Georgia road trip: Tbilisi to Vardzia to Ushguli
A 1,293 km journey through Georgia exploring the country's most remarkable landmarks, from the ancient cave monastery of Vardzia carved into mountain cliffs to the high-altitude stone towers of Ushgouli at 2,100 meters. The route spans UNESCO-listed sites and remote settlements that shaped Georgia's unique 10,000-year cultural heritage.
- Mode
- Places
- Start
- Welcome to Georgia
- End
- Omalo
- Stops
- 9
- Video author
- travmap
- Updated
Stops on this route
- Welcome to Georgia
- Tusheti National Park — Remote mountainous reserve in the eastern Caucasus featuring pristine alpine meadows, ancient stone towers, and traditional highland villages accessible only in summer months.
- Martvili Canyon — Striking limestone gorge carved by the Abasha River, offering turquoise waters ideal for swimming and kayaking through towering cliff walls and natural rock formations.
- Kakheti Wine Region — Historic eastern wine-producing area famous for indigenous grape varieties, traditional qvevri fermentation methods, and rolling vineyards with centuries-old winemaking heritage.
- Tbilisi
- Ushguli — One of Europe's highest continuously inhabited villages at 2,100 meters in the Caucasus, famous for 9th-12th century stone towers used for defense against raids and avalanches.
- Vardzia — A 12th-century cave monastery complex carved into Arushetti Mountain cliffs in southern Georgia, containing 13 levels with over 6,000 rooms hidden until exposed by a 1283…
- Tusheti
- Omalo — Ancient highland village in Tusheti with fortress-like stone towers and wooden homes unchanged for centuries, representing traditional shepherding lifestyle without modern…
Useful for your trip
- Transport
- Tusheti is accessible only a few short months in summer via the Abano Pass, a steep narrow dirt road climbing to nearly 2,850 m and ranked among the world's most dangerous roads. Rest of year it's cut off by snow.
- Timing
- Visit Beshumi in August to catch the Schwami Toba Festival featuring music, food, horseback games, and mountain culture celebrations in the meadows.
- Tip
- Ushguli, one of Europe's highest villages at 2,100 meters, only received electricity in the early 2000s. Expect rugged, simple conditions with traditional shepherding and cheese-making.
- Where to stay
- Beshumi is a seasonal mountain village at 1,900 m with simple wooden cottages and tin roofs. Most homes empty by late autumn as locals return to nearby towns, so plan visits for summer months.
- Food
- In Tbilisi, try sulfur baths in the Abonotubani district where locals get scrubbed clean, then enjoy traditional Georgian qvevri wine made in clay pots.
- Tip
- Martvili Canyon can be explored two ways: walk clifftop footpaths and viewing platforms for sweeping views, or take a small boat through the canyon drifting under overhangs.
- Tip
- Visit Gergeti Trinity Church at 2,170 m near Stepppans Minda (Kazbegi) for dramatic mountain views. The church is accessible by hiking or organized tours from the town.
- Transport
- Tusheti has no large hotels, no paved roads, and most areas have no cell phone signal. Villages like Omalo and Dartlo are fortress-like stone towers with traditional lifestyles.
- Tip
- Vardzia cave monastery complex has 13 levels with over 6,000 rooms carved into Arushetti Mountain cliffs. It was revealed by a 1283 earthquake that exposed the hidden city.
- Tip
- In Tbilisi, take the funicular up to Mtats Minda Park for panoramic city views and a quirky amusement park. The Bridge of Peace is a glowing glass walkway lit with thousands of LEDs at night.
Video on this route
UNREAL GEORGIA | Secret Cities, Deadly Passes & Buried Truths | Travel Video 4K