Borjomi Day Tour from Tbilisi
A gentler day from Tbilisi: the mineral-spring park of Borjomi, where you can taste the famous water straight from the source, and the pine-forested mountain resort of Bakuriani — with the option to travel part of the way by the historic Kukushka narrow-gauge railway.
- 9–10 hoursFull day, door to door
- Private groupJust your party
- Hotel pickupFrom your Tbilisi hotel
- Driver-guideEnglish-speaking
- ≈ 280 kmRound trip
- Year-roundBeautiful in any season
Highlights
- Borjomi park and the mineral spring — taste the famous water straight from the source
- The forested gorge of Borjomi — shady and cool in summer, golden in autumn
- Bakuriani mountain resort and its pine forests and meadows
- The Kukushka narrow-gauge railway between Borjomi and Bakuriani (optional)
- One of the more relaxed days from Tbilisi — good for any pace or age
About this tour
Borjomi sits in a narrow forested gorge in the Trialeti Range, about two and a half hours south-west of Tbilisi. The town grew around its mineral springs in the 19th century when the Russian Imperial family used it as a summer resort. Today the central park — with its pavilion over the main spring, wooden walkways and river paths — still has a resort feeling, unhurried and pleasant. You can fill a bottle from the spring and taste the water, which is naturally carbonated and distinctly mineral.
From Borjomi, a narrow-gauge railway called the Kukushka (the little cuckoo) winds up through the forest to Bakuriani, a ski resort at about 1,700 m. The journey takes two and a half hours each way — too long to do both directions in a day trip — but one direction by train and one by car is a good option if you enjoy the idea of a slow ride through a pine forest. Bakuriani itself is a quiet mountain town with a Soviet-era character, good fresh air and easy forest walks.
This is a good day for a mixed group — families, older travellers, or anyone who wants a gentler pace than the big mountain or cave-city days. The scenery is beautiful in any season: green in summer, golden in autumn, snowy in winter.
How the day usually flows
Morning · pickup in Tbilisi
We head south-west toward Borjomi — the drive is about two and a half hours along good roads through the Mtkvari valley.
Borjomi park and mineral spring
A walk through the park and time at the spring to taste the water. The park also has a cable car to a hilltop viewpoint over the gorge.
Lunch in Borjomi
A proper Georgian lunch in town before the drive or train up to Bakuriani.
Bakuriani
The mountain resort — a walk in the forest, a coffee, or just time to breathe the mountain air before the return. In winter, skiing or snowboarding if that is what you came for.
Afternoon · back to Tbilisi
The return drive east, arriving back in the city by early evening.
What's included
Included
- Private air-conditioned car for your group
- English-speaking driver-guide for the day
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Tbilisi
- Fuel and all road costs
Not included
- Lunch and drinks
- Kukushka train tickets (if taken — paid locally)
- Personal expenses and tips
Pickup & good to know
We pick you up from your Tbilisi hotel — a 9am start works well for this day. Borjomi park is a flat, easy walk along a river — suitable for all ages. The mineral water has a strong taste and is an acquired preference; most people find it interesting even if they don't love it.
If you want to take the Kukushka train one way, let us know in advance — the schedule is fixed and we plan the day around it. The train runs regardless of season.
More from the road
Good questions
What is Borjomi mineral water?
Borjomi is a naturally carbonated mineral water that has been bottled and exported from this gorge since the 19th century — it is one of the most widely recognised Georgian brands in the world. The water emerges from natural springs in the park at a constant temperature and you can taste it directly from the source for free. It has a distinct mineral taste that divides opinion, but most visitors find it compelling enough to bring a bottle home.
Is the train from Borjomi to Bakuriani worth doing?
The Kukushka — or little cuckoo — is a narrow-gauge railway that winds through the pine forests between Borjomi and Bakuriani. The journey takes about two and a half hours each way and the scenery is beautiful. If you have the time and enjoy a slow train ride through a forest, it is very much worth it. We can arrange for it to fit into the day, though it does make for a longer schedule.
What is there to do in Bakuriani?
Bakuriani is a ski resort in the pine forests of the Trialeti Range. In winter it has slopes for skiing and snowboarding. In summer it is a pleasant mountain resort with forest walks, meadows and fresh air. The little town has a Soviet-era character that feels quite different from Tbilisi. It is a good place for a lunch or a walk in the forest before the drive back.
Is Borjomi suitable for families?
Very much so. Borjomi park is a flat, pleasant riverside walk suitable for all ages. Bakuriani is a relaxed mountain town with open meadows and easy paths. This is one of the calmer and more relaxed days we offer — good for a slower pace or a mixed-age group.
Combine it with
Borjomi shares the same southward road as the Vardzia tour — many travellers combine a gentle Borjomi day with a longer south day on consecutive days.
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Full day · 11–12 hrsVardzia, Rabati & Borjomi
The cave city of Vardzia, Rabati castle and the mineral springs.
View tour → -
Full day · 10–11 hrsKazbegi & the Cross Pass
The Georgian Military Highway and the glaciers of Mt Kazbek.
View tour → -
Full day · 9–10 hrsKakheti wine country
Qvevri cellars, a family supra and the walled town of Sighnaghi.
View tour →
Ready for the mineral springs?
Message us with your dates and we'll put together your Borjomi day — and the rest of your time in Georgia too.
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