# Monasteries of Georgia — Mtskheta, the Thirteen Fathers and Kakheti in 3 Days

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- Canonical: https://gtour.ge/tour/monasteries-of-georgia-3-days/
- Author: 
- Published: 2026-10-27
- Updated: 2026-10-27
- Language: en
- Russian edition: https://gtour.ge/ru/tour/monasteries-of-georgia-3-days/

€640 per person3 daysPrivate · car & English-speaking guideBased on two travellers

The monasteries of the sixth-century Assyrian Fathers, the desert lavra of [Davit Gareji](https://gtour.ge/?p=158) and the cathedrals of [Kakheti](https://gtour.ge/georgia/kakheti/), with time to stay for the chant.

The route

[Tbilisi](https://gtour.ge/georgia/tbilisi/)[Mtskheta](https://gtour.ge/georgia/mtskheta/)[Davit Gareji](https://gtour.ge/?p=158)[Telavi](https://gtour.ge/georgia/telavi/)[Bodbe](https://gtour.ge/georgia/bodbe/)

Why this tour

- —[Mtskheta](https://gtour.ge/georgia/mtskheta/), Svetitskhoveli and Jvari (UNESCO World Heritage)

- —Shio-Mgvime in its limestone canyon and Zedazeni on the ridge: two of the monasteries founded by the Thirteen Assyrian Fathers in the 6th century

- —[Davit Gareji](https://gtour.ge/?p=158): the Lavra of St David in the semi-desert on the Azerbaijani border

- —Alaverdi cathedral (11th century, over 40 m), the academy of Ikalto, the early church of Nekresi

- —[Bodbe](https://gtour.ge/georgia/bodbe/) and the tomb of St Nino

- —Night in a family guesthouse near [Telavi](https://gtour.ge/georgia/telavi/); Sunday Liturgy at Alaverdi or Svetitskhoveli when the dates allow

Itinerary

Day 1[Tbilisi](https://gtour.ge/georgia/tbilisi/) → [Mtskheta](https://gtour.ge/georgia/mtskheta/) (Svetitskhoveli, Samtavro, Jvari) → Shio-Mgvime → Zedazeni; return to Tbilisi.

Day 2[Davit Gareji](https://gtour.ge/?p=158) Lavra in the morning (the upper caves depend on border conditions on the day); afternoon drive into [Kakheti](https://gtour.ge/georgia/kakheti/); night near [Telavi](https://gtour.ge/georgia/telavi/).

Day 3Alaverdi, Ikalto, Nekresi (shuttle up the hill), lunch at a family winery, [Bodbe](https://gtour.ge/georgia/bodbe/) and [Sighnaghi](https://gtour.ge/georgia/sighnaghi/); back in Tbilisi by evening.

Included

- ✓ Private car with driver for three days

- ✓ Licensed guide (English, French, German, Russian or Italian on request)

- ✓ Two nights in a family guesthouse or small hotel with breakfast

- ✓ Headscarves and wrap skirts; entrance to Nekresi shuttle

Not included

- — Lunches and dinners (Lenten menus available on request)

- — Candles and offerings

Spiritual programme

- · Unhurried: at least 45 minutes at each monastery, with a quiet time without commentary

- · Sunday Liturgy at Alaverdi or Svetitskhoveli can be built into the dates (ask us)

- · Mass for a group with its own priest: arranged at the Catholic parish of Tbilisi, or outdoors at a monastery by permission

- · Reading list and a short prayer booklet with the lives of St Nino and the Assyrian Fathers

Good to know

- · Davit Gareji: the Lavra is open and free; the upper Udabno caves have been closed by border guards since 2025, and this can change at short notice

- · Modest dress required; photography inside churches is not allowed

- · Gravel roads on parts of day 2; moderate walking

- · Great Lent and Advent: fasting (samarkhvo) menus are easy to find in Kakheti

Questions

**Can we add Gelati and Kutaisi?**
Yes: a fourth day west to Gelati (UNESCO, founded 1106 by David the Builder), Motsameta and the Katskhi Pillar.

**Do we need to be Orthodox?**
No. Visitors of every faith and none are welcome at Georgian monasteries if they dress modestly and keep silence during services.

**Is there a group version?**
Yes: the same route is the core of our eight-day Christian Georgia pilgrimage for parishes and church groups.

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/).