Vardzia Day Trip from Tbilisi: Cave Monastery & Cooking Class

Medieval cave monastery, two fortress castles, a high-altitude lake, and lunch you cook yourself in a Meskhetian family kitchen

A full-day guided tour from Tbilisi to Vardzia, a 12th-century cave monastery carved into southern Georgia's cliffs, with stops at Khertvisi Castle, Rabati Castle, Paravani Lake, and a traditional cooking class in Khizabavra village. The tour includes a professional English-speaking guide, private vehicle or small group transport, and bottled water; lunch and the cooking class are optional add-ons paid separately. Children from age 1 are welcome, and the day suits all fitness levels.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore lakes, castles, and local culture

• Visit Paravani Lake
• Explore Gorelovka village
• Tour Vardzia cave monastery
• Visit Khertvisi Castle
• Enjoy Qvevri beer and lunch
• Take cooking class in Khizabavra
• Explore Rabati Castle
• Return to Tbilisi via Borjomi

The Experience

The route starts before dawn to reach Vardzia and the surrounding sights without rushing. You'll pass through the Samtskhe-Javakheti region, climbing toward Paravani Lake — the largest lake in Georgia, sitting above 2,000 meters in the Lesser Caucasus. The landscape shifts from Tbilisi's urban sprawl to high-altitude plateaus and rolling mountains. This is the drive that frames the whole day: you're moving through a region where geology, history and culture stack visibly.

Vardzia itself is the centerpiece: a cave monastery carved into a cliff face starting in the 12th century under King Giorgi III and expanded by his daughter, King Tamar. The site has hundreds of rooms, churches, and passages cut directly into the stone. You walk through the complex with your guide, who explains the defensive role it played and its later transformation into an active monastery. The architecture is unlike anything most visitors have seen — not a building on top of the ground, but a city inside it.

After Vardzia, the tour moves to Khertvisi Castle, a fortress dating to the 2nd century BC perched on a hill between two rivers, then to Rabati Castle in Akhaltsikhe — the largest preserved castle in Georgia, rebuilt most recently in 2011. Rabati holds a palace, church, mosque, fountains, and museums, and its courtyards reflect Ottoman, Georgian, and European influences layered across centuries. If you choose the cooking class add-on, you'll stop in Khizabavra village to learn Meskhetian dishes in a 100-year-old family home, then eat what you've made. The Atskuri Qvevri Beer Maker offers a tasting of beer brewed in traditional Georgian clay vessels, paired with local meat and vegetarian dishes. The return to Tbilisi follows a different route through Borjomi, offering a landscape entirely different from the morning's drive.

You can book this as a small group tour or as a private tour — the difference is whether you travel with other bookings or alone. Both include the guide, driver, vehicle, and water. Lunch and the cooking class are paid separately if you want them, as is the beer tasting. The tour runs 12 to 13 hours total.

What’s included

• Professional English-speaking guide.
• private vehicle or small group transport from Tbilisi.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• entry to Vardzia cave monastery, Khertvisi Castle, and Rabati Castle.
• hotel pickup included.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Wonderful Travel

Is this one for you?Book the private tour if you want the guide's full attention and no schedule adjustments for other groups; choose the small group option if you're flexible on timing and prefer to share the cost. Either way, plan for a long day of driving and walking — the 12 to 13 hours is real — so book this when you have energy for it. The cooking class and beer tasting are worth adding if you want to eat and taste rather than just see; skip them if you prefer a faster pace through the castles and monastery.

Traveler reviews

4.78★★★★★★★★★★

18 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What exactly is Vardzia and why is it carved into a cliff?

Vardzia is a cave monastery in southern Georgia, carved into the cliffside starting in the 12th century during the reign of King Giorgi III and expanded under his daughter, King Tamar. It was built as a defensive fortress and later became an active monastery. The site contains hundreds of rooms, churches, and passages cut directly into the stone, making it one of Georgia's most significant historical and architectural sites.

How much time do I spend actually at Vardzia versus traveling?

The full tour is 12 to 13 hours, but that includes the drive from Tbilisi (about two hours each way), stops at Paravani Lake, Khertvisi Castle, Rabati Castle, and the village of Gorelovka. Your guide will allocate time at each stop based on the day's flow; Vardzia itself is the main focus, but you're seeing multiple sites across the region rather than spending the entire day at one location.

Is the cooking class included, or do I pay extra?

The cooking class is optional and paid separately — $25 per person. You'll learn to prepare traditional Meskhetian dishes in a family home in Khizabavra village, then eat the meal you've cooked. The tour only includes this stop if at least two guests book it.

Can I bring young children on this tour?

Yes, children from age 1 are welcome. Specialized infant seats are available, and infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, though the day is long — 12 to 13 hours — so consider your child's comfort with travel and walking.

What's the difference between the small group and private tour options?

Both options include the same guide, vehicle, and itinerary. The small group tour means you travel with other bookings; the private tour is for your group alone. Both are led by a professional English-speaking guide and include transport, water, and all the stops listed.

Is beer tasting included, and what does it cost?

Beer tasting at the Atskuri Qvevri Beer Maker is optional and paid separately — $12 per person. The brewery uses traditional Georgian qvevri clay vessels and serves local Georgian cuisine alongside the beer tasting.