From India, fly into Tbilisi International Airport and allow roughly 25–40 minutes by official taxi or pre-booked transfer into the centre, depending on traffic. For four people with luggage, a pre-arranged minivan is easiest; expect around GEL 40–70 total one way. After immigration and baggage collection, leave your bags at the hotel and keep the first afternoon relaxed. Indian passport holders should confirm their Georgian visa or e-visa eligibility before departure; carry accommodation details, return tickets, travel insurance, and proof of funds.
Head to Rike Park and take the cable car up to Narikala Fortress—the ride is short, but queues can build in August, so go before late afternoon if possible. Allow about an hour for the fortress and views over the Mtkvari River, then walk around 10–15 minutes along the ridge to Mother of Georgia. The cable car costs only a few GEL and generally operates into the evening, though exact hours can vary. Wear proper shoes: the fortress paths are uneven and exposed to the summer sun.
Walk downhill into Abanotubani for a private sulfur-bath room, ideally reserved before arrival; a one-hour private room usually costs about GEL 100–250 depending on size and service. Bring water and avoid a very hot bath if you are tired after the flight. Afterwards, follow the short gorge path to Leghvtakhevi Waterfall, which takes about 20–30 minutes and is particularly pleasant as the temperature drops. Have dinner at Keto and Kote in Old Tbilisi, reserving a table if arriving after 7:30 PM. Allow GEL 45–80 per person for khinkali, khachapuri, salads, and non-alcoholic drinks; use a taxi app for the return rather than walking uphill after dinner.
Start at Dry Bridge Market in Chugureti around 9:30 AM, when the stalls are lively but the August heat is still manageable. Allow about 1½ hours to browse paintings, Soviet-era objects, vintage jewellery, carpets, and small crafts. Prices are negotiable, but inspect old-looking items carefully—some “antiques” are modern reproductions. From here, walk or take a short taxi to the Georgian National Museum on Rustaveli Avenue; the walk takes roughly 15–20 minutes. Allow 1½–2 hours for the archaeological collection, especially the Georgian goldwork and early-Christian exhibits. Check the museum’s exact schedule before leaving, as opening days and exhibit access can change; admission is usually around GEL 10–20 per person.
Walk a few minutes along Rustaveli Avenue to Kashveti Church, beside Parliament, for a quiet 30-minute visit. Dress modestly and avoid visiting during a service if possible. Then take a 10–15-minute taxi to Fabrika Tbilisi in Chugureti for lunch and coffee. This former sewing factory has a relaxed courtyard filled with cafés, bars, and small design shops; budget GEL 30–55 per person, depending on whether you order a full meal and drinks. Since this is a popular stop, the courtyard is especially pleasant in the early afternoon before it becomes busier later.
After lunch, spend the late afternoon at Wine Gallery in Chugureti, allowing about an hour for a tasting of Georgian wines, including qvevri-made amber wines. Ask the staff to pour a mix of dry whites, reds, and one traditional style rather than ordering only familiar grape varieties; a tasting generally costs around GEL 25–60 per person. Finish at the Tbilisi Wine Museum in Old Tbilisi, reached by taxi in about 10–15 minutes depending on traffic. Reserve or confirm a guided tasting in advance, as sessions may be timed; expect roughly GEL 30–70 per person. Use taxis through Bolt for the transfers, and keep the evening unhurried—August temperatures remain high, so carry water and leave a little time between tastings.
Leave Tbilisi around 7:00 AM in a private car with driver, allowing 3½–4½ hours to reach Stepantsminda with the planned stops. Your first photo break is Zhinvali Reservoir, roughly 20 minutes after the road turns into the Georgian Military Highway; the turquoise water looks especially vivid in the morning. Continue to Ananuri Fortress, where 45–60 minutes is enough to walk around the medieval walls, see the carved church façades, and enjoy the lake views. Wear shoes with decent grip—the stone paths can be uneven. A private car for four generally costs about GEL 250–400 for the day, excluding meals and the local 4WD ride.
Continue uphill to the Russia–Georgia Friendship Monument at Gudauri, stopping for around 30 minutes. The mosaic balcony opens onto some of the best roadside views in the Caucasus, but mountain weather can change quickly, so bring a light layer even in August. From there, drive to Stepantsminda and take a local 4WD taxi up to Gergeti Trinity Church; allow about 1½ hours including the ride, church visit, and viewpoint time. The 4WD usually costs approximately GEL 20–30 per person return, though drivers may quote a higher price for a private vehicle. Hiking is possible, but after the long drive it is better treated as an optional stretch rather than something to squeeze in.
Finish at Rooms Hotel Kazbegi, a comfortable place for coffee or a late lunch with a wide view over the valley. Budget GEL 35–70 per person, and check availability if you want a full meal—the terrace is popular in August. Keep the return journey relaxed but leave Stepantsminda by about 4:00–4:30 PM; the drive back to Tbilisi can take four hours or more with traffic, roadworks, or mountain weather. Ask your driver to confirm the highway is open before departure, and carry water and snacks because roadside food options are limited.
Return from Stepantsminda to Tbilisi by your pre-booked private car, leaving around 7:00 AM. The drive normally takes 3½–4½ hours, depending on roadworks, summer traffic, and stops, so aim to reach the city around 11:00–11:30 AM. Ask the driver to drop your luggage at your hotel or keep it safely in the car while you explore. Since you have an international flight later, keep passports, valuables, and flight documents with you, and confirm your driver’s airport transfer before setting off.
Your first stop is the Tbilisi Open Air Museum of Ethnography, above Turtle Lake. Allow about two hours to wander among traditional houses, watchtowers, farm buildings, and interiors brought from different regions of Georgia. The site is spread across a hillside, so wear comfortable shoes and carry water; August sun can be strong, and some paths are uneven. Check the museum’s same-day opening hours before leaving Stepantsminda, as hours can vary, and expect a modest entrance fee of roughly GEL 5–10 per person. From there, a short drive downhill brings you to Vake Park for an easy 45-minute stroll beneath the trees—one of the better places in this part of town to cool down before lunch.
Continue by taxi or your driver to Stamba in Vera, allowing roughly 10–15 minutes depending on traffic. This stylish former publishing-house complex is a good final meal in Tbilisi: choose the main restaurant or the more relaxed café areas, and budget approximately GEL 40–80 per person. Allow 1–1½ hours, but do not linger too long if your flight is in the afternoon or evening; ask the restaurant to bring the bill promptly. From Stamba, allow about 25–40 minutes to Tbilisi International Airport, though August traffic can be unpredictable. Leave central Tbilisi at least three hours before an international departure, preferably with your transfer booked in advance or using a clearly identified official taxi. At the airport, check in, complete security and passport formalities, and keep some GEL or a card available for last-minute snacks and airport purchases before your flight back to India.