Vardzia Travel Guide

  A monk at Vardzia monastery
by maykal
 
  • A monk at Vardzia monastery
      A monk at Vardzia monastery
    by maykal
  • Vardzia
      Vardzia
    by maykal
  • Vardzia
      Vardzia
    by maykal
  • Vardzia doorway
      Vardzia doorway
    by maykal
  • Entrance to Vardzia
      Entrance to Vardzia
    by maykal
 

Explore Vardzia

Things to Do  

Visit Khertvisi Castle

Visit Khertvisi Castle, Vardzia

 AnnaHermans Says:  It is built on a cliff where two rivers join. From the 10th century. Inside you will only find cows and smell some of their products. No entrance, no other tourists. It's next to the road between Vardzia and Akhaltsikhe 

Explore the caves

Explore the caves, Vardzia

 AnnaHermans Says:  The medieval cave city was built by Queen Tamara. It can be reached by car in one day from Borjomi, but the road is very bad for the last 12 kilometer. Entrance fee 5 dollar. It's incredible beautiful but a lot of climbing too. Take food and drinks with you. You cannot buy... 

Explore the caves

Explore the caves, Vardzia

 maykal Says:  Aside from the Church of the Assumption and the monks' cells, the rest of the Vardzia complex consists of empty rooms. It is fun to explore though, stairways and tunnels connecting rooms on different levels, some rooms enormous and bare, others tiny yet detailed. In a few... 

Chat to the monks

Chat to the monks, Vardzia

 maykal Says:  Take along a Georgian phrasebook (available in Prospero's Bookshop on Rustavelis in Tbilisi)...this will enable you to chat to the monks, who probably don't get so many foreigners to talk to. Of course, you are never going to be able to debate the meaning of life with just a... 

Church of the Assumption

Church of the Assumption, Vardzia

 maykal Says:  If a monk spots you, he may unlock the Church of the assumption for you. This is the only church still functioning...there were several more, but earthquakes, attacks and vandalism have seen to those. Look out for the frescoes on the walls, especially the one of Queen Tamar.... 

Entrance to Vardzia

Entrance to Vardzia, Vardzia

 maykal Says:  After buying you ticket, head up the twisting path passed a few derelict caves...you can look inside these if you want, but they are unfortunately filled with cigarette ends. After about ten minutes or so, you'll reach a belltower and a gate...this is the entrance to the... 

Hotels  

No name: The shack by the river

No name: The shack by the river, Vardzia

 maykal Says:  Basic is wonderful sometimes. I mean, who needs 5* luxury, all jacuzzis and nail-bars, valet services and revolving doors? Not me, which is a bloody good job as none of those things exist in Vardzia. Hard beds in candlelit dormitories, bread and cheese for dinner with the... 

Transportation  

white minibus to Vardzia

white minibus to Vardzia, Vardzia

 aleximagradze Says:  The minibus comes from Tbilisi, ,,Didube" station,every day at 10 o'clock.It arrives there at 3 o'clock and comes back to Tbilisi the other day,at 9:20.Price:15 lari. The bus is comfortable. Drivers name is Alex. phone: 899 74 99 73. 

The daily bus

The daily bus, Vardzia

 maykal Says:  Buses from Akhaltsikhe run to suit local villagers, and mean that independent travellers cannot visit Vardzia as a day trip. A minibus leaves Akhaltsikhe for Vardzia at around 3pm or when full, returning the following day some time in the morning seemingly at the whim of the... 

Tourist Traps  

Do not visit before May!

Do not visit before May!, Vardzia

 JLBG Says:  I was in Georgia at the end of April 2011 and planned to visite Vardzia. The monastery complex stands between 1500 and 1700 meters of elevation in southern Georgia. We went to several other places in the country and found that everywhere, there was a lot of snow remaining at... 

What to Pack  

Useful items

Useful items, Vardzia

 maykal Says:   Even in June, it was surprisingly chilly, so bring some warm clothing for nights. Strong shoes are useful for negotiating the narrow paths and stairways in the monastery complex. Swimming gear for those who wish to brave the sulphur pool at the hotel! A torch could come... 

The Place

Plan a Vardzia vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and Vardzia locals

Experience Vardzia
  •   11 Tips and Reviews
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The People

 
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 Basic is wonderful sometimes. I mean, who needs 5* luxury, all jacuzzis and nail-bars, valet services and revolving doors? Not me, which is a bloody good job as... 

 

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Top 3 Vardzia Writers

1

Vardzia

maykal profile photo

 Vardzia...a remote cave monastery complex at the end of a near-inaccessible valley...one of my highlights of Georgia. Some people compare it to Cappadocia in Turkey, but judging from what I've heard... 

2

Warning about Vardzia

JLBG profile photo

 This is not a page about Vardzia but a warning for would be travellers. 

3

Vardzia

photonina profile photo

 I've got some interesting experiences in Vardzia. I'd love to share with you the 0 tips I've written, the 3 photos uploaded, and 0 travelogues I've created. 

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