Tour guide George (Goldman) was excellent. See my Akhaltsikhe city guide for details. It did not seem that the tour guide did not habe enough knowledge about the topics of the tour. There are four marshrutka that travel between Kutaisi and Akhaltsikhe every day. Vardzia was completely abandoned in the 16th century and left untouched until excavations began in the Soviet era. This is a place I want to return to. Youll also find some high-quality Georgian restaurants around the guesthouses at the bottom of the Rabati Castle. Then, youll need to make sure that you take the last marshrutka from Vardzia back to Akhaltsikhe at 3pm. Theres an outdoor pool and bicycles are available to hire. There are pitched tunnels, steep paths, and some precarious ledges. Its also very, very hot in summer. Tickets cost 20 GEL, and the trip takes roughly 5 hours. You will stop by a fort, get some Georgian lunch, visit a park with natural spring water to try, and then head back. Taxis can be difficult to come by. The Church of the Dormition is the most impressive part of the site with intricate paintings, archways and hanging bells. Best wishes. Im Emily, an Australian journalist and photographer living in beautiful Kutaisi, Georgia. Because of the long travel times, its advisable to join a tour or hire a private driver if you only have a day to see Vardzia. Its not quite as impressive as the geyser in Vani or the hot springs near Nokalakevi, but its still worth visiting if youre in the area and want to have a local experience. Hi Emily, Id like to know if I wish to go from Vardzia to Kutaisi via Khashuri, at what times do marshrutka leave from Khashuri to Kutaisi? Vardzia & Rabati Fortress (Akhaltsikhe) - Cave cities and castles 13. It is really great to know that you loved the day and the tour with us! If you have your own car or you dont mind staying a bit further out, Guest House Aleksandre is a lovely little property in the village of Tmogvi, 6km north of Vardzia. alternative to marshrutka van is a private taxi. Day Trips to Vardzia Watch this Topic Browse forums All Georgia forums Tbilisi forum o_OMZ Toronto, Canada Level Contributor 186 posts 74 reviews 39 helpful votes Day Trips to Vardzia 6 years ago Save Hello, I would like to visit Vardzia in early September if as a day trip if possible. Required fields are marked *, document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "aab8232647878a37c0332a5a32b388f6" );document.getElementById("g1a5e7aece").setAttribute( "id", "comment" );Comment *. I last revisited Vardzia in summer 2022 and the priest has apparently relaxed the rules considerably. The ancient rock-cut city of Vardzia is an unforgettable sight in Georgia. Places visited were interesting and worth seeing. Once youre done, you exit on the opposite side of the complex via a long flight of partially covered stairs. We're glad you enjoyed the delicious and scenic lunch as well. Was a very nice cave monastery. The scenic ride, with well-planned stops along the way, added to the beauty of the journey. Another option is to take a van to a village close to Vardzia then continue on by local taxi: Aspindza (40 mins to Vardzia; vans daily at 10.20am, 11.30pm, 2pm, 4.20pm and 5pm); Toloshi (20 mins to Vardzia; one van at 2.50pm); or Nakalakevi (15 mins to Vardzia; one van at 3.10pm). However, even more awe-inspiring are the sights. 4 times a day Estimated price $3 Schedules at tbilisitrip.com . One of the first cave chambers you come to on the path. Great tour! Heres how you can plan your overnight or day trip to Vardzia using marshrutka. Day Trip to Vardzia and Borjomi Park. Be picked up from your hotel in Tbilisi and start your day trip through southern Georgia. Thank you for your review, appreciate it a lot. The food was cheap but taste really good. Along with the magnificent Rabati Fortress, the small city of Akhaltsikhe has a few other interesting churches and some great local restaurants. and enjoy the views. It was interesting to see Borjomi but we felt we were there too long just to taste water. Even though you don't remember the names of the second guide and the driver, it's wonderful that they were helpful. This should get you to Akhaltsikhe in time for the 12.30pm marshrutka to Vardzia. Akhaltsikhe Bus Station is located next to the railway station on Tamarashvili Street (see the exact location here). Day Trips to Vardzia Watch this Topic Browse forums All Georgia forums Tbilisi forum o_OMZ Toronto, Canada Level Contributor 186 posts 74 reviews 39 helpful votes Day Trips to Vardzia 6 years ago Save Hello, I would like to visit Vardzia in early September if as a day trip if possible. Ive since been back several times in different seasons. Follow my adventures through the Caucasus, the Balkans, Southeast Asia and beyond as I inspire you to fill your own travels with colour, culture and creativity. It's great to know that your guide was knowledgeable and provided you with interesting information about the area. There are so many things to see and do in Tbilisi that you need at least a couple of days. It was an excellent trip to Borjomi and Vardzia with our guide Nino. Hotel transfers to/from Tbilisi are included, and you get a private guide. We were waiting on the wrong spot even though our spot also matched the description you gave us. Always active and shared great fun facts! Mobile ticket Offered in: English and 1 more Good for avoiding crowds Overview I'm delighted to hear that you enjoyed your visit to Borjomi and Vardzia! Hello dear, Tamuna was our guidea and sheade a great job of taking care of everyone in the group, from the most talkative to the lesser ones. The caves stretch along the cliff for some five hundred meters and in up to nineteen tiers. Guide was good, had great knowledge on the area. A gathering organised by far-left groups and the families of the victims of the Ankara attack in October 2015. This is a tour that we wont forget. Our driver to Rabati, Vardzia and Borjomi was an interesting man. For detailed transport instructions including public transport from Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Batumi and Akhaltsikhe, please see my Vardzia Transport Guide. Thanks May for the clear and open conversations about Georgia as a country! I think this should be specifically clarified in advance that the guy will be talking the language that you do not understand and that he ia explaining much more information in russian than in English. Out of respect, I still recommend covering your hair and dressing conservatively. You can go to Vardzia as a day trip from Akhaltsikhe. Also read: My complete packing list for Georgia. This would turn it into a full day tour from Akhaltsikhe by private transport. The spiritual centre of Vardzia, this stone chapel has a soaring 30-foot ceiling plastered with colourful Medieval frescoes. You make a small stop near a castle and after this you drive straight to Vardzia where youll spend two full hours of hiking. Walking around Vardzia is thirsty work, especially if youre visiting in summer. By Gamarjoba Georgia Tours. if you missed the last direct marshrutka and want to change in Khashuri, you need to catch Tbilisi or Rustavi bound marshrutka, and they will want to charge you the full price (20 lari. this group tour of Vardzia, Rabati and Borjomi, Check prices and availability here on Viator, book direct through the Budget Georgia website, Check rates and availability on Booking.com, How to travel from Tbilisi to Kazbegi and Gergeti Trinity Church, 30 Awesome Things to Do in Yerevan, Armenia, 12 Things to Do in Gyumri, Armenias Historic Second City, 16 Best Cities in Poland for Travellers: Classic Destinations & Underrated Alternatives, 15 Essential Things to See in Barcelona, Spain, 17 Magical Things to Do in Sheki: A Complete Guide to Azerbaijans Silk Road City. She is a very energetic young lady and her English is good. So anyone a little less non-religious than the two of us should pay it a visit. Largest cave with ancient system. We loved this experience along with generous lunch at a beautiful location surrounded by hills. On top of that, you wont have time for any of the other attractions in the area such as Rabati Castle. Tours are available throughout the year (including in winter). Everything you need to know to plan your visit to Vardzia, Georgias oldest and most impressive cave city. Living in an old Fiat Ducato van somewhere in Australia, How to Plan a Day Trip to Vardzia, Georgia, on How to Plan a Day Trip to Vardzia, Georgia, A Complete Guide to the Mestia to Ushguli Trek, Essential information for a day trip to Vardzia, How to travel from Tbilisi to Vardzia and back in one day by public transport. Duration 14 hours This day trip with Gamarjoba Tours follows a similar itinerary but instead of having a private guide, youll be travelling with a small group. Discover all the best things to do in Georgia with my free 25-page PDF guide: 365 Things to Do in Georgia. The tour operates in all weather conditions. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. There are plenty of accommodation options close to the complex and in the surrounding villages, so its also an option to spend the night nearby. A quick 3-minute drive or 30-minute walk from the Vardzia caves ticket desk. The Vardzia you want to navigate to is this one, not the village of Vardzia in Imereti. See my Akhaltsikhe city guide for suggestions. Our guide, Tamar, was amazing! Thank you for sharing your feedback, and I hope you have more memorable experiences in the future! Lunch was equally amazing with great views. To enter the chapel inside Vardzia, men need to be wearing long pants and women a long skirt. Happy travels! To do this, youll have to take the earliest marshrutka from Tbilisi to Akhaltsikhe which start from 8am. Recommended by 100% of travellers. Though the tour was long but it definitely worth it, particularly that we were able to see many parts of the country. Looking for more information about Vardzia? The best way to reach Vardzia by marshrutka is by transferring in Akhaltsikhe, the closest major transport hub and only 1.5 hours from Vardzia. Plenty of time in the main stop of the day! Get there early, as soon as gates open, 2. The tour guide gives very interesting information for everything. We're glad that the pacing of the tour was perfect for you, with shorter but valuable stops and sights along the way, allowing for a significant amount of time to explore Vardzia. If the bus times dont line up or you want to have more flexibility, another option is to take a taxi to Vardzia from Akhaltsikhe. There are a few other things to do in Akhaltsikhe (including the amazing Rabati Fortress), so its actually a great place to spend a night or two. Hope you visit us in future as well! Shared taxis to Akhaltsikhe are also available from Kutaisi Bus Station and cost around 25-35 GEL per person. Copyright 2015-2023 Emily Margaret Naughton Lush. However, its also possible to get to Vardziaindependently, either on your own day trip or as an overnight or weekend-style trip from Tbilisi. Two beautiful places with beautiful histories. The Museum of Medicine in Tbilisi has a great display dedicated to Vardzia and the herbal medicines of the era, including a recreation of the apothecary. They cost from around 120 lari (AU$60) per person depending on how many people join and generally, take 12 hours return trip with a stop in Borjomi and other sights on the way. Fascinating sites and guide gave interesting info whilst being entertaining. Thank you for sharing your positive experience - it sounds like a must-see destination for anyone interested in history and ancient systems! Kutaisi Central Bus Station is located on the western side of the Rioni near the McDonalds. The bus was so uncomfy, the driver was driving so fast and like crazy, the tour guide had a looooww voice that I had to ask him many times to raise his voice because I couldn't hear him. The tour was good, it was a 14 hour round trip. From Tbilisi, I recommend this private full-day tour with Friendly.ge. When you arrive in Akhaltsikhe, alight at the bus station and transfer to a van or taxi. The reserve also has an observation deck with transparent floors, so you'll have great views of the lush forest below. Trending Georgia. The complex includes several beautiful stone buildings, rose gardens, and an apiary where the resident nuns make their own honey. Round-trip transfers from Batumi to Vardzia, Rabati and Borjomi can be booked through GoTrip. For this reason, I highly recommend joining a day tour or hiring a private driver. Georgia's former president Mikheil Saakashvili has appeared on television for the first time in months, looking frail and . Women must also cover their hair before entering. In total, we paid 250 GEL for a whole day tour. Kutaisi Akhaltsikhe marshrutka current price is 20 Lari. I'm glad to hear that you had an excellent trip to Borjomi and Vardzia with Nino as your guide. Influenced by various cultures, the complex houses aChurch, a Mosque, a Minaret and a Synagogue. How long will the journey take and how much will the fare be? If you want to take things at your own pace, stop at the viewpoint and explore the surrounding area but you dont want to join a tour, then I suggest hiring a private driver for the day via GoTrip. I highly recommend. Very long day and travel in the tour bus but worthiest. To get a good overview of the caves from afar, you should stop off at Vardzia Cavetown Viewpoint on the opposite bank of the river. Guesthouse Imedi| This a cosy place with a lovely garden and a delicious breakfast. Water appears to seep from the rock walls, filling a deep pond drop by drop (hence the name). The intricacies of Vardzia are a treat to explore close-up, but its difficult to appreciate the sheer scale of the complex when youre inside. Learn more 14 hours (approx.) The minivan leaves at 10am and costs 4000 AMD (AU$13). The Vardzia cave was a unique cave. There are lots of places to stop along the way, including at Khertvisi and Tmogvi fortresses. At the other side of the complex, youll find a tunnel that leads to the bottom and loops back to the entrance and ticket office. Its huge yet what you see today is just a tiny fraction of the original Vardzia. The marshrutkas leave at 10.30am, 12.30pm, 3pm and 4pm, although this changes occasionally outside of the main travel season, depending on demand. We really enjoyed this tour! If youre short on time, you can spend just an hour at the caves which will be enough time to take a one-way walk through the main caves and churches before heading back to the parking lot. To get there, drive west along the river and take the turn off towards Guest House Vania. Sweeping in scale and rich in history, Vardzia is unsurprisingly a fixture of most travellers Georgia wish-list. All the best. Going on a day trip to explore Alkhaltsikhe and Vardzia is a long drive, but not without reward. . In this guide, Ill run through the different transport options available from Tbilisi, Kutaisi and Batumi. 172 reviews. TheBorjomi-Kharagauli National Park is oneof the largest national parks of the country. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experiences start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded. Marshrutkas or minivans leave Tbilisis Didube station whenever theyre full or at least once an hour from 8am until 7pm. The hole bussiness was oudated, USSR alike. If youre on a budget, this group tour of Vardzia, Rabati and Borjomi follows a similar itinerary. Be careful not to select the wrong one on Google Maps! Hire a private driver for this route or use the GoTrip Trip Planner to create your own Tbilisi Vardzia itinerary. Passing through Borjomi, a famous . Also in Tmogvi, this charming guesthouse was established in 2008 by local couple, Marina and Sergo. Once in Akhaltsikhe, you can connect to a Vardzia marshrutka or taxi as described above. Our stay in the town was a swift one: we only took a short walk in the park, by the river. The castle has been restored and it echoes the times long gone. Theres an outdoor pool and bicycle hire available. Therefore, please dress according to the weather. The place is outstanding and really worth going there! It dates back to the 8th century, and includes a maze of tunnels that run through rock-cut caves on a sheer cliff wall. Required fields are marked *, document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "af45a9a249f89b738ca7356b1123ad52" );document.getElementById("g1a5e7aece").setAttribute( "id", "comment" );Comment *. At the time of writing (January 2023), it remains closed. Located about 100 kilometres south of Borjomi, it is very easy to organise a trip to . This also means you can see the cave complex before or after the day-trippers have left. 2023 Cultural & Theme Tours in Tbilisi: Check out 122 reviews and photos of the Day Trip to Vardzia and Borjomi Park. How long to spend at Vardzia: 2-3 hours is enough time to wander the cave city independently. Rooms and common spaces are beautifully decorated with antique carpets and stone finishes. If youre attempting a Vardzia day trip via Akhaltsikhe, I recommend catching the earliest van from Didube to make it in time for the 12.20pm van from Akhaltsikhe to the caves. Heres a comprehensive guide on getting to Vardzia independently, whether you plan on doing it within a day from Tbilisi or have the time to stop for the night. Let's have a look at the 10 best day trips from Tbilisi, even in winter! This website uses affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you make a purchase through a link. Visiting Vardzia was an amazing experience, which is definitely worth the long ride from Tbilisi. We appreciated the visits to the different sights and feel that we did not need a guide. Like I remember others saying in their reviews, the pacing of the tour is perfect with shorter valuable stops/sights along the way and the bulk of the time in Vardzia. The road is fully sealed you can get there with a sedan. Journey time is around 6.5-7 hours without stops. Im a twenty-something year old Australian writer, traveller, hiker and vanlifer. The cave monastery was mainly built duringthe second half of the twelfth century. Theres a major supermarket across from the marshrutka station. Make sure you read my driving tips before you set off. I managed to get a seat just fine on the day, but I was travelling in November which is low season. Book the most popular Day Trips from Tbilisi to Vardzia. The Goderdzi mountain road through Upper Adjara is extremely beautiful, but it requires a car with high clearance as its partially unpaved. But because of its remote location and the time it takes to get there, it can be difficult to figure out the best way to travel to Vardzia and just where to fit it into your itinerary. Bolt app doesnt work in this part of Georgia. Organised tour groups tend to visit mid-morning, so try to arrive as soon as the ticket office opens if you want to avoid the crowds. There are two ways to drive to Vardzia from Kutaisi: Via the main highway through Khashuri, Borjomi and Akhaltsikhe or on the Zekari Pass via Abastumani and Sairme. Really interesting tour with a great guide. 4 activities found Sort by: Recommended Adventure From Tbilisi: Borjomi Central Park and Vardzia 14 hours Top pick 4.9 (296 reviews) From US$ 59 per person Day trip From Tbilisi: Private Tour to Rabati Castle-Vardzia-Borjomi 14 hours Pickup available 5.0 (11 reviews) From US$ 149 per person Day trip Duration 14 hours Check availability to see starting times. Yoksa bir suva m ihtiyacnz var? Its quite far for a one day trip, but on the other hand you should really see Vardzia! You should be able to find a service every 30 minutes and it will cost around 4 Lari (AU$2). Not the behaviour expected from a guide. Georgia day trip to Kazbegi we felt like discovering more of Georgia. You can easily spend2-3 hourswandering around the cave city of Vardzia, especially if you want to take your time and enjoy every corner of the complex. There are different opening hours for the summer and winter months, so take note of the schedule below when planning your visit. As with the Zekari Pass, it might be closed off in winter. Sending best regards, Lots of beautiful memories with experienced and caring guides. The timing was off. With fuel prices on the rise, transport costs are constantly rising. Very recommended! Youll be back in Tbilisi at around 9pm. Youll arrive in Vardzia at 2pm and youll only have 1 hour there to see the complex. Vardzia was first conceived by King Giorgi III as a place where villagers could take shelter in the face of enemy raids. Again, the family who runs this property is incredibly kind and gracious. Check rates and availability on Booking.com. If youre travelling in the late afternoon, you might have to change vans in Khashuri. There are two ways to drive to Vardzia from Tbilisi: On the northern highway via Gori, Borjomi and Akhaltsikhe, or via the southern road through Kvemo Kartli and Samtskhe-Javakheti regions. Travelling around Georgia and the Caucasus? Highly recommend. Read the reviews of your fellow travelers. I am doing my best to keep this guide up to date, but you should always double-check times and prices locally before you travel. Book a private driver here. The big undercover swimming pool is housed inside a glorified concrete shed, fed by a steaming torrent of water. I can totally recommend the tour even though it could follow some improvements: the car was not really comfortable (too little place) and the other participants rather not suited for this kind of a trip (but it is not the responsability of the organiser, of course!). The journey takes four hours and the border crossing is a breeze for nationalities who dont need a visa. All Rights Reserved. Attractions covered include sprawling, the medieval-era cave monastery of Vardzia, scenic Khertvisi Fortress, and the historic spa town of Borjomi. An earthquake in the late 13th century destroyed much of the city but monks continued to live within the caves until a Persian attack in 1551. Only 20 minutes outside of Kutaisi, I suggest you start at the (it closes at 5:00 PM) where you can see the fossilized tracks of dinosaurs that lived there in the Mesozoic era, 160 million years ago. Vardzia flourished during the reign of Georgias only female monarch, King (or Queen) Tamar, who reimagined the complex as a self-sufficient city rather than just a place for temporary shelter.
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