The 13 Best Vardzia Cave City Tours

1.Day tour to Vardzia, Borjomi in Georgia

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 152 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $43Our pick

Travel from Tbilisi to southern Georgia by air-conditioned vehicle, stopping at Vardzia’s cliff caves, Rabati Fortress, and Borjomi. An English-speaking guide provides live commentary, with guides such as Giorgi and Ana praised for clear explanations. The day costs $43, but allow more than 12 hours and budget separately for entrance fees, food, and drinks.

“This tour is exactly as described and a great way to see a lot of places in one day. Well worth the long drive!”

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2.BORJOMI, RABATI & VARDZIA – Group Tour from Kutaisi

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 76 reviews · 14 hours (approx.) · from $69

Travel from Kutaisi to Borjomi, Rabati Castle, and Vardzia with an English-speaking guide such as Saba, Giorgi, Lasha, or Toko. Taste Borjomi water at its spring, explore a restored medieval fortress, and walk through Vardzia’s cave monastery. The day runs about 14 hours, with entrance fees paid separately.

“The guide Saba was great, he told us so many interesting things about Georgia. And the trip itself was amazing.”

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3.Vardzia, Rabati, and Borjomi Ancient Georgia Group Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 74 reviews · 12 to 13 hours (approx.) · from $34Best value

Travel from Tbilisi to Vardzia’s cave city, Rabati Castle, and Borjomi Central Park in a small group of up to 15. Expect a long day, an English-speaking guide such as Timur or David, steep steps at Vardzia, extra entry fees, and a late return.

“Wonderful trip! Timur, the guide told us lot of interesting information about the sites, and Georgia in overal. Beautiful views, very friendly atmosphere in the group. Highly recommended!”

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4.LEGENDARY PLACES OF GEORGIA: VARDZIA, BORJOMI, RABAT.( Group Tour)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 58 reviews · 14 hours (approx.) · from $45

Travel from Tbilisi in a group of up to 15 to Borjomi, Rabati Fortress, and Vardzia. You’ll taste mineral water, see palace rooms and medieval defenses, and climb through a 12th-century cave monastery. English is offered, but confirm the guide’s language before departure.

“Vardzia is amazing. A must see. However, the trip is very long. 14 hours! No reason to spend so much time in Borjomi and the last point, Rabat, can be skipped. Our guide didn’t speak good English. Maybe because the we were the only English speakers on the bus, and everyone else spoke Russian, although the tour was supposed to be English only. Still, I recommend. But with a caution.”

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5.Full Day Private Tour in Vardzia, Rabati and Borjomi with Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 25 reviews · 9 to 10 hours (approx.) · from $175Top rated

Leave Tbilisi at 7:00 am for a private, English-language tour to Vardzia’s cave city, Rabati Castle, and Borjomi Central Park. Your guide, possibly Edward, explains Georgian history along the way. Expect 9 to 10 hours on the road, paid entrance fees, and an optional restaurant stop at your own cost.

“A long day out of Tbilisi to visit several interesting and varied cultural locations. Our guide, Edward, was outstanding; he provided us with a treasure trove of Information on everything Georgian.”

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6.BORJOMI, RABATI & VARDZIA – Group Tour From Tbilisi

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 16 reviews · 14 hours (approx.) · from $64

Spend a long day visiting Borjomi Central Park, Rabati Castle, and Vardzia’s cave city with an English-speaking driver-guide. Saba and Giorgi have led well-praised departures, though pickup arrangements can be unclear because the tour operates from Kutaisi. Admission fees are extra, and the group can reach 20 people.

“The trip was amazing, the sights were beautiful and our guide Giorgi was fantastic. One thing to notice, this tour is from Kutaisi so if you are from Tbilisi you will get shuttled to the meeting point. Sadly, the driver was an hour late to pick me up and because of that only saw the first stop for a couple of minutes. But that didn't make the trip very worth while. But if you are going to visit Kutaisi anyway you might be better to take the tour from there.”

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7.Vardzia. Lake Paravani, Khertvisi & Lomisa castle, Rabati

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 12 reviews · 12 to 13 hours (approx.) · from $120

Travel from Tbilisi into southern Georgia on a 12 to 13-hour private tour with guides such as Irakli or David. See high-altitude Paravani Lake, the cliff-cut monastery at Vardzia, Khertvisi Fortress, an Atskuri qvevri beer stop, and Rabati Castle. Pickup is offered, and the tour runs in English.

“Vardzia 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.”

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8.Rabati – Borjomi

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 9 reviews · 7 to 9 hours (approx.) · from $94

Spend 7 to 9 hours with a private driver and guide visiting Borjomi Central Park, Rabati Castle, and Vardzia’s cliffside caves. You’ll taste Borjomi spring water, hear Georgia’s royal and religious history, and may enjoy complimentary wine. Pickup from a Tbilisi hotel or airport is offered.

“Our guide Natalie was very friendly and was on time. The drive to the different places was safe and we had a good time. Vardzia is amazingly beautiful and completely different tour destination. We enjoyed learning history in the Rabati castle. All in all we had a wonderful time.”

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9.Vardzia, Rabati Castle & Borjomi Tour with Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 8 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $37

Leave Tbilisi at 7:00 am for Borjomi Central Park, Rabati Castle, and Vardzia. An English-speaking guide such as George leads the day, with transport, toilet stops, and free time included. Expect about 10 hours on paper, though traffic can stretch the return to 15 hours or more.

“This excursion involves a lot of travel 15 hours plus!! However is was a good experience. Our guide George gave a detailed and informative tour throughout. It's a long journey but there where plenty of toilet stops. The restaurant stop was also good.”

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10.Vardzia caves – Rabati castle – Borjomi park from Tbilisi one-day tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · 14 hours (approx.) · from $146

Travel from Tbilisi with a private driver and guide to Vardzia’s cliff-carved monastery, Rabati Castle, Khertvisi Fortress, and Borjomi Central Park. Guide Jonah has led this route, though a specific guide is not guaranteed. Expect long drives, moderate walking, three separate entrance fees, and hotel pickup.

“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.”

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11.Vardzia • Private 2-Day Escape

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 7 reviews · 2 days (approx.) · from $170

Travel privately from Tbilisi through Georgia’s ancient capital, rock-cut Uplistsikhe, Borjomi, Rabati Castle, Vardzia and Paravani Lake. Your English-speaking guide, possibly Georgi, Giga or Alex, handles the route in an air-conditioned vehicle. You arrange your own Borjomi hotel, while entrance fees and lunch cost extra.

“The overall experience was amazing, everything was very well organized and our guide Georgi is a very good guy and we got many informations regarding the places we visited”

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12.Tbilisi to Magical Borjomi Rabati and Vardzia Cave Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · 14 hours (approx.) · from $35

Leave Tbilisi at 7:00 am for Vardzia’s cliff-cut monastery, Rabati Castle in Akhaltsikhe, and Borjomi’s mineral springs. An English and Russian-speaking guide such as Timur, Alexander, or George may lead the day. Transport is included, but lunch and entrance fees are extra. Expect a full 14-hour outing.

“The tiur was perfect. Alexander was very kind and has very good knowledge about georgian culture. Very good english skill”

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13.Rabati -Vardzia Private Full Day Tour from Tbilisi

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $131

Travel privately from Tbilisi into southern Georgia, stopping at Borjomi Central Park, Rabati Castle in Akhaltsikhe, and Vardzia’s cave monastery. Your air-conditioned vehicle has WiFi and bottled water. The driver-guide shares local history and folk stories, while admission to the three main stops is included.

“Having been on a one-day tour and having experienced all these incredible emotions, we decided that we would come a little later. I don't know for now we will take all inclusive or just use the transport service, but the fact that we will come again is for sure. Thank you for opening the country from a new side for us. We are glad that we addressed you”

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