How should you visit Vardzia?
The best way to see Vardzia is two days with a night near the caves, so you walk in at 10:00 before the day tours: Highlander Travel’s private two-day trip from Tbilisi or Kutaisi, with the entry fees, meals and guesthouse included, from about $326 (290 EUR) a person. In one day, Funny Travel Georgia’s 14-hour tour from Tbilisi costs from $39, and Budget Georgia’s from Kutaisi $69.
Best for time at the caves, with a night nearby
Two days, a night nearby2 days, 10:00from about$326a person private, for your group only290 EURAsk Highlander Travel for a priceSee detailsBest for one day from Tbilisi
The day from Tbilisi14 hours, about 2 hfrom$39a person shown at a discount from $56 on 11 November 2026BookSee detailsWe may earn a commission. You pay the same.
Best for one day from Kutaisi
The day from Kutaisi14 hours, about 1 h$69a person ask whether the entry fees are included: the listing names them, but marks the stops extraBookSee detailsWe may earn a commission. You pay the same.
Vardzia cave monastery, southern Georgia Pick 1 of 3Couples and families with two days
Two days, a night nearby
from about$326a person private, for your group only, 290 EUR
Cave monastery Vardzia tour from Tbilisi, 2 days. Run by Highlander Travel, booked through Highlander Travel.
Two private days with a night by the caves, entry fees and meals included.
The dearest option, and only on request from December to March.
- 2 daysa night in a guesthouse by the caves
- 10:00at Vardzia, before the day tours
- All inentry fees and four meals
- Privateyour group only
Why it's great, and who should skip it
Why it's great
- You walk into Vardzia in the morning, before the day tours arrive.
- Entry fees, a night and four meals are in the price.
- Sapara monastery and Khertvisi fortress, which the day tours skip.
- Starts from Tbilisi or Kutaisi at the same price.
Skip it if
- You have one day: the day from Tbilisi or the day from Kutaisi.
- You would rather go on your own: the minibus from Akhaltsikhe.
In the price
- A private car and driver, and an English-speaking guide
- A night in a guesthouse or small hotel near Vardzia
- One breakfast, two lunches and one dinner
- All entrance fees: Vardzia, Rabati, Sapara and the fortresses
- No more than 350 km of driving on either day
Not in the price
- Alcohol, snacks and tips
- Travel insurance
Price checked 11 November 2026.
Vardzia cave monastery, southern Georgia Pick 2 of 3Visitors with one day and a long attention span
The day from Tbilisi
from$39a person shown at a discount from $56 on 11 November 2026
Book with GetYourGuideWe may earn a commission. You pay the same.
Tbilisi: Borjomi, Rabati and Vardzia adventure guided tour. Run by Funny Travel Georgia, booked through GetYourGuide.
Borjomi, Rabati and Vardzia in one guided day from Tbilisi, from $39.
Fourteen hours, mostly in the car, with entry fees on top.
- 14 hoursfrom Freedom Square and back
- About 2 hat Vardzia on the itinerary
- 1,312reviews, 4.8 out of 5
- Freecancellation up to 24 hours before
Why it's great, and who should skip it
Why it's great
- 4.8 from 1,312 reviews, with guests on the tour in November 2026.
- A guide and a car for $39, near the low end for this day.
- Leaves from Freedom Square, in the centre of Tbilisi.
- Free to cancel up to 24 hours before, and pay later.
Skip it if
- You want time at the caves without the crowd: two days, a night nearby.
- You are staying in Kutaisi: the day from Kutaisi.
In the price
- A guide and a car for the day
- Borjomi park and its mineral spring, about an hour
- Rabati fortress in Akhaltsikhe, about 45 minutes
- Vardzia, about 2 hours on the itinerary
Not in the price
- Entry fees: Borjomi park 5 GEL, Rabati 17 GEL and Vardzia 17 GEL on the listing
CancellationFree cancellation up to 24 hours before; reserve now and pay later
Price checked 11 November 2026.
Vardzia cave monastery, southern Georgia Pick 3 of 3Visitors based in Kutaisi
The day from Kutaisi
$69a person ask whether the entry fees are included: the listing names them, but marks the stops extra
Book with GetYourGuideWe may earn a commission. You pay the same.
Borjomi, Rabati and Vardzia, one-day group tour from Kutaisi. Run by Budget Georgia Kutaisi, booked through GetYourGuide.
Surami, Borjomi, Rabati and Vardzia in one day from Kutaisi, with a lunch stop, for $69.
About an hour at the caves, and unclear entry-fee terms.
- 14 hoursfrom 08:00 in Kutaisi
- About 1 hat Vardzia on the itinerary
- 161reviews, 4.8 out of 5
- Freecancellation up to 24 hours before
Why it's great, and who should skip it
Why it's great
- 4.8 from 161 reviews, with guests on the tour in October 2026.
- Starts and ends in Kutaisi, the base for western Georgia.
- A local guide at Rabati and a lunch stop on the way.
Skip it if
- You are in Tbilisi: the day from Tbilisi.
- You want more time at the caves: two days, a night nearby.
In the price
- Transport and a guide for the day
- Nazuki, the sweet bread of Surami, baked in front of you
- Borjomi park and its mineral spring
- Rabati fortress with a local guide, and a lunch stop at a local restaurant
- Vardzia, about an hour on the itinerary
CancellationFree cancellation up to 24 hours before; reserve now and pay later
Price checked 11 November 2026.
Vardzia in 2026: what is open?
About the first half of the route is open: the climb through the lower tiers and tunnels to the Church of the Dormition, with its 1180s frescoes and the portrait of Queen Tamar. A rockfall near the Secret Tunnel on 27 May 2026 damaged a footbridge and railings, so the route now ends just after the church and you walk back the way you came. The heritage agency said in September 2026 that full access will return after repairs, with no date given.
Expect about an hour and a half at the caves instead of two or three. Wear shoes with grip: the stone is worn, the stairs are steep and some tunnels are dark enough for a phone torch.
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| Ticket | About $6 (15 GEL) for adults, free under 6; one tour listing gives about $7 (17 GEL); the office takes cash or card, but there is no ATM |
| Extras | Audio guide about $6 (15 GEL); shuttle up to the caves about $0.77 (2 GEL) a person |
| Hours | 10:00 to 19:00 from May to September, to 18:00 in March, April and from October to 14 November, to 17:00 from 15 November to the end of February |
| Cash | There is no ATM at the site |
Which base: Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Borjomi or Akhaltsikhe?
The nearer you sleep, the more time you get at the caves: from Akhaltsikhe it is about an hour and a half each way, from Tbilisi four to five hours.
| Base | To Vardzia | How | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tbilisi | About 267 km, 4 to 5 hours each way | A 14-hour day tour, or two days with a night nearby | A day out from the capital, or the two-day trip |
| Kutaisi | About 235 km by road | A 14-hour day tour, or the same two-day trip | Visitors who landed at Kutaisi or are touring the west |
| Borjomi | About 110 km | A driver for the day, or a night on the way south | Pairing the caves with the park and spa town |
| Akhaltsikhe | About 60 km, about 1.5 hours | The 10:30 minibus, or a taxi for about $31 to $38 (80 to 100 GEL) return with waiting | Walking in at 10:00, and Rabati fortress in the evening |
Both day tours we picked also stop at Borjomi and at Rabati fortress in Akhaltsikhe, which breaks up the drive. For other days out of the capital, see our day trips from Tbilisi.
How much does a Vardzia trip cost?
A Vardzia day costs from $39 a person from Tbilisi and $69 from Kutaisi on our picks, plus about $6 (15 GEL) entry; two private days with a night nearby cost from about $326 (290 EUR) a person, with the entry fees, meals and the night included.
| Trip | Price | Entry fees | Time at Vardzia |
|---|---|---|---|
| A day from Tbilisi, Funny Travel Georgia | From $39 a person | Extra | About 2 hours on the itinerary |
| A day from Kutaisi, Budget Georgia | $69 a person | Ask: the listing names them, but marks the stops extra | About 1 hour on the itinerary |
| Two private days, Highlander Travel | From about $326 (290 EUR) a person | Included | The whole morning, about 1.5 hours while half the route is closed |
| A GoTrip driver from Tbilisi | About $114 (296 GEL) a car each way | Extra | As long as you like |
A driver both ways costs more a head than a day tour for most small groups, but buys you your own times and stops.
Vardzia in winter
Vardzia stays open in winter, from 10:00 to 17:00 between 15 November and the end of February, and you may have it almost to yourself. The steps and paths can be icy and snow can slow the road, so wear boots with grip and arrive by early afternoon. Highlander Travel runs its two-day trip from December to March on request only, confirmed a few days ahead; the Tbilisi day tour had guests in November 2026 and the Kutaisi one in late October, judging by their reviews, so check that your date is confirmed before you travel.
Vardzia trip questions
Is Vardzia worth it with half the route closed?
Yes, if you combine it with Borjomi and Rabati or sleep in the south. The church with Tamar’s portrait and the climb through the cliff are still open, and the ticket is unchanged; as the only reason for a 14-hour day, it is a harder sell until the full route reopens.
Can you see Vardzia in a day from Tbilisi?
Yes, on a tour of about 14 hours that also stops at Borjomi and Rabati. Most of the day is in the car, and you reach the caves around midday with the other groups; a night nearby avoids both.
How long do you need at Vardzia?
About an hour and a half while half the route is closed, two to three hours when it reopens. Arrive at least two hours before closing.
What should you wear?
Shoes with grip, layers, and clothes that cover shoulders and knees, because the Church of the Dormition is a working church; scarves are lent at the door. The route is not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs.
Vardzia or Uplistsikhe?
Uplistsikhe, near Gori, is an older rock-cut town on an open hilltop, about 1.5 hours from Tbilisi, so it fits an easy day. Vardzia is a 12th-century monastery cut into a vertical cliff, with tunnels and a painted church, and needs a long day or a night.
Is Vardzia a UNESCO site?
Not yet. Vardzia and Khertvisi fortress are on Georgia’s tentative list for World Heritage status.
How we picked
We compared the Vardzia tours from Tbilisi and Kutaisi sold on GetYourGuide with tours sold direct and GoTrip’s drivers, and checked each price, length, itinerary, entry-fee terms and cancellation terms on 11 November 2026. Opening hours, ticket prices and the rockfall closure come from guides updated in September 2026 that cite the heritage agency. For each trip we weighed the time at the caves against the time in the car, what is included and how it copes with winter.