Bakuriani Day Trip from Tbilisi: Jvari Monastery & Snow Adventure

A UNESCO monastery, a mineral spring forest, and snow in the mountains: all in one day from the city.

This private day tour from Tbilisi combines three distinct stops: the 4th-century Jvari Monastery (a UNESCO World Heritage site overlooking two rivers), a walk through Borjomi Central Park to taste natural mineral water, and time in Bakuriani, a mountain resort with ski lifts and snowy terrain. Your own driver and guide handle the route and timing. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, with English or Russian available. The tour runs 9 to 12 hours depending on stops and lunch choices.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore culture and winter adventure

• Visit Jvari Monastery
• Walk in Borjomi Central Park
• Enjoy Bakuriani ski area
• Optional lunch at Georgian Flavor Restaurant

The experience

How do you fit a monastery, a national park, and a snow resort into one day without spending it in a car? This tour chains three distinct landscapes: each far enough apart that a private driver makes the difference. You start at Jvari Monastery, built around the 4th century on a hilltop where the Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers meet. The monastery is a UNESCO site and a major pilgrimage destination. The views from the grounds frame the confluence and the town of Mtskheta below. From there, the route moves to Borjomi Central Park, part of a much larger national park that spans six municipalities and covers 851 square kilometers. You walk through the forest and drink the natural Borjomi mineral water at its source: the kind of moment that feels small until you taste it.

Bakuriani is the day's anchor: a mountain resort known for fresh air and winter snow, with two separate ski areas (Didveli and Kokhta) and lifts reaching up to 2,702 meters. Even if you're not skiing, the altitude and the landscape shift noticeably from the lower stops. The tour includes an optional stop at Georgian Flavor Restaurant, where you can order lunch and eat local: khachapuri, khinkali, whatever the kitchen is making that day. Because this is a private tour, your driver stays with you, helps with photos, and knows which restaurants are worth the detour. You're not moving through a group schedule. The pace holds steady because there's no one else's timing to sync.

Hotel pickup and drop-off bookend the day, so you don't arrange transport to a meeting point. The driver speaks English or Russian. Petrol and parking are covered. If you want to add a cable car ride or skip Borjomi to spend more time in Bakuriani, those choices are available at checkout. The tour flexes around what matters to you.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Tbilisi.
• transportation by private comfortable car.
• petrol and parking fees.
• a well-experienced driver and guide in English or Russian.
• access to Jvari Monastery and Borjomi Central Park.
• the option to add lunch at Georgian Flavor Restaurant or a cable car ride in Bakuriani at checkout.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: the first at 07:30, the last at 09:30

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (7 to 11 years): free · Infant (under 7): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Russian

Audio guideSpanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Paid on siteUS$ 12

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePets welcomeNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Visit Georgia with George

Is this one for you?This is a private tour, so you travel at your own pace with your own driver instead of joining a group schedule. Choose it if you want the flexibility to linger at any stop, take photos without rushing, and have someone local recommend where to eat and what to see, or if you're traveling with infants or prefer not to coordinate with other travelers.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Russian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (7 to 11 years): free; Infant (under 7): free.

What is Jvari Monastery and why is it on this tour?

Jvari Monastery is a Georgian Orthodox church built around the 4th century on a hilltop surrounded by the Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994 and is one of Georgia's most significant pilgrimage destinations. The monastery's hilltop location gives views of the river confluence and the town of Mtskheta below.

Can I taste the Borjomi mineral water, or is it just a drive-through stop?

You walk through Borjomi Central Park and taste the natural mineral water at its source. The park is part of a much larger national park system and includes forest trails. The stop is long enough to experience the atmosphere of one of Georgia's most popular resort towns, not a quick photo halt.

Is lunch included, or do I pay separately at the restaurant?

Lunch at Georgian Flavor Restaurant in Bakuriani is optional and paid separately. Your driver can recommend it and help you order, but the choice to eat there and what you order are yours. Other local restaurants in the area are also available if you prefer.

What can I do in Bakuriani if I'm not interested in skiing?

Bakuriani is a mountain resort with fresh air and snowy landscapes year-round. You can walk the grounds, take optional cable car rides, enjoy the views from the altitude (the ski lifts reach up to 2,702 meters), and experience the shift in climate and terrain from lower elevations. The resort has developed tourist infrastructure beyond skiing.

How long does the whole tour take, and what time does it start?

The tour runs 9 to 12 hours depending on how long you spend at each stop and whether you add lunch or a cable car ride. Hotel pickup is included, so your driver collects you from your accommodation and returns you there at the end of the day.