Davit Gareja is a cave monastery complex cut into a ridge straddling the Georgia-Azerbaijan border — an austere desert counterpart to Tbilisi's grand Sameba Cathedral. Part of the complex (the Udabno caves with the best frescoes) has been intermittently closed since a 2019 border dispute flared again in 2024, so check current access before planning around that section specifically — the main monastery below stays open. Pairing the day trip with an overnight in Kakheti wine country — Bodbe Monastery, burial place of St. Nino who brought Christianity to Georgia, and the walled hill town of Sighnaghi — makes a fuller circuit than the rushed single-day tour-bus version.
Step 2 of 6Next: Route↓Davit Gareja, planned for you
Day-by-day timings, the route, what each part costs, where to sleep and eat, and a checklist. One PDF that works offline: print it, or send it to everyone going.
- Day 1 Davit Gareja monastery complex to Udabno cave frescoes (if open) to Sighnaghi
- TravelDavit Gareja monastery complex₹800
- TravelUdabno cave frescoes (if open)Free
- TravelSighnaghi₹700
- Day 2 Bodbe Monastery to Kakheti wine tasting
₹49 once, 5 pages. Secure payment by Razorpay, instant download. Already bought? Get your download
The route, stop by stop
The whole route first. Tap any stop and the map zooms to just that place.
Route
Stops
Davit Gareja monastery complex → Udabno cave frescoes (if open) → Sighnaghi → Bodbe Monastery → Kakheti wine tasting · Directions in Google Maps ↗
- 1Shared marshrutka/tour minibus from Freedom Square or Pushkin Park, Tbilisi (about 2.5 hours each way, seasonal April–October) Map ↗
- 2Steep 20–30 minute uphill walk from the main monastery — border guards occasionally check ID here since the ridge sits on the disputed frontier Map ↗
- 3Marshrutka from Tbilisi's Samgori station, or arranged as part of a Kakheti tour continuing from Davit Gareja Map ↗
- 43km from Sighnaghi — a 40-minute walk downhill or a short taxi Map ↗
- 5Short walk or taxi from Sighnaghi to a family wine cellar (marani) Map ↗
Travel legs add up to about ₹1,600 per person.
Step 3 of 6Next: Cost↓What it costs
Ballpark ranges, not live quotes. Prices last updated 6 October 2026. Prices move with season and demand, so check live fares before you book. Spot a wrong price? Tell us and we fix it.
A do-it-yourself budget: trains and buses, simple lodges and temple meals. Paid darshan and donations are extra.
What to book ahead
Where to stay and eat
Stay
Sighnaghi has budget family guesthouses from ₹1,200–2,500/night including breakfast; Tbilisi hostels are similarly priced if you'd rather day-trip both legs from the capital instead of overnighting.
Food
Kakhetian home cooking — khinkali, khachapuri, and qvevri (clay-vessel) wine straight from the family cellar — is the main event in Sighnaghi, at ₹400–700 a meal; simpler roadside stalls near Davit Gareja charge less.
Photos
Questions people ask
How many days do you need for Davit Gareja?
2 days · 1 night, starting from Tbilisi.
What is the best time for Davit Gareja?
May, June, September and October for mild weather on the shadeless uphill walk at Udabno and for Kakheti's Rtveli grape harvest in late September/October; avoid July-August heat in the semi-desert.
How much does Davit Gareja cost?
From about ₹7,000 per person doing it yourself, with the travel legs adding up to roughly ₹1,600.
What needs to be booked in advance?
Carry a passport or ID copy (must book): Davit Gareja sits directly on the Georgia-Azerbaijan border; guards occasionally check ID near the Udabno caves even though there's no formal visitor permit. Check current Udabno access before you go: The border dispute has closed the frescoed caves on and off since 2019, most recently from January 2024 — ask your guesthouse or tour operator on arrival rather than assuming they're open. Guesthouse in Sighnaghi (must book): Book ahead during wine-harvest season (Sept–Oct); family-run guesthouses with home-cooked supra dinners are the norm and easy to arrange online.
Where do pilgrims stay?
Sighnaghi has budget family guesthouses from ₹1,200–2,500/night including breakfast; Tbilisi hostels are similarly priced if you'd rather day-trip both legs from the capital instead of overnighting.
What about food?
Kakhetian home cooking — khinkali, khachapuri, and qvevri (clay-vessel) wine straight from the family cellar — is the main event in Sighnaghi, at ₹400–700 a meal; simpler roadside stalls near Davit Gareja charge less.
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By Gokul · Updated 6 October 2026 · Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg · CC BY 4.0 · source · Photo: Kristen Jarvis Johnson · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source · Photo: Alexxx1979 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Bernard Gagnon · CC BY 4.0 · source
