8-Day Georgia Tour: Tbilisi, Kakheti & Kazbegi with Hotel

Walk through six centuries of Georgian history in eight days, from cave monasteries to mountain churches.

This 8-day guided tour of Georgia covers Tbilisi, Mtskheta, Kakheti, Borjomi and Kazbegi with seven nights in 3-star hotels, airport transfers, entrance fees and air-conditioned transport. A professional guide in English or Russian leads you through Jvari Monastery, Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, the cave city of Uplistsikhe, wine tastings in Kakheti, Gergeti Trinity Church at 2,200 meters, and the rock-carved fortress of Vardzia. One day is free in Tbilisi. Optional excursions are available.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Tbilisi and hotel transfer

• Transfer from Tbilisi Airport to hotel
• Free evening in Tbilisi

Day 2: Kakheti region wine and culture tour

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Visit Bodbe Monastery
• Explore Sighnaghi city
• Tour King Erekle II palace in Telavi
• Watch Georgian bread and cheese making
• Wine tasting and learn Qvevri tradition

Day 3: Historic sites: Jvari, Mtskheta, Gori, Uplistsikhe

• Visit Jvari Monastery and view Mtskheta
• Tour Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in Mtskheta
• Explore Uplistsikhe cave city
• Visit Stalin Museum in Gori

Day 4: Tbilisi walking and cultural tour

• Walk from Metekhi Plateau and Narikala Fortress
• Visit Meydan Square and Sulfur Baths area
• Tour religious sites: Metekhi church, Sioni Cathedral, Anchiskhati Church, Juma mosque
• Wine tasting in 17th century cellar

Day 5: Ananuri, Gudauri, Kazbegi mountain tour

• Visit Ananuri fortress complex
• Drive past Zhinvali reservoir
• See confluence of White and Black Aragvi rivers
• Lunch at local restaurants (optional)
• Visit Gudauri ski resort
• Stop at Friendship Arch viewpoint
• Jeep trip to Gergeti Trinity Church
• Return to Tbilisi

Day 6: Free day in Tbilisi

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Free day and night in Tbilisi

Day 7: Borjomi, Rabati, Vardzia day trip

• Travel to Borjomi and city walk
• Visit Borjomi park and cable car
• Tour medieval Rabat fortress
• Explore cave city Vardzia
• See Khertvisi fortress panorama
• Return to Tbilisi

Day 8: Departure from Tbilisi

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Transfer to Tbilisi Airport

The experience

Jvari Monastery sits on a mountain overlooking Mtskheta, the ancient capital where two rivers meet. From there you descend to Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, the patriarchal seat of the Georgian Orthodox Church, where the tunic of Christ and the mantle of Elijah are said to rest. The same day takes you to Uplistsikhe, a cave city carved into rock in the second century BC, where you walk through stone labyrinths of living quarters and temples to understand how pagans lived here before trade with Urartu and Media brought wealth and decline.

Kakheti is Georgia's wine region. You visit Bodbe Monastery, built on the tomb of Saint Nino, the saint who brought Christianity to Georgia, then walk the Italian-style streets of Sighnaghi, the "city of love" perched above Alazani Valley. At a local winery you taste four to five types of Georgian wine and chacha while learning about qvevri, the ancient clay-vessel method of winemaking now protected by UNESCO. The palace of King Erekle II in Telavi and views across the valley fill the afternoon.

The mountain day drives north through Ananuri fortress, a 16th-to-18th-century defense complex on the Aragvi River, then climbs to Gudauri at 2,200 meters. From the Arch of Friendship you see the confluence of the White and Black Aragvi rivers. At Gergeti Trinity Church, also at 2,200 meters, you transfer to jeeps for the final climb to the monastery Pushkin wrote about, standing on a hill against snow-capped Mount Kazbek. The return to Tbilisi takes the evening.

A full day in Tbilisi's Old Town walks from Metekhi Plateau past Narikala Fortress, down to Meydan Square and the Sulphur Baths where Marco Polo once bathed. You pass the Inzhira Gorge waterfall, cross the Peace Bridge, and visit Metekhi Church, Sioni Cathedral and Anchiskhati Church. An hour-long wine tasting in a 17th-century cellar breaks the walk. On your free day, you can book an optional excursion to Borjomi, Rabati fortress and Vardzia, the 12th-century cave monastery with 13 levels and over 500 rooms carved into the rock 50 meters deep.

What’s included

• Seven nights in 3-star hotels.
• two-way airport transfer from Tbilisi.
• entrance fees to all sites.
• air-conditioned transport throughout.
• professional guide service in English or Russian.
• wine tastings in Kakheti and Tbilisi.
• jeep transfer to Gergeti Trinity Church.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to4h before

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish and Russian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 3 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats available

Operated by ushba travel

Is this one for you?Eight days is long enough to move beyond Tbilisi and reach the mountain monasteries and cave cities that define Georgia's history, but short enough to stay in one country without flying between regions. If you want to add Borjomi and Vardzia, use your free day for the optional excursion. If you prefer to rest or explore Tbilisi on your own terms, that day is yours.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

6 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Russian.

What is Gergeti Trinity Church and why do I need a jeep to reach it?

Gergeti Trinity Church sits at 2,200 meters on a hilltop near the village of Stepantsminda at the foot of Mount Kazbek. The final climb from the village requires a jeep transfer because the road is steep and rough. From there you walk to the monastery, which stands against the backdrop of snow-capped peaks and is one of Georgia's most photographed sites.

Does the tour include meals?

Breakfast is included at the hotel each morning. Lunch and dinner are not included, though the itinerary passes through restaurants in scenic locations where you can order traditional Georgian dishes like khinkali at your own cost.

What happens on the free day in Tbilisi?

You have a full free day and night in Tbilisi to rest or explore on your own. The operator offers an optional paid excursion to Borjomi, Rabati fortress and Vardzia if you want to continue sightseeing, but booking it is your choice.

How many wine tastings are included?

Two wine tastings are included: one at a local winery in Kakheti where you taste four to five Georgian wines and learn about qvevri winemaking, and one in a 17th-century cellar in Tbilisi's Old Town that lasts about an hour with commentary from the winemaker.

What is Vardzia and can I visit it?

Vardzia is a 12th-century cave monastery built into a cliff face with 13 levels and over 500 rooms, including churches, chapels, cells, baths and libraries carved 50 meters into the rock. It is included as an optional excursion on your free day. The tour also passes the nearby Khertvisi fortress on the way.