Borjomi/Bakuriani Private Full Day Tour from Tbilisi

Borjomi and Bakuriani in one private day. This full-day tour is a smart way to see two very different parts of Georgia without wrestling public transit, starting with pickup and drop-off and ending back in Tbilisi. It’s built for a private group (up to 4), so the pace feels less like a checklist and more like a real day out.

I like that your main sightseeing stops include admission tickets, and Borjomi’s highlights connect naturally to the Green (Mtsvane) Monastery. The one thing to plan for: lunch isn’t included, and if you want to ski in Bakuriani, ski rentals cost extra.

Key Things I’d Focus On

• Private group, up to 4 people with your own driver and guide time
• Both Borjomi and Bakuriani in one day, so you do not need a separate trip
• Included admission at the core stops, which helps control your daily budget
• Green Monastery stonework and quiet valley setting, a standout stop in the Borjomi area
• Bakuriani at 1,700 m, with conifer forests and Mount Kohta around 2,200 m
• Ski rental and lunch are not included, so bring a plan for both

The Borjomi and Bakuriani Combo Makes Sense

If you like the idea of Georgia having multiple faces in a single day, this tour delivers. Borjomi gives you the mineral-springs town vibe and the chance to slow down in a park-like setting. Bakuriani switches gears into a mountain resort world, known for winter snow and summer refreshingly cool air.

What makes this combo especially practical is timing. Instead of you having to coordinate two separate day trips, you ride in one go from Tbilisi, hit the key stops in Borjomi, then continue on to Bakuriani. The result is a full day that still feels organized, not rushed.

Also, the private format matters more than you might think. When you share a vehicle with strangers, you often get stuck at the pace of the slowest person. With a small private group, you get a more comfortable flow, and your guide can tailor the rhythm to what you actually want to see.

Price and Value: What $200 Per Group Really Buys

The tour price is $200 per group, up to 4 people. That is not cheap if you travel solo, but it becomes much more reasonable if you can fill the seats.

• If you have 4 people, you are effectively paying about $50 per person.
• If you have 2 people, it feels more like $100 per person.

Either way, you are paying for three big value levers:

1) Private transportation from Tbilisi with an air-conditioned vehicle

2) A structured full-day itinerary, with included admission at major stops

3) Time saved compared to arranging your own driver and ticket stops

Where you have to be realistic is extras. Lunch is not included. Ski equipment rental is also not included. Those two items can add cost depending on your plans, but they are easy to budget for once you decide whether you are just sightseeing or also hitting ski slopes.

Getting Out of Tbilisi Smoothly (And Why AC Matters)

This experience starts at 9:00 am. You get pickup from wherever you choose, and the driver takes care of both transport and dropping you back.

A small but real quality-of-life detail: bottled water is included, and the vehicle is air-conditioned. Even if the day is mild, having that comfort helps you arrive at each stop with energy instead of feeling drained from the ride.

The tour also calls for moderate physical fitness. That does not mean you need to be a marathoner, but it does mean you should expect some walking and time on your feet, especially at the park and monastery areas.

Stop 1: Borjomi Central Park and the Romanov Palace Area

Borjomi is a resort town in central Georgia, and it is famous for mineral waters. You can treat this first stop as your mood-setter. You get the town park feel, plus the kind of sights that make Borjomi more than just a place to drink water and leave.

At Borjomi Central Park, your visit includes an admission ticket. This is where the Romanov Palace comes into view. The palace is known for ornate interior features such as furniture and a billiards room, which gives you a sense of historical leisure and status, not just scenery.

The park is also a gateway to nature. Trails wind through the broader Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park area, so you get that mix of human history and outdoors. Even if you do not walk far, you get the vibe: stone, trees, and the feeling that the town was built to let people escape.

Practical note: this stop tends to work best if you like combining photos with quiet moments. If you want nonstop action, you might find the pacing slow. But if you enjoy looking around, this is a strong start.

Stop 2: Green (Mtsvane) Monastery, St. George in Green Stone

The second stop is the Green (Mtsvane) Monastery, officially the Chitakhevi Monastery of St. George. This is one of those places where the name is a clue to what you are actually going to notice.

Construction dates are often given for the 9th and 10th centuries, and the monastery is set about 13 kilometers from Borjomi. What makes it distinctive is the materials. The church is built from special stones with a green coloring, and those stones can vary from lighter to darker shades. That means your photos can look different depending on how light hits the rock.

This is also a place where you can slow down. There is something calming about a small religious site where your attention goes to details like stone color, texture, and form. You also get the sense that this is not a “quick pass” stop. The time here is designed to let you actually look.

The main consideration is timing and walking. Even if the route is not strenuous, you will likely spend meaningful time standing, moving, and taking in views. If you are traveling with someone who tires easily, this is a good place to pace yourself and take short rests.

Stop 3: Bakuriani Recreational Park, Ski Resort Town at 1,700 m

Then the day changes. Bakuriani is a skiing and recreation resort in the Borjomi district, located on the northern slope of the Trialeti Range at about 1,700 meters above sea level. That altitude shift is why the place feels different even if it is not dramatically far from Borjomi.

Your stop is Bakuriani Recreational Park, and it also includes admission. If you are coming in winter, Bakuriani’s identity is clear: cold winters, significant snowfall, and a resort built around snow sports. If you are coming in warmer months, the conifer forests and mountain air still make it feel like a getaway.

A few details that help you understand what you are seeing:

• The area around Bakuriani is covered by coniferous forests, mainly spruce
• The resort connects to Borjomi by an electrified narrow-gauge railway, which is part of why this whole region stays tied together
• Bakuriani sits in what is described as a volcanic caldera, with the town’s present-day build associated with lava flows from the Mukheri volcano
• The main skiing mountain is called Mount Kohta, around 2,200 meters

Even if you do not ski, those facts help you interpret the place. It is not just a random mountain town. It is a planned resort built into a specific natural and geological setting.

Ski Rental and Lunch: The Extras You Need to Budget For

Two items are explicitly not included: lunch and ski equipment rental.

So ask yourself what kind of day you want:

• If you want a sightseeing-focused day, you can treat ski rental as optional. Use the extra cost saved to buy a simple lunch on your own near the end of the day.
• If you want to ski, plan to handle rentals separately. Also give yourself time for basic warm-up routines, because cold weather can make you feel more tired than usual.

For lunch, because nothing is included, do not wait until you are hungry and cranky. Pick a place you can reach easily and order without turning lunch into a half-day quest. A packed schedule is not the tour’s style, but it is still a long day overall.

What Makes the Private Guide Feel Worth It

From the feedback, the standout praise centers on the guide experience. People have specifically mentioned David for being kind, for sharing lots of Georgia history and places, and for making the day feel great.

That matters because Georgia is more interesting when someone connects what you see to why it exists. In this itinerary, that comes through naturally:

• Borjomi is not just mineral water. It is also palace-era elegance and national-park proximity.
• The Green Monastery is not just old stone. It is old stone in green tint materials, with a specific monastic story in the Borjomi valley.
• Bakuriani is not just a ski-town stereotype. It has forests, altitude, and a rail connection that links it back to Borjomi.

If you want places explained in plain language and with real context, this is the right format. You get a guide who can point out what to pay attention to instead of leaving you to guess.

A Realistic Sense of Time and Pace

The tour runs about 10 hours (10 hours 12 minutes approx.). That is a full day, so your best strategy is to travel with a light plan and good comfort basics.

Expect:

• A morning start with pickup
• Several sightseeing blocks with time to look around
• A transfer between Borjomi and Bakuriani that is part of the total experience, not wasted time

Because you are doing two towns, you will not be able to turn this into a slow-moving stay-at-your-favorite-place day. But the private format helps here. Your guide can typically adjust within reason so you do not feel like you are sprinting.

What to Bring for Borjomi and Bakuriani Weather

The itinerary is described as a resort and mountain stop, and Bakuriani winters can be very cold with heavy snowfall. Even if you are traveling outside the deepest winter, mountains can still feel chilly compared to Tbilisi.

Bring:

• Layers you can add or remove while walking
• Comfortable shoes for park and monastery areas
• A jacket that handles cold air, especially if you plan to spend time near Bakuriani recreational areas
• Any snacks or refillable water habits you prefer, since bottled water is included but lunch is not

Service animals are allowed, and the tour lists moderate physical fitness, so pack with that in mind. If you know you get tired on foot, plan short rest moments at each stop.

Who This Tour Fits Best

This works best if you want:

• A single-day plan that covers both Borjomi and Bakuriani
• The comfort of private pickup and drop-off from your chosen location in Tbilisi
• A guided day with historical context, not just a driver and a list of stops

It is especially good for:

• Couples and small groups who want value without joining a big group bus
• Travelers who like religious and historic sites, plus a modern resort setting
• People who want to skip logistics and focus on the sights

It may not fit you as well if:

• You hate long days and prefer shorter half-day tours
• You need lunch included no questions asked
• You are expecting ski equipment to be part of the deal automatically

Should You Book Borjomi and Bakuriani for a Full Day?

Yes, if you want a day that feels like two real chapters of Georgia: mineral springs and Romanov-era palace atmosphere in Borjomi, then a mountain resort world in Bakuriani. The value improves fast for small groups up to four, and the included admission at core stops helps keep costs under control.

Book with extra care if skiing is your priority, because ski rentals are not included and lunch is on you. If you are okay planning those two items, you will get a smooth, well-rounded day with a guide approach that people consistently describe as kind and history-focused.

If you are mainly after one town only, then a separate itinerary for Borjomi or a separate ski day in Bakuriani could be simpler. But if you want the best return on a limited time window in Tbilisi, this is a strong choice.

FAQ

What time does the tour start?

The tour starts at 9:00 am, with pickup arranged from the place you choose.

How long is the Borjomi and Bakuriani private tour?

It runs about 10 hours and 12 minutes.

What is included in the tour price?

It includes bottled water, an air-conditioned vehicle, private transportation, and private transportation for your group. Admission tickets for the listed stops are included as well.

Is lunch included?

No, lunch is not included.

Is ski rental included at Bakuriani?

No, ski and ski equipment rental is not included.

Is there free cancellation?

Yes, you can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours in advance of the experience start time.