Disappointed by the tourist experience around Vardzia cave monastery

Vardzia cave monastery in Georgia is extraordinary — the scale and history hit you immediately. But the experience around it has been thoroughly commercialised. Getting there, navigating the crowds, and dealing with persistent sellers around Tbilisi centre made it more stressful than it should be.

Away from the main sites the country improves dramatically. The food (chacha brandy especially) is excellent and ancient Christian heritage was genuinely memorable. But I'd wish for a smoother experience at the headline attractions. It's still worth the trip — just lower your expectations around the big sights.