From Tbilisi: Rainbow Mountains - David Gareja - Semidesert - Lake 1
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From Tbilisi: Rainbow Mountains - David Gareja - Semidesert - Lake 5
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From Tbilisi: Rainbow Mountains - David Gareja - Semidesert - Lake 7
From Tbilisi: Rainbow Mountains - David Gareja - Semidesert - Lake 8
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From Tbilisi: Rainbow Mountains - David Gareja - Semidesert - Lake 10
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From Tbilisi: Rainbow Mountains - David Gareja - Semidesert - Lake

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

Escape Tbilisi for a full-day journey through Georgia's starkest landscapes—from the surreal salt lake and striped Rainbow Mountains to the ancient David Gareja monastery complex and the country's only true semidesert. This 7-hour tour packs dramatic geology, spiritual history, and photography gold into one expedition.

Meeting point: Traveler's Meeting Point ( 50 meters from Avlabari metro station )

Endpoint: Traveler's Meeting Point ( 50 meters from 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


It is a tour where lovers of history, politics, nature, and photography meet each other. In just 7 hours, you explore 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 not to feel too hungry and uncomfortable. The second stop is at a salty lake, where you have an outstanding possibility to take some nice pictures.  

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

  You will start walking toward the famous Rainbow Mountains at the end of the driving. 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 a life 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:

  • Meet the best team at Traveler's Meeting Point
  • Kapatadze Lake
  • Udabno Village
  • Rainbow Mountains
  • David Gareji Lavra

Highlights

  • ✓Walk among mineral-rich Rainbow Mountains with vivid natural color stripes
  • ✓Float in and photograph a stunning salt lake
  • ✓Explore David Gareja Lavra, an ancient cliff-carved monastery complex
  • ✓Drive through Georgia's only semidesert landscape (Udabno region)
  • ✓Capture diverse geological formations shaped by sedimentary rock
  • ✓Experience dramatic contrast between green hills and arid terrain

Insider tips

  • ★Buy snacks at the first stop—there are no proper restaurants in the region, and no lunch break is included
  • ★Wear layers and bring sun protection; the semidesert offers little shade and terrain varies from lake-level to hillside hikes
  • ★Arrive early at Avlabari metro station (meeting point 50m away); the 09:30 check-in is tight before 10:00 departure

Good to know

  • •Duration: 7 hours total (departing 10:00, returning ~17:00)
  • •Included: transportation by bus/minivan, guide, hiking access to Rainbow Mountains
  • •Not included: meals, snacks (bring your own or buy at first stop), drinks
  • •Comfortable hiking shoes essential; terrain is uneven and partly rocky
  • •Road journey covers semidesert roads—expect dusty conditions

Who it's for

Photography enthusiasts seeking dramatic landscapes and unique geologyHistory buffs interested in medieval Georgian monasteriesNature lovers drawn to arid ecosystems and geological formationsDay-trippers from Tbilisi seeking adventure without overnight commitment

Best time to visit

Visit spring (April–May) or autumn (September–October) when temperatures are moderate and hiking is comfortable. Avoid summer heat (June–August) and winter rain; morning light is best for photography of the colored mountains.

Frequently asked questions

Available
From€34
per person