Full Day Private Tour to Vardzia, Rabati and Borjomi from Tbilisi

Tour operator

Borjomi, a small town in the mountains. There are many beautiful places to visit here, but the most famous of them is the town, because of its mineral water, that is said to have unique healing qualities and taste. It’s been known for centuries, that this water was special, but it really became famous during the Russian reign of Georgia. Russians built resorts and palaces here. Borjomi water won its first gold medal in 1907 in Belgium. The water has been bottled since 1896.

Green Monastery, officially known as Chitakhevi St. George Monastery, is an IX century friary located in the village of the same name, in the Borjomi municipality. According to historians and archeologists, it was built by Christopher and Tevdore, students of St. Grigol Khandtstheli, a very influential figure in Georgian history. The monastery complex includes a basilica-type church and a bell tower, also built in IX century. It is built from roughly hewn stone, with little to no decoration. The bell tower has two floors, with a prayer room on the first and a richly ornamented pavilion on the second. The place earned its loving moniker from the locals.

Then head towards the town of Akhaltsikhe (New Fortress) that has always had strategic importance. That's why the fortress Rabat has been built here in the 9th century, so it’s been called the fortress inside the fortress. It was guarding Georgia for centuries, but there were periods when enemies took over. The fortress keeps traces of both times, giving you an unforgettable impression. The fortress has been renovated several years ago. Here you can see the Georgian church, mosque and Madrasa – Islamic school, citadel, and unique museum. The Rabati fortress is one of the highlights of this region.

Vardzia cave town (12th century), which is one of the highlights of the trip and stretches over half a kilometer along the river Mtkvari, with 19 stories. There used to be about 3000 caves here, but now there are just over 500 left. It has a church hewn out of rock with amazing 12th-century frescoes. The Complex also includes living quarters, small hall-type churches and refectories and a wine cellar.