Grand Loop Road Trip of Georgia
A two-week self-drive route linking wine country, snow-capped mountains, cave cities, Svaneti stone towers, and the Black Sea coast.
Covering most of Georgia's major regions, this route is perfect for self-drive travelers with plenty of time who don't mind long mountain roads. The eastern loop covers Kakheti and the Military Highway, the southern loop visits Vardzia, and the western loop climbs into Svaneti before ending in Batumi. This grand tour involves many travel days; confirm one-way car rental terms in advance and check for any restrictions on driving to Ushguli.
High-altitude trails like Koruldi Lakes are snow-free from around July to mid-September; parts of Vardzia may be closed.
Day by day
Day 1 · Tbilisi Old Town
Tbilisi（Old Tbilisi / Abanotubani、Narikala Fortress、Sioni Cathedral、Rezo Gabriadze Marionette Theater）
Take a taxi from the airport to Sololaki (about 30 minutes). Explore the Old Town on foot; do not pick up your rental car yet.
Stay: Sololaki
Day 2 · Museums & City Panoramas
Tbilisi（Georgian National Museum (Simon Janashia Museum)、Rustaveli Avenue、Dry Bridge Market、Mtatsminda Park & Funicular）
Walk and take the metro along Rustaveli Avenue, then take the funicular up Mtatsminda Mountain in the afternoon.
Most museums are closed on Mondays; plan your days accordingly.
Stay: Sololaki
Day 3 · Pick Up Car & Drive to Sighnaghi
Kakheti Wine Region & Sighnaghi（Bodbe Monastery、Sighnaghi、Pheasant's Tears Winery、Sighnaghi City Walls）
Pick up your rental car and drive along the Kakheti Highway to Sighnaghi (about 2 hours), then explore on foot.
Self-drive wine tasting is restricted by strict drink-driving laws; the driver must not drink.
Stay: Sighnaghi
Day 4 · Tsinandali & Telavi
Kakheti Wine Region & Sighnaghi（Tsinandali Estate (Chavchavadze Museum)、Alaverdi Monastery、Ikalto Monastery & Academy、Telavi Old Town & Giant Plane Tree）
Drive from Sighnaghi to Tsinandali (about 1.5 hours), then to Alaverdi (about 40 minutes), and stay overnight in Telavi.
Stay: Telavi
Day 5 · Cross the Mountains to the Northern Military Highway
Kazbegi (Stepantsminda) & Gudauri（Ananuri Fortress、Russia–Georgia Friendship Monument、Stepantsminda Town & Kazbegi Museum）
Drive from Telavi via the Gombori Pass back to the main road, then follow the Military Highway to Stepantsminda (about 4 hours excluding stops).
The Gombori mountain road has many curves and no streetlights; try to cross it during daylight.
Stay: Stepantsminda Town
Day 6 · Gergeti Trinity Church & Juta
Kazbegi (Stepantsminda) & Gudauri（Gergeti Trinity Church, Kazbegi、Sno Village & Stone Heads、Juta Valley）
Drive to Gergeti Trinity Church (about 30 minutes). After descending, drive via Sno village to Juta (about 1 hour) for a light trek before returning.
Stay: Stepantsminda Town
Day 7 · Descend via Mtskheta to Borjomi
Tbilisi（Jvari Monastery、Mtskheta、Uplistsikhe） → Borjomi
Drive south from Stepantsminda via Mtskheta and Gori to Borjomi (about 5–6 hours excluding stops).
Stay: Borjomi Town Center
Day 8 · Mineral Water Park & Rabati Castle
Borjomi（Borjomi Central Park (Mineral Water Park)、Rabati Castle）
Stroll through Borjomi Central Park in the morning, then drive to Akhaltsikhe (about 1 hour) to visit the castle in the afternoon.
The 'Kukushka' narrow-gauge train is suspended; Likani Palace is undergoing renovation and is closed to the public.
Stay: Akhaltsikhe
Day 9 · Vardzia & Transfer to Kutaisi
Borjomi（Khertvisi Fortress、Vardzia） → Kutaisi
Drive from Akhaltsikhe to Vardzia (about 1.5 hours), then double back via Khashuri to Kutaisi (about 3.5 hours).
Following rockfalls in 2026, about half of the cave city routes are closed; verify before setting off.
Stay: Kutaisi City Center
Day 10 · Kutaisi Heritage & Caves
Kutaisi（Gelati Monastery、Motsameta Monastery、Bagrati Cathedral、Prometheus Cave）
Drive to Gelati Monastery (about 30 minutes), return to town to see Bagrati Cathedral, and head to Prometheus Cave in the afternoon (about 30 minutes).
Stay: Kutaisi City Center
Day 11 · Martvili & Drive into Svaneti
Kutaisi（Martvili Canyon） → Mestia (Svaneti)（Enguri Dam）
Drive from Kutaisi via Martvili and Zugdidi to Mestia (about 240 km, 5 hours excluding stops).
Some sections of the mountain road are single-lane and gravel; aim to arrive before dark.
Stay: Mestia Town Center
Day 12 · Ushguli Day Trip
Mestia (Svaneti)（Ushguli、Lamaria Church, Ushguli）
Drive from Mestia to Ushguli (about 1.5 hours, mostly paved, 3 hours round trip), or hire a local driver.
Some rental contracts restrict driving on this road; check your terms in advance.
Stay: Mestia Town Center
Day 13 · Koruldi Lakes & Stone Towers
Mestia (Svaneti)（Koruldi Lakes、Svaneti Museum of History and Ethnography、Svan Towers of Mestia）
Hire a local 4WD to the trailhead for the Koruldi Lakes hike. Return to town in the afternoon to visit the stone towers and museum.
The museum is closed on Mondays; switch to Chalaadi Glacier if there is snow.
Stay: Mestia Town Center
Day 14 · Mestia to the Black Sea
Batumi（Batumi Boulevard、Ali and Nino Statue）
Drive down from Mestia via Zugdidi to Batumi (about 270 km, 6 hours), arriving at the coast in the evening.
Stay: Batumi Boulevard
Day 15 · Botanical Garden & Gonio Fortress
Batumi（Batumi Botanical Garden、Gonio Fortress）
Drive to the Botanical Garden in the morning (about 30 minutes), visit Gonio Fortress in the afternoon (about 40 minutes), then return the car at the airport.