Date: 22nd May 2026
Travelled: 220 kms from Gyumri in Armenia to Akhaltsikhe in Georgia
Visited: ย Vardzia Cave City and monastery. ย
Stayed: Akhaltsikhe Inn
We have a last walk around the city centre of Gyumri this morning with our guide. I added a couple of those photos in yesterdayโs blog so enough is enough.
Where in the bus at the allotted time departing for the Armenian Georgian frontier this morning. The scenery is green farmland and white capped mountains the road excellent. Arriving at border at Bava we say our goodbyes to our Armenian guide, she has been a pleasure to travel with.
Bava is in the far north-west of Armenia and following the usual border formalities we step into central Georgia. Having toured eastern Georgia before Armenia, the final leg of our tour is western Georgia.
We re-unite with our Georgian guide and driver travelling on toward our main stop of the day Vardzia Cave City and Monastery. Once we pass through the town of Akhaikalaki the road drops into the gorge following the Paravani River, itโs slow going for the next hour.
Arriving at Khertvisi Fortress for a 1GEL toilet break (all public toilets in Georgia cost, generally being guarded by cranky looking old ladies armed with a broom and a couple of large facial moles, which I personally find a bit intimidating).
From the fortress we turn left up the valley (on the old silk road) following the Kura River to Vardzia Cave City and Monastery. Vardzia is carved on the slopes of the Erusheti Mountain. Dug into the soft tufa rock, the city is 500 metres in length and 19 tiers high with 290 rooms. Our guide tells us people have lived here in caves since the Bronze Age but Vardzia excavations started in the 11th century and it was abandoned in the 15th.
Below Pam stands at the elaborately decorated gate. Note the Gortex is not required after our cardio workout on the steep walk up.
Pictured above the Church of Dormition frescos (13th century) according to our guide. Below the church bells. Our guide loves Georgian myths and legends and he elaborates at length about how the young Princess Tamar was lost hereโฆI forgot the rest.
So Vardzia City is done we make our way down, having a late lunch at a restaurant by the river which was nice. Then back in the coach toward Akhaltsikhe which takes a couple of hours on challenging roads.
The hotel in Akhaltsikhe is relatively new but the rooms tiny. Dinner was ordinary and Pam thought the wine awful. Breakfast was worse. The hotel was full of Chinese tourists who generally speaking are rude and noisy, so weโre glad it was a one nighter.
Michael + Pam
