David Gareja
religion
About 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.
Culture
Monks still tend the site, maintaining Orthodox traditions. Its remote, arid setting evokes a sense of timeless solitude, distinct from Georgia's greener regions.
Travel Tips
Currency: GEL; cash only (no facilities). Language: Georgian; minimal English. Safety: Safe; border area caution. Transport: Car or tour from Tbilisi, 2 hours.
Tours Including David Gareja
View All ToursDavid Gareja & Sighnaghi — Day Trip
This day pairs Georgia's wildest monastery with its most romantic town. You'll head into the semi-desert near the Azerbaijan border to David Gareja, a 6th-century complex of cells and chapels cut into striped hillsides where eagles circle overhead. Then it's east to Kakheti, the wine country, where walled Sighnaghi looks out over the vast Alazani Valley to the Caucasus. You'll wander its cobbled streets and visit nearby Bodbe, resting place of St Nino. Some walking on uneven ground is part of the day, rewarded with big landscapes, deep history and excellent local wine.