Borjomi/Bakuriani Private Full Day Tour from Tbilisi

Mountain air, mineral water, and snow in one day. This private trip links Borjomi Central Park with Bakuriani’s mountain resort, giving you two very different sides of central Georgia without changing hotels or arranging transport yourself. I like the door-to-door pickup and the freedom of traveling only with your own group. I also like the chance to visit the Green Monastery, a quiet ninth- or tenth-century church made from green-toned stone. The main drawback is the long day: about 10 hours, with lunch and ski rental paid separately.

The price is $200 per group of up to four people, not per person. That makes the tour especially appealing for a small family or group of friends. Guide David receives praise for his kind manner and knowledge of Georgian history and places, though you should confirm guide availability when booking.

Key points at a glance

• Two mountain towns in one outing: See Borjomi’s mineral springs and Bakuriani’s high-altitude resort on the same day.
• A genuinely private setup: Only your group participates, with pickup and drop-off from a location you choose.
• Green Monastery adds quiet cultural depth: The small church is known for its unusual green-colored stones and forest setting.
• The $200 price covers up to four people: For four, that works out to $50 per person before lunch and optional activities.
• Skiing costs extra: Rental equipment and ski-related expenses are not included in the tour price.
• Plan for a full day: The advertised duration is approximately 10 hours and 12 minutes, beginning at 9:00 am.

Why Borjomi and Bakuriani work well together

Borjomi and Bakuriani are close enough to combine, yet they offer different moods. Borjomi is a spa town known for mineral water and wooded surroundings. Bakuriani sits higher, at about 1,700 meters above sea level, and is known for conifer forests and winter sports.

That contrast gives the day a useful rhythm. In Borjomi, you can stroll, taste the local mineral water, and explore a park tied to the town’s resort tradition. In Bakuriani, the setting shifts toward mountain recreation, with skiing and snow-related activities available at an additional cost.

I like this pairing because it avoids making the whole day about one attraction. If you are not interested in skiing, Bakuriani still gives you a change of scenery and a chance to see one of Georgia’s best-known mountain resorts. If winter sports are your main goal, though, you should treat the ski time as an optional add-on rather than part of the basic package.

The tour begins at 9:00 am. Since the day lasts roughly 10 hours, you should expect to return in the evening. That schedule leaves enough time for the three planned stops, but it is not a slow, unstructured day in the mountains.

Borjomi Central Park and the mineral springs

The first stop is Borjomi Central Park, with about two hours set aside and admission included. This is the natural starting point for understanding Borjomi. The town’s fame comes from its mineral water springs, and the park is where you can encounter that tradition directly.

The park also connects the town with the wider Borjomi area. Trails lead toward the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park, a large protected area known for its wooded wilderness. You will not be covering that entire national park during this tour, but the surrounding setting explains why Borjomi feels more like a forest resort than a city attraction.

The Romanov Palace is another point of interest in the area. Its ornate furniture and billiards room reflect the town’s past as a retreat for high-ranking visitors. The palace gives the park a different layer, shifting the focus from mineral water and walking paths to the old resort culture that helped shape Borjomi.

Two hours is enough for a useful visit, especially if you want to walk through the park, see the springs, and take in the setting without turning the stop into a long hike. I would not expect this time to cover every trail or every historic feature in the wider area.

A practical detail matters here: museum entrance fees are not included. Admission to the listed stops is included, but if you choose to enter a museum, you should pay separately. That distinction is easy to miss when planning the budget.

Green Monastery and its green-toned stone

The next stop is the Green Monastery, also called Mtsvane Monastery or the Chitakhevi Monastery of St. George. It lies about 13 kilometers from Borjomi, in the Borjomi valley, and the visit is planned for about one hour.

The church dates from the ninth or tenth century. Its most unusual feature is the stone itself. Some stones have a pale green tone, while others appear darker, giving the building a look that differs from the more familiar stone churches found elsewhere in Georgia.

This is a smaller and quieter stop than Borjomi Central Park. That is part of its appeal. You get a chance to slow down and look closely at the building rather than simply check off another major attraction.

The setting also matters. The monastery is surrounded by the wooded Borjomi valley, so the visit combines architecture with a peaceful outdoor setting. It is a good counterpoint to the more active resort feel of Bakuriani.

One hour should be enough to see the church and its surroundings. You should still dress and walk with some care, since the tour calls for a moderate level of physical fitness. The information provided does not promise a guided religious service, extended hiking, or a long exploration of the valley, so it is best to view this as a focused cultural stop.

Admission is included. That helps keep the day simple, especially since museum tickets elsewhere are extra.

Bakuriani at 1,700 meters

The final main stop is Bakuriani Recreational Park, with about two hours planned. Bakuriani is a ski resort and settlement in the Borjomi district, located on the northern slope of the Trialeti Range at approximately 1,700 meters.

The change in altitude gives you a clear shift from Borjomi. Bakuriani is surrounded mainly by spruce forest and has a colder mountain climate. Winters are cold and snowy, while summers are long and warm. The average annual temperature is about 4.3 degrees Celsius, with January averaging around minus 7.3 degrees and August around 15 degrees.

These figures are useful when choosing your travel date. In winter, you should be ready for cold conditions and significant snow. In warmer months, the resort remains a mountain destination, but skiing will not be the main reason to visit.

Ski rental and ski equipment are not included. This is the most important cost note for anyone booking the trip with winter sports in mind. The tour provides transportation and the planned visit, but equipment rental and skiing expenses need to be arranged and paid for separately.

The highest ski mountain in the resort area is Mount Kohta, at about 2,200 meters. The tour information does not specify ski lessons, lift passes, rental shops, or guaranteed time on a particular slope, so you should ask the provider for current details if skiing is central to your plans.

Bakuriani is also connected with Borjomi by an electrified narrow-gauge railway. That railway is part of the area’s transport story, but it is not listed as an activity included in this private road tour. You should not assume the schedule includes a train ride.

Two hours gives you time to experience the resort area without making the entire excursion about skiing. Still, this stop may feel short if you want a full day on the slopes. For a first look at Bakuriani, however, it is a practical amount of time.

What the private vehicle changes

Pickup and drop-off are provided from a place you choose in Tbilisi. The vehicle is air-conditioned, and bottled water is included. Private transportation is more than a comfort feature here, because the day includes several stops outside the capital and a significant amount of driving.

With only your own group, you can avoid the fixed pace of a large coach. That can be useful when you want to spend longer at the monastery, shorten a stop, or make the most of the available time in Bakuriani. The exact flexibility is something to discuss with the guide, since the day still has a planned route and a limited duration.

The group limit is four people. At $200 total, the value changes sharply depending on group size:

• One person pays the equivalent of $200 before extra costs.
• Two people pay $100 each.
• Four people pay $50 each.

For four people, the price is competitive for a private vehicle, driver, guide, bottled water, and door-to-door service. For one or two people, the same price is harder to justify unless privacy and convenience matter more to you than finding a shared excursion.

The tour is offered in English. If you are hoping for detailed historical explanation at every stop, it is sensible to confirm how much guiding is included. David is praised for his friendly approach and his knowledge of Georgian history and places, which suggests that the guide can add real value beyond simply driving between locations.

Lunch, tickets, and the real day-trip budget

Lunch is not included. You should plan for that cost and ask the guide about the day’s meal arrangements before setting out. The provided details do not name a restaurant, set menu, or lunch stop, so you should not expect food to be part of the fixed price.

Museum entrance fees are also extra. Admission is included for the listed stops, but that does not cover optional museums. If you want to keep spending predictable, you can visit the included outdoor and religious sites without adding museum visits.

Ski rental and ski equipment are separate costs. Skiing can therefore change the total price more than the basic tour fee suggests. Ask about equipment availability, rental rates, and any other winter-sport charges before booking if you plan to ski.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours ahead are not refunded, and changes inside that period are not accepted. The cutoff follows local time in Georgia.

Who will get the most from this tour

I would recommend this outing to a small group that wants private transportation and a broad taste of the Borjomi region. Families and friends can split the $200 fee, making the cost much more attractive than it is for a solo visitor.

It also suits people who prefer a mixture of nature, local culture, and resort scenery. Borjomi Central Park provides the mineral-water connection, Green Monastery adds an old stone church and a quieter setting, and Bakuriani brings mountain air and optional winter sports.

You should have a moderate level of physical fitness. The tour is not described as a strenuous hike, but you will be walking at several stops, including a monastery and a high-altitude resort. If you have mobility concerns, ask the provider what vehicle access and walking distances to expect.

This is less suitable if you want a relaxed, single-town visit. The day covers three stops and lasts more than 10 hours, so the schedule will feel full. It is also not the best match for a dedicated skier who wants maximum slope time, since only about two hours are planned in Bakuriani and skiing costs extra.

Should you book the Borjomi and Bakuriani tour?

Book it if you want a private day from Tbilisi that combines mineral springs, a historic monastery, and a mountain resort without handling the transport yourself. The strongest reasons are the small-group format, pickup and drop-off, and the useful mix of sights.

The value is best when four people share the $200 price. Add lunch, museum fees, and ski rental to your budget, and confirm the guide arrangements if David’s historical commentary is important to you.

Skip it if you want a slow visit, a serious ski day, or the lowest possible cost for one person. For everyone else, this is a practical way to see Borjomi and Bakuriani in one long but worthwhile day.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

Pickup is provided in Tbilisi from any location chosen by the group. The scheduled start time is 9:00 am.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately 10 hours and 12 minutes.

Is the tour private?

Yes. Only your own group participates, with a maximum of four people.

How much does the tour cost?

The price is $200 per group of up to four people.

Is transportation included?

Yes. Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle is included, along with pickup and drop-off.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included in the tour price.

Is ski rental included?

No. Ski rental and ski equipment for skiing cost extra.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience starts. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded.