Tour Programme
Morning: early departure from Tbilisi (~06:30). Short stop in Gori — Goristsikhe fortress, and the Uplistsikhe cave town if you wish. Then Kutaisi: Bagrati Cathedral or Gelati Monastery and an Imeretian lunch.
Daytime: arrival in Batumi around midday. Batumi Boulevard (7 km along the sea), Piazza Square, the Alphabet Tower, the Old Town, and in summer time for a swim in the Black Sea.
Evening: dinner on the seafront and the drive back to Tbilisi along the same route. Arrival late in the evening (~23:30).
Best Time to Visit Batumi
The best time is June–September, when the water warms to +25°C. May and October are also lovely but too cool for swimming. In winter Batumi is beautiful and uncrowded — just don't expect the beach.
Detailed Itinerary
06:30 — departure from Tbilisi, pickup from your hotel. 07:40 — Gori (86 km): view of Goristsikhe fortress, coffee, stretch your legs; optionally the Uplistsikhe cave town nearby (+40 min). 10:15 — Kutaisi (145 km from Gori): Bagrati Cathedral or Gelati Monastery (UNESCO site) of your choice — around 45 minutes. 11:30 — Imeretian lunch in Kutaisi before the final leg to the sea. 14:00 — arrival in Batumi (145 km from Kutaisi). 14:30 — walk along Batumi Boulevard: 7 km hugging the Black Sea, Ferris wheel, Alphabet Tower (130 m, lift ₾3), Piazza Square and the Old Town; in summer, time for a swim. 17:30 — dinner at Piazza Square: Adjarian khachapuri with egg and butter, a fish restaurant on the seafront. 18:30 — departure back to Tbilisi along the same route without stops, arrival around 23:30.
Why Choose This Tour
- Private group — maximum 7 people. No 40-person buses: you ask questions, stop where you want, and spend as much time at each spot as you need.
- Rating 4.9 / 5 on Google Maps (90+ reviews) — I reply on WhatsApp within 10–15 minutes and send a detailed itinerary before every tour.
- Three destinations in one day — Gori, Kutaisi and Batumi without an overnight stay, ideal when time is short.
- Flexible route — if you want to add or remove a stop, just say so. The tour adapts to you, not the other way around.
- Fair pricing — from ₾250 per person including the transfer. No hidden extras.
- Many guests return for a second or third tour — that is the best compliment a guide can receive.
Timur's Tip
A one-day Batumi trip is for travellers short on time: see the sea, Gori and Kutaisi in a single day with no overnight stay. The day is long (departure at 06:30, back around midnight), so the roadside stops are kept short. If you'd rather take the same route at a relaxed pace, with swimming and a night by the sea, choose the 2-day Batumi tour. And to cut the time on the road, you can take the express train back (Stadler, from ₾25).
Included
- Transfer Tbilisi–Batumi–Tbilisi
- English-speaking private guide for the whole day
- Stops in Gori and Kutaisi
- Batumi city and seafront tour
- Bottled water en route
Not Included
- Meals and lunch in Kutaisi
- Entrances: Botanical Garden (₾15), Gonio, Kutaisi monasteries
- Uplistsikhe cave town (optional)
Practical Tips for This Tour
- It is a long day — about 740 km and ~17 hours in total. Bring a neck pillow, and a blanket for kids: they'll sleep through part of the drive.
- The stops in Gori and Kutaisi are short. To explore Uplistsikhe or Gelati without rushing, take the 2-day tour — one day isn't enough for everything.
- The beach in Batumi is pebble, not sand — bring beach shoes or aqua shoes.
What to Pack
- Swimwear and beach shoes (pebble beach)
- A light jacket — the seafront gets a sea breeze in the evening
- Cash lari (₾) — small cafés and market stalls are cash only
- SPF 50+ sunscreen — subtropical sun is stronger than in Tbilisi
- A power bank — a full day of sightseeing drains your phone battery fast
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the drive from Tbilisi to Batumi?
Pure driving time is about 5–5.5 hours one way (≈370 km). On this day tour we add short stops in Gori and Kutaisi, so we reach Batumi around midday and return along the same road in the evening.
What stops do we make along the way?
Heading west from Tbilisi we stop in Gori (Goristsikhe fortress, and the Uplistsikhe cave town nearby if you wish) and in Kutaisi (Bagrati Cathedral or Gelati Monastery, plus lunch). The stops are short — stretch your legs, coffee and photos — so there is still time for the sea in Batumi.
What will we see in Batumi?
Batumi Boulevard (7 km along the sea), Piazza Square, the Alphabet Tower with its panoramic lift, the promenade and the Old Town. In summer there is time for a swim in the Black Sea.
Is it a tiring day because of the drive?
Yes, it is a long day: early departure (~06:30) and a late return to Tbilisi — about 740 km round-trip in total. We travel in a comfortable air-conditioned car and make stops. If you prefer a relaxed pace with an overnight stay by the sea, there is a 2-day Batumi tour option.
How much are the entrance fees on the route?
Goristsikhe fortress and the walk along Batumi Boulevard and the beach are free. Entrance to Batumi Botanical Garden is ₾15; Gonio Fortress and the Kutaisi monasteries are paid separately on site in lari.
About Getting to Batumi
Batumi is Georgia's seaside capital on the Black Sea. By plane from Tbilisi: 40 minutes (from ₾30 on Georgian Airways). By overnight train: 5 hours on the Stadler express (from ₾25, business class ₾40). By car: 5–6 hours via Khashuri and Kutaisi on a good quality road. Batumi has a mild subtropical climate: winters +8–12°C, summers +28–32°C. Best season: May–June (warm without the crowds) and September (the velvet season, sea +24°C). Key landmarks: Piazza Square (modelled on a Venetian square), Batumi Boulevard (7 km of seafront promenade), Botanical Garden (entrance ₾15, 113 ha of tropical plants).
How Booking Works
The tour departs from your hotel in Tbilisi. I pick you up in a comfortable air-conditioned car. Maximum 7 guests per group — individual attention guaranteed. Payment: GEL cash or bank transfer. Book via WhatsApp — I reply within 10–15 minutes and send a confirmation with the full itinerary.
When to Book
In high season (May–October) I recommend booking 3–5 days in advance. Off-season, a day's notice is fine. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure. In bad weather we reschedule at no extra charge.
What's Included in the Price
Transfer from your hotel and back, private guide service in English for the whole day, stops in Gori and Kutaisi, and bottled water en route. Not included: meals (average restaurant bill ₾25–40), entrances (Botanical Garden ₾15, Gonio, Kutaisi monasteries), personal shopping.
Book This Tour
Timur · Sakhva Travel · licensed guide No. 8247109128 · rating 4.9 · 500+ guests
