Rainbow Mountains & David Gareja: Day Trip from Tbilisi

Summary

Georgia’s painted hills, silent monastery caves and desert trails in one day

You’ll set out from Tbilisi for a day that feels both strange and grounding: grab snacks with your group, see Georgia’s Rainbow Mountains up close, walk through Udabno’s desert silence, and explore the ancient cave monastery of David Gareja with a local guide before heading home as sunset nears.

What’s the experience like?

I’ll be honest — I signed up for this Rainbow Mountains & David Gareja day trip mostly because I’d seen those wild photos online. But standing there, shoes crunching on the salty earth near that lake (which honestly looked like it belonged on another planet), I realized it wasn’t just about the colors. Our group was still half asleep when we met in Tbilisi, but by the time we’d grabbed snacks at this little roadside shop (the lady behind the counter gave me a look when I pointed at some unfamiliar pastry — I bought it anyway), things felt more real. The air out there is dry and sharp, and you can smell dust and something faintly metallic.

The drive through Udabno Village was a bit surreal. It’s called “desert” in Georgian, which makes sense — endless beige hills, one or two shepherds waving as we passed. Our guide, Giorgi, kept tossing out facts about how this is Georgia’s only semi-desert. He also laughed when someone tried to pronounce “Udabno” (I’m not even going to try spelling how it sounded). The Rainbow Mountains themselves are… well, they don’t look real up close. You get these streaks of red and ochre and pale green under your feet, like someone spilled paint everywhere. We hiked a bit — not too hard — and took way too many photos. Sun was high by then; I remember squinting so much my eyes watered.

After that came David Gareja Monastery. There’s something quieting about the place — old stones, faded frescoes inside cave chapels, a soldier standing at the border with Azerbaijan just watching us pass by. Giorgi told stories about St. David choosing this spot for its isolation; it really does feel cut off from everything else. No lunch stop out here (so yeah, bring snacks), but honestly I didn’t mind — maybe hunger made everything sharper? On the ride back to Tbilisi, everyone was quieter than before. That view of striped hills stuck with me longer than I expected.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Rainbow Mountains and David Gareja

• Meet travelers at meeting point
• Buy snacks at local shop
• Visit salty lake for photos
• Drive through Udabno Village desert
• Hike and photograph Rainbow Mountains
• Tour David Gareji Lavra monastery
• Return to Tbilisi and finish tour

Top questions

How long is the Rainbow Mountains & David Gareja day trip?

The tour lasts about 7 hours, returning to Tbilisi around 5 pm.

Is lunch included on this tour?

No lunch stop is included; you should buy snacks at the first shop stop.

Do you need special clothing for visiting David Gareja Monastery?

Yes—shorts aren’t allowed inside churches and women need to cover their heads.

Is transportation provided from Tbilisi?

Yes, transportation service is included from Tbilisi for the whole tour.

What physical fitness level is required?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels but not recommended for those with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health.

Are children allowed on this tour?

The minimum age for travelers is 5 years old.

Does this trip operate in all weather conditions?

Yes—the tour runs regardless of weather; dress accordingly.

What’s included

Your day includes round-trip transportation from Tbilisi and a professional local guide who leads you through every stop—from snack shopping to hiking among Georgia’s Rainbow Mountains and exploring David Gareja Monastery—before returning you safely to the city by evening.