Georgian Highlands & Springs — 7 Days: Racha, Bakhmaro and Borjomi
Overview
A Georgia most visitors never see. Racha, the quiet province of Khvanchkara wine and alpine lakes; Bakhmaro, a village of wooden summer houses at 2,000 m that sits above a sea of cloud most mornings; the mineral springs of Borjomi; and the cave city of Vardzia on the way back. No crowds, slow roads, wonderful food.
Best for a second visit to Georgia, or for a first visit by people who prefer villages to cities.
Highlights
Is this trip for you?
- Travellers on a second visit to Georgia
- Wine people who have done Kakheti
- Anyone who wants mountain air without hiking
- You are visiting Georgia for the first time and have only a week — take All Colours instead
- You want nightlife
Our honest opinion
- Bakhmaro above the clouds is unforgettable
- Racha is the friendliest province in the country
- Four of six days are long drives on mountain roads
- Bakhmaro houses are rustic: wood stove, shared bathroom
Bakhmaro is only inhabited from mid-June to mid-September; outside those dates we swap it for a night in Kutaisi.
The trip in numbers
Your route
Line style shows how you travel each leg: solid = train, dotted = car, dashed = flight.
Day by day
Airport pickup, a walk through the old town and a welcome dinner.
West and north into Racha; the 11th-century Nikortsminda cathedral, the Shaori lake and a winemaker’s guesthouse in Ambrolauri.
Barakoni church, the old synagogue of Oni and the Khvanchkara vineyards; cellar tasting and supper with the family.
Down through Kutaisi for Gelati monastery, then the forest road up to Bakhmaro at 2,000 m; a wooden house on the ridge.
Dawn above the clouds, a ridge walk, then east to the spa town of Borjomi; evening in the park with the warm mineral pools.
The Rabati fortress at Akhaltsikhe and the cave city of Vardzia; back to Tbilisi by evening for a farewell dinner.
Airport transfer.
What’s included
What’s not included
Where you’ll stay
Or equivalent, depending on season. Hotels are inside or beside the historic centres wherever the town has one.
Traveller reviews
What guests wrote
“Our second trip to Georgia and this time we wanted the places tourists skip. Racha is quiet and green and the Khvanchkara in the family cellar was the best wine of the trip. Bakhmaro at dawn — standing above a sea of cloud — was worth the long road. Not a tour for people who dislike driving.”
Good to know
Most nationalities enter Uzbekistan visa-free for 30–90 days. If your passport needs an e-visa, it takes 2–3 working days online — we check your case and guide you at booking.
The local currency is the Uzbek som (UZS). Visa and Mastercard work in city hotels, restaurants and supermarkets; keep some cash for bazaars, taxis and tips. ATMs dispense som and sometimes USD.
April–June and September–November are warm and clear — ideal for walking the old cities. July–August afternoons exceed 35°C; winter departures run at reduced prices.
Uzbekistan uses European plug types C and F, 220V. Travellers from the UK, US and Asia need a standard Euro adapter — one per device is enough, hotels have plenty of sockets.
Everyday dress is relaxed across all four cities. Inside mosques and madrasas, shoulders and knees should be covered; headscarves for women are only needed in a few active mosques — your guide will tell you when.
Your included eSIM is activated on arrival, so you’re online from the airport. Hotel Wi-Fi is reliable in all four cities; your coordinator stays reachable on WhatsApp or Telegram throughout.
Free cancellation up to 30 days before departure. 50% refund up to 15 days before; after that the booking is non-refundable, but you can move to another date once for free.
Medical insurance for the tour days is included. We still recommend personal travel insurance covering cancellation and baggage — we can suggest trusted providers.
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