Kazbegi to Vardzia

If I had an early start in the morning, would it be possible to get from Kazbegi to Vardzia in one day? I'm under the impression that I'd need to take a 4-hour marshrutka Kazbegi-Tbilisi, a 4-hour marshrutka Tbilisi-Akhaltsikhe, and then a 90-minute marshrutka or taxi Akhaltsikhe-Vardzia. This sounds to me as though it should be doable, but I wanted to check first. I'd also appreciate any advice on better ways to do the journey, if the route I just outlined isn't the best option! Thanks!

Edited by: hometoroam

Yes it's possible but you'd have to leave early and it would take up most of your day. From Kazbegi to Tbilisi is 3hrs. From Tbilisi-Akhaltsikhe is another 3 hours. Fortunately both use the Didube station. Marshrutkas to Akhaltsikhe leave at least hourly. There is a marshrutka from Akhaltsikhe to Vardzia at 1630. If you got a 9am marshrutka from Kazbegi and left for Akhaltsikhe by 1pm you should be ok. There are taxis to Vardzia but they will want to take you there, wait a bit, and then take you back, so not an option if you want to stay overnight (which I highly recommend).

Tbilisi-Akhaltsikhe in 3 hours sounds a little optimistic to me. There were only about 3 or 4 marshrutkas a day from Akhaltsikhe to Vardzia when I visited a few years ago. Given the logistics, I think you need to be prepared for the possibility of arriving in Akhaltsikhe after the last Vardzia-bound marshrutka has already left. In that case, you'd either have to take a taxi or spend the night in Akhaltsikhe and travel on by marshrutka the next morning. As #1 says, Vardzia's a lovely place to spend the night.