Rainbow Mountains & David Gareja Tour : Georgia’s Semi-Desert
Description
This Private tour offers a completely different side of Georgia — colorful Rainbow Mountains, ancient cave monasteries, semi-desert landscapes, and hidden scenic spots far from the usual tourist routes. Along the journey, travelers can enjoy photo stops at the beautiful salty Kapatadze Lake, explore the historic Davit Gareja Monastery Complex carved into the rock, and experience light hiking with breathtaking panoramic views. Unlike standard sightseeing tours, this experience combines nature, history, adventure, and authentic local atmosphere in one unforgettable day trip from Tbilisi.
Tour Options
Itinerary
After pickup from Tbilisi, our first short stop will be just outside the city near a local market area. Here you can take a quick break and, if you wish, buy snacks, water, or coffee for the road. Please note that there are no restaurants near the Davit Gareja area, and there is no scheduled lunch stop during the tour, so we recommend preparing in advance.
At Kapatadze Lake - we will make a short stop to admire this unique salty lake located in the semi-desert landscape on the way to Davit Gareja. Here, you will have time to take photos, enjoy the peaceful open views, and see how the lake changes its appearance depending on the season. It’s a quick but very scenic stop, perfect for capturing the contrast between the colorful hills, wide landscapes, and the unusual salt lake environment.
We will also pass through Udabno, a small village located in Georgia’s unique semi-desert region. The name “Udabno” means “Desert” in the Georgian language, which perfectly reflects the surrounding dry and open landscapes. It is a quiet, remote settlement that offers a glimpse into life in one of the most unusual and scenic parts of the country.
At Davit Gareja Monastery Complex, we will first visit David Lavra, the main part of the ancient monastery complex carved into the rock. Here, you will have time to explore the historic surroundings, learn about the monastery’s spiritual importance, and enjoy the unique semi-desert atmosphere. After visiting the monastery, we will continue with a light uphill hike to David’s holy water viewpoint, where you can enjoy breathtaking panoramic views overlooking the monastery complex and surrounding landscapes. Following the hike, you will also have the opportunity to walk toward the colorful Rainbow Mountains located across from the monastery. Here, you can enjoy more light hiking between the vibrant hills and take memorable photos of one of Georgia’s most unique natural landscapes.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Infant seats available on request
Reviews(5)
I want to say thank you this company, your service is really great. I understand it is uncomfortable when plans are changed, but sometimes it happens and when company understands it and doesnt complain, it is very appreciable. Stalini Museum was quite old styled and a little bit of boring for me (my friends think contrary), but Uplistsikhe exceeded all expectations. Your service is better than I was expected from Georgian company :)))
In spite of Covid, I decided to visit Georgia, I choose this tour, because of its duration and wanted to be near Tbilisi. My guide Irakli was absolutely great man, we had pleasant communication during the day, he told me a lot of stories about the sites and, also I got free transfer to Airport. This was fantastic day, we had supper with view on Tbilisi. Thank u again Irakli!
Me and my friend travelled to Georgia, because we have heard so much about what a wonderful destination it is - with great sights, delicious food and vibrant nightlife. After enjoying Tbilisi for several days, we thought we had seen everything in Georgia - we were so wrong! We decided to take a tour to nearby places before leaving and were lucky enough to have David as a guide, who showed us Mtskheta, Gori and Uplistsikhe in just one day. We took lots of memorable photos and flew back to Poland with some wonderful memories. Thanks, David!
After spending couple of days in beautiful Tbilisi, we decided to go out and visit cities nearby. Mtskheta Gori Uplistsikhe Day Trip was just what we needed! All the places are pretty ancient, they carry interesting stories and we had looots of questions so We were lucky to have David as our tour guide, he is a real professional. Just make sure you will travel with BBgeorgia!
My friend and I went on this trip during our time in Tbilisi and were not disappointed. Our main goal was to visit Gori however our very knowledgeable guide Davit showed us many other sites that we wouldn’t have even thought of such as the previous capital of Georgia, an ancient cave town and Jvari monastery. I can not recommend this tour or company enough - incredible value for money!
