David Gareja & Udabno Day Trip
Into Georgia's semi-desert for the rock-cut monasteries of David Gareja: the Lavra, a ridge hike up to Udabno monastery and its cave churches, and a village lunch.
David Gareja MonasteryPhoto: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0Carved into the soft sandstone of the Gareja semi-desert hills, right on the border with Azerbaijan and some two hours south-east of Tbilisi, David Gareja is a complex of cave monasteries. Its first monastery was founded in the 6th century by St David Garejeli, who belonged to the Thirteen Assyrian Fathers, and generations of monks went on to carve churches, cells and dining halls into the cliffs. This private trip starts at the Lavra, where monks still live, then climbs the ridge above it to Udabno monastery, whose cave churches face the open steppe and hold medieval frescoes.
Nowhere else in Georgia looks quite like this: bare, banded hills in pinks and ochres, raptors circling above and, in spring, a brief flush of wildflowers. Allow two to three hours for the ridge walk, which begins steeply and has a few exposed stretches. Summer heat is intense and snakes are out, so spring or autumn with an early departure is what we recommend for this trip.
Highlights
- The Lavra of David Gareja, a 6th-century foundation
- Walking the ridge with the steppe stretching toward Azerbaijan
- Udabno monastery, with its cave churches and medieval frescoes
- Banded pink and ochre hills across the Gareja semi-desert
- A late lunch in the steppe village of Udabno
Tour facts
The car park is close to the Lavra, and its courtyard can be reached with a few steps, so you can visit it without the hike. The ridge to Udabno is steep, rocky and exposed and is not suitable for reduced mobility.
Places on this tour
1 places · tap any place to read its guide
- 1The Lavra, the border ridge and Udabno monastery
Day by day
01The Lavra, the border ridge and Udabno monastery
Leave Tbilisi at around 8 am. The road runs south-east via Sagarejo onto the open steppe; the final stretch passes Udabno village and the striped desert hills. At the Lavra, your guide shows you the monks' rock-cut cells, the cliff church and the grave of St David himself. Then take the steep path up behind the monastery to the ridge, which forms the border with Azerbaijan. Follow the trail along the crest to Udabno monastery, with its cave churches, refectories and medieval frescoes. Walk back down to the parking area, and drive the short way to Udabno village, where a late lunch is waiting before the return to Tbilisi.
Prices
Price per person for a private tour, by the size of your group. Sample prices
| Group size | Per person | Whole group |
|---|---|---|
| Solo traveller | $175 | $175 |
| 2 travellers | $100 | $200 |
| 3-4 travellers | $70 | from $210 |
| 5-8 travellers | $50 | from $250 |
| 9-15 travellers | $35 | from $315 |
Room and children
- Children under 6 travel free; ages 6-11 pay 50%.
- Prices change with hotel level and season; your quote is final.
Popular add-ons
- Lunch at a family guesthouse$20
- Upgrade to a 4x4 for the whole day$40
What's included
- Tbilisi hotel pickup and return
- Private guide who speaks English
- A private air-conditioned car and driver
- Late lunch in Udabno
- Sun hats and drinking water in the car
- Scarves and wrap skirts for entering the monastery
- Drinks other than those included
- Tipping, at your discretion
- Personal expenses such as souvenirs
- Travel health insurance (compulsory for visitors to Georgia since 2026)
Good to know
Who it's for
- Walkers who want a short but steep hike rewarded by wide views over cave monasteries and steppe
- Photographers drawn to striped semi-desert hills, unlike anywhere else in Georgia
- Travellers curious about monastic life, since monks still live at the Lavra
- Birdwatchers hoping to spot eagles and vultures over the steppe in spring
If you do not want to climb or walk near drops, choose the Mtskheta Day Trip, which has similarly old monasteries with very little walking.
What to bring
- Sturdy shoes with good grip for the steep, gravelly path behind the Lavra
- At least 1.5 litres of water per person, as there is nothing to buy along the ridge
- A sun hat, sunglasses and sun cream for the open, shadeless ridge
- A long skirt or trousers and a headscarf for the Lavra, where the monks expect modest dress
- Your passport, since border guards may be on the ridge
- A windproof layer for the exposed crest in April and November
- The ridge runs along the Georgia–Azerbaijan border. Stay on the path and follow the guide and any border guards' instructions.
- Access to the Udabno cave churches can vary, and your guide checks on the day.
- Snakes, including vipers, are active in warm months. Watch where you put your hands and feet.
- The last stretch of road is partly rough. After heavy rain we may need to change the date.
- Summer heat makes the ridge walk unsafe in the middle of the day, so we start early from April to November.
Walking days in numbers
| Day | Distance | Up | Down | Hours | Highest point |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 km | +250 m | −250 m | 2-3 | 900 m |
Guest reviews
Questions about this tour
Is the David Gareja ridge walk difficult?
Right behind the Lavra the path starts steep and rocky, and along the ridge it passes a few exposed drops. Fit walkers find it comfortable in two to three hours. If you would rather not climb, you can visit just the Lavra and enjoy the view from below.
Is it safe to visit David Gareja so close to the border?
Yes. Part of the monastery complex sits on the border with Azerbaijan, and you may see border guards on the ridge. Keep to the marked path, do what your guide asks and have your passport with you.
