A 10-day Georgia road trip is the sweet spot: long enough for the mountains and the sea, short enough for one rental and one flight. This loop starts and ends in Tbilisi and covers Kazbegi, Svaneti, the Black Sea and Kakheti, with realistic driving times. For the shorter version see our 7-day Tbilisi to Batumi trip, and for the planning basics the road trip itinerary guide.
Updated 9 October 2026. Prices and rules checked against our booking system on that date.
The 10-day Georgia road trip at a glance
| Day | Route | Drive | Sleep |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tbilisi: old town, Narikala, the baths | None | Tbilisi |
| 2 | Tbilisi to Stepantsminda via Ananuri and Gudauri | 3 h | Stepantsminda |
| 3 | Gergeti Trinity church, Truso or Juta valley | 1 to 2 h | Stepantsminda |
| 4 | Kazbegi to Kutaisi via Mtskheta and the Rikoti tunnels | 6 h | Kutaisi |
| 5 | Kutaisi to Mestia via Zugdidi | 5 h | Mestia |
| 6 | Mestia to Ushguli and back (4x4) or Hatsvali cable car | 3 to 4 h | Mestia |
| 7 | Mestia to Batumi via Zugdidi and Poti | 5 h | Batumi |
| 8 | Batumi: boulevard, botanical garden, Gonio | 1 h | Batumi |
| 9 | Batumi to Signagi via the motorway and Tbilisi bypass | 7 h | Signagi |
| 10 | Signagi, Bodbe, a winery, return to Tbilisi | 2 h | Tbilisi or the airport |
Total: about 1,900 km. The two long days are 4 and 9; split them with an overnight in Tbilisi if you prefer shorter drives. Pickup and return in Tbilisi city centre is free; returning at Tbilisi Airport on day 10 costs $30.
Days 1 to 3: Tbilisi and Kazbegi
Spend the first day on foot. Then take the Georgian Military Highway north: Ananuri fortress, the Zhinvali reservoir, the climb to Gudauri and the Jvari pass at 2,395 m. In Stepantsminda, the Gergeti Trinity church road is paved now, so any car reaches it. The Truso valley and Juta need a 4x4 or a strong crossover. Our Tbilisi to Kazbegi guide has the hour-by-hour plan.
Days 4 to 7: west to Svaneti and the coast
Day 4 is the long transfer west. Stop in Mtskheta for Jvari and Svetitskhoveli, then take the motorway through the Rikoti tunnels to Kutaisi. From Kutaisi the road to Mestia is paved all the way; the last two hours wind up the Enguri gorge. In Mestia, the Ushguli day needs a 4x4, which is why many customers take a Duster, Forester or Pajero for the whole loop. Our Svaneti 4x4 guide explains the river crossings. Day 7 drops you to the sea at Batumi for two nights.
Days 8 to 10: Batumi and Kakheti
Batumi is for the boulevard, the botanical garden and the Gonio fortress, or a walk across the Sarpi border to Turkey. Day 9 is the second long day: the motorway back east, round Tbilisi, and up to Signagi above the Alazani valley. Finish with Bodbe monastery and a winery lunch, then an easy two hours to Tbilisi. The Kakheti by car post lists the wineries that take walk-ins.
Which car for a 10-day Georgia road trip
Everything on this loop except Ushguli, Truso and Juta is paved. So a sedan such as the Prius works if you skip those three, and a crossover or 4x4 if you want them. Ten days also means the long-rental discount: 5% off from 5 days and 10% off from 10 days on all cars except the Toyota Prius (flat $35), and 15% off from 5 days and 25% off from 10 days on the Mazda CX-3 and Jeep Renegade, applied automatically in the booking form for pickups until 15 December 2026. The which car for which trip guide compares the options road by road.
Want this loop adjusted to your dates? Tell us your arrival flight and whether you want more mountains or more sea. Message us on WhatsApp (+995 591 89 60 60) and we will plan a custom route with you: the right car for the roads, pickup and drop-off in different cities, and honest advice on driving times.
Questions about the 10-day Georgia road trip
Is ten days enough for Svaneti and Kazbegi?
Yes, with two nights in each. Tusheti would need two more days and a 4x4; Racha one more.
When is the best time for this loop?
June to early October. The Ushguli road opens around late May and the Jvari pass is reliable from June. In winter, swap Svaneti for a ski day in Gudauri.
Can I do it the other way round?
Yes. Many people land at Kutaisi Airport, start with Svaneti, and finish in Tbilisi. One-way returns cost the fee of each end.
How much fuel will I use?
About 1,900 km: roughly 85 litres in a Prius or 230 in a big 4x4. Our fuel and parking post has current prices.
A 10-day Georgia road trip in one loop gives you the three Georgias in one trip: the high Caucasus, the subtropical coast and the vineyards. All you need is the right car and daylight driving.