David Gareji: monks, frescoes and a border in the desert

By Prof. Giorgi Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhD · 15/09/2026

Updated 17 October 2026

The road south-east from Tbilisi runs out of trees within an hour. By the time it reaches the Gareji ridge the land is semi-desert — grass gone gold by May, red and ochre hills folded like cloth, eagles, tortoises, the occasional shepherd — and it is hard to believe this is the same country as Svaneti. It is the setting for the most unexpected monastery in Georgia.

The founder

David of Gareji was one of the thirteen Syrian fathers, monks who arrived from the Middle East in the 6th century and established monasticism in Georgia. He had first settled on a hill above Tbilisi — Mtatsminda, the “holy mountain”, still named for him — and then withdrew with a disciple to this wilderness, living in a cave and drinking, the legend says, rain collected in a hollow of the rock. Others followed. Over the next thousand years the ridge was honeycombed with cells, chapels and refectories, and Gareji became the spiritual and artistic heart of eastern Georgia, with a school of fresco painting whose work is among the finest in the Caucasus.

Lavra

The main monastery, Lavra, is built into the south face of the ridge in tiers: a courtyard, a church cut into the rock with David’s tomb inside, cells stacked up the cliff, terraces with the desert stretching away below. Half a dozen monks live here, and it is a working monastery — quiet is asked for, and given. The rock around the tomb is worn smooth by pilgrims‘ hands. The church is small and dark and the tomb is a slab under a low arch; the power of the place is in its improbability.

The ridge and Udabno

A path climbs from Lavra to the crest of the ridge — twenty minutes, steep, with the wind — and on the far side, cut into the north face, are the caves of Udabno, the “desert” monastery, with frescoes from the 10th to 13th centuries: a Last Supper, Saint David with the deer that the legend says fed him, a procession of Georgian kings. From the crest you look south into Azerbaijan, whose border runs along the ridge itself. Access to the Udabno caves depends on the border guards on the day; when it is open, it is the best walk in eastern Georgia, and when it is not, the crest alone is worth the climb.

Practical

Spring, from April to early June, is the season: green hills, flowers, cool air, and the rainbow-striped clay at its most vivid. Autumn is good; July and August are brutal, and winter is windy and grand. Water, hat, proper shoes. Modest dress at Lavra. The nearest village is far; bring lunch or eat at a winery on the way back — Sagarejo, on the road, has several.

See it with GTour

Gareji is a day of its own — the David Gareji day trip, with a winery lunch at Sagarejo on the return — and can be added to the Grand Wine & Heritage tour as a fourth day.

This story in Georgian — ქართულად: shenidasveneba.ge

Quick answers

Who founded David Gareji monastery? David of Gareji, one of the thirteen Syrian fathers who arrived in the 6th century to establish monasticism in Georgia, founded it. He first settled on Mtatsminda above Tbilisi before withdrawing to this desert wilderness, living in a cave and drinking rainwater collected in the rock.

What is Lavra? Lavra is the main monastery at David Gareji, built in tiers into the south face of the ridge, with a courtyard, a rock-cut church containing David's tomb, cells stacked up the cliff, and terraces overlooking the desert. It remains a working monastery today, home to about half a dozen monks, and visitors are asked to keep quiet.

What can be seen at Udabno? Udabno is the 'desert' monastery cut into the north face of the ridge, reached by a steep twenty-minute climb from Lavra. Its caves hold frescoes from the 10th to 13th centuries, including a Last Supper, Saint David with the deer that fed him, and a procession of Georgian kings.

Can you always visit the Udabno caves? Not always — access depends on the border guards on the day, since Gareji's ridge marks the frontier with Azerbaijan. When open it offers the best walk in eastern Georgia, and even when closed, reaching the crest of the ridge for the view south into Azerbaijan is worth the climb.

When is the best time to visit David Gareji? Spring, from April to early June, is the best season, with green hills, flowers, cool air, and vividly colored clay. Autumn is also good, while July and August are described as brutal and winter as windy and grand.

What should visitors bring or know before going? Visitors should bring water, a hat, and proper shoes, and dress modestly at Lavra. Since the nearest village is far away, it's best to bring lunch or eat afterward at a winery in Sagarejo, a town on the road back which has several options.

How can you visit David Gareji with GTour? GTour offers a dedicated David Gareji day trip that includes a winery lunch at Sagarejo on the return journey. It can also be added as a fourth day to the Grand Wine & Heritage tour.