Mtskheta-Jvari + Gori-Uflistsikhe Tour: Exploring Ancient Historical Sites of Georgia from Tbilisi
4.9
43 Ratings
Mtskheta

Embark on a one-day tour from Tbilisi to explore Georgia’s oldest historical locations, take a trip to Uflistsikhe - a 3000-year-old city etched into the rock, also known as the ‘God’s Fortress’, check out the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Mtskheta, and visit Joseph Stalin’s home and museum in Gori.

Duration: 8 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Jvari Church - Our tour begins at the Jvari Monastery, an ancient temple dating back to the 6th century, located near the historic capital of Mtskheta. Perched atop a high mountain, it offers stunning views of the surrounding area, where the turbulent waters of the Aragvi and Kura rivers meet. The temple draws thousands of tourists due to its architectural beauty, strategic location, and historical significance. The name of the church translates from Georgian as “the cross,” and it has a rich history that we will share with you during the visit.
  • Mtskheta - Our next stop is Mtskheta, the ancient capital of Georgia and a museum city that, like the Jvari Monastery, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Inhabited for over 2500 years, it was once the capital of the early Kingdom of Iberia. This historic town is home to many ancient monuments, including the Pompey Bridge, a stone bridge over the Kura River built around 65 BC during the time of Pompey the Great, Bebris Castle from the 1st century, and the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, one of the most sacred places in Georgia where Christ’s robe is said to be buried.
  • Uplistsiche Cave Town - Our journey continues to Uplistsikhe, the world’s oldest historical site, known as the “Fortress of God.” This 3000-year-old cave city, carved into the rock, played a crucial role in Georgia’s history. Its uniqueness lies in its structure, which has preserved architectural and religious buildings spanning several millennia. Today, 150 caves remain, some of which we will explore during our tour. Highlights include a cave tunnel, an ancient sun temple, the royal cave of King Tamara, a winery, a 6th-century church, a library, and an ancient pharmacy.
  • Gori - Our final stop is the city of Gori, the hometown of the famous Georgian leader of the Soviet Union, Joseph Stalin. Here, you can visit the Stalin House-Museum to learn about his life, see his office and personal items, including his pipe, cigars, and telephone, as well as the house where he was born and his railway cabin.
What's Included
  • Hotel pick-up & drop-off
  • Private transportation
  • On-board WiFi
  • Bottle of Water
What's Not Included
  • Entrance fee to Uflistsikhe 5$ per person
  • Entrance fee to Stalin museum 5$ person
Location
Jvari Church
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(43 Ratings)
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Nnegagala
May 28, 2024
One day tour worth going. - It takes entire day. This day is full of views and history. I had amazing experience entire days Wear bright clothes for amazing pictures.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Helenjen
Feb 12, 2024
Excellent tour with our great guide George! - Our guide picked us up on time from our hotel and we set out for Mtskheta (the ancient capital of Georgia) and Jvari Monastery...the traffic in Tbilisi is a nightmare and George handled it well and safely! He provided lots of history and information about the sites we visited and was amenable to our request to omit Stalin's Museum and replace with a visit the The Chronicle of Georgia....thank you for that.....our favourite part of the tour and definitely worth seeing. The Caves of Uflistsikhe were disappointing, due to some rain, which made them a little slippy to clamber over and unfortunately after spending time in Cappadocia, a little disappointing, in comparison. Highly recommend you do this tour from Tbilisi and request George for an enjoyable day!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Wesley
Nov 13, 2023
George is the best guide ! - Excellent tour ! I went with George. It was a private tour. It was great because we covered a lot of places. George is very knowledgeable and professional. He picked me up right on time . Very good driver. He was very knowledgeable about history and culture in Georgia. I learned a lot . Highly recommend George as a tour guide. I had the best time !
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Mariagilbertasantos
Nov 5, 2023
Very interesting visit - Very interesting and well documented visit. Our guide George was very available and friendly, always attentive to our questions.
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Philippe
Oct 29, 2023
Varied tour and great guide - The tour goes through four various points of interest. I cannot comment on the last (Gori) which we skipped due to fatigue, but with the other three, you can get a great viewpoint in the oldest Christian site in Georgia, then visit what is maybe the most important church in orthodoxy, and then the ruins of an old village carved out of a mountain. The guide who took care of us (Gogita) was extremely friendly and knowledgeable. Upon arrival in the various sites, we were able to get a thorough explanation of the historical context surrounding the locations. He was also keen on making the trip as comfortable as could be - we asked him to drop us off at a specific restaurant after the day (which he agreed to), but that restaurant was closed. Far from leaving us stranded, he gave suggested a really nice replacement spot, and drove us there. In short ; highly recommended!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Roberto_g
Oct 26, 2023
Diversified and well balanced tour to explore Georgia from Tbilisi - This was a very nice tour, interesting and well balanced. First we went to the Jvari monastery, on the top of the mountain, amazing. Thereafter the ancient capital, Mtskheta and its beautiful and very well maintained monastery. Newt stop was Gori and the Stalin Museum, a must for people like me who are interested in history. The last stop was a visit to the Uflistsikhe caves and citadel, testimony of a very ancient civilization that inhabited that area. The stop in the wine cellar for a wine tasting was excellent to close the journey, and 7 hours after departure we arrived back to the hotel in Tbilisi. The guide (Gogita) was perfect, provided useful information along the whole tour and was a very good driver as well.
Review provided by Viator
Linda_r
Oct 24, 2023
Beyond my expectations! Fabulous - My guide, George was prompt, picked me up exactly when and where we arranged. He was very knowledgeable and engaging. At each stop, he gave an interesting history, highlighting what I should look for. He was fun to be with all day and made this truly a special memory that I will not forget. Now I want to return to Georgia so I can take more trips!
Review provided by Viator
Faridadouraid_k
Oct 19, 2023
Outstanding tour of Churches, Caves, and the Capital that lost its place - My tour guide from Georgia Tour Factory, Gogi picked me up from my hotel on time to take me on an amazing journey. It was not only the beautiful places we visited that made this tour special but it was also Gogi’s extensive knowledge of the stories behind the places we explored. Besides his engaging stories (background in Georgian History), Gogi was kind, attentive, and ready to give me a hand when we climbed into the caves of Uflistsikhe. I highly recommend this tour with Gogi and Georgia Tour Factory. Just make sure to come with very good quality shoes and readiness for some uphill climbing :-)
Review provided by Viator
Jeremie_f
Oct 18, 2023
Diverse tour with beautiful landscapes and interesting experiences - While the weather was very windy and not optimum for touring, George made a very enjoyable experience. Was very nice to our son and overall quite nice to interact with.
Review provided by Viator
Elena_d
Oct 16, 2023
Top - Top ! The guide was super, I learned a lot and It was enjoyable. Everything went perfectly Highly recommended!
Review provided by Viator
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