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# Davit Gareji and the Semi-Desert — Monastery, Steppe and Rainbow Hills

> gtour.ge — G Tour, Gateway to Georgia. Cite as: GTour desk, gtour.ge.

- Canonical: https://gtour.ge/tour/davit-gareji-udabno-day-trip/
- Author: 
- Published: 2026-10-27
- Updated: 2026-10-27
- Language: en
- Russian edition: https://gtour.ge/ru/tour/davit-gareji-udabno-day-trip/

€180 per person8 hoursPrivate · car & English-speaking guideBased on two travellers

A day on the Georgia–Azerbaijan border: the Lavra of Davit Gareji, striped semi-desert hills, and a steppe view that changes colour by the hour.

The route

[Tbilisi](https://gtour.ge/georgia/tbilisi/)[Rustavi](https://gtour.ge/georgia/rustavi/)[Dedoplistskaro](https://gtour.ge/georgia/dedoplistskaro/)

Why this tour

- —Davit Gareji Lavra, a working monastery carved into rock since the 6th century, still inhabited by monks

- —Panoramic ridge walk overlooking the Azerbaijan border and the open steppe

- —Striped sandstone hills (the 'rainbow hills') in shades of red, grey and ochre

- —Honest route: the Udabno cave complex is closed in 2025–2026 due to border restrictions, checked at booking for any change

- —Lunch stop at the Oasis Club in Udabno village, a small outpost built around the monastery visits

- —Drive through [Rustavi](https://gtour.ge/georgia/rustavi/)'s Soviet-planned skyline and the dry vineyard country near [Dedoplistskaro](https://gtour.ge/georgia/dedoplistskaro/)

Itinerary

08:00Pickup in [Tbilisi](https://gtour.ge/georgia/tbilisi/) and drive east, passing through [Rustavi](https://gtour.ge/georgia/rustavi/) with its mid-century industrial blocks along the Mtkvari.

09:30Continue toward [Dedoplistskaro](https://gtour.ge/georgia/dedoplistskaro/) district as the landscape turns to open semi-desert and wine country thins out.

11:00Arrive at Davit Gareji Lavra, the main monastery complex, with time to see the cave churches and refectory.

12:30Walk up to the ridge above the Lavra for the view over the steppe toward Azerbaijan (the Udabno cave trail itself is closed 2025–2026, checked at booking).

13:30Lunch at the Oasis Club in Udabno village (not included, paid on site).

15:00Return drive to [Tbilisi](https://gtour.ge/georgia/tbilisi/).

16:00Drop-off at your [Tbilisi](https://gtour.ge/georgia/tbilisi/) hotel or address.

Included

- ✓ Private transport by sedan or minivan, air-conditioned

- ✓ English-speaking driver

- ✓ Licensed guide for the monastery and viewpoint

- ✓ Hotel pickup and drop-off in Tbilisi

- ✓ Bottled water

- ✓ All tolls and parking

Not included

- — Lunch at the Oasis Club (paid locally)

- — Personal expenses and gratuities

- — Any entrance donation requested by the monastery (checked at booking)

Good to know

- · Modest dress required inside the monastery: shoulders and knees covered, women should bring a headscarf (wraps are usually available at the entrance)

- · The unpaved sections toward the Lavra can be rough after rain; a 4×4 or high-clearance vehicle is used when conditions require it

- · The Udabno cave complex remains closed through 2025–2026 due to its proximity to the Azerbaijan border, status checked at booking

- · Wind and sun on the open steppe are strong even in cooler months; bring a hat, sunscreen and a light jacket

- · The ridge walk involves uneven, rocky ground for 30–40 minutes; comfortable walking shoes are recommended

- · Spring and autumn give the clearest light on the striped hills; summer midday heat on the steppe is considerable

Questions

**Can we still visit the Udabno cave monastery?**
No. That section is closed through 2025–2026 because of its location on the border with Azerbaijan. We visit the Lavra and the ridge viewpoint instead, and we check the status again before each booking.

**Is the monastery open every day?**
The Lavra is generally open daily, but monastic schedules can change without notice, so we confirm access on the morning of the tour.

**How much walking is involved?**
About an hour of walking in total, including a climb to the ridge on loose stone and gravel. It is manageable for most fitness levels but not step-free.

**Can this be combined with other Kakheti sites?**
Yes, some travellers extend this into a longer Kakheti itinerary with wine tastings; ask us and we will quote a custom multi-day version.

Prices are per person for two travelling together, in euros; solo travellers and larger groups are quoted on request. Every departure is private and adjusted to you. Hotels, wineries and restaurants on our routes are [verified by GTour](/verified/).

*Image: Aerial view of the Lavra monastery complex set among striped semi-desert hills. Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0*

*Image: Panoramic view of the rugged semi-desert landscape surrounding Davit Gareja's monasteries. Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0*

Davit Gareja's Lavra monastery nestled against cave-riddled cliffs above the semi-desert steppe. · Photo: Filip from Czech Republic / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0