and our staff. Our mission is not to show you as much as possible in the shortest term at any cost, but to let you fill the taste, and fully enjoy our country. That’s why we never include in one day trip more than 350 km driving.

A 2-day Vardzia tour is available also from Kutaisi. In case, when the tour starts and ends in Kutaisi, so it won’t affect the price. An itinerary will be almost the same. Only Javakheti plateau with lakes Paravani and Sagamo won’t be included. But in summer time optionally can be added Abastumani and Zekari road via Sairme back to Kutaisi.

  • Vardzia tour detailed itinerary
Vardzia tour detailed itinerary

Itinerary

Day 1

Drive from Tbilisi to the north-west, by main highway. First destination – town Borjomi – resort town in Borjomi gorge. The place with famous mineral water springs. Walk in Borjomi park, taste famous mineral water. Drive to administrative center of the region – town Akhaltsikhe. Visit renovated Rabati fortress. Visit Sapara monastery located near the city Akhaltsikhe, in a forest, built in X century. Complex is in good condition and most frescoes are preserved. Saro – village, with ruins of ancient fortress, a church of Archangel (IX c.) where the style of most houses hasn’t changed during last centuries, so it looks like an open air ethnographic museum. Overnight in guesthouse near Vardzia.

 

Day 2

Tsunda church and lake – this church is the only building left on the place of ancient town Tsunda, (opposite side of the river, which flows from Tmogvi). The town tsunda dates back to IV century BC, and the church is of VII century. The town was abandoned after X century when Tmogvi became the center of the region. The lake is near the church. Vardzia – the most popular place in the valley. Cave monastery complex built in second half of XII century, during the reign of King George III and King Tamar. There are up to 300 caves distributed on eight levels. In main church of Vardzia original frescoes of XII century are still preserved. Khertvisi fortress – one of the oldest fortresses in Georgia. It was functional throughout the Georgian feudal period. It is situated in Southern Georgia, in Meskheti region. The fortress was first built in the 2nd century BC. The church was built in 985, and the present walls – in 1354. Sagamo lake – located next from Paravani lake, on altitude 1996 m, surface area of 4.8 km². Its maximum and average depths are 2.3 and 1.6 meters respectively.

Paravani lake – located on Javakheti plateau between Abul-Samsari and Javakheti Ranges. Altitude 2073 m above sea level, surface area of 37.5 km². The lake is frozen during wintertime and the thickness of the ice ranges from 47 to 73 centimeters. From the southern part of Paravani lake starts the Paravani river, which is connected to the Mtkvari from the right. Return to Tbilisi – end of tour to Vardzia.

More about Samtskhe-Javakheti Discover Samtskhe-Javakheti

Discover the stunning ancient city of Vardzia on a guided tour. Explore its unique cave dwellings, historic frescoes and breathtaking views.

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More about this tour

What is the best season for tour?
Tour is available all year, but the best time is from March till November.
What is total distance?
Around 600 km
What about dress code?
We will visit several churches and monasteries, so please bring modest clothes and good walking shoes.

PAX

2

4

6

Price USD

240$

175$

130$

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    Step Back in Time: 2-Day Vardzia Tour

    Price
    $240 per person
    Duration
    2 Days
    Destination
    Samtskhe-Javakheti
    Travellers
    2

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