Davit Gareji Monastery Tour: Desert & Wine Tasting

Ancient cave monastery, desert steppe, and a working winery in one day

A full-day tour from Tbilisi to Davit Gareji Monastery Complex in the arid Gareja Desert, with a live English or Russian-speaking guide, stops at two functioning cave monasteries, and wine tasting at a traditional Georgian winery. The route crosses a waterless steppe dotted with bizarre rock formations and views of the Caucasus Mountains, passing through Udabno village on the way. Hotel pickup is included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit monastery and wine tasting

• Travel from Tbilisi southeast
• Stop for photos at salt lake
• Explore Gareja Desert landscapes
• Visit David Lavra Cave Monastery
• Tour Monastery of the Baptist
• Taste wine at traditional winery

The experience

The drive from Tbilisi heads southeast toward the Georgian-Azerbaijani border, crossing a landscape unlike the rest of Georgia: a waterless steppe that shifts color with the seasons, ridged with oddly shaped hills, and framed by distant Caucasus peaks. The guide stops at the salt lake and other vantage points for photographs before arriving at Davit Gareji, a functioning male monastery carved into rock in the 6th century. You walk the monastery grounds, see the cell of David of Gareja with its natural spring, and enter the main temple while the guide explains why this monk remains one of Georgia's most revered saints and the history layered into the complex.

The second monastery, the Natlismcemeli (Baptist) Monastery, sits nestled between caves and rocks, also founded in the 6th century by one of David's disciples. It too is an active monastery, with multiple cave temples and a central church. The desert itself is the other draw: in winter, herds of sheep graze across the yellow-red expanses. In other seasons, the harsh beauty of the stone desert opens chances to spot wild foxes, jackals, and eagles if you're patient with a camera.

After the monastery visits, the tour ends at a traditional Georgian winery where you taste different wines made from local grape varieties. The full day runs about eight hours from pickup to return.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup from Tbilisi.
• live guide in English or Russian.
• entry to Davit Gareji Monastery Complex and the Natlismcemeli Monastery.
• wine tasting at a traditional Georgian winery.
• WiFi on board.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:30

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Russian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats available

Operated by ushba travel

Is this one for you?Hotel pickup means you don't need a car or a ride to reach the desert. The guide collects you and handles the full route. If you're staying in central Tbilisi without transport, this removes the logistics of reaching a remote monastery eight hours away.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Russian.

What is Davit Gareji Monastery actually like when you get there?

Davit Gareji is a functioning male monastery carved into rock cliffs, founded in the 6th century. You walk the grounds, enter the main temple, and see the cell of David of Gareja with a natural spring inside. The guide explains the history and why David is revered in Georgian Orthodox tradition.

Can I see wildlife in the Gareja Desert, or is it just rock and sand?

The desert landscape does support wildlife. Depending on the season, you may spot wild foxes, jackals, and eagles. In winter, herds of sheep graze across the steppe. The guide stops at good vantage points for photography.

Do I need a car to get there from Tbilisi, or is transport included?

Hotel pickup from Tbilisi is included, so you don't need your own transport. The guide drives you southeast to the monastery and back, stopping at the salt lake and other scenic points along the way.

What happens at the winery at the end of the day?

You visit a traditional Georgian winery and taste different wines made from various local grape varieties. This concludes the tour before you're returned to your hotel.

Is this tour only for people in good physical shape?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. You walk around the monastery grounds and the cave complex, but the pace is manageable and the guide controls the stops.