Mtskheta, Gori & Uplistsikhe

Highlights

• Jvari and Mtskheta
• Gori town stop
• Uplistsikhe cave town

The route, stop by stop

1. Jvari Monastery
   • Sixth-century church on the ridge above the meeting of the Aragvi and Mtkvari rivers — the classic Mtskheta viewpoint.
   • Working Jvari Monastery complex — modest dress, shoulders and knees covered; women usually cover their hair
   • Frescoes and stonework are the reason to stop; photography inside is often restricted
   • Your driver waits at the gate and can tell you what to look for
2. Mtskheta
   • Georgia’s ancient capital and a UNESCO site: Svetitskhoveli Cathedral stands in the town centre.
   • Your driver parks centrally and meets you back at the car
   • Lunch is easy here — bakeries, a market and a couple of places with a terrace
   • Ask your driver where the good coffee is; they all have an opinion
3. Gori
   • Stalin’s birthplace: the museum, his railway carriage, and the hilltop fortress over the town.
   • Ask your driver where the good coffee is; they all have an opinion
   • Walkable centre — an hour is enough for the main square and a coffee
   • Local market and bakeries are the real attraction
4. Uplistsikhe
   • Rock-hewn cave town inhabited from the 1st millennium BC — streets, a theatre and a basilica cut into the cliff.
   • Very exposed: sun hat in summer, wind layer the rest of the year
   • Tickets at the gate, not included in the car price
   • Open-air rock-cut town, not a lit cave — the walking is on bare stone

Photos

About this excursion

Know before you go

• The price is per car: a sedan takes up to 4 guests, a minivan up to 7
• You pay the driver directly in GEL on the day, no prepayment
• Monasteries ask for covered shoulders and knees; women usually cover their hair
• Mountain and canyon roads can close in bad weather — your driver tells you before you set off
• Child seats are free on request, tell us when you book

What to bring

• Comfortable closed shoes — there is walking at most stops
• A layer: it is cooler in the mountains and inside caves
• Cash in GEL for tickets and lunch
• Water and a snack for the drive

Meeting and pick-up

• Your driver picks you up at your hotel or any address in Tbilisi
• You get the driver's name, car and phone number once the trip is confirmed
• Standard start is in the morning; you choose the exact time

Cancellation

• Free cancellation — there is nothing to pay in advance
• Tell your driver as early as you can if plans change
• If a road closes, your driver proposes an alternative stop at the same price

Frequent questions

Is the price per person or per car?

Per car. A sedan takes up to 4 guests, a minivan up to 7 — nothing is charged per head, so the cost per person falls as your group grows.

Does the driver come with us to the sights?

Yes. Your driver stays with you for the whole excursion, walks you to the entrance of each stop and explains what you are looking at. He is a local professional driver, not a certified guide, so you get practical first-hand guidance rather than a scripted tour.

How do I pay?

Directly to the driver on the day, normally in GEL cash. No prepayment, no card needed, no booking fee.

How is the booking confirmed?

You send a request with your date and group size. OrbiTrip confirms within a few hours on WhatsApp and sends you the driver's name, car and phone number.

Can I change the stops or the order?

Yes. The order of stops is yours to change on the day. If you want to add a stop that is not on this page, write it in the request and we confirm the price before the trip.

What happens if a road is closed?

Your driver tells you before you set off and proposes an alternative stop of the same kind at the same price.