Where is David Gareja Monastery?
Azerbaijan, asia
48.1 km
695 m
moderate
Year-round
Okay, so you're headed to Georgia? Forget the usual tourist traps and get yourself to the David Gareja Monastery in the Kakheti region! This place is seriously cool – a rock-hewn monastery complex that's probably the most amazing of all of Georgia's ancient sites.
You'll find it southeast of Tbilisi, practically spitting distance from the Azerbaijan border. This 6th-century monastery clings to the side of Mount Gareja, about 695m (2,280ft) high. It's super remote and was pretty much left to crumble during the Soviet days. Expect a lunar-like landscape, but if you time it right (April to early June), the steppe blooms and it's magical.
The road in, Road 172 (შ172), starts from Sagarejo, and it's a 48.1km (30 miles) shot straight into the middle of nowhere. The good news is that it was fully paved in the 2020s, so no more bone-jarring ruts!
Road Details
- Country
- Azerbaijan
- Continent
- asia
- Length
- 48.1 km
- Max Elevation
- 695 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
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