- In 2026 a guided private day out of Tbilisi, with vehicle and driver, runs to roughly 450-750 GEL ($175-290) for the whole party, so the price per person falls sharply as the group grows.
- A guided private week with mid-range hotels and breakfasts typically comes to between 3,200 and 4,800 GEL per person for a couple (about $1,230 to $1,850), and about a third less each for a group of four.
- The biggest levers on price are group size, hotel level and season; the choice of vehicle and of a guide versus a plain driver come next.
- Driver-only hire saves 150-350 GEL ($60-135) a day compared with a driver-guide, and self-drive is cheapest of all, but you lose the explanations, the local contacts and the freedom to drink wine at lunch.
- Always check whether lunches, tastings, entrance tickets, local 4x4 rides and the crew's overnight costs are in the quote before you compare two offers.
As a rough 2026 guide, four people sharing a guided private day trip from Tbilisi pay around 110 to 190 lari each, and a couple on a guided week with mid-range hotels pays somewhere between 3,200 and 4,800 lari each, roughly $1,230 to $1,850. Travelling alone costs far more per head, since one passenger pays for the whole car and the whole guide. These are ranges, not fixed prices, and the reasons a quote lands high or low are worth understanding before you book.
This guide breaks a private tour into its parts: vehicle, driver, guide, hotels, meals and extras. It compares hiring a driver only, a driver-guide or a rental car, gives sample per-person prices for one day and seven days by group size, lists what is normally included and what is not, and ends with practical ways to cut the bill. For overall daily budgets, room rates and food prices, see our separate guide to the cost of travelling in Georgia. All figures use about 2.6 lari to the dollar.
What decides the price of a private tour in Georgia?
Every operator in Georgia, large or small, builds a private tour from the same handful of costs. Some are charged per vehicle, some per room and some per person, which is why the same itinerary can be quoted at very different prices for different groups.
- Number of days: each extra day adds a full day of vehicle and crew, even if you only drive 40 km. Short tours carry a higher share of fixed costs such as airport transfers.
- Group size: the car, fuel, driver and guide are split between everyone, so four people pay far less each than two, and two pay far less than one.
- Vehicle: a sedan, a minivan, a minibus and a 4x4 all cost different amounts per day, and a mountain route can force an upgrade.
- Guide or driver: a licensed English-speaking guide is a separate daily fee on top of the driver.
- Hotel level: family guesthouses, 3 to 4-star hotels and boutique or wine-estate hotels can double or triple the accommodation part of the bill.
- Season: rooms cost more in July, August and the September to October harvest, and over New Year in the ski resorts.
- Route shape: one-way trips, such as ending in Batumi or Mestia, include the empty drive back to Tbilisi.
Of these, group size and hotel level move the per-person price the most. A couple choosing guesthouses in Kazbegi and Kakheti can pay half what the same couple pays for design hotels on the identical route, with the same car and guide.
Driver only, driver-guide or self-drive: which should you choose?
There are three common ways to travel privately around Georgia. Each suits a different kind of traveller, and the cost gap between them is smaller than many people expect once you add up what each one includes.
| Driver only | Driver plus separate guide (or driver-guide) | Self-drive rental | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical daily cost for the party (2026) | 200-450 GEL ($75-175) per vehicle | 450-750 GEL ($175-290) for car, driver and guide | Roughly 80-160 GEL ($30-60) for a compact car or 150-300 GEL ($60-115) with four-wheel drive, fuel extra |
| Who explains the sights | Nobody: you use a guidebook or audio guide | A licensed guide, usually in English | You do |
| Language | Often Russian and Georgian, some English | English, plus other languages on request | Not an issue |
| Mountain roads and 4x4 stretches | Driver knows them; 4x4 extra | Planned for you, local 4x4 arranged | Your risk; some roads excluded by rental insurance |
| Wine tastings | You can drink | You can drink | The driver cannot, as the alcohol limit is very low |
| Flexibility | High within the agreed route | High, with suggestions along the way | Total |
| Best for | Repeat visitors and confident independent travellers | First trips, history and wine lovers, families | Experienced drivers on a budget, longer stays |
Driver only
A driver gets you safely from place to place and waits while you look around. Many speak little English, so they will drop you at Ananuri or Uplistsikhe but will not tell you who built it or why. This works well if you have read up beforehand, or if you mainly want scenery and hikes.
Driver-guide or driver plus guide
For groups of up to three, some companies use one person who both drives and guides. It is cheaper than two people, but the guide cannot talk freely while concentrating on a mountain road. For larger groups, or when you want commentary on the move, a separate guide sits beside the driver. A good guide also sorts out tastings, lunches with families and the small negotiations that make a day run smoothly.
Self-drive
Renting a car is the cheapest private option, especially for two people over a long trip. You save the crew costs but take on Georgian driving habits, parking in Tbilisi and the job of finding your own way. Some operators sell self-drive packages that include the car, hotel bookings and a route plan, which takes care of the logistics without a guide.
Which vehicle fits your group, and what does it add?
Vehicles are priced per day for the whole vehicle, with fuel and the driver's wage included. The figures below are typical 2026 rates for a full day out of Tbilisi of 150 to 300 km; very long days, such as Tbilisi to Mestia, cost more.
| Vehicle | Passengers | Approximate cost per day (2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sedan | 1-3 | 200-350 GEL ($75-135) | Fine for Kakheti, Mtskheta, Uplistsikhe and the Kazbegi road |
| Minivan (Mercedes Vito, Hyundai Starex or similar) | 4-7 | 300-450 GEL ($115-175) | More luggage space; the usual choice for families |
| Minibus (Mercedes Sprinter or similar) | 8-15 | 450-750 GEL ($175-290) | Comfortable for groups; slower on hairpins |
| 4x4 (Toyota Land Cruiser, Delica or similar) | 1-4 | 350-600 GEL ($135-230) | Needed for Tusheti, Khevsureti beyond Shatili and some side valleys |
Group size changes more than the vehicle. A party of four fits a minivan, which costs only a little more than a sedan, so the price per head drops by almost half compared with two people. Beyond seven, a minibus is needed, and the saving per head flattens out. Solo travellers carry the entire daily rate alone, which is why many join a small-group day tour for some days and go private for the rest.
How much does a private day trip from Tbilisi cost?
These per-person ranges are for a full private day from Tbilisi in 2026, such as Kazbegi, Kakheti or Uplistsikhe with Mtskheta. They include the vehicle, fuel and driver, and in the last column a licensed guide. Lunch, tastings and tickets are usually extra on a day trip, though some companies bundle them.
| Group size | Driver only, per person | Driver plus English-speaking guide, per person |
|---|---|---|
| 1 traveller | 250-400 GEL ($95-155) | 450-750 GEL ($175-290) |
| 2 travellers | 125-200 GEL ($48-77) | 225-375 GEL ($85-145) |
| 4 travellers | 75-115 GEL ($29-44) | 110-190 GEL ($42-73) |
| 6 travellers | 55-75 GEL ($21-29) | 80-135 GEL ($31-52) |
| 10 travellers | 50-75 GEL ($19-29) | 65-110 GEL ($25-42) |
Distance matters as well. A half-day to Mtskheta and Jvari, about 25 km each way, sits at the bottom of these ranges. The Kazbegi road, roughly 157 km each way with stops at Ananuri, the Friendship Monument and Gergeti, sits at the top, and a 4x4 for the last climb to Gergeti Trinity Church is often added in Stepantsminda. Vardzia or David Gareja are long days with rough final stretches, and drivers charge accordingly.
How much does a 7-day private tour of Georgia cost?
A week is the most common private tour length, typically covering Tbilisi, the Kazbegi mountains, Kakheti wine country and one more stop such as Uplistsikhe or Borjomi. The table shows typical per-person prices in 2026 for six nights with breakfast, a private vehicle and driver throughout, an English-speaking guide on touring days, entrance tickets and one or two tastings.
| Group size | Mid-range: 3 to 4-star hotels and good guesthouses | Boutique: design, mountain-view and wine-estate hotels |
|---|---|---|
| 1 traveller (own room) | 6,500-9,500 GEL ($2,500-3,650) | 9,500-14,000 GEL ($3,650-5,400) |
| 2 travellers sharing | 3,200-4,800 GEL ($1,230-1,850) | 4,800-7,500 GEL ($1,850-2,900) |
| 4 travellers (two rooms) | 2,200-3,300 GEL ($850-1,270) | 3,800-5,800 GEL ($1,460-2,230) |
| 6 travellers (three rooms) | 1,800-2,800 GEL ($690-1,080) | 3,400-5,200 GEL ($1,310-2,000) |
| 10 travellers (five rooms) | 1,600-2,500 GEL ($615-960) | 3,100-4,800 GEL ($1,190-1,850) |
Notice how the gap between group sizes narrows in the boutique column. Once the transport is shared between several people, hotels become the largest part of the bill, and rooms are charged per room, not per vehicle. For a larger group, upgrading the hotels changes the price far more than adding a guide.
What pushes a week above these ranges
- Adding Svaneti or Batumi, which brings long transfers and often a one-way return of the vehicle.
- A specialist guide: a wine expert, an art historian or a qualified mountain guide for hiking days.
- Full board with wine pairings, private supra dinners with polyphonic singers, or cooking classes on several days.
- Peak dates: the first half of August, the Rtveli harvest weekends in Kakheti and the New Year holidays.
If you want a day-by-day plan before asking for prices, our 7-day Georgia itinerary follows the classic route with drive times and overnight stops, and the Classic Georgia tour below is built on the same loop.
How hotel choice and season change the quote
Accommodation is usually 30 to 50 percent of a week-long private tour, and the most flexible part of it. The same seven days can be built in three quite different ways.
- Family guesthouses: simple, warm and often the best food of the trip. Common in Stepantsminda, Sighnaghi, Telavi villages, Svaneti and Tusheti. Ideal if you value hosts over facilities.
- Mid-range hotels: reliable 3 to 4-star rooms with private bathrooms, heating and breakfast. In Tbilisi these are often converted townhouses in Sololaki or Old Tbilisi.
- Boutique and estate hotels: rooms with a view of Kazbek, wine hotels with their own vineyards in Kakheti, and design hotels in Tbilisi. They lift the price steeply but often become a highlight in themselves.
Season affects hotels more than drivers. Vehicle and guide rates stay fairly level through the year, while room rates in the mountains and on the coast climb in July and August. Late April, May, June, late September and October bring good weather with more room to choose. From November to March, prices drop outside the ski resorts, but some mountain roads and many guesthouses in the high valleys close, so the route itself changes.
What is usually included in a private tour, and what is not
There is no fixed standard in Georgia, so read the inclusions line by line. On a multi-day private tour from a reputable operator, the following is typical.
Usually included
- Airport pickup and drop-off.
- Private vehicle with fuel, parking, tolls and the driver's wages.
- The guide on touring days, sometimes not on free days in Tbilisi.
- Hotel nights with breakfast.
- Rooms and food for your crew on nights outside the capital.
- Entrance tickets for the sites listed in the itinerary.
- Bottled water in the vehicle.
Often included, but check
- Some lunches or dinners, for example a home-cooked meal with a family in Kakheti.
- Wine tastings at a family cellar or an estate.
- Cable car rides and the Narikala cable car in Tbilisi.
- Local 4x4 transfers, such as the ride up to Gergeti or into Juta.
Usually not included
- International flights.
- The travel health insurance every foreign visitor has needed since 1 January 2026.
- Meals and drinks not listed in the itinerary.
- Sulphur bath sessions, spa treatments and optional activities such as paragliding or horse riding.
- Tips for the driver and guide.
- Personal shopping and wine to take home.
How to save money on a private tour in Georgia
- Travel as four: a minivan for four costs little more than a sedan for two, and the per-person price falls by close to half.
- Mix guided and unguided days. Take a guide for history-heavy days at Mtskheta, Uplistsikhe and Tbilisi's Old Town, and a driver only for scenic mountain days.
- Base yourself in Tbilisi for day trips instead of moving hotels every night; you avoid crew overnight costs and repacking.
- Choose guesthouses in the mountains and keep the boutique hotel for one or two special nights.
- Pick May, June, late September or October instead of peak August.
- Plan a loop that ends where it started, or take the train back from the west.
- Combine a self-drive week with one or two guided days in places where a guide adds the most, such as Kakheti cellars or the cave city of Vardzia.
- Skip extras you can arrange yourself, like lunch stops, since a roadside khinkali house costs far less than a pre-booked group meal.
One thing not to cut is safety. A cheaper driver with no licence for tourist transport, worn tyres or no seat belts in the back is a false saving on mountain roads such as the Georgian Military Road or the drive to Mestia.
How to compare private tour quotes from different companies
Two quotes for 'a week in Georgia' can differ by thousands of lari while covering very different things. Run through these checks before choosing.
- Same hotels or same level?
Ask for the hotel names, or at least the category and location. A 4-star on the edge of Tbilisi is not the same as one in Sololaki. - Guide on which days?
Check whether the guide is with you every day or only on some, and whether they are a separate person from the driver. - Which meals and tastings?
Count the lunches and dinners included and note which tastings are named. - Tickets and transfers
Confirm entrance fees, the Gergeti 4x4, cable cars and airport transfers. - Group size and price per person
Make sure both quotes assume the same number of travellers and rooms. - Cancellation terms and licences
Ask about deposits, refund rules and whether the vehicles carry passenger insurance.
Frequently asked questions
What is the daily price of a private tour in Georgia?
Budget roughly 450 to 750 lari, about $175 to $290, for a full day with your own vehicle, driver and guide, shared by the whole party and excluding lunch and tickets. Without the guide, the day drops to somewhere between 200 and 450 lari for the vehicle. Split the total by the number of travellers for the per-person figure.
Is a private tour in Georgia worth it for two people?
Usually yes for the first trip. A couple pays roughly 225 to 375 lari each for a guided day, and they get a route built around their interests, local contacts and no driving on mountain roads. On a tight budget, a driver-only day or a shared group tour costs much less.
How much is a 7-day private tour of Georgia?
A couple sharing rooms should plan on about 3,200 to 4,800 lari each with mid-range hotels in 2026, or 4,800 to 7,500 lari each if every night is in a boutique hotel. Four travellers pay noticeably less per person, and a solo traveller pays much more.
Is it cheaper to rent a car or hire a driver in Georgia?
Renting is cheaper, at about 80-160 GEL ($30-60) a day for a small car plus fuel, against 200-450 GEL ($75-175) for a car with driver. The driver saves you stress on mountain roads and lets you join wine tastings, so the gap narrows once you value those.
Do private tour prices in Georgia include meals?
Breakfast is almost always included with the hotel. Lunches and dinners vary: some tours include a few special meals, such as a family supra or a cellar lunch, and leave the rest to you. Check the itinerary day by day.
When is the cheapest time for a private tour in Georgia?
Shoulder months such as May, early June, late September and October offer good weather with lower hotel rates than July and August. Winter is cheapest outside the ski resorts, but some mountain areas are cut off.
Should I tip on a private tour in Georgia?
Tips are not included in the price and are not compulsory, but they are customary when the driver and guide have looked after you well. Many travellers give each of them a tip at the end of the trip.
