Georgia beyond the usual routes – two private day trips from Tbilisi

Kakheti lies in eastern Georgia, stretching from the dry Gareja steppe to fertile wine-growing country farther east. That contrast is one of the defining features of this tour: austere semi-desert on one side, vineyards and cultivated valleys on the other.

David Gareja lies around 70 kilometres east of Tbilisi in a strikingly arid landscape. The monastery complex was founded in the first half of the 6th century by the Assyrian monk David Garejeli and gradually became one of the most important centres of Georgian Christian culture. Numerous caves, chapels and monastic cells were carved into the rock.

Udabno sits in the heart of this open steppe. Even the drive there makes it clear how quickly the landscape and climate change southeast of Tbilisi.

Winemaking is one of Kakheti’s great traditions. The region is Georgia’s best-known wine-producing area and is associated with a winemaking culture stretching back thousands of years. The exact winery visited may vary depending on availability.

Ninotsminda, near Sagarejo, provides a historical final stop. Its cathedral dates from roughly 650–675, was destroyed and rebuilt several times, and remained closely connected to Kakhetian rulers for centuries.

This route climbs from Kvemo Kartli into the highlands of Samtskhe-Javakheti. In the course of a single day, the landscape, altitude and historical character change noticeably — from former German settlements and wooded countryside to the open volcanic plateau around Paravani Lake.

Asureti / Elisabeththal was founded in 1818 by Swabian settlers. Over time, it developed a distinctive German-Georgian history, shaped by farming, vineyards, characteristic houses and a Lutheran church. In 1941, the ethnic German population was deported to Central Asia under Stalin. Parts of the historic settlement can still be seen today.

Manglisi lies around 55 kilometres from Tbilisi in a higher, heavily wooded landscape. Important routes crossed the area from antiquity. The first stone church at Manglisi was built in the 5th century, while today’s Sioni Cathedral preserves major building phases from the 5th and 11th centuries.

Paravani Lake lies at roughly 2,073 metres above sea level and is Georgia’s largest lake by surface area. Despite its size, it is remarkably shallow, reaching only about 3.3 metres at its deepest point. It regularly freezes in winter, while in summer the surrounding highlands feel vast, quiet and remote.

Poka stands directly on the lakeshore. According to tradition, St Nino rested here on her journey towards Mtskheta. The present church dates from the 11th century, and a nunnery was later established on the site.