David Gareja Monastery Day Trip: Caves, Hills & Sighnaghi

Hike into painted caves, then walk Rainbow Hills and a medieval town in one afternoon

A full-day tour from Tbilisi to David Gareja Monastery, Rainbow Hills and Sighnaghi with a local guide, 4WD transport and hotel pickup. You explore two 6th-century cave monasteries on foot, see monumental paintings inside Natlismcemeli, hike through the volcanically colored Rainbow Hills, then spend the afternoon in Sighnaghi's narrow streets with views across the Alazani valley and Caucasus ridge. A short bread-making lesson at a local bakery is included.

Step-by-step itinerary

David Gareja Monastery and Sighnaghi tour

• Pick up from Tbilisi accommodation
• Drive to David Gareja monastery complex by Jeep 4x4
• Visit Ioane Natlismtsemeli Monastery and explore caves
• See Chichkhituri tower from mountain slope
• Arrive at David Gareja parking lot
• Hike Rainbow Hills for colorful landscapes
• Visit Lavra monastery and tomb of St. David Gareji
• Drive past Udabno village
• Visit Badiauri village bread bakery and bake bread
• Explore Sighnaghi town historic center and walls
• Optional wine tasting and lunch at Okro's Wines
• Return to Tbilisi and drop off at start point

The experience

Your driver picks you up from your Tbilisi hotel and heads southeast toward the semi-desert of Gareja Country by Rustavi Highway, then turns onto rough tracks where a 4WD becomes necessary. The landscape shifts from city to open scrub as your guide begins sharing the history of the region: a spiritual center since the 6th century, when St. David Garejeli, one of the Thirteen Assyrian Fathers, founded the monastery complex here to strengthen Christianity in Georgia. The journey itself is part of the day. The guide's commentary fills the drive with context so the sites make sense when you reach them.

At David Gareja, you hike on foot to two main monasteries. Natlismcemeli (also called Joan Baptist) rewards the climb with dazzling monumental paintings inside caves carved into the rock face, along with views across the semi-desert landscape. The main Lavra monastery holds the tomb of St. David Garejeli and stands as a spiritual center for Georgian Orthodox communities: the architecture and the setting convey why pilgrims have come here for fourteen centuries. Before leaving the complex, your guide takes you on a short 30–40 minute hike through the Rainbow Hills, where volcanic sandstone and minerals have created stripes of rust, gold, purple and green across the slopes. Few places on earth show color like this. You'll also see the Chichkhituri tower, a medieval defensive structure that once housed the head of the Lavra monastery.

The afternoon moves to Sighnaghi, a small fortified town perched on a hilltop overlooking the Alazani valley and the Caucasus ridge. The narrow streets, 18th-century walls and marriage palace (where foreigners can legally marry) have earned it the nickname "city of love." You have time to wander at your own pace, climb to the highest tower for views across the wine country, or stop for lunch and local wine at one of the small restaurants. On the route, there's also a stop at a village bread bakery where you'll join a short masterclass in making Georgian bread. The half-moon shaped loaves made from white flour that appear at every table. Your driver returns you to Tbilisi in the evening.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Tbilisi.
• bottled water.
• transport in a comfortable 4WD car with air conditioning.
• a short masterclass in Georgian bread making at a local bakery.
• a live guide in English or Russian (depending on the group).
• a 30–40 minute hike through the Rainbow Hills.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 22 Aug 2027

Book up to4h before

AgesUp to age 83

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Russian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePets welcomeNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Taste of Georgia

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English or Russian, so you'll follow the commentary comfortably in one of those languages. The day involves hiking and walking on uneven terrain, but it suits all fitness levels. If you have cardiovascular concerns or are pregnant, check with the operator before booking.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Russian.

What are the cave monasteries at David Gareja actually like to explore?

Natlismcemeli and Lavra are carved into rock faces and require hiking to reach them. Inside Natlismcemeli you'll see monumental paintings from the 6th century on the cave walls, and the Lavra monastery holds the tomb of St. David Garejeli. Both sites show how monks lived in these caves as part of ascetic monastery life in medieval Georgia.

How much walking and hiking is involved in this tour?

The tour includes a 30–40 minute hike through the Rainbow Hills and walking on foot to explore both monasteries at David Gareja. The terrain is manageable but involves climbing. The guide leads the way and sets the pace.

What makes the Rainbow Hills worth seeing?

The Rainbow Hills are formed by volcanic sandstone and minerals that create natural stripes of rust, gold, purple and green across the slopes. Few places on earth display color like this. The effect is strongest in daylight and changes depending on the angle of the sun.

What can you do in Sighnaghi, and how much free time is there?

Sighnaghi is an 18th-century fortified town with narrow streets, a marriage palace, and views across the Alazani valley and Caucasus ridge. You have free time to explore at your own pace, visit the highest tower, wander the old town, or eat and drink at local restaurants. Wine tasting at natural wine bars is available at your own expense.

Is there a bread-making lesson, and what does it involve?

Yes, a short masterclass in Georgian bread making is included at a village bakery on the route. You'll learn to make and bake the half-moon shaped loaves (made from white flour) that are a staple of Georgian meals.

What is the drive like, and how much time is spent in the car?

The tour is 9–11 hours total and involves driving from Tbilisi southeast to Gareja Country, then to Sighnaghi. Part of the route uses rough off-road tracks, which is why a 4WD vehicle is necessary. Your guide shares stories and history during the drive, so the transport time is part of learning about the region.