Private Tour
Vardzia day Trip: Lakes, Castles, Cooking Class & Gorelovka town
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
Embark on a breathtaking journey to Georgia's most stunning cave city, carved between the 12th and 13th centuries. En route, we'll witness the mesmerizing beauty of Javakheti Zegani, and catch a glimpse of the magnificent Abuli mountain and the colossal Paravani Lake - the biggest lake in Georgia.
After exploring Vardzia, we'll head to the Khertvisi castle, strategically located on a hill, between two rivers. And, for lunch, we'll savor some local delicacies, including Qvevri beer. Later, we'll visit the Rabati castle, the biggest preserved castle in Georgia, boasting a palace, church, mosque, fountains, pools, and museum.
Our return to Tbilisi, through Borjomi, will offer us stunning views and an entirely different landscape. Don't miss out on this adventure of a lifetime, where you'll witness Georgia's remarkable history and natural beauty.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Specialized infant seats are available
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Paravani Lake
Paravani Lake is a stunning high-altitude lake in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region of Georgia. Its crystal-clear waters and serene atmosphere make it a popular destination for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. At over 2,000 meters, Paravani Lake is one of the highest lakes in Georgia, surrounded by picturesque Lesser Caucasus Mountains. The lake's unique ecosystem is home to diverse flora and fauna, and the surrounding landscapes are equally breathtaking with rolling hills and rugged mountains, creating an awe-inspiring backdrop. Paravani Lake is also an excellent spot for hiking and camping with numerous trails and campsites in the area. The lake's rich history, cultural significance, and traditional customs preserved by the local community make it a must-visit destination for anyone interested in nature, hiking, camping, and cultural heritage in Georgia.
Discover one of Georgia’s most unusual rural communities, founded by Russian settlers and known for its distinctive wooden decorated houses, peaceful temple, and preserved traditional lifestyle. Explore a village where cultures meet, with unique architecture unlike typical Georgian towns. Nearby, see old Georgian semi-underground farm houses that reflect the region’s historic way of life and adaptation to the harsh climate. A rare cultural stop offering history, authenticity, and a glimpse into a hidden side of Georgia.
What‘s Included
Professional guide
Bottled water
Driver/guide
Transport by private vehicle
Lunch and cooking classes costs 25$ Per Person. We only visit if there are at least 2 guests.
Beer tasting is paid to. Per Person Pais 12$
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Options
Private tour
Pickup included
Small group
Reviews
13 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Experience to live. Guide...
marc j,Apr 21, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Experience to live. Very friendly guide. Different from towers of the same type. Eating in the family was an amazing time and the typical food of the region is to be absolutely tested.
Best day tour from Tbilisi! Fantastic experience
Christina C,Sep 1, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Vardzia is so unique and beautiful that every visitor to Georgia should see it. The ride is not short so it definitely helped to have a very knowledgeable guide. This was one of the best day trips I’ve ever took and I travel a lot. There is plenty to see on the way and the day just flies by. We also visited some local Armenian and Georgian cemeteries on the way which was absolutely fascinating experience. This would deserve its own separate tour. Wonderful trip that I highly recommend! I would give it some extra stars if I could.
This is quite a long day...
Megan R,Aug 21, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00This is quite a long day with much time spent in the car- but the route has a few stops along the way to break up the drive. The drive itself is quite beautiful; I’m glad that we were able to see the countryside, mountains, and small villages along the way. Our tour guide was knowledgeable and gave enough time at Vardzia to make the drive there worthwhile. For travelers wanting to see Vardzia without driving themselves the long distance on unfamiliar roads, this tour is a great option.
Worth the journey from Tbilisi!
Emily T,Aug 16, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Absolutely incredible tour and worth traveling to explore this area of Georgia! The scenery is spectacular and every spot on the intinerary exceeded my expectations. My guide, Irakli, went above and beyond to ensure the trip was a success. Not only is he extremely knowledgeable about the area and country, but he pointed out spots I would never have noticed. The entire trip was professionally organized and so worth it!
Amazing Vardzia tour
Marietta C,Jul 11, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Absolutely phenomenal experience on our Vardzia tour with Irakli from Wonderful Travel! From start to finish, Irakli was the perfect guide — incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and completely flexible to our pace and interests. He never rushed us, allowing plenty of time to soak in each spot — whether it was the well-known highlights or the hidden gems off the beaten path that you'd never find in a regular travel search. His passion for Georgian history and culture really shone through, and he had fascinating information to share about everything we saw. Irakli was always prepared, professional, and genuinely cared about making the day memorable and comfortable. This wasn’t just a tour — it felt like traveling with a friend who knows all the secrets of the country. I would definitely book with him again for any future tours, especially if you’re looking to discover lesser-known, special places in Georgia. 100% recommended!
Amazing experience
Cai D,Jun 10, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Had an amazing experience. David was a great guide who was knowledgeable and very friendly. The itinerary was well thought out and nothing was boring. Highly recommend
Great sites to see, but dangerous driver ruined the day
Andy S,May 29, 2025
- Review from Viator
1.00OK, let me start by saying the sites we visited were fantastic. Vardzia was amazing and well worth visiting, as was the Rabati Castle complex. We really enjoyed walking around these. This could easily have been a 5* review, but for the driver. Bad driving, OK. Crazy driving, OK. Dangerous driving no. This was a long trip. The driver we had nearly crashed 5 times, including going off the road while playing with his glasses, driving at 120km/h with no hands on the wheel folding up a USB lead and passing a lorry with 10cm to spare. I do not expect to fear for my life on a tourist excursion. While I would definitely recommend visiting Vardzia and Rabati, I would find someone else to go with.
Worth the ride
Acorkidi,May 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00David was a great guide patient and took us all of these amazing sites explained to us everything we needed to know. Drove us back and forth. It’s a long day trip but deffinetly worth it!
Vardzia tour
Keri I,Jul 26, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our guide Irakli arrived on time as scheduled, we were picked- up at our apartment. He knew places for views and pictures along the way, was accomodating about stopping for a bathroom or rest. Good conversation and knowledge of the area, history, and local culture. We visited Vardzia and Khertvisi fortress, also the local beer microbrewery was a nice way to finish the day. We were dropped off at our apartment at the end of the day. This excursion takes all day: wear good shoes, bring water, hat Thanks Irakli, would book again
Great Day Out
Nicklas C,Mar 12, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00What a great day out. Booked this to join a small-group tour, but was the only person booking due to booking off-season. Irakli could easily have cancelled the tour, but honoured the booking and gave me a private tour for the price of one person in a group. He went out of his way to make it a great experience, flexing the agenda as the day unfolded. Vardzia IS AMAZING. It takes a good while to get there, but Irakli had some hidden gems along the way to break up the journey (bonkers train carriage bridge being my favourite), the scenery is amazing, and the conversation was good. So even the journey was an enjoyable part of the day. A long but utterly worthwhile day.
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Operated by Wonderful Travel