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Day Trip to Rainbow Mountains and David Gareja

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Tbilisi, Georgia
City ToursBus & Minivan ToursDay Trips & ExcursionsCultural ToursSightseeing Tours
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About this activity

Explore Georgia's most striking geological landscapes and ancient monasteries in a single 7-hour day trip from Tbilisi. You'll visit the otherworldly Rainbow Mountains with their vivid mineral-striped rock formations, the semi-arid Georgian Sahara, and the historic David Gareji Lavra monastery complex perched on a dramatic cliff.

Meeting point: Avlabari Metro Station (Your guide will be holding a branded orange color flag at the entrance of the metro station)

Endpoint: Avlabari Metro Station

Available dates: Every day

Meeting & Check-in time: 09:30

Boarding time: 09:55

Departure time: 10:00

End time: 17:00

Duration: 7 hours
Language Spoken by a tour guide: English

Group size: 18 people

Tour Type: Daily Tour

Minimum age of a traveler: 5 years old

  It is a tour where lovers of history, politics, nature, and photography meet each other. In just 7 hours, you explore the Georgian Sahara, Rainbow Mountains, David Gareji Lavra, and Lake. After all, you return to Tbilisi and finish the tour at 5 pm.  

  The first place where you will stop is a shop to buy snacks. Since the area doesn't have good restaurants and we do not have a lunch stop, you should get some snacks so as not to feel too hungry and uncomfortable. The second stop is at a salty lake, where you can take some nice pictures.  

  After the lake, we continue driving through Udabno Village, which is translated as a desert. The area where you will be traveling is the only semidesert Georgia has, and it's more than impressive to see how diverse Georgian nature is.  

  You will start walking toward the famous Rainbow Mountains at the end of the drive. The most impressive feature of the landscape is the mineral-rich sedimentary rock, which looks like it’s been painted with brightly colored stripes. It’s possible to hike through the Rainbow Mountains, which astonish visitors with their colors. You will walk through the Rainbow Mountains, take many mesmerizing pictures, and prepare for the David Gareji Lavra historical tour.  

  David Gareji Monastery Complex is one of the most spiritual places in the country. You will hear the stories of the monastery, do a bit of hiking, and see a Georgian soldier at the border of Georgia and Azerbaijan. It’s believed that St. David chose this isolated location because he wanted his disciples to lead lives of holiness independent from the rest of society.  

  After David Gareji Lavra, you will return to Tbilisi and finish the tour at 5 pm.

Highlights:

  • Kapatadze Lake
  • Udabno Village
  • Rainbow Mountains
  • David Gareji Lavra

Highlights

  • ✓Hike through Rainbow Mountains with technicolour sedimentary rock layers
  • ✓Discover Georgia's only semi-desert ecosystem around Udabno Village
  • ✓Swim or relax at a salty lake with mountain views
  • ✓Tour David Gareji Lavra, a 6th-century cave monastery carved into cliffsides
  • ✓Dramatic photography opportunities across lunar-like terrain

Insider tips

  • ★Buy snacks at the first shop stop; there are no restaurants in the region and no dedicated lunch break
  • ★Wear comfortable hiking boots and bring plenty of water—the terrain is exposed and can be hot
  • ★Arrive 15 minutes early at Avlabari Metro Station; your guide holds an orange branded flag at the entrance
  • ★Visit in spring (April–May) or autumn (September–October) to avoid summer heat and winter cold

Good to know

  • •Meeting point: Avlabari Metro Station (check-in 09:30, departure 10:00, return ~17:00)
  • •Group size: up to 18 people; English-speaking guide included
  • •Minimum age: 5 years; tour includes hiking sections suited to moderate fitness levels
  • •No lunch provided; bring snacks and at least 2 litres of water per person
  • •Wear sturdy footwear, sun protection (hat/sunscreen), and layers for variable mountain weather

Who it's for

Nature lovers and landscape photographersHistory enthusiasts interested in Georgian medieval cultureActive travellers seeking geologically unique destinationsFamilies with children aged 5+

Best time to visit

Visit April–May or September–October for mild temperatures and clear skies ideal for hiking and photography. Avoid July–August (intense heat) and December–February (cold and potentially icy trails).

Frequently asked questions

Available
From€34
per person