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Borjomi and Bakuriani Tour from Tbilisi: Mineral Springs and the Ski Resort
One long day that pairs Georgia's most famous spa town with its oldest mountain resort: warm mineral water straight from the spring in the morning, pine forest and snow at 1,700 metres by the afternoon.
Prepared by Travel Door, Georgia's award-winning DMC
A Borjomi and Bakuriani tour is a full-day trip from Tbilisi, about 160 km west, taking 10 to 12 hours door to door. The morning is Borjomi Central Park, the mineral springs and the cable car; the afternoon is Bakuriani, a resort at about 1,700 metres, for snow activities from December to April or forest walks and cable car rides from May to November. Most departures leave Tbilisi around 08:00 and return between 20:00 and 22:00. Departures can also start from Kutaisi, usually around 07:30.
Why Borjomi and Bakuriani Go Together
They sit only about 30 km apart, but they are two different worlds. Borjomi is a nineteenth-century spa town in a wooded gorge. Russian soldiers are said to have rediscovered its springs in the 1820s, the Romanov family built a summer palace here, and the water has been bottled and exported ever since.
Bakuriani is the mountain above it. A training base for Soviet athletes, it hosted the 2023 world championships in freestyle skiing and snowboarding, yet it still feels like a forest village rather than a resort development.
That contrast is the reason the two are almost always sold as one day: a gentle park walk and a working spring in the morning, then snow or alpine air in the afternoon, without changing region or hotel.
At a Glance
- Borjomi Central Park: the springs, the river bridges, the cable car and the Prometheus waterfall
- Bakuriani: skiing and snowmobiles in winter, forest walks and horse riding in summer
- Surami stop: the roadside stalls that sell nazuki, sweet bread baked with raisins
- Kukushka train: the narrow-gauge railway that still climbs between the two towns
- Easy to extend: Gori, Rabati Castle and Vardzia all sit on the same side of the country
| Borjomi | Bakuriani | |
|---|---|---|
| Altitude | About 800 m | About 1,700 m |
| Best for | Park, springs, history | Snow, forest, activities |
| Time needed | 2 hours | 3 to 4 hours |
Your Day, Stop by Stop
The order we run it, leaving Tbilisi around 08:00
Surami and the Nazuki Stalls
Halfway to Borjomi the road passes Surami, a small town below a ruined medieval fortress. What stops most vehicles is the row of roadside stalls selling nazuki, a sweet spiced bread with raisins, baked in clay ovens and handed over still warm.
Borjomi Central Park and the Mineral Springs
The park runs along the Borjomula river inside a forested gorge, with footbridges crossing back and forth. At the far end is the spring pavilion where the mineral water comes out of the ground naturally warm. It tastes salty and sulphurous, nothing like the bottled version, and drinking it is the point of coming.
From the park a short cable car climbs to a plateau with a Ferris wheel and a view over the whole town. There is also a swimming pool fed by warm mineral water further up the valley, and the Prometheus statue and waterfall inside the park itself.
Likani and the Romanov Palace
Just outside Borjomi, the Romanov summer residence sits in the Likani district, built for the imperial family who came for the water. The surrounding Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park is one of Europe's largest protected areas, with marked trails for anyone who would rather walk than sightsee.
The Road Up, or the Kukushka Train
Bakuriani is about 30 km up a winding mountain road. Beside it runs the Kukushka, a late nineteenth-century narrow-gauge railway that still carries passengers through the forest. It is far slower than the road, so we drive up and offer the train only when the day is built around it.
Bakuriani
Bakuriani sits at roughly 1,700 metres in pine forest, and it has been a mountain resort since the imperial era rather than a modern development. What you do here depends entirely on the season, so we plan this block around your dates. The Didveli and Kokhta slopes carry the main lifts, and the village centre has cafes, rental shops and an alpine botanical garden.
Lunch and the Drive Home
We eat in Bakuriani or back down in Borjomi, depending on the day. The return drive takes about two and a half hours, so a winter day with ski time ends late.
Winter or Summer
The same route, two very different days
December to April
Snow season on the slopes above the village.
- Skiing and snowboarding, with lessons for beginners
- Snowmobile and quad bike rides
- Tubing and ice skating for families
- Snowshoe trekking and cable car rides for non-skiers
May to November
Quieter, cheaper and far greener.
- Pine forest walks and marked trails
- Horse riding and cycling around the village
- Cable car rides for the view
- Alpine botanical garden and the Kukushka train
If skiing is your main reason for travelling, compare this with our Gudauri Tour. Gudauri has the bigger lift system; Bakuriani is gentler, greener and better for families and first-timers.
What Is Included
Usually included
Private vehicle and driver, a licensed English-speaking guide, pickup and drop-off at your Tbilisi hotel, and water on the road.
Usually not included
Park entry, cable car, ski passes, equipment rental and lessons, snowmobile rides, lunch and personal expenses. Everything is confirmed line by line in your written quote.
Typical Extra Costs in Bakuriani and Borjomi
| Item | Approximate cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Borjomi Central Park entry | Around 5 GEL | Springs inside the park are free to drink from |
| Borjomi cable car | Around 30 GEL | Return ride to the plateau |
| Ski lesson with equipment | Around 120 GEL | Beginner group lessons in Bakuriani |
| Snowmobile ride | Around 200 GEL | Per vehicle, shared between two people |
| Lunch | Around 25 to 40 GEL | Per person, local restaurant, roughly 10 to 20 USD |
Prices move with the season and the operator, so treat these as a guide. We confirm current rates when we build your itinerary.
How to Get to Borjomi and Bakuriani
| Option | Time | Approximate cost | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private guided tour | Full day | Quoted per group | Door to door, both towns in one day, flexible timing |
| Group day tour | 10 to 14 hours | From around 160 GEL, roughly 25 to 45 USD per person | Fixed schedule, limited free time, often up to 50 people |
| Train Tbilisi to Borjomi | About 4 hours | A few lari | Slow, and Bakuriani still needs onward transport |
| Marshrutka from Didube | About 3 hours | Around 15 GEL | Reaches Borjomi town only |
| Kukushka train, Borjomi to Bakuriani | About 2.5 hours | A few lari | Scenic but slow; runs on a limited timetable |
Departures can also start from Kutaisi, which is roughly the same driving distance. To drive yourself, see our guide to renting a car in Georgia, though the mountain road to Bakuriani is icy for much of the winter.
What to Eat and Drink
Georgian mountain food, plus the water the town is named after
Nazuki
Sweet raisin bread from the Surami stalls, baked in clay ovens and sold warm by the roadside.
Borjomi water
Warm, salty and mineral-heavy straight from the spring. Very different from the bottled version.
Mountain khinkali
Thicker dough than in Tbilisi, served with mtsvadi and hot soup after a cold afternoon.
Sample Itineraries
Starting points, adjusted to your dates and pace
Classic Day Trip
- Surami and nazuki
- Borjomi park, springs and cable car
- Drive to Bakuriani
- Free time, lunch and return
Winter Snow Day
- Early departure from Tbilisi
- Short Borjomi park walk
- Half day on the Bakuriani slopes
- Late return
Summer Family Day
- Borjomi park and cable car
- Lunch in the gorge
- Forest walk or horse riding in Bakuriani
- Botanical garden
Two Days with Vardzia
- Borjomi and Bakuriani
- Overnight in Borjomi
- Rabati Castle in Akhaltsikhe
- Vardzia cave monastery
With Gori and Uplistsikhe
- Gori Fortress and Stalin Museum
- Uplistsikhe cave city
- Overnight in Borjomi
- Borjomi park and Bakuriani
From Kutaisi
- Pickup in Kutaisi
- Borjomi park and springs
- Bakuriani free time
- Return to Kutaisi
Book as a private tour, a shared group departure or a group and incentive programme.
Tips Before You Go
- It is a long day: about five hours of driving in total, so families with small children often prefer an overnight in Borjomi.
- Dress for two climates: Borjomi sits at around 800 metres and Bakuriani at 1,700, so the mountain is always colder and windier.
- Ski gear: everything can be rented in Bakuriani, but weekends and the New Year period sell out, so we book ahead.
- Cash: carry lari for park entry, the cable car and roadside stalls.
- Bring a bottle: the mineral water at the spring is free.
- Staying connected: see our guide to SIM cards and eSIMs in Georgia.
Why Book with Travel Door
Travel Door is a destination management company, not a reseller: your vehicle, driver and licensed guide are arranged by our own team, and we book ski rental and lessons in Bakuriani before you arrive. Read more about us or meet our team.
Borjomi and Bakuriani Tour Questions
How long is a Borjomi and Bakuriani tour from Tbilisi?
A full day of 10 to 12 hours, or up to 14 hours in winter if you spend a half day on the slopes. Departures usually leave Tbilisi around 08:00 and return between 20:00 and 22:00.
How far is Borjomi from Tbilisi?
About 160 km, roughly 2.5 hours by road. Bakuriani is another 30 km up the mountain, about 45 minutes further.
Is Borjomi and Bakuriani worth visiting in summer?
Yes. Summer is quieter and cheaper, with pine forest trails, horse riding, cable car rides and the alpine botanical garden instead of snow.
Can beginners ski in Bakuriani?
Yes. Bakuriani has gentle slopes and beginner lessons, which is why families and first-time skiers often choose it over Gudauri.
What is the Kukushka train?
A narrow-gauge railway from the late nineteenth century that still runs between Borjomi and Bakuriani through the forest. It takes about 2.5 hours, far longer than the road.
What does Borjomi mineral water taste like at the spring?
Warm, salty and strongly mineral, quite different from the chilled bottled version. Drinking it at the pavilion in Borjomi Central Park is the traditional reason to visit.
What is the difference between Bakuriani and Gudauri?
Gudauri is higher with a larger lift system and steeper terrain. Bakuriani is lower, gentler and surrounded by pine forest, which suits families and beginners.
Can I combine this tour with Vardzia or Gori?
Yes. Rabati Castle and Vardzia sit south of Borjomi and work well as a second day, while Gori and Uplistsikhe are on the highway between Tbilisi and Borjomi.
What should I bring?
Warm layers for the mountain, cash in lari for entry fees and stalls, and an empty bottle to fill at the mineral spring.
Is there an age limit on this tour?
Shared group departures often set an age range, commonly 18 to 75. On a private tour there is no age cap, and we adjust the walking and the timing for young children or older travellers.
What Our Travellers Say
Verified Google reviews from Travel Door guests in Georgia
“I loved the trip to Georgia Tbilisi, Gudauri and Kazbegi. I had wonderful time with my tour guide and driver Levan. I will also come again in the winters probably.”
Kairav ThakarGoogle review“Our tour guide was Mr Zura. He was really cooperative and friendly. We felt like a friend accompanied us. Being a native georgian, he helped us spot the best souvenirs to take back with us. Thanks to Travel door for curating a great experience to us.”
Aarathy JaikumarLocal Guide · Google review“Shako is an exceptional person, throughout our trip in Georgia he has been very helpful. He is a very good driver and we all felt very safe with him behind the wheel. For people coming to Georgia through Travel Door, I recommend asking for Shako.”
Roupal BaguiGoogle reviewKeep Planning
- Gudauri Tour, the bigger ski resort north of Tbilisi
- Gori Tour, Uplistsikhe and the Stalin Museum on the same highway
- Kutaisi Tour, an alternative starting point in the west
- Tbilisi Tour, your base for the day trip
- Kazbegi Tour, the Georgian Military Highway
- Batumi Tour, the Black Sea coast
- Best places to visit in Georgia
- Frequently asked questions
Plan Your Borjomi and Bakuriani Tour
Tell us your dates, group size and whether you want snow, forest or both. We will confirm ski rental if you need it and send a costed itinerary you can book from.
For official information on Borjomi, Bakuriani and the Samtskhe-Javakheti region, see the Georgian National Tourism Administration's georgia.travel portal.
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