Nate, Kara, and Charlie explore Vardzia, a 12th-century cave complex carved into a Georgian cliff with roughly 600 caves across 13 floors. Built as refuge during Mongol invasions and exposed by an earthquake, the site features narrow tunnels, stables, and secret passages they navigate before driving north to Chiatura.
Questions this video answers
Day six.
About 600 caves/rooms.
Around 13 floors.
12th century.
Up to 12 horses.
Chapters
The crazy part about this is that we have been walking through these tunnels for over 20 minutes, and there was just one tiny entrance. We thought we were going into another room. And we've just discovered this tunnel system that's right beside the monastery.
Today is day six on our road trip through Georgia and Armenia. And this morning we are in a small town in southwestern Georgia.
Our friend Charlie is still with us, and our first stop of the day is this really cool cliff of 600 caves called Varzia. And we get to go inside.
How's it look?
Looks awesome. Absolutely fantastic. Apparently a wonder created by God is the way it's been described by the Persians.
How many? Just one.
One.
Oh, thank you, sir.
You only have to pay one, Larry, to ride the bus to the top and then walk down. So that's what we're doing. Listening to Rihanna in Georgia.
We're here.
So Vadia was built over the 12th century. It was started by the father and completed by his daughter. It consisted over 13 different floors with more than 600 rooms. And we just had a little look at the stables that held up to 12 horses. And it's absolutely incredible.
We got an audio guide for Charlie so he can tell us the facts while we're busy filming so he's not bored.
That and because I'm the most intelligent person in the group, that too. I'm loving this. Imagine just coming up in the morning.
Being like this.
Beautiful view.
We've been in two of the 600 rounds. Just 598 to go.
This entire complex was built when the early Georgians were trying to hide from the Mongols and is they were invading this region of the world. And I think the most fascinating thing about this entire place is that it was all built using tunnels. So there was a secret passageway down by the river, and they dug up from there. The only reason that you can see the rooms now is because there was a big earthquake. And it basically took off half of the side of the mountain and then revealed this entire complex.
That's where they kept the wine.
Yeah. It looks like maybe we go down and back up.
Awesome.
Fantastic.
I love all the birds.
Oh, it's tight in here.
We just entered this tiny tunnel called the refuge, and it goes forever into the mountain. It's crazy.
This gives you a much better feel for what it would have been like to live within the mountain before the side fell off. This is nuts.
So this was something that they would throw rocks down at. So I think this is where you would come if, like, you were getting attacked or Something they would throw rocks on their enemies.
Hello. Oh, yeah. You could have totally thrown rocks at the people.
Get out of my fortress. So incredible to know that people actually lived this way, that they hid in these caves to save their lives.
This place is amazing. First of all, it's nice and cold in here, so it's been nice. And secondly, you can really tell how much they valued the church. This cave, compared to all the other tiny ones, like their kitchens and their bedrooms. This thing is huge. It just keeps on going. It's amazing.
These rooms are so big.
I think we've gone in every single one of these caves. We're kind of slowing down. We rounded this corner and there is a whole new cliff face.
I mean, there were 13 floors. I feel like we've seen five.
Like a kid. The candy shop. Give me a stickers.
Our second stop of the day is the Kurvitsky Kurt BC. So the fortress is built in the 1300s, and then it was captured and destroyed and then rebuilt and destroyed and rebuilt and destroyed. And now today, they've obviously rebuilt it because it's absolutely incredible.
This fortress is huge. It's free to get in. And the crazy part is we're pretty much the only ones here. Like, we have this entire place all to ourselves.
The fortress was nice. Now we are getting back in the car and hitting the road.
We have a three and a half hour drive north to the town of Chiatura. We're actually staying, like, a little bit north of Chiatura, but I don't know how to pronounce the name of the very small town that we're staying in. We think we found an incredible Airbnb. We've arranged for the grandma and the grandpa of the house to cook us dinner. So we're all very excited. But there's also a chance that, like.
Our expectations are way too high.
It could be a very normal meal.
We made it.
Hello?
Yes.
You think we're gonna pick a chicken that we're gonna eat tonight?
Oh, my goodness.
Our Airbnb comes a puppy. Enjoy the week. And there's baby duck.
This is officially my favorite Airbnb ever.
We've got some grapes.
Oh, fantastic.
Did you hear that, folks?
Oh, it's so good. Fantastic.
Wow.
Ooh, we got ourselves in. Where have we been?
Hey.
Think this has a big bug in it.
Today is day six on our road trip through Georgia and Armenia. And this morning they are doing construction. Charlie.
Well, out of there, neighbor. Let's get in the bath.
Oh, night's getting very active.
These days. To your right. To your right. Okay, good.
Oh, you'll be coming at the other one.
Yeah. All right, go.
Can you see me?
No.
You okay. Okay.
Big body job.
Just moving the dust around.
Pretty hard to clean the windows here, but they have a great system.
You only live once for yourself. I didn't realize you were filming again.
