Private Tour to Mtskheta Stalin Museum Uplistsikhe Caves
Description
In this one-day tour, you will visit Mtskheta – the ancient capital of Georgian kings. You will the amazing beauty of the architecture of such ancient monasteries as Jvari Church and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. They are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Our tailor-made tour will continue to the ancient city of Uplistsikhe. Explore caves and rocky chambers once used for pagan worship in the medieval settlement. You will also go to one of the oldest settlements in Georgia and end your journey in Gori. Here is the hometown of Joseph Stalin. Here you can visit the museum opened in his honour and learn the life story of one of the Soviet dictators.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The journey will start in Mtskheta Cross Monastery - Jvari - The monastery is located on a hill near Mtskheta, that opens up a breathtaking view of the ancient city and its natural beauty.
After marveling Jvari you’ll continue your road and visit - Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (11th century). Location was chosen precisely because of the legend that says that the robe of Jesus is buried in the place where the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral was built and it is considered one of the holiest places in Georgia.
The Joseph Stalin Museum is a museum in Gori, Georgia dedicated to the life of Joseph Stalin, the leader of the Soviet Union, who was born in Gori. The Museum retains its Soviet-era characteristics.
Uplistsikhe, the cave town is situated 7 km southeast of Gori on the left bank of the River Mtkvari. The site still amazes the visitors by its dimensions, extraordinary position, refined forms and the beauty of the landscape. You will find huge echoing halls, long meandering corridor-streets, chambers for pagan worship and even the remains of Georgia's oldest theater there. You will be impressed by the skill, knowledge, experience and physical and spiritual power of all those, who created this unique monument.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- A dress code is required to enter places of worship and selected museums. No shorts or sleeveless tops allowed. Knees and shoulders MUST be covered for both men and women. You may risk refused entry if you fail to comply with these dress requirements
- Stalin museum reflects limited information about the life and crime of one of the biggest mass murderers.
- The cave city Uplistsikhe is a complex of caves, be prepared for uneven surfaces
Reviews(17)
Very interesting tour, including top sightseeing spots outside Tbilisi. Everything was well organised and easy to book. My guide, Guram, was great. He spoke good English and shared lots of information during the day. The lunch was amazing as well. I enjoyed this tour very much and recommend it if you are spending a few days in Georgia!
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience, Anne! We are absolutely delighted to hear that you enjoyed your private tour to Mtskheta, the Stalin Museum, and the Uplistsikhe Caves. It is wonderful to know that the organization and booking process were easy for you. Guram is a fantastic guide, and he will be incredibly happy to hear that his insights and English made your day so memorable. We also agree that a delicious local lunch is an essential part of exploring Georgia! Thank you for your high recommendation to other travelers visiting our country. We wish you wonderful adventures on all your future travels!
I really wanted to just go to the Stalin Museum but this tour had a few add-ons as well. I was pleasantly surprised with the Uplistsikhe caves! They were really well preserved and in tact unlike some of the other ruins you go to in some countries where you have to "imagine" what used to be there. We were able to climb around in the caves and I enjoyed the wine tasting as well! Stalin museum was really well done (it helps if you know Russian) and I was especially impressed with Stalin's personal train.. that was super cool to go on. Lunch was great at a Georgian cafe! **At this point I was happy with the excursion to be over but there were several other stops included. I wasn't personally interested in monasteries or churches as I am an atheist so we were able to skip these stops and substitute in a stop at the horizontal skyscrapers... REALLY a cool substitution if you're not super into churches and the like.
Dear Adam, Thank you for taking the time to write such a detailed review! We are delighted to hear that the Uplistsikhe caves were a pleasant surprise for you and that you enjoyed the historical depth of the Stalin Museum and his personal train. Regarding the religious sites: We are sorry if you did not have time to fully review the tour name and detailed description before booking. As the tour title mentions "Mtskheta" (the ancient spiritual capital of Georgia), visiting these UNESCO monasteries is a standard and significant part of this specific itinerary. However, this is exactly the advantage of booking a Private Tour! We are absolutely thrilled that our guide was able to adapt on the spot. Swapping the monasteries for the "Horizontal Skyscrapers" (the Ministry of Highways) was a fantastic decision. We are glad we could be flexible and tailor the end of the day to match your personal interests in Brutalist architecture instead! We hope to welcome you back for more urban exploration in the future.
We had an absolutely wonderful experience! Khatuna is so knowledgeable and thoughtful. Despite the weather, we had so much fun! She was ready with raincoats and umbrellas and we braved the rain at each stop with excitement. She had so many cool stories and information about Georgia to share. We enjoyed the day so much. Thank you!
Dear Magdalena, thank you for your kind words! We’re so glad you had a wonderful day with Khatuna, even with a bit of rain — she always brings sunshine with her stories. We appreciate your warm feedback and hope Georgia’s history and spirit stay with you long after your visit.
We really enjoyed the day with Aleksi: perfect organisation, great mood, lots of stuff to tell about the places we visited and to all our questions about Georgia, Tbilisi and Georgian everyday life. Thanks again!
Dear Alexander, Thank you so much for sharing your experience! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour and that Aleksi’s knowledge and enthusiasm helped make the day special. Perfect organisation, a positive mood, and a wealth of stories are exactly what we want for our guests. We’re grateful you chose to explore with us and hope to welcome you back for more adventures in Georgia soon!
We enjoyed the trip very much, everything was great and taken care of, Iago was amazing. Will definitely book with them again, so kind and well organized!
Thank you so much, Thomas, for your kind words! 🌟 We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the trip and that everything went smoothly with Iago — he’s truly amazing. And imagine — this was just a transfer-style trip. If you join one of our fully guided tours, you’ll also get stories, hidden details, and local insights that bring each place to life. We’d love to welcome you again and show you even more of Georgia’s history, culture, and nature. Safe travels, and we’ll be happy to see you back in Georgia anytime! 💛
Our guide Khato was perfect. She was early picked us up at our hotel and we were off to the Chronicle of Georgia. Khato was pleasure. She not only was knowledgable about the sights we visited but gave us insight into why these places are so important to Georgians. I felt like we got real insight into the mind and culture of Georgians. I cannot emphasize this tour is a good introduction to the places, symbols, and themes that are important and show up again and again all over Georgia. This may have been one of my wife's favorite things we did in Georgia. Thank you Friendly.ge and thank you Khato.
Thank you so much for your heartfelt review, Fred — it truly means a lot to us! We're so glad Khato made your first day in Georgia insightful and special. She puts her whole heart into sharing our country’s stories, and we're honored you felt that connection. Thank you for trusting us and for sharing your beautiful experience and photos. Wishing you and your wife many more memorable adventures! 💛
I had a great day and have learned a lot - Thank you! Everything was very well organized and the guide had a lot to tell and to explain.
Thank you, Charlotte, for your thoughtful review! We're so pleased to hear that you enjoyed the tour and found it both interesting and well organised. Our guides always strive to provide an engaging experience and share as much knowledge as possible, and we're glad you appreciated it. We wish you wonderful adventures and hope to see you again in Georgia!
The 4 destinations covered different periods of the country's rich history. Aleksei was good company, explained all the sites & gave us a lot of background information about Georgia
Dear Janet and William, Thank you so much for your kind words about your tour with Aleksei. We’re delighted that you found the journey through Georgia's rich history so engaging and informative. Aleksei is indeed a fantastic guide, and we’re thrilled that his insights made each destination—Mtskheta, the Stalin Museum, and Uplistsikhe Caves—even more meaningful for you. We look forward to welcoming you back for more explorations of Georgia's incredible heritage!
We had a wonderful day-long private tour with Khatuna! She was a tremendous guide -- personable, knowledgeable and a good driver :) We covered so much ground in one day -- seeing the Stalin museum in Gori, the cave monasteries at Uplistsikhe, the churches of Mskheta and the Chronicles of Georgia statue. We do not have enough good things to say about our experience. Would absolutely recommend this tour/company to friends.
Dear Cris and Jason, Thank you so much for your amazing review on Tripadvisor of our Private Tour to Mtskheta, the Stalin Museum, Uplistsikhe Caves, and more. We are overjoyed to hear that you had a wonderful day-long journey with Khatuna and that the tour was a highlight of your trip. Khatuna's dedication to providing a personal, knowledgeable, and safe experience is something we take great pride in, and it's fantastic to hear that her efforts made such a positive impact on your tour. Covering the diverse and historically rich sites like the Stalin museum in Gori, the Uplistsikhe cave monasteries, the churches of Mtskheta, and the Chronicles of Georgia in one day is no small feat, and we're glad you found it to be so rewarding. We truly appreciate your recommendation to friends and are thrilled that you would consider us for future adventures. Our goal is always to ensure our guests leave with lasting memories and a deepened appreciation for the beauty and history of Georgia. Thank you once again for choosing Friendly.ge. We look forward to the opportunity to host you or your friends on another tour, should you find yourselves back in Georgia.
Very good day & extremely interesting. Guram was very efficient & prompt (early) for pick up. Excellent driver. An expert on Georgian history, legends & religion. Also wine making, farming, climate & environment. Guram stepped into the breach at the Stalin Museum when the English speaking guides mysteriously disappeared. He gave an excellent balanced tour. My Lithuanian wife refused to enter the museum on principle. We then had a very good meal expertly advised by Guram in a riverside restaurant. We visited the Cave City (much better than the Stalin museum) & three historic Georgian monasteries before returning on time & much more knowledgeable about Georgia. I am rather particular, but I would strongly recommend Friendly.Ge & Guram.
Dear Jurate, Thank you so much for taking the time to write this wonderful review about your private tour with Guram. We are thrilled to hear that you had a very good day and an extremely interesting experience. Guram is indeed a highly efficient, prompt, and expert guide, who is a knowledgeable guide. We are glad that he was able to provide you with a balanced tour and expertly advised you on a good meal in a restaurant. Thank you again for recommending Friendly.Ge and our guide Guram. We hope to have the opportunity to show you more of Georgia in the future.
