Drive toward Vardzia, stopping first at the 10th-century Khertvisi Fortress. Vardzia is a huge cave city carved into the cliffs along the Mtkvari River, with winding passages, churches, refectories, wine cellars and living quarters spread across multiple levels. A local guide explains how the site rose, changed and survived, and how it functions today as a working monastery. Back in Akhaltsikhe, you can visit Rabati Fortress, a complex of watchtowers, gardens and places of worship. Your leader can help arrange a local guide, or you can return to the hotel for a quieter evening.