Duration: Full Day (10-11 hours) | Starting at: $65 per person | Location: Kakheti Region, Eastern Georgia

Why This Adventure Is Unforgettable

Journey to Georgia’s otherworldly frontier where medieval monks carved monasteries into desert cliffs, where wildflowers carpet semi-arid valleys each spring, and where the only sounds are wind and birdsong. Then descend into lush Kakheti wine country for traditional wine tasting and explore Sighnaghi—the romantic hilltop town where lovers come to marry at any hour.

This tour combines Georgia’s most unique monastery complex with its most celebrated wine region, dramatic desert landscapes with pastoral vineyard valleys, ancient spirituality with vibrant living culture. It’s adventure and relaxation, hiking and wine tasting, solitude and celebration—all in one extraordinary day.

Perfect for: Adventurous travelers, photography enthusiasts, wine lovers, hiking enthusiasts, spiritual seekers, and anyone wanting to experience Georgia’s most distinctive landscapes and traditions.

Tour Highlights

✓ David Gareja Monastery Complex – 6th-century desert monastery with breathtaking frescoes
✓ Semi-Desert Hiking – Trek along the Georgia-Azerbaijan border to cave monasteries
✓ Udabno Monastery Caves – Medieval frescoes hidden in cliff-side caves
✓ Gareja Desert Landscapes – Georgia’s only semi-desert, spectacular in spring wildflower season
✓ Traditional Wine Estate – Authentic Kakhetian wine tasting with chacha and lunch
✓ Bodbe Monastery – Sacred pilgrimage site with St. Nino’s tomb and healing spring
✓ Sighnaghi – Town of Love – Romantic hilltop town with panoramic Alazani Valley views
✓ Traditional Georgian Feast – Lunch at family wine estate with local specialties

Your Desert & Wine Country Adventure

08:00 AM – Departure from Tbilisi: Into the Rising Sun

Your adventure begins with eastward departure from Tbilisi toward Kakheti, Georgia’s ancient and celebrated wine region. But before reaching the lush vineyards, you’ll first journey to Georgia’s most unexpected landscape: a true semi-desert.

As you drive east, watch the landscape transform. The urban sprawl gives way to agricultural plains, then gradually to something entirely different—dry, rocky terrain dotted with sparse vegetation. This is the approach to the Gareja region, where rainfall is scarce and the earth takes on hues of gold, rust, and pale stone.

Your guide will explain how this unique microclimate exists—a rain shadow effect created by the Greater Caucasus mountains blocking moisture, creating Georgia’s only semi-desert ecosystem just 100 kilometers from Tbilisi.

10:00 AM – David Gareja: Where Desert Meets Devotion

Arrival at the Edge of the World

As your vehicle navigates the final dusty road, the landscape becomes increasingly surreal. Then suddenly, across an arid valley, you see them: ancient stone structures and cave openings punctuating sheer cliff faces—the David Gareja monastery complex.

Founded in the 6th century by one of the thirteen Assyrian fathers who strengthened Christianity in Georgia, David Gareja became one of the region’s most important spiritual centers. At its peak, the complex comprised dozens of monasteries spread across the desert, housing hundreds of monks who chose this harsh landscape precisely for its isolation and spiritual intensity.

Historical Significance:
David Gareja represents an extraordinary chapter in Georgian monasticism. For over 1,400 years, monks lived, prayed, and created art in these desert caves. They survived Arab invasions, Mongol raids, and Persian attacks. They carved churches from living rock, painted breathtaking frescoes, and maintained their spiritual practice through centuries of turmoil.

The complex once included approximately 20 separate monasteries stretching across the desert hills. Today, visitors primarily explore two: Lavra (the main monastery) and Udabno (the cave monastery famous for its frescoes).

Lavra Monastery – The Spiritual Heart

Begin your exploration at Lavra, the central monastery complex nestled against the cliff base. Unlike the cave monasteries above, Lavra features traditional stone-built structures alongside cave chambers.

What You’ll Discover:

• The Main Church – An Active place of worship with modern monks maintaining centuries-old traditions
• St. David’s Cave – Where the monastery’s founder lived and prayed in the 6th century
• Monks’ Cells – Both carved and built dwellings where generations of monks lived ascetic lives
• Water Collection System – Ingenious ancient cisterns capturing scarce desert rainfall
• Modern Monastic Life – Meet Georgian Orthodox monks continuing David Gareja’s spiritual legacy

The monastery grounds offer your first taste of the desert’s stark beauty. The silence is profound. The light is crystalline. The sense of timelessness is palpable.

Time at Lavra: 30-40 minutes

The Border Ridge Hike: To Udabno Monastery

Now begins the adventure that makes David Gareja truly extraordinary—the hike along the ridge to Udabno monastery.

Important Hiking Information:

Distance: Approximately 3-4 km round trip
Duration: 1.5-2 hours total (including exploration time)
Elevation Gain: ~300 meters (980 feet)
Difficulty: Moderate to moderately strenuous
Trail Surface: Rocky, steep sections, uneven terrain
The Border Factor: The trail follows the ridge that forms the Georgia-Azerbaijan international border

Physical Requirements:
This hike requires reasonable fitness and sure-footedness. You’ll climb steep, rocky paths with loose stones. Some sections are quite exposed. While not technical climbing, it’s significantly more challenging than casual walking. Not recommended for those with knee problems, poor balance, or a fear of heights.

What to Expect:

The trail climbs steadily from Lavra, switchbacking up the rocky hillside. The first 20-30 minutes are the most strenuous—a consistent uphill push that gets your heart rate up and your lungs working in the dry air.

Then you reach the ridge, and suddenly the world opens up.

To your left (north): The valley you just climbed from, with Lavra monastery below and the arid Gareja desert stretching to distant hills.

To your right (south): Azerbaijan! A completely different landscape—flatter, with different vegetation, disappearing into the hazy distance.

You’re walking along the international border. In fact, you’re walking ON the border—the boundary line runs along this exact ridgeline. There are border markers, and occasionally you might see Azerbaijani border patrol vehicles in the valley below.

Border Considerations:

• Bring your passport (border checkpoints may verify documents)
• No crossing into Azerbaijan (stay on the trail)
• Photography of military installations is forbidden
• The border area occasionally closes due to diplomatic issues (we monitor this and inform you)
• Georgian border guards are usually present but unobtrusive

The Reward: Udabno Monastery

After 40-50 minutes of hiking, you reach Udabno—and the effort is instantly worthwhile.

Carved entirely into the cliff face, Udabno monastery is a complex of cave churches, cells, and refectories tunneling deep into the rock. But Udabno’s fame rests on something extraordinary: its medieval frescoes.

The Frescoes of Udabno:

In cave after cave, medieval religious art adorns the rock walls—and these aren’t simple paintings. They’re sophisticated, expressive works from the 9th-13th centuries showing:

• Biblical Scenes – The life of Christ, apostles, and saints rendered with remarkable detail
• Georgian Saints – Local religious figures honored in a distinctive Georgian artistic style
• Royal Patrons – Portraits of Georgian kings and queens who sponsored the monastery
• The Last Judgment – Dramatic scenes of heaven, hell, and divine judgment
• Geometric Patterns – Intricate borders and decorative elements

What makes these frescoes particularly moving is their setting. The vibrant pigments, reds, blues, and golds, glow in the dim cave light. The rock walls curve around you. Outside, the desert stretches away in all directions. You’re simultaneously inside art, inside history, and inside the earth itself.

Some frescoes show damage from time, weather, and tragically, from 20th-century vandalism during the Soviet period. But enough survives to convey the artistic and spiritual sophistication of medieval Georgian monasticism.

The View:

Step into the cave openings, and the desert panorama spreads before you. The perspective from up here is different—you can truly see the scale of this landscape, the way the ridges fold and unfold, the play of light and shadow across the valleys.

In spring (especially April-early May), the desert explodes with wildflowers—poppies, irises, tulips, and dozens of other species carpet the valleys in crimson, yellow, purple, and white. It’s a brief, magical season when the “desert” looks more like a vast natural garden.

Important Notes:

• Caves are dim phone flashlights help view frescoes
• Some caves require ducking through low entrances
• Uneven floors and steps watch your footing
• No touching the frescoes (oils from hands damage them)
• Respectful quiet (this remains a sacred space)

Time at Udabno: 45-60 minutes

The Return Hike & Descent

The return follows the same trail—now downhill, which is easier on the lungs but harder on the knees. Take your time, watch your footing on loose rocks, and pause frequently to absorb the desert vistas.

Many visitors find the return hike even more beautiful than the ascent. The changing angle of the sun transforms the landscape’s colors. You notice details missed on the way up. The physical effort creates a meditative rhythm.

Total Hiking Time: 1.5-2 hours, including Udabno exploration

12:30 PM – Farewell to the Desert

Returning to your vehicle, you’ll likely feel both exhausted and exhilarated—the unique effect of challenging physical activity in such an otherworldly setting.

Now begins the transformation: from desert to garden, from monk’s solitude to vintner’s hospitality, from stone and silence to vines and conversation.

01:00 PM – Journey Through Kakheti Wine Country

The drive from David Gareja to the wine region showcases Georgia’s remarkable diversity. Within 30 minutes, the landscape completely changes.

The arid hills give way to green. Suddenly, there are trees—lots of them. Rivers flow. And most notably, vineyards appear—row upon row of grapevines covering hillsides and valleys, some trained traditionally up trees, others on modern trellises.

This is Kakheti, Georgia’s wine heartland and one of the world’s oldest wine regions. For 8,000 years, Georgians have been making wine here using methods inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

Your guide will explain Kakheti’s unique wine culture as you pass through villages where nearly every family makes wine, where qvevri (clay fermentation vessels) are built into the ground beneath homes, and where wine isn’t just a drink but a sacred element of Georgian identity.

01:45 PM – Vineria Kakheti: Wine, Chacha & Traditional Hospitality

Arrive at Vineria Kakheti (or a similar family wine estate) in the village of Tokhliauri—not a commercial winery but an authentic family operation where traditional methods meet warm Georgian hospitality.

The Estate Tour

Your hosts will welcome you to their property—typically including:

• Family vineyard – Walk among the vines, learn about indigenous Georgian grape varieties
• Traditional marani (wine cellar) – See qvevri buried in the ground, the ancient vessels where wine ferments and ages
• Winemaking process – Understand how Georgian wine differs from European methods
• Family gardens – Often including vegetables, herbs, and fruit trees

The estate tour isn’t a slick commercial presentation—it’s a family sharing their way of life. You’ll likely meet multiple generations, from grandmothers who’ve made wine for 60 years to children helping with the harvest.

Chacha Tasting – Georgia’s Firewater

Before wine comes chacha—Georgia’s traditional grape vodka (grappa). Made from grape pomace left after pressing, chacha typically ranges from 40-70% alcohol and packs a serious punch.

Your host will pour small glasses of their homemade chacha, explain its production, and toast to your visit. This is a test of the constitution! Chacha burns going down but warms you from within—Georgians swear by its digestive and medicinal properties.

Warning: Sip, don’t shoot! This isn’t a drinking competition—it’s a cultural tradition. Pace yourself.

Wine Tasting – Eight Millennia in a Glass

Now to the main event: tasting authentic Kakhetian wines made in traditional qvevri.

What Makes Georgian Wine Unique:

Unlike European wines, where grape juice is fermented without skins (for whites) or with skins briefly (for reds), Georgian qvevri winemaking ferments everything together—juice, skins, seeds, even stems—for weeks or months in buried clay vessels.

This creates wines unlike anything else:

• Amber/Orange Wines – White grapes fermented like reds, producing amber-colored wines with complex, tannic, savory profiles
• Deep Reds – Extended skin contact creates intensely flavored, structured red wines
• Unique Taste Profiles – Earthy, spicy, sometimes oxidative flavors that shock wine lovers used to conventional styles

Typical Tasting Includes:

• 4-6 different wines (both white and red)
• Explanation of indigenous grape varieties (Rkatsiteli, Kisi, Saperavi, Tavkveri)
• Discussion of the qvevri method and its UNESCO recognition
• Comparison between traditional and European-style Georgian wines
• Family stories about winemaking traditions

Traditional Georgian Lunch – Supra Culture

Wine tasting flows naturally into lunch—and in Georgia, lunch is never just food. It’s supra, the traditional feast that’s central to Georgian culture.

Typical Menu:

• Mtsvadi – Grilled meat skewers marinated in Georgian spices
• Khachapuri – Cheese-filled bread (Kakhetian style)
• Fresh salads – Tomatoes, cucumbers, herbs dressed simply with oil
• Lobio – Bean stew with fresh mchadi (cornbread)
• Local cheese – Often homemade
• Fresh bread from the family’s stone oven
• Seasonal vegetables from the garden
• More wine – This is Georgia; wine flows throughout the meal
• Fresh fruit for dessert

The meal is served family-style, plates piling up on the table, and conversation flowing as freely as the wine. Your hosts will likely join you, sharing stories, teaching you Georgian toasts, and probably insisting you eat more than you thought possible.

Vegetarians and dietary restrictions are easily accommodated—Georgian cuisine has excellent vegetarian options.

Supra Time: 90-120 minutes (Georgian meals are never rushed!)

Time at Wine Estate: 2.5-3 hours total

04:30 PM – Bodbe Monastery: Where St. Nino Rests

Satisfied by wine and food, you continue to Bodbe Monastery—one of Georgia’s most important pilgrimage sites, located just 2 kilometers from Sighnaghi.

St. Nino: Georgia’s Enlightener

To understand Bodbe, you must know St. Nino’s story.

In the 4th century, a young Cappadocian woman named Nino received a vision calling her to convert Georgia (then the Kingdom of Iberia) to Christianity. She arrived in Mtskheta and, through faith, miracles, and force of personality, converted King Mirian III and Queen Nana, who declared Christianity the state religion in 337 AD—making Georgia one of the world’s first Christian nations.

After her missionary work, St. Nino retired to the Bodbe area, where she lived until her death. King Mirian built a church over her grave in the 4th century. The current monastery complex dates to the 9th century.

The Monastery Complex

What You’ll Experience:

• The Main Church – Active convent church with St. Nino’s tomb beneath the altar
• Peaceful Monastery Grounds – Beautifully maintained gardens offering quiet reflection
• Bell Tower – Distinctive Kakhetian architecture
• Nuns’ Community – This is a working convent with resident nuns maintaining traditions
• Icon Shop – Traditional Georgian religious art and crafts

The Healing Spring:

A steep path descends from the monastery (200+ steps) to a sacred spring that, according to tradition, appeared miraculously at the site of St. Nino’s prayers. Pilgrims believe the water has healing properties.

The spring is enclosed in a small chapel where visitors can drink the water, fill bottles, or simply experience the peaceful, shaded grotto.

Note: The spring descent is optional—those who don’t want to navigate the stairs can enjoy the monastery grounds.

Spiritual Atmosphere:

Whether you’re religious or not, Bodbe possesses a contemplative tranquility. After wine tasting’s conviviality, Bodbe offers a counterbalance—space for quiet reflection amidst ancient spiritual traditions.

Time at Bodbe: 40-50 minutes

05:30 PM – Sighnaghi: Georgia’s Town of Love

Just 2 kilometers from Bodbe lies Sighnaghi, perched dramatically on a hilltop overlooking the Alazani Valley with the Greater Caucasus mountains as a distant backdrop.

Why “Town of Love”?

Sighnaghi earned its romantic nickname for a very practical reason: it has a 24-hour wedding registry. Couples can arrive at any time—midnight, dawn, Sunday afternoon—and get married immediately. No appointments, no waiting.

This policy attracted eloping couples, romantic spontaneity, and gradually, a reputation as Georgia’s most romantic town. Add picture-perfect architecture, stunning views, and intimate scale, and the nickname stuck.

Walking Sighnaghi’s Charming Streets

Your guide will lead you through this beautifully preserved 18th-century town:

The Defensive Wall:
Sighnaghi is surrounded by remarkably intact defensive walls dating to the 1770s when King Heraclius II fortified the town. The walls stretch 4 kilometers with 23 towers—you can walk sections offering spectacular views.

Traditional Architecture:
Pastel-colored houses with distinctive wooden balconies overhang narrow cobblestone streets. The architectural style is uniquely Kakhetian—Italian-influenced but distinctly Georgian. Every corner seems designed for photographs.

Main Square:
The central plaza features cafés, wine shops, and the town hall. It’s intimate rather than grand—a place where locals still gather, children play, and visitors sit with wine watching the light change on the mountains.

Panoramic Vistas:
From various viewpoints around town, the Alazani Valley spreads below—a green patchwork of vineyards, fields, and orchards stretching to where the Caucasus mountains rise like a wall along the horizon. On clear days, snow-capped peaks gleam in the distance.

Wine Shops & Galleries:
Sighnaghi has become a haven for artists and winemakers. Small galleries showcase contemporary Georgian art, while wine shops offer tastings of small-production Kakhetian wines.

The Romantic Atmosphere:
Whether the “town of love” label is marketing or reality, Sighnaghi genuinely possesses romantic charm. The golden-hour light gilds the pastel walls. Couples stroll hand-in-hand. Balconies overflow with flowers. The pace is slow, the views are stunning, and the atmosphere invites lingering.

Free Time:
You’ll have 45-60 minutes to explore independently—walk the walls, browse shops, enjoy a coffee or glass of wine at a terrace café, or simply wander the photogenic streets.

Time in Sighnaghi: 60-75 minutes

06:45 PM – Return to Tbilisi: Sunset Over Kakheti

As golden light bathes the Alazani Valley, you begin the westward journey back to Tbilisi. Watch the day’s final light paint the mountains and vineyards in warm hues.

Your guide remains available for questions, recommendations for your remaining Georgia time, or simply comfortable silence as you process a day that ranged from desert monasteries to wine estates, from ancient frescoes to modern romance.

Arrival in Tbilisi: Approximately 7:30-8:00 PM

What Makes This Tour Extraordinary

Landscape Diversity
Few tours anywhere offer such dramatic contrasts—from semi-desert to lush wine country, from austere cliffs to terraced vineyards, from isolation to hospitality.

Physical & Cultural Balance
Morning hiking adventure balanced by afternoon cultural immersion and relaxation. Active exploration followed by wine, food, and conversation.

Authentic Experiences
This isn’t a tourist show—you’re hiking to monasteries monks still use, tasting wine at family estates where grandmothers made the batch, experiencing Georgian hospitality as it’s actually lived.

The David Gareja Adventure
Walking the border ridge to Udabno is genuinely adventurous—physical challenge, border intrigue, stunning landscapes, and medieval art combine for an experience you’ll remember for life.

Kakheti Wine Culture Immersion
Not a commercial winery tour but an authentic family estate experience—the way most Georgians actually make and enjoy wine.

Expert Guidance
Our guides know the hiking trails intimately, can read medieval Georgian inscriptions on frescoes, explain complex winemaking traditions, and share the cultural stories that give each site meaning.

Small Groups
Maximum 8 people ensures manageable hiking groups, intimate wine tastings, and personal attention, impossible on large bus tours.