Day 14: Hidden Rainbow Mountains, Ancient Caves, and a Desert Safari

To kick off our second weekend, we traded the bustling streets of Tbilisi for a journey into a completely different world. We booked a day trip through Airbnb Experiences to visit the Hidden Rainbow Mountains & David Gareji Caves, and it turned out to be one of the most visually stunning days of the whole trip.

If you think Georgia is just green mountains and old cities, this desert road trip will completely shatter that image. Here is how our Saturday adventure unfolded:

1. The Perfect Small Group and Warm Pastries

Our tour met up bright and early at Europe Square. We lucked out with a super cozy setup: just four travelers, one guide, and our driver. The other two people on the tour were an incredibly funny and lucky couple from Köln, Germany. It instantly felt like a road trip with friends.

Not long after hitting the road, we made a pit stop at a local bakery for some traditional Georgian pastries. They were fresh out of the oven, warm, and the perfect fuel for a day of trekking.

2. Into the Wild: Rainbow Mountains & Desert Safari

As we drove further southeast toward the border with Azerbaijan, the landscape completely transformed into an arid, colorful desert.

• Rainbow Mountains Off-Road: We hiked through colorful sedimentary canyons. The layers of earth are striped with vibrant reds, yellows, and oranges—it honestly felt like walking across the surface of Mars.

• Desert Wildlife Safari: The vast, quiet plains are teeming with wildlife if you keep your eyes peeled. We managed to spot majestic eagles soaring overhead and unique desert flora. Our guide even helped us look out for the wild tortoises that roam the area!

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3. Exploring Ancient History: The Cave Monasteries

Next, it was time for the cultural highlights of the desert:

• St. John Cave Monastery: We trekked along ancient, secluded trails to reach a historic cave complex carved straight into the steep cliffs. Standing inside these remote chambers where monks lived centuries ago was surreal.

• David Gareji Monastery: We explored the core of this massive 6th-century complex. Getting to walk through this ancient spiritual landmark and hearing the legends of how it survived various invasions over the past 1,500 years was incredible.

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4. Almond Farms and a Salt Lake in the Middle of Nowhere

The surprises didn't stop after we left the monasteries. On our drive back through the desert, we passed by massive, sweeping almond farms stretching across the landscape—our guide pointed out that these orchards were actually financed by the EU!

Right after that, we drove past a surreal, shimmering salty lake sitting completely in the middle of nowhere. The harsh, white salt crust against the green fields looked incredibly beautiful and completely unexpected.

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Another Lazy Delivery Night

By the time we got dropped back off in Tbilisi, our boots were dusty, our cameras were full, and we were completely wiped out. We headed straight back to the apartment, sank into the couch, and took advantage of Georgia's amazingly simple food delivery apps again. It was the perfect end to an epic weekend road trip.