Akhaltsikhe, 30 km north, is the natural base for visiting Vardzia. The Rabati fortress there is worth a few hours on the same day. The drive between the two passes through the Kura gorge, which is dramatic enough to be an attraction in itself.
Borjomi, about 90 km north, is Georgia's famous spa town in a green valley on the edge of the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park. It makes a reasonable stop on the way to or from Tbilisi if you have your own transport.
Tsunda, a tiny village just before Vardzia on the road from Akhaltsikhe, has hot springs and basic accommodation — useful if you want to spend a night in the valley rather than commuting from the city.
