This Borjomi and Bakuriani day trip takes you into the forested Borjomi Gorge in central Georgia, to a spa town famous across the former Soviet Union for its mineral water and a mountain resort that is busy with skiers in winter and walkers in summer. It is a private tour with your own guide, and the day runs at whatever pace suits you.
It suits families, older travellers and anyone who wants fresh air, green scenery and a gentler day out, as well as winter visitors who want to see Bakuriani under snow. Unlike many mountain trips, it works in every season: snowy in winter, cool and green in summer, golden in autumn.
Highlights of the route
Bakuriani
Bakuriani sits on a high plateau in the Lesser Caucasus, above Borjomi, surrounded by spruce forest. It has long been a mountain resort and became one of the Soviet Union's best-known winter sports centres; today it is known as Georgia's most family-friendly ski area, with gentle slopes, sledging and snowy forest walks. Outside the ski season it is a green, quiet mountain town with meadows and trails, and its cool air is a relief in high summer. Ask us whether the lifts are running for views over the forests, or simply wander and enjoy the calm. In winter, dress warmly and wear boots with grip.
Borjomi Park
Borjomi's Central Park, sometimes called Mineral Water Park, follows a narrow, wooded valley from the edge of town. Here you can taste Borjomi water straight from the spring: naturally warm, slightly salty and fizzy, it is quite unlike the bottled version. The town developed as a spa resort in the 19th century, when the Russian imperial family took an interest, and you can still see its elegant wooden villas and old spa buildings. Stroll along the river, cross the little bridges, and take the cable car up for a view over the town. Borjomi is also the gateway to the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park, a vast protected area of forest and mountains; ask us if you would like to add a short walk at its edge.
Make it your own
This route is a starting point. Ask us about riding the narrow-gauge Kukushka railway between Borjomi and Bakuriani if it is running, a soak in the open-air sulphur pools above Borjomi park, or a look from outside at the Likani palace, built for a branch of the Romanov family. If you are heading further south, this tour combines neatly with our Vardzia and Rabati Fortress trip over two days, with a night in Borjomi. In winter, you can turn it into a ski day; our separate Gudauri and Bakuriani ski tour has more.
Guides speak English, Russian and Georgian. Families can build the day around sledging or a long lunch, and older travellers can keep walking to a minimum. For winter ideas, read our guide to Georgia in winter, or browse our day trips from Tbilisi.
Good to know
- Bakuriani is much colder than Tbilisi, especially in winter, so bring warm layers, a hat and gloves.
- Bring an empty bottle to fill with mineral water at the Borjomi springs.
- In winter, boots with good grip are a must; the paths can be icy.
- Summer and early autumn are lovely for walking; winter is the time for snow. Our month-by-month guide can help you decide.
Message us on WhatsApp with your dates, group size and where you are staying, and we will come back with a suggested plan and a quote.
