Vardzia caves - Rabati castle - Borjomi park from Tbilisi one-day tour
Description
Taking from Tbilisi a one day-tour to Vardzia is an amazing opportunity for an unforgettable experience of your time in Georgia. On the way to this magnificent ancient cave town, which was built in rocks, you will enjoy nature and discover a completely restored Rabati fortress in the town of Akhaltsikhe. Don’t miss the chance to visit one of the most prominent historical sights of the South Caucasus.
Tour Options
Itinerary
We will begin our tour in Tbilisi. Guide and driver in the morning will pick you up from the hotel anywhere in Tbilisi.
This is one of the oldest fortresses in Georgia and 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 were built in 1354. As the legend says, Khertvisi was destroyed by Alexander the Great.
Vardzia - the monastery dating back to the twelfth century AD, located on the banks of the river Mtkvari is one of the most important historical sites in Georgia. Similar to the cave towns that can be found in Goreme region, Turkey, however this one is even bigger, carved out of the entire wall of the cliff, with beautifully decorated church. The location, in the middle of a huge gorge, offers unforgettable views. Until this day, some monks still live in those caves.
Built in the 13th century, Rabati castle developed under the influence of different cultures over subsequent centuries and this is reflected in its architecture. Within the 7 hectares castle complex there is a Church, a Mosque, a Minaret and a Synagogue.
Borjomi is a famous resort town, popular for its distinct mineral water. The water from the well here is several times stronger than the Borjomi water you can buy in the shops. Borjomi has many hotels and was very popular in soviet times, of which you will still find many buildings in the city. Above the centre of the city there lies a plateau with a ferris wheel and further hotels, providing a great view over the region and mountains. Furthermore, the nearby Borjomi Kharagauli National Park is the largest in Georgia and a popular hiking destination.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We will contact you to clarify the address from where you pick up
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Before booking, please be aware that our tours involve significant driving times due to the distances between attractions. Ensure you are comfortable with extended travel periods for an enjoyable tour experience. Your comfort and satisfaction are our priority.
Reviews(9)
I had an amazing private tour to Vardzia cave city, which is such a unique place as well as Rabati and Borjomi! The whole experience was very well organized and my guide, Aleksi, was excellent. The drive from Tbilisi is long, but he made it very comfortable and safe with his great driving. He also shared lots of interesting historical details during the tour and even helped me take beautiful photos along the way. I highly recommend this tour for anyone visiting Georgia
Thank you so much for the wonderful review, Elpiniki! We are absolutely delighted to hear that you had such an amazing private tour to Vardzia, Rabati, and Borjomi. As you noted, this specific route covers a lot of ground and makes for a long day of travel from Tbilisi, so we are incredibly glad that Aleksi kept you feeling safe and comfortable throughout the drive. He genuinely loves sharing the history of these ancient sites, and he will be so happy to know that his storytelling and photography skills added to your experience. We are truly thankful for your trust in our team to guide you through these unique corners of Georgia. Thank you for recommending us to fellow travelers, and we wish you wonderful future adventures wherever your travels take you next!
Today I had a great tour to the magnificent caves of Vardzia, the historic Rabati Fortress and the beautiful town of Borjomi. I had a really nice day
Dear Nino, Thank you so much for your wonderful review and for sharing such beautiful photos! We’re really happy to hear that you enjoyed exploring Vardzia, Rabati, and Borjomi — it’s truly one of the most scenic and inspiring routes in Georgia. It means a lot to know that you had a great day with us. We hope these memories will stay with you for a long time and that you’ll visit Georgia again for more adventures!
You will remember your visit to Vardzia well. If you come to Georgia, I definitely recommend a visit. You will see how Georgians lived and defended themselves from enemies in the Middle Ages.
Thank you so much for your kind words! We're truly happy you enjoyed the journey to Vardzia — it's one of Georgia’s most powerful and unforgettable places. The caves hold centuries of stories, and we’re honored to have shared them with you. You're always welcome back to explore more! 🌄🇬🇪
Amazing Christian ruins. Caves man nade. Church was partuculary impressive. Frescos were still visible after hundreds of years. Our tour guide did an amazing job of reviewing history of the caves.
Dear Jorge, Thank you so much for your wonderful review of our tour of the Vardzia Caves, Rabati Castle and Borjomi Park! We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed exploring these historic Christian ruins and found the caves and church particularly impressive. It's incredible how the frescoes have withstood the test of time. We are thrilled that our guide Jonah was able to enhance your experience with his knowledge of the history of the caves. Your kind words mean a lot to us and we appreciate you taking the time to share your experience with us. We hope to welcome you on another tour in the future.
This was a fantastic all day trip! Our guide (from friendly.ge) was super knowledgeable about the history of each site, very engaging, and personable. Don't miss the amazing chapel in the Varzia caves. This was a great introduction to the region. :)
Dear Aja, Thank you for sharing your fantastic experience on the Vardzia Caves - Rabati Castle - Borjomi Park one-day tour. We are thrilled to hear that you had a memorable and enjoyable trip. We're glad that our guide, Khatuna, provided you with a wealth of knowledge about the history of each site. Her expertise and passion for the region truly enhanced your experience. It's wonderful to hear that she was engaging and personable, making the tour even more engaging and enjoyable. The amazing chapel in the Vardzia Caves is indeed a remarkable sight, and we're glad that you didn't miss the opportunity to explore and appreciate its beauty. It's one of the highlights of the tour and offers a fascinating glimpse into the region's rich history. We're delighted that this tour served as a great introduction to the region for you. It's our goal to provide our guests with a comprehensive and immersive experience that showcases the beauty and cultural significance of each destination. Once again, we sincerely appreciate your kind words and recommendation. If you plan to explore more of Georgia in the future, we would be honored to welcome you back for another unforgettable journey.
I visited Vardzia on a private day tour with Khatuna as my guide and had a wonderful time. Alex was very responsive and easy to communicate with over email when I was booking the trip and Khatuna contacted me over Whatsapp ahead of time to confirm and so I had a way to communicate with her if needed, and let me know the color and license number of her car so I could more easily find her, all communication details which I appreciated especially as a solo female traveller. Vardzia is of course amazing, the drive is long but I really enjoyed seeing rural Georgia along the way. Very pretty scenery. Khatuna was great company for the long day and I learned so much from her about Georgia and its people, both past and present. I would highly recommend Friendly.ge as a company, their level of professionalism in terms of reliability and communication is definitely a higher standard than the norm in Georgia from what I observed and I would happily use their services again. Thank you Khatuna and Alex!
We were very pleased with the trip to Wardzia and Rabati. Since we were staying in Borjomi, our guide, Alexi, met us there this morning in the hotel lobby. Alexi is a very pleasant and friendly man. On the way, he told us in detail and interestingly about the history of the places we were going to and much more about the history and modernity of Georgia. At our request, he told us how to cook khachapuri and chkmeruli, for which he has a special thanks! Alexi helped us navigate Vardzia, showed us the most interesting caves and guided us through the rock-cut passages. We climbed up to the very top floor of this cave town, offering breathtaking views. After that, we went to Akhaltsikhe, where the Rabati fortress is located. It was December 31, and the entrance to the interior of the fortress was closed earlier than usual. But Alexi led us up the fortress wall, which allowed us to see the structures inside. After that, he took us, at our request, to a nice restaurant where the locals cook well and where they go. We drove back to Tbilisi. Alexi dropped us off on the way to the supermarket, and in Tbilisi he took us to the apartment we had booked. Alexi's a great conversationalist, well-versed in Georgian history, and we talked all the way. I want to express our gratitude to him for this wonderful day on the eve of the New Year! I would also like to point out that the car was very comfortable and Alexi drove it very carefully.
Здравствуйте, Ярослав! Спасибо за такой теплый отзыв. Я обязательно передам ваши слова Алекси. У нас суперпрофессиональные гиды. Спасибо, что отметили состояние автомобиля. Приезжайте к нам с друзьями! Вместе веселее
We greatly enjoyed this tour, the guide was friendly and gave us a lot of information there was enough time to see all the sights in hard-to-reach places we always received help from our guide
Here you can feel the spirit of the medieval and holiness....And the highest level of art...It's just amazing place
Thank you very much for your review, Bob. We are happy if you liked our service. We will be glad to see you again in Georgia and serve you with pleasure. We wish you all the best and much travel.
