georgia

Colored Hills of the Gareji Desert

Take a break from the noise, check out hills that look like bacon, breathe deep, and get those 10,000 steps in!

120 GEL

SCHEDULE

BOOK YOUR SPOT

1 day

duration

below average

difficulty

10 km

distance

↑↓450 m

elevation gain / loss

group hike schedule

May 16, Saturday

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What you'll see on the trail

Our adventure kicks off with an off-road drive across the vast Gareji Steppe. Along the way, we'll run into flocks of sheepgrazing under the watchful eye of shepherd dogs.

First stop—the majestic sandstone cliffs, where time and wind have carved out bizarre patterns. For centuries, monastic cells were hollowed out of this soft rock.

Next, we'll see the Mravaltskaro Reservoir. We'll leave the car nearby and hike up to the top of the legendary Rainbow Hills. Millions of years ago, this was the bottom of an ancient sea, and today we can literally walk through its history.
The red and pink stripes come from iron in the soil.
The yellow layers are ancient sandstone.
The white patterns are traces of sea salt, chalk, and limestone.

Because of the bright stripes, people often compare them to bacon. We'll have plenty of time to wander through them, checking out the cosmic patterns right under our feet.

After descending from the colorful hills, we'll pass by sandy mounds where remains of cave cells still linger. Then we'll hit the lowlands separating the surreal painted mountains from the classic steppe hills. That's where we're headed next, and we might even spot some tortoises.
along the way. We'll wrap up our trek at a small church and a spring, where we'll take a break and grab some tea before heading back to the car.

Our final stop is the Monastery of St. John the Baptist (Natlismtsemeli). This active cave complex dates back to the 6th century. Right here in the monastery, we'll see the central temple carved into the rock, which houses unique 12th-century frescoes, including images of Queen Tamar and the master who created these caves. You can even see ancient systems of canals and reservoirs that monks used to collect water in the arid desert.

route details

During the tour, we hike through the hills. They aren't very high, but they have a unique surface that looks like dried, cracked clay. That's why it's important to choose comfortable, stable shoes with a non-slip sole. We highly recommend using trekking poles; they'll keep you steady on the climbs and descents. There are a few spots on the route where we follow narrow trails along the hillsides. Keep this in mind if you have a serious fear of heights.

*Keep in mind that this is a hike — a trek along mountain or forest trails without an overnight stay, requiring comfortable shoes and a small daypack with snacks. A walk, on the other hand, is just a casual stroll, often in the city or developed parks.

The difficulty level is specified for this category of routes.