Georgia 5-Day Itinerary with a Private Driver 2026: Day-by-Day Plan, Routes & Costs
| Day | Plan | Driving | Car cost (fixed) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive Tbilisi, airport transfer, Old Town on foot | ~30 min | from 62 GEL per car |
| 2 | Kazbegi day trip via Military Highway | ~6 h round | 418 GEL per car (private tour, driver waits at the stops) |
| 3 | Kakheti wine country day trip | ~5 h round | 418 GEL per car (private tour for up to 2 guests) |
| 4 | Mtskheta + free Tbilisi afternoon | ~1.5 h | from 182 GEL per car (transfer there and back) |
| 5 | Departure transfer to TBS | ~30 min | from 63 GEL per car |
| Total car cost | ≈ 1143 GEL per car (live prices, 26 Sep 2026) | ||
Book each part of this trip (live prices per car, 26 Sep 2026)
| Part of the trip | Price per car |
|---|---|
| Tbilisi Airport → Tbilisi (Day 1) | from 62 GEL · transfer, one way |
| Kazbegi & the Mountain Road | 418 GEL · private day tour, 10 h, up to 4 guests (Day 2) |
| Kakheti: Bodbe & Sighnaghi | 418 GEL · private day tour, 9 h, up to 2 guests (Day 3) (3–4 guests: book Tbilisi → Sighnaghi and back as two transfers) |
| Tbilisi → Sighnaghi (Day 3, for 3–4 guests) | from 212 GEL · transfer, one way |
| Tbilisi → Mtskheta (Day 4) | from 91 GEL · transfer, one way |
| Mtskheta → Tbilisi (Day 4, ride back) | from 91 GEL · transfer, one way |
| Tbilisi → Tbilisi Airport (Day 5) | from 63 GEL · transfer, one way |
Prices are for the whole car, not per person. Transfers are one way, with no waiting: pay the driver in cash (no prepayment, no surcharge). Private day tours include waiting and the return; they are paid in cash to the driver. Entrance tickets are extra.
Five days is the most common length for a first trip to Georgia, and it is the sweet spot for seeing the country’s greatest hits without rushing: the capital’s old town and sulphur baths, one unforgettable mountain day to Kazbegi, a day in the Kakheti wine cradle, and the ancient royal capital of Mtskheta. This itinerary is built around a private driver rather than self-driving, because Georgia’s best days are mountain days where a local at the wheel is both safer and more relaxing. Every leg below uses a fixed-price transfer, you pay each driver directly in cash, and OrbiTrip itself takes — the price you see is the price the driver receives. If you have more time, slot this inside our 7-day or 10-day Georgia itineraries.
Day 1 — Arrive in Tbilisi
Most international flights land at Tbilisi International Airport (TBS), often late at night. Pre-book a Tbilisi Airport transfer (about 70 GEL, 30–40 minutes) so a driver with a name sign meets you at arrivals and takes you straight to your hotel — far less stressful than negotiating with the taxi touts at 2 AM. Base yourself in or near the Old Town. If you arrive with daylight to spare, walk Rustaveli Avenue, ride the cable car up to Narikala Fortress for the city panorama, and finish in the Abanotubani sulphur baths — the perfect antidote to a long flight. Dinner in the old town is your introduction to khinkali and khachapuri.
Day 2 — Kazbegi and the Georgian Military Highway
This is the day everyone remembers. The Georgian Military Highway climbs north from Tbilisi to the border with Russia, and along it sit the Zhinvali reservoir, the medieval Ananuri fortress-church, the Russia–Georgia Friendship panorama at the Gudauri ski plateau, and finally Stepantsminda (Kazbegi), where the Gergeti Trinity Church stands against the 5,000 m wall of Mount Kazbek. A private transfer to Kazbegi for the day lets you stop wherever you like for photos and lunch — impossible on a fixed marshrutka. Budget about six hours of driving round trip plus stops; leave by 09:00. Read the dedicated Tbilisi to Kazbegi day trip guide for timings and the short hike up to Gergeti.
Day 3 — Kakheti wine country
Georgia is the birthplace of wine — 8,000 years of it, fermented in buried clay qvevri — and Kakheti is its heartland. A full day east takes in the hilltop “City of Love” Sighnaghi with its walls over the Alazani Valley, the Bodbe Monastery, and one or two family wineries for tastings of saperavi and amber wine. See our Kakheti wine day trip guide and the broader Georgian wine regions guide to choose cellars. A driver is the only sensible way to do a tasting day — nobody should drive the Gombori Pass after three glasses of qvevri red. Round trip is roughly five hours of driving plus your stops.
Day 4 — Mtskheta and a free Tbilisi afternoon
Spend the morning in Mtskheta, the ancient royal and spiritual capital just 25 km from Tbilisi and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The hilltop Jvari Monastery looks down on the confluence of the Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers, and the great Svetitskhoveli Cathedral anchors the town below. It is an easy half-day — a transfer there is 91 GEL and the ride back 91 GEL per car — which leaves your afternoon free for whatever Tbilisi you have not yet seen: the Dry Bridge flea market, the Chronicle of Georgia monument, the Fabrika courtyard, or simply more khachapuri. For ideas, see our things to do in Tbilisi guide.
Day 5 — Departure
Book a departure transfer to TBS (about 63 GEL) timed to your flight; for early departures the driver tracks your slot and is there on time. If your flight is late in the day, squeeze in a final brunch and a last walk through the old town before heading out.
What the 5 days cost
Here is the realistic car budget, paid directly to your drivers, with no prepayment:
| Leg | Fixed price (car, 1–4 pax) |
|---|---|
| Airport → Tbilisi (Day 1) | 62 GEL |
| Kazbegi day trip (Day 2) | 418 GEL (private tour) |
| Kakheti day trip (Day 3) | 418 GEL (private tour, up to 2 guests) |
| Mtskheta there and back (Day 4) | 182 GEL (two transfers) |
| Tbilisi → Airport (Day 5) | 63 GEL |
| Typical total | ~1,143 GEL for the whole car |
For two travellers that is about 572 GEL each for all ground transport across five days, with a private car and no group schedule. Groups of three or four book the Kakheti day as two transfers (Tbilisi → Sighnaghi 212 GEL and back 212 GEL). On top of transport, budget for accommodation, food (Georgia is inexpensive: a hearty dinner with wine is 40–60 GEL (~$15-23)), entries (most churches are free) and tastings.
Start with the Kazbegi day — check the fixed transfer price
Tips to make 5 days work
Keep the two big mountain and wine days non-consecutive if you can, so a wash-out day has a backup. Start mountain days early — clouds build on Kazbek by afternoon. Carry some cash: drivers, village wineries and small cafes are cash-first. And do not over-pack the plan; Georgia rewards a slow lunch more than a checklist. If you would rather not move hotels at all, this entire itinerary works from a single Tbilisi base, since every day is a round trip from the capital.
FAQ
Can I add Batumi or Svaneti in 5 days?
Not comfortably. Batumi is 5.5–6 hours each way and Svaneti is a full day’s drive; either would eat two of your five days in transit. Save them for our 7-day or 10-day plans, or fly in/out of Kutaisi to bolt on the west.
Is it better to base in Tbilisi the whole time?
Yes for this itinerary — every day is a round trip, so a single hotel keeps it simple. Only switch to a night in Kazbegi if you want sunrise at Gergeti.
How do I pay the drivers?
Transfers: in cash to the driver at the end of the ride (no prepayment, no surcharge). Day tours: in cash to the driver. OrbiTrip is a booking platform that connects you with vetted drivers and takes or markup.
What if my plans change mid-trip?
Because each day is booked separately with same-day confirmation, you can swap the Kakheti and Kazbegi days, add a Mtskheta morning, or extend — just book the next leg when you are ready.
Is the road to Kazbegi safe in 2026?
The Georgian Military Highway is paved and scenic but has switchbacks, weather and heavy trucks near the Russian border. In winter the Gudauri-Kobi section can close briefly for avalanche control. An experienced local driver handles all of this; check conditions before a winter run.