Most Georgia driving itineraries follow the main highway from Tbilisi west to Kutaisi and Batumi. This one deliberately avoids it. Instead, it loops south through the Javakheti Plateau, the cave monasteries of Vardzia, the mineral springs of Borjomi, the Soviet cable cars of Chiatura, the alternative wine country of Racha, and the tea plantations of Guria before arriving at the Black Sea. Ten days, seven regions, all on sealed roads drivable in a standard sedan.
Route Overview
- Day 1: Tbilisi to Tsalka via Kvemo Kartli (Didgori Battle Memorial, Asureti, Samshvilde Canyon)
- Day 2: Tsalka to Vardzia via the Javakheti Plateau (Paravani Lake, Bughdasheni Lake, Doukhobor villages)
- Day 3: Vardzia, Saro, and Akhaltsikhe (cave city, megalithic ruins, Rabati Castle)
- Day 4: Abastumani and Borjomi (Romanov heritage, astrophysical observatory, mineral springs)
- Day 5: Borjomi to Oni via Chiatura and Katskhi Pillar (Soviet mining town, cable cars, limestone monastery)
- Day 6: Racha-Lechkhumi (Oni Synagogue, Sairme Pillars, Lailashi Secret Pool, Khvanchkara wine)
- Day 7: Racha to Kutaisi (Nikortsminda Cathedral, Tskhrajvari hike, UNESCO Gelati Monastery)
- Day 8: Kutaisi and Tskaltubo (Green Bazaar, walking tour, abandoned Soviet sanatoriums)
- Day 9: Guria tea country (Georgian tea route, Ozurgeti, Bakhmaro sunset)
- Day 10: Black Sea coast to Batumi (Shekvetili Dendrological Park, black sand beaches, Batumi Boulevard)
Day 1: Kvemo Kartli — Didgori, Asureti, and Samshvilde
Distance: 170 km | Drive time: 4 hours plus stops
Pick up your rental car on the northern outskirts of Tbilisi to avoid city traffic. There is no reason to drive inside Tbilisi — the capital is better explored on foot and by metro during your first 2-3 days in Georgia.
Your first stop is the Didgori Battle Memorial, a monumental sculptural complex set in a mountain valley 60 minutes west of Tbilisi. Giant metal swords and crosses mark where King David the Builder defeated the Seljuk Turks in 1121, unifying Georgia and ushering in its Golden Age. The approach road is one of Georgia's most scenic drives.
Continue south to Asureti (historically Elisabethtal), a former German Swabian colony with a restored Lutheran church, half-timbered Fachwerk houses, and a German beer garden called Bahnhof Station inside the old railway station. Lunch here — schnitzel and pretzels in rural Georgia is an unexpected delight.
If time allows, drive 40 minutes to Samshvilde Canyon, where a 30-minute walk leads to the ruins of Samshvilde Sioni church on the canyon rim — once a stronghold of the ancient Kingdom of Kartli. Continue west to Tsalka for the night, stopping for dinner at Pontia, a Pontic Greek restaurant.
Day 2: The Javakheti Plateau
Distance: 130 km | Drive time: 3 hours plus stops
Drive south through the Javakheti Protected Areas, an elevated volcanic plateau dotted with over 60 lakes and backed by dormant volcanoes. The big skies and treeless landscapes here feel completely different from the rest of Georgia.
At Paravani Lake, Georgia's largest natural lake, stop at the ruins of a Silk Road caravanserai on the shore, then visit Poka St. Nino's Convent at the southern tip for handmade chocolates, jams, and beauty products made by the resident nuns.
Detour toward the Turkish border for Bughdasheni and Madatapa Lakes — the former is small enough to walk around, while the latter teems with migratory birds. Further south, the village of Gorelovka preserves the turquoise-painted Prayer House of the Doukhobor community, Russian dissidents exiled here in the early 20th century.
Drive 90 minutes to Vardzia Resort for the night, perfectly positioned for an early start at the cave city tomorrow.
Day 3: Vardzia, Saro, and Akhaltsikhe
Distance: 60 km | Drive time: 1.5 hours plus stops
Arrive at Vardzia when gates open at 10am. Georgia's largest and most impressive cave monastery comprises 300 rock-hewn chambers arranged over 13 levels, carved into a cliff face above the Mtkvari River. Allow two hours to walk the marked paths through chapels, monastic cells, and a frescoed Church of the Assumption.
Driving back along the river valley, stop at Khertvisi Fortress (recently reopened) and look for medieval watchtowers perched on the hilltops. Take the turnoff to Saro village to see lichen-covered megalithic ruins on a plateau beside the Archangel of Saro Church.
In Akhaltsikhe, explore Rabati Castle, a restored 9th-century fortress with a mosque at its centre, and the excellent Samtskhe-Javakheti History Museum. For dinner, Old Bar serves Meskhetian specialties: apokhti khinkali (dried-meat dumplings), crispy-pastry khachapuri, and lokokina (Georgian escargot).
Day 4: Abastumani and Borjomi
Distance: 100 km | Drive time: 2 hours plus stops
Drive 45 minutes up into the Lesser Caucasus to Abastumani, a climactic retreat with one of the prettiest main streets in Georgia. Restored Romanov-era dacha houses date to the 1890s, when Grand Duke George Alexandrovich (younger brother of Tsar Nicholas II) was sent here for tuberculosis treatment.
The Abastumani Astrophysical Observatory on Mount Kanobili, the first facility of its kind in the USSR (opened 1932), offers English-language tours including a chance to peer through vintage Soviet telescopes. One of the best tour experiences in the country.
Continue 90 minutes to Borjomi, Georgia's most famous spa town. Stroll through Central Park and drink the carbonated mineral water straight from the original Romanov-era springs. The public thermal baths are worth a soak. Overnight at Golden Tulip Borjomi.
Day 5: Chiatura, Katskhi Pillar, and the Road to Racha
Distance: 175 km | Drive time: 4 hours plus stops
The longest driving day, but one of the most rewarding. Head north to join the main highway at Khashuri, stopping in Surami to try nazuki — a sweet raisin bread baked in the same clay ovens as Georgian shotis puri.
Dart east onto the Sachkhere-Chiatura road to reach Chiatura, a Soviet-era mining town built into steep canyon walls and connected by a network of cable cars. Ride the new Sanatorium Line to a viewpoint, explore the regional museum, and test the recently restored Soviet-era gondola.
Nearby, Katskhi Pillar is the iconic monastery perched atop a lone limestone column in the forest. A small museum and cloister sit at the base (climbing the pillar itself is strictly forbidden).
Retrace to Sachkhere and take the Sachkhere-Zudali Road, a newly sealed 60km switchback highway linking Imereti with Racha-Lechkhumi. Arrive in Oni by evening for a home-cooked Rachan dinner at Family Hotel Gallery — request the shkmeruli garlic chicken.
Day 6: Racha-Lechkhumi
Distance: ~130 km loop | Drive time: ~4 hours
Devote the day to Georgia's most underrated mountain region. Start in Oni, where one of Georgia's oldest synagogues — built in the 1880s by a Polish architect using skilled labourers from Thessaloniki — shines on a quiet residential street.
Drive west into Lechkhumi, where the terrain shifts to limestone pillars, canyons, and roads that cut under giant boulders. Hike the easy marked trail to the Sairme Pillars (about an hour). In Lailashi village, swim at the Lailashi Secret Pool, a high-altitude natural cold-water pool perched in the mountains.
On the way back, stop for lunch at Tchrebalo Wine Cellar, then cap the day with a wine degustation at one of the family cellars around Khvanchkara village. The most famous wine from this region is Khvanchkara, a semi-sweet red made from a blend of two local grapes. Second night at Family Hotel Gallery in Oni.
Day 7: Nikortsminda, Gelati, and Down to Kutaisi
Distance: 100 km | Drive time: 3 hours plus stops
Leave Oni after visiting the local museum and stop at Barakoni Church, an 18th-century church with a wooden iconostasis. Take the Kutaisi-Tkibuli-Ambrolauri Road and arrive at Kesane restaurant when it opens at 1pm — the shkmeruli chicken and lobiani bean bread here are a revelation.
Nikortsminda Cathedral (1010-1014), a UNESCO tentative site, features extraordinarily intricate stone carvings on its facade and stunning 17th-century frescoes inside. Continue past Shaori Lake reservoir, cross the Nakerala Pass (stop at the viewpoint), and optionally hike the short trail up Tskhrajvari (Hill of Nine Crosses) for a panoramic view of both Racha and Imereti.
On the descent to Kutaisi, visit UNESCO-listed Gelati Monastery and the romantic Motsameta Monastery connected by a short forest trail.
Day 8: Kutaisi and Tskaltubo
Distance: ~30 km | Drive time: ~1 hour
A breathing day. Explore Kutaisi on foot: the Green Bazaar, the French-Catholic Quarter, the Jewish Quarter, and Kutaisi's heritage architecture in the Royal District. After lunch, drive 20 minutes to Tskaltubo, a Soviet balneological resort that once received direct trains from Moscow.
Tskaltubo's semi-abandoned sanatoriums — grand Stalinist buildings with crumbling frescoes, sweeping staircases, and overgrown courtyards — are among the most atmospheric places in Georgia. Return to Kutaisi for sunset at Bagrati Cathedral and a glass of Imeretian wine at Amber Wine bar.
Day 9: Guria Tea Country
Distance: 200 km | Drive time: 4.5 hours plus stops
Drive west into Guria, Georgia's greenest region. In the capital Ozurgeti, browse the bazaar for fresh tea leaves, hazelnuts, and handwoven straw hats. Follow the Georgian Tea Route through collective plantations and old factories around Anaseuli — relics of the era when Soviet Georgia was one of the world's major tea producers.
Arrange a plantation tour and degustation at one of the family farms leading Guria's tea renaissance. For sunset, drive up to Bakhmaro (2 hours from Chokhatauri, plus a 1-hour hike to the viewpoint) for a sunset above the clouds. The road is sealed and sedan-friendly.
Day 10: The Black Sea Coast and Batumi
Distance: 75 km | Drive time: 2 hours plus stops
The final day follows the coast south to Batumi. Stop at Shekvetili Dendrological Park to walk among old-growth trees transplanted from around Georgia, and at Magnetiti Beach near Ureki for a swim in the black magnetic sands — the best swimming beach on this stretch of coast.
In Batumi, cycle the Boulevard, explore the eclectic Old Town architecture, eat khachapuri Adjaruli (the famous cheese-and-egg boat bread native to this region), and watch the sunset over the Black Sea. Drop off your rental car in Batumi — most agencies offer reasonable one-way fees — and take the high-speed Stadler train back to Tbilisi, or fly out from Batumi Airport.
Four Optional Extensions
1. Add Svaneti (4-5 Extra Days)
After Racha (Day 6), continue west to Tsageri and drive up into Svaneti via the newly sealed Zagari Pass (open June-October). Spend a night in Ushguli, 2-3 days in Mestia, then descend through Zugdidi to Kutaisi. A 4x4 is recommended for the Ushguli road.
2. Add Upper Adjara (2-4 Extra Days)
From Batumi, drive inland to the town of Khulo in mountainous Adjara. Continue to Tago village for glamping, and if conditions allow, drive the Goderdzi Pass through the wooden mosques and highland villages of Upper Adjara all the way to Akhaltsikhe.
3. Loop Back to Tbilisi (1 Extra Day)
Use the new Rikoti Highway to drive directly from Batumi back to Tbilisi (5-6 hours), stopping in Gori for the Stalin Museum and at Uplistsikhe Cave City.
4. Add Kakheti and Kazbegi (3-4 Extra Days)
Pick up your car on the Kakheti Highway instead and start with the wine region: Sighnaghi, Gurjaani, Telavi. From Telavi, drive north to Kazbegi via the back road through Tianeti, hike to Gergeti Trinity Church, and return to Tbilisi via the Georgian Military Highway.
Practical Tips
Best Time
This itinerary works May through November. Late May/early June brings spring wildflowers; September/October brings harvest festivals and autumn foliage in Racha.
Vehicle Choice
Every road on the core 10-day route is sealed and drivable in a standard sedan. That said, a car with higher clearance is always a good idea in Georgia — you never know when you might encounter roadworks or an unpaved detour. For the Svaneti extension, a 4x4 is essential.
Driving Style
Georgia drives on the right. Road signs are in English (Latin characters). There are no toll roads. Get an early start each day — roads are quietest before 10am. Overtaking on single-lane roads is common and takes getting used to. Add 20-30% to Google Maps time estimates for stops and traffic. For detailed driving tips and road rules, see our dedicated guide.
Essentials
- Pick up a Georgian SIM card at the airport for navigation
- Download offline Google Maps areas — coverage drops in mountain sections
- Carry cash — rural areas and small restaurants may not accept cards
- Check our packing list for season-specific recommendations
- Review travel insurance options before your trip
- For safety tips, see our dedicated guide
For more Georgia road trips, see our top road trips guide, 30 destinations by region, and Caucasus itinerary covering both Georgia and Armenia.