Borjomi, Bakuriani and Vardzia by car: a two-day trip from Tbilisi
The spa town, the ski resort above it and the cave monastery in the south, about 550 km on paved roads. Day-by-day plan, parking, when you need a 4x4 and the cheapest car to do it in.
Borjomi, Bakuriani and Vardzia by car: the south-west loop from Tbilisi
Borjomi is the town behind the mineral water on every Georgian table: a 19th-century spa in a forested gorge, 160 km west of Tbilisi. Half an hour above it, Bakuriani is the country’s family ski resort and, out of season, a cool plateau for walks. Two hours south, past Akhaltsikhe and its rebuilt Rabati castle, the road ends under the cliff of Vardzia, a monastery of hundreds of rooms carved into the rock in the 12th century. Marshrutkas reach each town, but not the places between them and never in one trip; with a rental car the three fit into two relaxed days.
GO Car Rental hands the car over anywhere in Tbilisi with no delivery fee, insurance and unlimited mileage are included, and a Toyota Prius at $35 a day covers the whole loop on one tank. For a winter trip to Bakuriani take a 4x4. The route in more detail, with prices and timings, is in our blog post Borjomi, Bakuriani and Vardzia by car.
- Paved roads all the way, 4x4 only for Bakuriani in winter
- Two days, about 550 km from Tbilisi and back
- Fits a one-way rental: Borjomi is 30 km off the Tbilisi to Batumi highway
550 km loop
A two-day plan from Tbilisi
Day 1, morning: Tbilisi to Borjomi
Leave Tbilisi by 09:00 on the E60. Optional stop in Gori for the fortress and the Stalin museum (see our Mtskheta and Gori guide). Turn south at Khashuri; the road into the gorge reaches Borjomi around midday. 160 km, two and a half hours of driving.
Day 1, afternoon: the park, Likani and Bakuriani
Borjomi Central Park: taste the warm mineral water at the source, walk or take the cable car to the plateau. Drive 3 km to Likani for the Romanov palace park, then the 30 km climb to Bakuriani (1,700 m) for the evening view and dinner. Sleep in Bakuriani or back in Borjomi.
Day 2: Vardzia and Rabati
Borjomi to Akhaltsikhe is 55 km along the Mtkvari; Rabati castle takes an hour. Continue 60 km south past Khertvisi fortress to Vardzia, the 12th-century cave monastery cut into the cliff: two hours on foot. Back in Tbilisi by evening (about 270 km from Vardzia), or on to Kutaisi.
A sedan in summer, a 4x4 for the ski season
Every road on this route is paved. The only reason to take a 4x4 is snow on the Bakuriani climb between December and March.
Borjomi and Vardzia by car: questions
Distances, roads, parking and how to fold the loop into a longer trip. Anything else: WhatsApp us.
How far is Borjomi from Tbilisi by car?
About 160 km, two and a half hours: the E60 highway west to Khashuri, then 30 km south through the Borjomi gorge. The road is paved all the way. Kutaisi to Borjomi is about 130 km, two hours via Khashuri.
Do I need a 4x4 for Borjomi, Bakuriani and Vardzia?
Not in summer and autumn: the roads to Borjomi, up to Bakuriani and south to Vardzia are all paved, so a Toyota Prius at $35 a day does the whole loop. From December to March the 30 km climb to Bakuriani is a mountain road with snow and ice; take a 4x4 such as the Renault Duster or the Mitsubishi Pajero and allow extra time.
How long does the trip take?
Two days is comfortable: day one Tbilisi to Borjomi with the park and Likani, sleep in Borjomi or Bakuriani; day two the drive south to Vardzia via Akhaltsikhe and back to Borjomi or on to Tbilisi. In one long day you can do Borjomi and Bakuriani, or Borjomi and Vardzia, but not all three with any time to enjoy them.
Is the road to Vardzia paved?
Yes. From Borjomi the road follows the Mtkvari river south to Akhaltsikhe (Rabati castle), then continues past Khertvisi fortress to the Vardzia car park, about 100 km and two hours from Borjomi. There is a car park at the foot of the cliff and the climb to the caves is on foot.
Where do I park in Borjomi and Bakuriani?
Borjomi Central Park has paid parking by the entrance on the river side; the streets around the park fill up on summer weekends, so arrive before 11:00. Bakuriani has free street parking outside the ski season and paid car parks at the lifts in winter.
Can I continue to Batumi or Kutaisi instead of going back to Tbilisi?
Yes. Borjomi is only 30 km off the Tbilisi to Batumi highway at Khashuri, so it fits a one-way rental: pick up in Tbilisi, spend a night in Borjomi, and drop the car in Kutaisi or Batumi. The one-way fee is added on the booking page and shown separately from the daily rate.
Book a car for Borjomi and Vardzia
Pick up in Tbilisi with no delivery fee, insurance and unlimited mileage included, pay 15% online.