Vardzia - Rabati - Borjomi

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. a) walk in national park b) drink spring water BORJOMI c) take cable car Brief information about Borjomi: Borjomi is famous for its mineral water industry (which is the number one export of Georgia). Archaeological excavations have revealed the existence of stone baths in the area, proving that these mineral waters have been utilized by people for thousands of years. Because of the supposed restorative and healing powers of the area's mineral springs, it is a frequent destination for people with health problems. Borjomi is also home to the most extensive ecologically-themed amusement park in the Caucasus. One of the best places to experience this is the “Mineral Water Park” of Borjomi. Borjomi-Kharagauli protected area is one of the largest national parks in Europe.

   40 min

2. Then we move to Rabati Castle. Brief information about Rabati Castle: 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. In the 13th-16th centuries the castle and its town of Akhaltsikhe had been the residence of the Jakhely princes. A renovated Rabati Castle was opened in Akhaltsikhe in August 2012. Old, nearly destroyed buildings were restored by architects and engineers, using archive materials and images.

   45 min

3. Afterwards, we move to ancient city Vardzia (Cave city). Brief information about Vardzia: The underground halls of the “mountain queen,” dug out of the solid rock, Vardzia looks like it was taken directly from the pages of Lord of the Rings. In reality it is a cave-palace-monastery built not by dwarfs, but by Georgians in the Caucasus for our fabled king Tamar, during Golden Ages (12th century).

   1 h

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Reviews

Ratings come from 9 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Know before you go

How it compares in Tbilisi

• Its from-price is 64% above the median of the 184 city tours we list in Tbilisi.
• Its length is typical for the group.
• By number of reviews it ranks 34 of 184.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Tbilisi

Tbilisi, Georgia's capital, spills along a river gorge beneath a fortress, mixing balconied old houses, sulphur baths and bold modern landmarks.

The old town gathers along the Mtkvari River, its narrow streets lined with carved wooden balconies, churches and wine bars. Abanotubani, the bath district, is crowned by brick domes over sulphur springs, and the walls of Narikala Fortress overlook it all, reached by cable car or a steep walk. The Mother of Georgia statue stands on the ridge holding a sword and a bowl of wine.

Top-ranked sights in Tbilisi: Metekhi Church, Narikala Fortress, Tbilisi Old Town (Dzveli Tbilisi).

See all 1465 experiences in Tbilisi