David Gareja Monastery
David Gareja Monastery
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
337 reviews
Excellent
230
Very good
75
Average
19
Poor
6
Terrible
7
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Ravid
Israel18 contributions
Sept 2023 • Friends
The place is very beautiful and very special, an ancient active monestry carved in the rocks, but we surprised to discover that big part of the site, the caves and some 18 small monestries, are on a conflict teritory between Georgia and Azarbejan. Except the main monestry and cherch there is only one small paved rock monestry you can get to it. The road is blocked by soldiers.
Written 3 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
C F
Utrecht Province, The Netherlands8 contributions
Jul 2022 • Couples
We took the road maps.me advised us to do. With our 4WD it was no problem, but otherewise it was. Beautiful, but it was a long drive. At the lowest monastery we could only visit the church which is restored very much, bit to much for me. The higher church was forbidden to visit because of border problems.
We were disappointed... but view are nice!
We were disappointed... but view are nice!
Written 18 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
_zmir_T_rkiye3101 Beste Erbak
Izmir, Türkiye13,404 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
The monastery sits on a high hill in the desert, close to the Azerbaijani border. You know, in a place where they say no birds pass and no caravans pass by. It was founded by the Assyrian monk David. It covers a very large area. The views are magnificent. It came from Tbilisi through some very difficult roads, but it was all worth it. Wonderful. Must see.
Written 7 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
daBarwas
Montreal, Canada8 contributions
Aug 2022 • Family
The Monastery itself is spectacular and unique, but we certainly would' give it 5 stars especially that he trails to the supposedly amazing caves are now off limits. What gave the experience the 5 stars was the hike we did down the valley into the Rainbow mountains, or what my children decided should "Bacon Mountains", because that was a better resemblance of the colors in August :). We started our hike at the Monastery's parking lot and followed cow trails into the valley and then hiked around the beautiful area. It is a fragile eco system and we were happy to be hiking and not in a 4wd vehicle. There are no marked trails but ample cow dung to let you know that you are on a trail easy enough to follow. You can always see the Monastery (as a reference point).
Note: we lucked out to be visiting on a cool August day. I would certainly not recommend this hike on a hot day. I'm sure it would be amazing in spring
Note: we lucked out to be visiting on a cool August day. I would certainly not recommend this hike on a hot day. I'm sure it would be amazing in spring
Written 9 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tobias
Munich, Germany82 contributions
Jul 2022 • Friends
We were at David Gareja and were only able to visit lavra. Monastery udabno was not accesible because of georgian /aserbaidschan conflict / dispute. I would recommend if its on your way. But dont come for a full/half day trip from Tiflis or somewhere else…
Written 19 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Татьяна
Perm, Russia12,746 contributions
Jun 2024 • Family
The path to the monastery lies through the Udabno desert. The monastery is located in two countries - Georgia and Azerbaijan. Personally, I didn’t see anything that spoke about Azerbaijan (maybe I didn’t go there!?😟). And on the Georgian side there is a monastery and colored desert sands. Very beautiful. We were traveling from Sighnaghi and turning off the main road that leads to Tbilisi onto the road to the monastery, we came across only one village on the way - Udabno. All around is the so-called desert. The place is not quite touristy yet, so there are not many people. It's quiet and peaceful here. Yes, and yet I saw a lake in this desert.
Written 19 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Iolanda Guerra e Andrade
Lisbon, Portugal3,736 contributions
Sept 2023 • Solo
This Monastery's name is said to be associated with the name St. David chose to call himself. He was one of the Zedasnely disciples sent to East Georgia to reinforce Christianity. The whole monastic complex is breathtaking with its grottos, some former cells, yards and the Transfiguration church. It is definitely worth bein visited.
Written 21 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
robyn r
Melbourne, Australia309 contributions
May 2023
Stunning. Its out of the way but worth the effort. Just getting there takes you through a change of scenery where goats and sheep start to appear. Such an interesting complex. Very good to have a guide who had many interesting stories and information on the history of this place.
Written 26 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Blair32
London, UK42 contributions
David Gareja is a must see if you're staying nearby. It's around 2hrs drive from Tbilisi and worth the trip. Make sure you have a map or directions to the most interesting caves with the most impressive frescos, since the best ones are easy to miss.
Your guide book should give all the info you need about the site, so I'll just add that the best way we found to get there was the Gareji Line. Search for it on Google or Facebook. For 25GEL per person, they take you in a minibus direct to the site from near Freedom Square in Tbilisi, leave you for three hours to explore, then return you back to Tbilisi via a quick stop off in Udabno for refreshments.
This isn't a guided tour - just a shuttle. But it's cheaper and easier than taking a taxi or marshrutka/taxi combo suggested by the guidebooks.
Your guide book should give all the info you need about the site, so I'll just add that the best way we found to get there was the Gareji Line. Search for it on Google or Facebook. For 25GEL per person, they take you in a minibus direct to the site from near Freedom Square in Tbilisi, leave you for three hours to explore, then return you back to Tbilisi via a quick stop off in Udabno for refreshments.
This isn't a guided tour - just a shuttle. But it's cheaper and easier than taking a taxi or marshrutka/taxi combo suggested by the guidebooks.
Written 26 May 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Adam K
Washington DC, DC1 contribution
Aug 2013 • Couples
My wife and I visited Georgia for ten days last August. I wanted to put in an endorsement for Makho Spanderashvili, an excellent driver and guide who took us to David Gareja.
We had been planning to rent a car at Tbilisi airport and drive to Sighnaghi with a stop at David Gareja, but the rental company botched our reservation. So we improvised and hired a car to take us to David Gareja and then drop us in Signhaghi.
Fortuitously, our driver, Makho, spoke fluent English and ended up giving us an excellent tour of David Gareja for no extra cost. I took his card and promised to give him a plug back in the States. He's a member of the Georgian Association of Guides, speaks excellent erudite English, and is unfailingly courteous.
His email address is makhosp@yahoo.com. Phone: 597 10 49 47 or 599 723 321.
We had been planning to rent a car at Tbilisi airport and drive to Sighnaghi with a stop at David Gareja, but the rental company botched our reservation. So we improvised and hired a car to take us to David Gareja and then drop us in Signhaghi.
Fortuitously, our driver, Makho, spoke fluent English and ended up giving us an excellent tour of David Gareja for no extra cost. I took his card and promised to give him a plug back in the States. He's a member of the Georgian Association of Guides, speaks excellent erudite English, and is unfailingly courteous.
His email address is makhosp@yahoo.com. Phone: 597 10 49 47 or 599 723 321.
Written 1 May 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is it possible to drive a small car like Toyota Prius.To David Gareja.I'm concerned about the roads.If anyone had been there.kindly let me know.
Written 19 January 2021
Bonjour,
Je ne comprends pas si ma question a été publiée en public, donc je recommence en privé....
J'ai lu sur un autre forum que fin juin 2019, le site était partiellement fermé : on ne pouvait visiter que 1er complexe de Lavra et monter voir la vue sur l'Azerbaïdjan. Mais ensuite, il serait impossible de visiter le site de Oudabno.
Est-ce toujours le cas ?
Merci.
Written 14 September 2019
Bonjour, OK, donc je pense que ça ne vaut peut-être pas la peine de consacrer une journée à cela... J'irai plutôt voir Sighnaghi (même si ça n'a rien à voir).
Merci.
Written 22 September 2019
Hi, another question re Gareji Line for anyone who went with them – are you given any sort of map/ guidance when it comes to the hiking trail? Bit concerned about getting lost on my own!
Written 20 March 2019
Hi! Have not been on the Gareji Lines - but if you are concerned about the hiking trail - don't be. It is a well trodden path - just follow it to Udabno and return in a circle through the downward path from Udabno. Yes, the trail can get quite narrow - especially on the side overlooking Azerbaijan - but overall quite an easy trail.
Written 21 March 2019
Hi as it's not peak season, Gareji Line mini buses are no longer running (until April) so could anyone recommend a cheap & easy alternative way of getting there? There's almost too many (more expensive) tour options! Thanks!
Written 23 February 2019
When i went, I took the metro in Tbilisi as Far East as it could go, and got a marshuktra to Sagarejo. From there you can hire a taxi or even hitchhike
Written 23 February 2019
Bonjour,
Votre indication sur le bus pour y aller est géniale: elle répond exactement à ma question, ...
Mais pour le retour, ça se passe comment?
Il faut compter combien de temps sur le site?
Et si je comprends bien, on a pas besoin de prendre un tour?
Merci pour vos indications:))
Written 20 August 2018
I am planning to visit Azerbaijan on this coming week and planning to visit this cave also but since this cave is with in the territory of Georgia i need to cross the border so if I have to go back to Azerbaijan with in the day do i have to get again a visa upon returning to Azerbaijan? Thanks alot
Written 11 August 2018
I'm not sure its possible to visit from Azerbaijan. You'd need to go to Tbilisi first as there are no other roads or border checkpoints. From the nearest border crossing it would be a 3 hr drive each way to David Gareja via Tbilisi and you need at least 3 hrs there. Yes you'd need a double entry Azerbaijan visa and if required a Georgian visa.
Written 19 August 2018
December is not very cold in Georgia so you can trip to David Gareja but take into account that it's a desert and windy place so visitors should wear warm closes.
Written 21 March 2018
What are the opening hours of the complex? We will be arriving late and am hoping that it stays open until at least 6pm. Anyone know the hours?
Written 20 March 2018
Yes we just visited there yesterday. Very bizarre place. Not what I was expecting at all. I thought that it was a big tourist venue when in fact it was completely deserted (we were the only ones there). We spent 1.5hrs wandering around the site, which was plenty for us. No entrance fees or any charges to get it (except 0.5 lari for the toilet).
Written 22 March 2018
Hello!
Has anybody been there in winter? I am planing a trip to Aserbaijan, Georgia and Armenia in the beginning of the December because it's the only possible time for me to travel this year. I'm really excited to go but I'm afraid to miss out on many of the sights due to the weather!
I'm looking forward to hear from you!
Written 16 October 2016
In Winter many places of interest are not to be visit in these states there the Winter in the mountains is very srict ( & strong ) and many places of interest are closed or ar not accessible.
Written 17 October 2016
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