1-Day Trip to David Gareja Monastery with Rainbow Hills & Sighnaghi from Tbilisi

Explore caves with monumental paintings in semi-desert "Gareja Country" and feast your eyes on colorful landscapes and salt lakes of picturesque region. Then discover the city of love which is located on the top of hills next to Caucasus ridge and Alazani valley wine country.

Your driver and local tour guide will pick-up you from your accommodation place in Tbilisi, and travel into the semi-desert area of Southeast Georgia by Rustavi Hwy and then to offroad with Jeep 4x4, where the main David Gareja monastery complexes (Lavra and Natlismcemeli monasteries) awaits. Settle inside your comfortable, where you can relax as your guide shares stories about the region, it's an early middle ages one of the most remarkable religious and cultural center of Georgia. The complex was founded in the 6th century by St. David Garejeli on of the thirteen Assyrian fathers.

First stop will be Monastery Ioane Natlismtsemeli (Joan Baptist), The monastery dated 6th century; and has great examples of asceticism monasteries lifestyle in Georgia. Founded by St. David Garejeli one of the Thirteen Assyrian Fathers who arrived from Mesopotamia to Georgia to strengthen Christianity in the country. monastery rewards all travelers who hike to explore it with a dazzling variety of monumental paintings, cave structure and landscape.

Feast your eyes on colorful landscapes as you travel to the sacred monastery and see the monumental paintings inside caves within Natlimcemeli monastery. Enjoy undivided attention of your guide shares stories with you about the monastery.

Before arriving to main monastery from right side of mountain slope you will see Chichkhituri tower, which was part of monastery with the same name. in early medieval time it was living place for the head of monastery Lavra.

Arriving on Parking lot

Before leaving David Gareja complex your guide will take you, to short 30/40 min hike in beautiful Rainbow (colorful) Hills formed by volcanically sandstone and minerals, there are few places on earth where Mother Nature gives such an awesome display of colors.
Main monastery from David Gareja Monastery Complexes with tomb of St. David Gareji. spirit center for Georgians and orthodox communities. Great example architecture constructions. has overlooks to colorful hills

Second drive to the sacred Lavra monastery to plunge into the Georgia's middle ages history and architecture.
Main monastery from David Gareja Monastery Complexes with tomb of St. David Gareji. spirit center for Georgians and orthodox communities. Great example architecture constructions. has overlooks to colorful hills

After a short, 20 minutes’ drive from Lavra you will see village Udabno, it’s built in the 1980s as a USSR project, was designed for militaries but project wasn't implementation by government. since Georgia get independence here was relocated inhabitants from Svaneti Region they are environmental migrants. it was almost Forgotten village, but after, Polish initiative group decided settle here many things changed. Here is great possibility to get experience of Georgian & Polish hospitality in Semi desert area of Georgia

From Gareja, travel to the village Badiauri, there is possible to visit locals bread bakeries and participate to bake Georgian bread. It’s made of white flour and has half-moon shapes

Signagi or Sighnaghi is a town in Georgia's easternmost region of Kakheti and the administrative center of the Signagi Municipality. Word Sighnaghi in Turkic language means shelter or trench. Nowadays it's calls as a city of love.

It's one of Georgia's smallest towns but popular tourist destination due to it's romantic narrow streets, organic amber wineries, marriage palace where foreigners also allow to take service of it.

At the final stop of your travel day captivating City of love awaits you. Signagi or Sighnaghi XVIII century town is with rich history, fortifications and defense walls. Option to take a guided tour to explore the town’s historic center, wander amid the tiny streets as you learn about their history. Visit to highest tower and tiny streets to admire spectacular views on Alazani valley and Caucasus ridge with staggering rugged mountain peaks.

Or, make the most of some free time to set your own pace, roam the streets of old town and perhaps enjoy with Georgian cuisine, wine tasting or a coffee in the sun alongside the locals (own expense). Meet other visitors to the area and indulge in local treats such as Churchkhela, dry fruits and Tklapi.

If you would like to explore Sighnaghi individual and taste some natural wines, we suggest you Small cozy restaurant, located on the highest point of town, famous with Amber/orange natural wines. OKRO'S WINES is made from the best, selected grapes of Saperavi variety. Great place to enjoy with lunch and spent free time

Return to Tbilisi in the evening, and finish your tour with a drop-off at the start point.

You will continue your trip to Bodbe monastery with spectacular views, 9th century three-nave basilica, ring ball tower and modern church.

The Monastery of St. Nino at Bodbe with himself is a Georgian Orthodox monastic complex and located 2 km from the town of Sighnaghi, Kakheti, Georgia. Originally built between 7-9th century, it has been significantly remodeled, especially in sthe 17th century. The monastery now functions as a nunnery and is one of the major pilgrimage sites in Georgia. From viewpoint possible to enjoy spectacular views on famous valley Alazani, the main wine producing area of Kakheti Wine Country.