Borjomi Tour from Tbilisi with Bakuriani Resort and Soviet Train Ride

Ride an old railway through the forest. This private day trip links Borjomi’s mineral-water park with Bakuriani’s mountain air and the historic Kukushka narrow-gauge train. I like the mix of nature and local history, especially the slow two-hour rail journey between Borjomi and Bakuriani. I also like that transport, bottled water, WiFi, park admission, and train tickets are included.

The main drawback is the length. You cover about 370 kilometers in roughly 12 hours, with several long road sections around the train ride. Lunch is not included, and the mountain weather can affect the schedule, so this suits you best if you value a full day out over a relaxed pace.

Key points to know before booking

• The Kukushka train climbs from 820 to 1,700 meters, linking Borjomi with Bakuriani on a 37.2-kilometer narrow-gauge railway.
• A private vehicle keeps the day flexible, with pickup from Tbilisi and space for only your own group.
• Borjomi Central Park includes a taste of the town’s famous mineral water, plus time to rest among trees and springs.
• Bakuriani offers a real mountain setting in every season, with conifer forests, ski areas, and high-altitude air.
• Mtsvane Monastery adds a quiet cultural stop, with a medieval church, old monastic remains, and greenery around the site.
• The $177.50 price per person is strongest for a small group, since private transport and included admission remove several separate costs.

Why this makes a strong day trip from Tbilisi

Tbilisi gives you Georgia’s grand capital, but Borjomi and Bakuriani show a different side of the country. The route moves from city streets to wooded valleys, a spa town, a mountain resort, and a medieval church. You get several distinct experiences in one day rather than spending all your time at a single viewpoint.

The private format matters here. With a 12-hour schedule and a total road distance of about 370 kilometers, you will appreciate having an air-conditioned vehicle reserved for your group. WiFi on board and bottled water are useful additions, especially during the longer driving stretches.

The start time is 8:00 in the morning. That is early, but sensible. The day already includes a two-hour train journey, an hour in Bakuriani, two hours in Borjomi Central Park, and half an hour at the monastery. A late start would make this route even more hurried.

I would not choose this trip if you want a slow spa day or a long ski session. I would choose it if you want a broad taste of central Georgia and the unusual pleasure of riding a historic railway through forested hills.

The Kukushka railway from Borjomi to Bakuriani

The train is the heart of this experience. The Kukushka line connects Borjomi, at about 820 meters above sea level, with Bakuriani, at roughly 1,700 meters. The 37.2-kilometer railway is narrow gauge, measuring 900 millimeters between the rails, and passes through the forest on its climb.

The railway began construction in 1897, when Georgia was part of the Russian Empire. The first train ran in January 1902, after four years of difficult work in steep terrain. That age gives the journey its appeal. This is not simply a transfer between two towns. It is a piece of railway history built to reach a high mountain resort.

One detail railway fans will appreciate is the bridge over the Tsemistskhali River between Tsaghveri and Tsemi. Gustave Eiffel designed it for the Romanovs. The bridge gives the route an extra connection to European engineering history, though the supplied schedule does not specify how long the train pauses at the crossing.

The railway once used Porter steam locomotives imported from the United States. In 1966, the line was electrified, and the steam engine was replaced by a small electric locomotive made by Škoda in Czechoslovakia. The locomotive earned the nickname crocodile because of its appearance.

Expect a slow ride. The journey takes about 2.5 hours, with an average speed of only 15 kilometers per hour. That pace is part of the charm. You have time to watch the forest pass, notice the changing altitude, and enjoy the old-fashioned rhythm of rail travel.

It is also the part of the day most likely to test your patience if you prefer fast transport. The train is not a quick shuttle. It takes a large share of the itinerary, and the route may feel long if you are focused only on reaching Bakuriani. If you see the railway itself as the attraction, the time feels well spent.

Admission to the train is included. Since the tour is built around this ride, confirm the operating details and departure timing when you book. The information provided gives the planned journey length but does not list a seasonal timetable.

Bakuriani at 1,700 meters

Bakuriani is a village and resort surrounded by conifer forests, mainly spruce. At 1,700 meters, it feels very different from Borjomi and far removed from Tbilisi. The town’s ground was formed by lava flows from the nearby Mukhera volcano, an unusual geological detail beneath this popular recreation area.

You have about one hour here. That is enough to see the resort, breathe the cool mountain air, and get a feel for the setting. It is not enough for a full ski day, an extended hike, or a detailed look at every part of the town.

Bakuriani is used in both winter and summer. Its ski area is divided into Didveli and Kokhta, also called Kokhta-Mitarbi. Mount Kokhta reaches a skiable altitude of 2,269 meters, while the highest lift in Didveli reaches 2,702 meters.

That makes Bakuriani especially appealing if you want a genuine snow setting during the right season. One practical point is important: the tour does not include ski time or equipment. The visit is a short stop within a wider sightseeing day, so treat it as an introduction to the resort rather than a dedicated winter sports outing.

The available public feedback strongly praises Bakuriani for an authentic snow experience and its position at 1,700 meters in the Borjomi region. That praise fits the structure of the tour. Bakuriani is not being presented as a polished city attraction. Its value is the mountain setting, forest, ski terrain, and contrast with Borjomi’s springs.

If your main goal is snow, check conditions before departure. The experience requires good weather, and snow conditions naturally vary by season. If poor weather causes cancellation, you can receive a different date or a full refund.

Borjomi Central Park and the mineral-water tradition

Borjomi Central Park gives the day a gentler middle section. You have about two hours to walk, rest, enjoy the trees, and taste the town’s well-known mineral water. Admission is included, so you do not need to purchase a separate park ticket.

The park dates to the 1850s, when Borjomi developed as a balneological and climatic resort. Its mineral water has long been used for drinking and bathing treatments. Borjomi also has a reputation for climatotherapy and mud treatment, with June through October described as the best period for climate-based stays. The resort season itself lasts all year.

You should think of the park as a place for a pleasant break, not a medical appointment. The town’s traditional treatment uses include certain chronic digestive, liver, biliary, metabolic, and cardiovascular conditions, but this tour does not include a treatment program or medical consultation.

The two-hour stop is one of the better-balanced parts of the day. After the long train ride and road travel, you have time to slow down. The park offers nature without requiring strenuous activity, which helps explain the moderate physical fitness recommendation.

I like that the tour includes the mineral-water tasting rather than only driving past Borjomi. The water is the reason the town became famous, and tasting it connects the place to its history in a direct, simple way. Some people love its distinctive mineral flavor. Others find it unusual. Either way, it is worth trying once.

Do not expect the park to replace a full day in Borjomi. Two hours gives you a useful introduction, but not a deep visit to every district or treatment area. The schedule favors variety, and that is both its strength and its limit.

Green Monastery, a small stop with a strong sense of place

The final listed stop is the Green Monastery, also called Mtsvane Monastery. The Chitakhevi Church of Saint George is a medieval building surrounded by greenery. The monastery was abandoned for more than two hundred years and restored in 2003.

The church is a three-nave basilica generally dated to the late ninth or tenth century. A two-story bell tower dates to the fifteenth or sixteenth century. Nearby, you can see remains of old monastic cells and other structures.

The site has a local religious story connected to stones in a nearby stream. Pilgrims believe the stones became reddish after Persian Shah Tahmasp I’s soldiers killed monks in the 1550s. The historical details of the monastery itself are not fully known, but the story adds meaning to an otherwise quiet woodland stop.

You have about 30 minutes here. That is enough to look around, take in the plain stonework, and appreciate the setting. It is not enough for a long religious visit or a detailed archaeological study.

The church’s walls are made from roughly cut ashlar and rubble, and the interior and exterior are notably plain. That simplicity is part of the appeal. You are not visiting a heavily decorated monument. You are seeing a modest medieval church in a wooded setting, with old remains nearby.

Wear practical shoes. The tour calls for moderate physical fitness, and the monastery area may require walking over uneven ground. No special accessibility details are provided, so anyone with mobility concerns should ask the operator before booking.

What the private format and $177.50 price really mean

At $177.50 per person, this is not the cheapest way to reach Borjomi or Bakuriani. Its value comes from the combination of private transport, a long-distance route, included train admission, included Central Park admission, bottled water, and WiFi.

For one person or a couple, the price may feel high compared with using public transport independently. You are paying for convenience and a full-day route that would be awkward to organize around the train. You also avoid joining a large group, and only your own party participates.

The price becomes easier to justify for a small group, especially if group discounts apply. Splitting the private vehicle cost among several people can make the per-person value better, while preserving the ability to travel together throughout the day.

Lunch is not included. Build that cost into your budget, and do not assume the tour price covers meals. The supplied details also do not specify a guide’s name or whether a full guided commentary is provided, so ask what guiding is included if interpretation matters to you.

The air-conditioned vehicle is important because the route is long. You will spend substantial time on the road outside the train sections, and comfort matters on a 12-hour outing. Pickup is offered, with an 8:00 a.m. start.

Who should book this experience?

I would recommend this tour to you if:

• You want to see both Borjomi and Bakuriani in one day.
• You enjoy unusual transport and historic railways.
• You prefer a private vehicle over a large shared group.
• You want a mountain resort visit without arranging a separate overnight stay.
• You have moderate physical fitness and can manage a long day.
• You are interested in nature, mineral-water traditions, and older Georgian religious sites.

I would be cautious about booking it if you want several hours on the ski slopes. The Bakuriani stop lasts about one hour, so it is not designed for skiing, snowboarding, or a full resort day.

I would also think twice if long drives make you uncomfortable. The route covers about 230 miles in total, and the train itself takes around two to two and a half hours. The experience rewards curiosity and patience more than speed.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund. Since good weather is required, a weather-related cancellation offers either another date or a full refund.

Final verdict: book it for the railway, not just the resorts

This is a strong choice if the Kukushka train is your main reason for going. The slow climb through forest, the old railway engineering, the bridge linked to Gustave Eiffel, and the change from Borjomi’s 820-meter valley to Bakuriani’s 1,700-meter mountain setting give the day real character.

The tour also does a good job of pairing the train with two different stops. Borjomi Central Park offers an easy break and a taste of the town’s mineral water, while Mtsvane Monastery adds a quiet medieval site among the trees.

Book it if you want a full, varied day and prefer the ease of private transport. Skip it if you want a leisurely spa visit, a long stay in Bakuriani, or a dedicated ski outing. For a small group that values convenience and authentic rail travel, the $177.50 price can be fair. For a solo visitor focused only on seeing Borjomi, it may be more than necessary.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts in Tbilisi, with pickup offered. The stated start time is 8:00 a.m.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately 12 hours.

Is the Kukushka train ride included?

Yes. Admission to the Kukushka train is included in the tour price.

How long is the train journey?

The railway journey takes about 2.5 hours and covers a 37.2-kilometer narrow-gauge line between Borjomi and Bakuriani.

Is admission to Borjomi Central Park included?

Yes. Admission to Borjomi Central Park is included.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included in the tour price.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Weather-related cancellations offer a different date or a full refund.