Georgia & Armenia Self-Launched Adventure: Tbilisi to Yerevan
14 days · Georgia & Armenia
Georgia Country Tours charges £1,680
No-markup version: ~£1,320 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched, independent version of the classic 14-day Georgia & Armenia circuit. Starting in Tbilisi and finishing in Yerevan, you'll travel by marshrutka (shared minibus), train and shared taxi to hit the same highlights the guided tour covers — Sameba Cathedral, Mtskheta, Kazbegi's Gergeti Trinity Church, the Kakheti wine region, Vardzia cave city, Kutaisi, Batumi, the Sadakhlo land border crossing, Lake Sevan, Garni, Geghard and Echmiadzin. Costs are approximate and based on hostel/guesthouse stays, local food and self-booked day tours.
Day-by-day
Arrival in Tbilisi & Old Town Walk
Tbilisi, Georgia
Land at Tbilisi International Airport and take the cheap Airport Bus #37 (or Bolt/taxi, ~£8) into the centre. Check into a hostel or guesthouse in the Old Town/Abanotubani area. Spend the afternoon on a self-guided walk covering the same sites as the operator's included half-day tour: Sameba (Holy Trinity) Cathedral, Metekhi Fortress, Rike Park, the Narikala Fortress cable car (a few lari), Leghvtakhevi Waterfall, the Abanotubani sulphur baths district and the Bridge of Peace. Grab dinner at a local bakery or a khinkali house.
🚌Airport bus #37 or Bolt (~£8)
🛏Old Town hostel or guesthouse (dorm/private from £10-18)
- →Airport bus #37 to centre
- →Self-guided Old Town walk
- →Narikala cable car
- →Abanotubani sulphur baths district
- →Bridge of Peace
Mtskheta & Uplistsikhe Day Trip
Mtskheta / Gori, Georgia
Take a marshrutka from Didube bus station to Mtskheta (~£1) and visit the UNESCO Jvari Monastery and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, plus Samtavro Monastery. Then hop a Gori-bound marshrutka (~£1.50) to explore Uplistsikhe, the ancient rock-hewn town, Gori Fortress and the Stalin Museum. Return to Tbilisi by marshrutka. Alternatively, book a small-group day tour on GetYourGuide (~£20-25) if you'd rather have transport and commentary.
🚌Marshrutka DIdube→Mtskheta→Gori→Tbilisi (~£4 total)
🛏Tbilisi hostel/guesthouse (£10-18)
- →Jvari Monastery (UNESCO)
- →Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (UNESCO)
- →Samtavro Monastery
- →Uplistsikhe cave town
- →Gori Fortress
- →Stalin Museum
Kazbegi / Stepantsminda & Gergeti Trinity Church
Stepantsminda (Kazbegi), Georgia
Take a marshrutka from Didube station to Stepantsminda (~£5, leaves when full). En route you'll pass the Zhinvali Reservoir and Ananuri Fortress (stop off if you have time), the confluence of the Black and White Aragvi rivers, and the Gudauri Monument of Friendship. From Stepantsminda, hike or take a 4x4 up to the iconic Gergeti Trinity Church below Mt Kazbek. Optional paragliding on offer. Stay the night in a family guesthouse in Stepantsminda and eat home-cooked Georgian food.
🚌Marshrutka Didube→Stepantsminda (~£5)
🛏Stepantsminda family guesthouse (£12-18)
- →Zhinvali Reservoir
- →Ananuri Fortress
- →Gudauri Monument of Friendship
- →Gergeti Trinity Church hike
- →Optional paragliding
Kakheti Wine Region: Sighnaghi
Sighnaghi, Georgia
Return to Tbilisi, then take a marshrutka to Sighnaghi, the 'City of Love', in the Kakheti wine region (~£2.50). Tour the Bodbe Monastery, walk the medieval town walls and visit a local winery for a tasting and qvevri wine experience (~£8-12). Optional wine-making masterclass or Sighnaghi Museum. Stay overnight in a Sighnaghi homestay and sample the regional food.
🚌Marshrutka Tbilisi→Sighnaghi (~£2.50)
🛏Sighnaghi homestay (£12-18)
- →Bodbe Monastery
- →Sighnaghi old town walls
- →Winery visit and tasting
- →Optional masterclass
- →Sighnaghi Museum
Borjomi & Vardzia Cave Fortress
Borjomi / Vardzia, Georgia
Travel to Borjomi (marshrutka or shared ride, ~£4) and wander Borjomi Central Park for its famous mineral springs (skip the park fee if you just walk in). Continue toward Akhaltsikhe to tour Rabati Castle, then on to the extraordinary Vardzia cave-fortress complex (~£3 entry). Check into a guesthouse near Vardzia or back in Borjomi. Optional hike in Borjomi National Reserve.
🚌Marshrutka/shared ride Tbilisi→Borjomi→Vardzia (~£8)
🛏Borjomi or Vardzia guesthouse (£12-18)
- →Borjomi Central Park & mineral springs
- →Rabati Castle
- →Vardzia Cave Fortress
- →Optional Borjomi National Reserve
Kutaisi: Gelati, Prometheus Cave & Bagrati
Kutaisi, Georgia
Head to Kutaisi by marshrutka or train (~£5-7). Visit the UNESCO Gelati Monastery, the impressive Prometheus Cave (~£6 with a short guided tour on site) and Bagrati Cathedral. Stay in a Kutaisi guesthouse. Kutaisi also makes a good cheap base — its airport is a budget-airline hub if you're flexing your route.
🚌Marshrutka/train to Kutaisi (~£5-7)
🛏Kutaisi guesthouse (£12-18)
- →Gelati Monastery (UNESCO)
- →Prometheus Cave
- →Bagrati Cathedral
Batumi Boulevard & Old Town
Batumi, Georgia
Take a local train or marshrutka from Kutaisi down to Batumi on the Black Sea (~£5). Tour Petra Fortress on the way or as a separate trip, stroll the long Batumi Boulevard, catch the Dancing Fountains and view the Ali & Nino sculpture. Spend the evening eating Adjarian khachapuri by the sea.
🚌Train/marshrutka Kutaisi→Batumi (~£5)
🛏Batumi hostel/guesthouse (£12-20)
- →Petra Fortress
- →Batumi Boulevard
- →Dancing Fountains
- →Ali & Nino sculpture
Batumi Region: Gonio, Makhuntseti & Wine
Batumi region, Georgia
Hire a shared taxi or join a small-group tour to cover the Batumi surroundings: Gonio Castle (~£2), the Adjarian Wine House for a tasting, Makhuntseti Waterfall and the Tamari Bridge. Shared taxis split between 3-4 travellers are the cheapest way to string these rural stops together. Return to Batumi for the night.
🚌Shared taxi around region (~£8-10 split)
🛏Batumi hostel/guesthouse (£12-20)
- →Gonio Castle
- →Adjarian Wine House tasting
- →Makhuntseti Waterfall
- →Tamari Bridge
Martvili Canyon & Transfer to Tbilisi
Martvili / Tbilisi, Georgia
Stop at the Martvili Canyons for a short boat trip through the gorge (~£8-10) on the way back toward Tbilisi. Martvili is best reached by shared taxi from Kutaisi/Batumi side; arrange with your guesthouse. Continue to Tbilisi by marshrutka/train (~£6-8). Check back into a Tbilisi hostel.
🚌Shared taxi to Martvili + marshrutka/train to Tbilisi (~£10)
🛏Tbilisi hostel/guesthouse (£10-18)
- →Martvili Canyons boat trip
- →Return transfer to Tbilisi
Tbilisi Free Day
Tbilisi, Georgia
A free day to explore Tbilisi at your own pace — the Dry Bridge flea market, the funicular to Mt Mtatsminda, the National Museum, the Chardin Street cafes, or a half-day soak in the famous Abanotubani sulphur baths. Use it to rest, do laundry and book onward Armenia transport.
🚌Metro/walk (~£1)
🛏Tbilisi hostel/guesthouse (£10-18)
- →Dry Bridge market
- →Mtatsminda funicular
- →Abanotubani sulphur bath
- →Cafe-hopping in Old Town
Cross into Armenia: Haghpat, Akhtala & Lake Sevan
Sadakhlo border → Yerevan, Armenia
Take a marshrutka/shared taxi from Tbilisi to the Sadakhlo border crossing (~£8-10), clear immigration and pick up onward transport to Alaverdi on the Armenian side. Visit the UNESCO Haghpat and Sanahin monasteries and Akhtala fortress, then head toward Lake Sevan (Sevanavank peninsula). Continue to Yerevan by marshrutka or shared taxi. This is a long travel day — start early.
🚌Marshrutka/shared taxi Tbilisi→border→Yerevan (~£15-18 total)
🛏Yerevan hostel/guesthouse (£10-18)
- →Sadakhlo border crossing
- →Haghpat Monastery
- →Sanahin Monastery
- →Akhtala fortress
- →Lake Sevan
Garni Temple & Geghard Monastery
Garni / Geghard, Armenia
Take marshrutka #266 from Yerevan to Garni (~£0.70) to see the Hellenistic Garni Temple (~£2.50 entry, with optional lavash baking demonstration nearby). Then hop a shared taxi to the rock-carved UNESCO Geghard Monastery (~£5 return split). Return to Yerevan by late afternoon. A GetYourGuide/Klook half-day tour is also available (~£20-25) if you prefer a guide.
🚌Marshrutka #266 + shared taxi (~£4)
🛏Yerevan hostel/guesthouse (£10-18)
- →Garni Temple
- →Geghard Monastery (UNESCO)
- →Lavash baking demonstration
Echmiadzin & Zvartnots
Echmiadzin / Zvartnots, Armenia
Take a marshrutka from Yerevan to Echmiadzin (~£1) to visit the Mother Cathedral, St Hripsime Church, St Gayane Church and the Treasury Museum (free/cheap entry, some sites request a small donation or ticket). On the way back, stop at the Zvartnots Temple ruins near the airport. Return to Yerevan for a final dinner of khorovats and lavash.
🚌Marshrutka to Echmiadzin + Zvartnots (~£3)
🛏Yerevan hostel/guesthouse (£10-18)
- →Echmiadzin Mother Cathedral
- →St Hripsime Church
- →St Gayane Church
- →Treasury Museum
- →Zvartnots Temple
Departure from Yerevan
Yerevan, Armenia
Take the airport bus or a shared taxi/Bolt to Zvartnots International Airport for your flight home (~£1 by bus, ~£8 by taxi). If you have an evening flight, use the morning for any last-minute souvenir shopping at the Vernissage market.
🚌Airport bus or taxi (~£1-8)
🛏N/A
- →Airport transfer
- →Optional Vernissage market visit
Self-launched vs. Georgia Country Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Georgia Country Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,320 | £1,680 |
| Duration | 14 days | 14 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £360 per person (21%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Georgia Country Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,320
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Georgia & Armenia Self-Launched Adventure: Tbilisi to Yerevan cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,320 per person for 14 days in Georgia & Armenia. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Georgia Country Tours?+
Yes — Georgia Country Tours charges around £1,680 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,320 — a saving of roughly £360 (21%) per person.
How long is the Georgia & Armenia trip?+
This itinerary runs 14 days, covering 14 day-by-day stops through Georgia & Armenia.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, backpacker, budget trip through Georgia & Armenia, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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