Ready-made tour · 8 days

Javakheti and Meskheti: Eight Days from Volcanic Lakes to Vardzia

Volcanic plateau, high lakes, the cave city of Vardzia, forgotten villages and family guesthouses in south Georgia, on a journey designed and managed by Justvia Bespoke Travel.

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  1. Tsalka
  2. Javakheti2 nights
  3. Vardzia
  4. Meskheti5 nights
  5. Borjomi
Length8 days, 7 nights
BaseFamily guesthouses, one night in tents
WalkingSeveral full hiking days, one on Mount Shaori
On the roadSome rough tracks
GroupConfirmed on enquiry
WhenDates on enquiry

South of Tbilisi lies a part of Georgia that most visitors never see: high volcanic plateau, empty lakes and villages where the old ways survive.

This is an expedition more than a tour. You walk to the foot of a volcano and up Mount Shaori, wander the cave city of Vardzia, hike to an abandoned settlement and spend a night in tents above the Mtkvari valley. The rest of the nights are in family guesthouses, where the evenings are about the cooking: a Meskhetian kitchen class, home baking and a workshop on tenili, a rare local cheese.

It suits people who like to walk, don't mind a rough track and want a trip with real people in it. We can also arrange this itinerary for your own company of friends, family or colleagues, on agreed dates. Tell us when you would like to travel and your group size, and we will confirm availability and the price. If you have never been to Georgia, our honest guide for UK first-timers covers visas, money and what to expect before you go.

Day by dayWhat the 8 days look like

Click any day to see the full programme for that day.

Day 1Tsalka, the volcanoes and Lake ParavaniWaterfall, an obsidian pass, a wild shoreSee the day
Lake Paravani with snow-topped hills reflected in the water under a blue sky, Georgia
Lake Paravani.

You are met at Tbilisi or Kutaisi airport and drive to the Tsalka region. A walk takes you to the Beshtasheni waterfall, then over the Chikiani pass to an easy hike to the saddle of the Chikiani volcano, a place where obsidian was once mined. A short off-road stretch follows along the wild western shore of Lake Paravani, through Tambovka, a village of the Doukhobors, and the ghost village of Aspara. The night is at a family guesthouse, with a warm welcome.

Day 2Hiking Mount ShaoriA Soviet UAZ and a real hikeSee the day
A wide grassy plateau and lake with a low mountain beyond, Javakheti, Georgia
The Javakheti plateau.

The track to the foot of Mount Shaori is rough, and you cover it in the Soviet UAZ minibus known as the bukhanka, or in two of them. Then a full hike up Mount Shaori, with the wide spaces of the Javakheti plateau, volcanic landscapes and panoramic views. Back to the guesthouse for the night.

Day 3Lower Javakheti and VardziaThe cave city and a vine at ChachkariSee the day
A small domed church and stairways cut into the rock at the Vardzia cave monastery, Georgia
The cave monastery of Vardzia.

You travel through Apnia to Lower Javakheti. At Vardzia, the great medieval cave complex cut into the mountainside, you walk through its stone passages, with the Mtkvari valley below. Then a trek at Chachkari to an old vine. The night is at a family guesthouse near a farm, with real Meskhetian hospitality. Entrance tickets to Vardzia are included.

Day 4Bertakana, a forgotten settlementOld paths and cave monasteriesSee the day

A day on foot. You hike through the abandoned settlement of Bertakana and its surroundings, along ancient paths, past old cave monasteries and over views of gorges and wild country. The route takes most of the day. You return to the guesthouse for dinner and a rest.

Day 5Zeda Tmogvi, a mountain villageHay harvest and a night under the starsSee the day
Carved stone relief with a cross and an inscription on the church at Zeda Tmogvi, Georgia
Stone carving at Zeda Tmogvi.

A hike takes you to the old mountain village of Zeda Tmogvi. In the haymaking season there is a chance to talk to villagers at work and see a traditional way of life. Your tents, food and bags are taken up for you. You sleep in tents under the stars of Meskheti.

Day 6Tmogvi fortress and the hot springsA fortress, a river swim, a cooking classSee the day
The ruined Tmogvi fortress on a green rocky hill above a valley, Georgia
Tmogvi fortress.

You come down by car with all your equipment, stop at Tmogvi fortress and climb around it. If you like, you can swim in a thermal spring and in the Mtkvari. In the evening, a Meskhetian cooking class, dinner and a night at the guesthouse.

Day 7Chobareti and the Satikne summitMegaliths, a view and a cheese classSee the day

You drive to the mountain village of Chobareti. On the way you stop at the women's Monastery of the Archangels and the Saro megaliths. The car then takes you up to the summit of Mount Satikne, with views over the Erusheti highlands and the Mtkvari gorge, and an archaeological site, the oldest settlement here, about 5,300 years old. You walk around the summit. In Chobareti your host teaches a Meskhetian baking class and a workshop on tenili, a rare cheese. Dinner is in an old Meskhetian earth house, and you sleep in the village.

Day 8Borjomi and the flight homeThree Crosses mountain and the spa parkSee the day
Tall trees and a path in Borjomi Central Park, Georgia
Borjomi Central Park.

The way back to Tbilisi or Kutaisi stops at Borjomi for an easy hike up Three Crosses mountain and a walk in the central park, with its mineral springs. Then the transfer to the airport.

Flight times matter here. We agree the plan for your last day with you before you book.

Want this trip on your dates? Tell us when and how many of you, and Jurijs will come back with a confirmed price.

Ask about this trip

IncludedWhat the price covers

  • A local guide
  • Transport throughout, including the off-road vehicle to Mount Shaori
  • 7 nights: 6 in family guesthouses and 1 in tents at Zeda Tmogvi
  • Two meals a day at the guesthouses and packed lunches on the trails
  • Entrance tickets to Vardzia and Borjomi Central Park
  • Cooking classes, including the tenili cheese workshop
  • Tents, trekking poles and the transport of your camping kit, food and bags
  • Airport transfers on arrival and departure

Not included: international flights, travel insurance (required), drinks beyond those with meals, tips.

PriceHow much it costs

Per person, land only, two people sharing a room. The price depends on how many of you travel.

TravellersPer person
1, travelling soloAsk about availability and room options
2£1,565
4£1,455
6£1,350
8 or moreAsk us for a group price

Prices are confirmed in writing when you enquire, for your dates and season.

Who it suitsIs this the right trip for you?

Yes, if you want to walk in places few visitors go, enjoy a rough track and a simple bed, and like your evenings built around food and people. It suits couples, friends and small groups who walk.

Probably not, if you want city hotels and little walking. For something gentler, look at Tbilisi and Beyond, or tell us what you have in mind on our bespoke trip page.

How it worksWho runs the trip

Your journey is designed and managed by Justvia Bespoke Travel in London, working with carefully selected local guides, drivers and partners in Georgia. You deal with us from the first question to the last day, and on the ground you are with people who know these places well. You can read what travellers say on our reviews page and see real photographs from our trips in the gallery and on Instagram.

Getting thereFlights and airport transfers

You can fly into Tbilisi (TBS) or Kutaisi (KUT), and the price is the same for both. We drive you to the Tsalka region on day 1, and on day 8 you return to Tbilisi or Kutaisi for the transfer to the airport. Airport transfers are included. We agree the plan for your first and last days with you before you book.

Flights are not included. The price is land only. Our guide to getting to Georgia covers airports, routes from the UK and entry rules, and we are happy to look at your flights with you.

Ask about this trip

Tell us roughly when, how many of you, and any questions about the programme. Jurijs will reply by email with a confirmed price.

We'll use your details to respond to your enquiry. See our Privacy Policy.

Prefer to talk? Message us on WhatsApp or call +44 7845 082084.

QuestionsWhat travellers ask

Is Javakheti and Meskheti a group tour?

Enquire for available dates and group arrangements. We confirm those details and the price before you book. We can also arrange this itinerary just for your own company of friends, family or colleagues, on agreed dates.

Can you arrange this trip just for our own group?

Yes. We can arrange the itinerary for your own group on agreed dates, subject to availability. Tell us roughly when you would like to travel and how many of you there are. We will confirm the arrangements and price before you book.

How hard is the walking?

Several days are full hikes, including Mount Shaori on day 2 and the Bertakana settlement on day 4, which takes most of the day. We confirm the walking times, the height gain and the easier options when you enquire.

Where do we sleep?

In family guesthouses for six nights, and in tents for one night at Zeda Tmogvi on day 5. Tents and trekking poles are part of the price, and your tents, food and bags are carried for you to Zeda Tmogvi. We tell you what else to bring when you enquire.

Which airport do we use?

You can fly in and out of Tbilisi or Kutaisi. The price is the same for both.

Are flights included?

No. The price is land only. International flights from the UK are booked separately, and we are happy to suggest routes to Georgia.

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Tbilisi and BeyondSix days from a Tbilisi base, all year Warm SvanetiEight days of walking in the high Caucasus, small group, May 2027 Create your tourYour dates, your route, built around you
Photo credits

Images adapted for this page. Licensed images retain the licences listed below.

  • Cover: The cave city of Vardzia. falco, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
  • Lake Paravani. Jelger Groeneveld, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
  • The Javakheti plateau. Yasuhiro Kojima, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
  • The cave monastery of Vardzia. Bernard Gagnon, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
  • Stone carving at Zeda Tmogvi. A. Muhranoff, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
  • Tmogvi fortress. Alexkom000, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
  • Borjomi Central Park. Kober, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.

About Justvia

Justvia Bespoke Travel is a UK travel agency specialising in bespoke and small-group journeys to Georgia, designed and managed from London with carefully selected local guides, drivers and partners.

Editorial strategy and digital production by MariCleo Studio.