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

ascent / descent

group hike schedule

Available as a private tour

What you'll see on the route

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

First stop: the majestic sandstone cliffs, where time and wind have carved out wild patterns. For centuries, monastic cells were hewn directly into this soft rock.

Next up, the Mravaltskaro Reservoir opens up before us. We’ll leave the car nearby and hike to the top of the legendary Rainbow Hills. Millions of years ago, this was the ancient seabed, and today we can literally walk through its history.
Red and pink stripes come from iron in the soil.
Yellow layers are ancient sandstone.
White patterns are traces of sea salt, chalk, and limestone.

Because of the bright stripes, people often compare them to bacon. We’ll spend plenty of time wandering between them, checking out the cosmic patterns right under our feet.

After heading down from the Rainbow Hills, we’ll pass by sandstone mounds where ruins of cave cells still remain. Then we’ll hit the lowland that separates the surreal colored mountains from the classic steppe hills. That’s where we’ll hike, 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.

The final stop is the Monastery of St. John the Baptist (Natlismtsemeli). This is an active 6th-century cave complex. 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 the ancient systems of channels and reservoirs the monks used to collect water in the dry desert.

trail details

During the tour, we’ll be hiking through the hills. They aren't super high, but the terrain is unique—think dried, cracked clay. That’s why it’s crucial to wear comfortable, stable shoes with a non-slip sole. We highly recommend using trekking poles; they’ll keep you safe on the descents and climbs. There are a few spots on the route where we walk along narrow trails on the hillside. Keep this in mind if you have a serious fear of heights.

*Just a reminder: this is a hike—a trek along mountain or forest trails without an overnight stay, requiring sturdy shoes and a small daypack with snacks. It’s not just a casual stroll in the city or a park.

The difficulty level is rated specifically for this type of route.