Bodbe Monastery & Chronicles of Georgia: full-day Tbilisi tour

Climb Georgia's oldest walls and stand before monuments that hold a nation's story

A full-day tour from Tbilisi explores Kakheti's wine region, the 9th-century Bodbe Monastery where Saint Nino is buried, the town of Sighnaghi perched above the Alazani Valley, and the Chronicles of Georgia monument overlooking Tbilisi Sea. The guide speaks English or Russian, and the day includes master classes in traditional crafts, wine tasting, and a lunch break. Travel time is four hours round-trip; the tour suits all fitness levels.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Kakheti and cultural landmarks

• Drive to Kakheti wine region
• See Churchkhela master class and honey tasting
• Bake Georgian bread
• Visit Bodbe Monastery
• Explore Sighnaghi town and climb city wall
• Stop at Chronicles of Georgia monument

The Experience

The day begins with a drive east from Tbilisi into Kakheti, Georgia's wine-growing heartland. Along the way you'll stop for a master class in making churchkhela—the traditional walnut-and-grape confection—and taste wine and honey produced locally, all included. You can also bake Georgian bread if you choose, getting a hands-on sense of how these crafts still work in the region. The guide narrates the landscape and the history as you travel.

Sighnaghi sits on a steep hill overlooking the Caucasus Mountains and the Alazani Valley, and the town's narrow pastel streets and defensive walls draw visitors year-round. You'll climb Georgia's largest fortification wall here, which frames views across the valley. A short distance away stands Bodbe Monastery, a Georgian Orthodox complex originally built in the 9th century and significantly rebuilt in the 17th. The monastery marks the burial site of Saint Nino, the saint credited with bringing Christianity to Georgia, and the setting itself—quiet, hilltop, with stone courtyards—carries the weight of that history.

After a break for lunch or coffee, the tour returns toward Tbilisi with a final stop at the Chronicles of Georgia, a monumental sculptural complex near Tbilisi Sea. Towering pillars depict scenes from Georgian history and Christianity, and the structure commands views across the water and the city beyond. It's a lesser-known landmark compared to the monastery, but it anchors the day's arc: from the intimate spiritual site to this vast, public statement of national identity. The full journey takes nine hours door-to-door.

What’s included

• Professional English or Russian-speaking guide.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• master classes in churchkhela-making and honey tasting.
• wine tasting.
• the option to bake Georgian bread.
• lunch or coffee break.
• WiFi on board.

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Imperial Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're staying in Tbilisi without a rental car—hotel pickup is arranged, and the guide handles all stops and timing, so a full day through Kakheti's spiritual and historical landmarks unfolds without navigation or planning on your end.

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Top questions

What exactly happens during the master classes included in this tour?

The master classes cover traditional churchkhela-making and honey tasting, both free of charge as part of the tour. You'll also have the option to bake Georgian bread, learning how these crafts are still practiced in Kakheti.

How far is Bodbe Monastery from Tbilisi, and what makes it historically significant?

Bodbe Monastery sits 2 kilometers from Sighnaghi in the Kakheti region, about four hours' travel from Tbilisi. Originally built in the 9th century and remodeled extensively in the 17th century, it is the burial site of Saint Nino, the saint who brought Christianity to Georgia, making it one of the country's most sacred Orthodox sites.

What is the Chronicles of Georgia, and where is it located?

The Chronicles of Georgia is a monumental sculptural complex located near Tbilisi Sea, just outside the city. It features towering pillars depicting scenes from Georgian history and Christianity, offering panoramic views and serving as a dramatic conclusion to the day's cultural journey.

Will the guide speak my language?

The tour includes a professional guide who speaks either English or Russian, depending on the option you select at checkout.

How much of the day is spent driving versus at the sites?

Travel time totals four hours round-trip from Tbilisi. The remaining five hours are spent at Kakheti, Sighnaghi, Bodbe Monastery, and the Chronicles of Georgia, with a lunch or coffee break included.