Vardzia Day Tour from Tbilisi

This is the big day south — a long drive that rewards with some of the most extraordinary sights in the Caucasus. We leave Tbilisi early and head into the valleys of the Likhi Range, stopping first at Borjomi. The spa town has been famous for its mineral water since the 19th century; the park is pleasant and the spring is there for anyone to drink from.

An hour further south, Akhaltsikhe is dominated by Rabati — a hilltop fortress that encloses a mosque, a Georgian church, a 9th-century citadel and a hotel, all within the same walls. The mixture of Christian and Islamic architecture inside one fortress tells the story of this border region more clearly than any museum.

From there, the road follows the Mtkvari gorge deeper into the mountains toward the Turkish border, past Khertvisi fortress and the dramatic canyon scenery, to Vardzia. Queen Tamar had the cave complex expanded in the late 12th century into a city of some 3,000 rooms connected by tunnels and corridors. After a 1283 earthquake collapsed much of the outer face, the interior became visible from the valley — the effect is extraordinary. The frescoes in the main cave church, particularly the portrait of Tamar herself, have survived remarkably well. We spend as long as you want here before the long drive back.

— The Georgia by Car team

We pick you up from your Tbilisi hotel — an early start (around 8am) is needed to fit all three main sites comfortably. Wear comfortable walking shoes; the Vardzia cave complex involves steep stone steps and uneven surfaces inside the cliff. There is no lift.

In summer the gorge at Vardzia can be very hot in the middle of the day. We time the visit to arrive in the afternoon when the cliff face provides shade. Bring water and sun protection.