David Gareja

Hewn straight into the cliffs of the Georgia-Azerbaijan borderlands, David Gareja is a 6th-century cave monastery complex founded by St. David, one of the Thirteen Assyrian Fathers. Its rock-cut caves survived centuries of invasions and still shelter ancient frescoes, while Orthodox monks continue to tend the site today. We'll explore the Lavra Monastery's frescoed cave church, climb to the Udabno caves for sweeping views, and take in a stark desert landscape unlike anywhere else in Georgia.

Monks still tend the site, maintaining Orthodox traditions. Its remote, arid setting evokes a sense of timeless solitude, distinct from Georgia's greener regions.

Currency: GEL; cash only (no facilities). Language: Georgian; minimal English. Safety: Safe; border area caution. Transport: Car or tour from Tbilisi, 2 hours.