Shida Kartli Monastery Trail
Samtavisi Kintsvisi Rkoni Ateni and Uplistsikhe in two days.
- days
- 2 / 1 nights
- Total distance
- 310 km
- Total driving
- 06:30
- Car needed
- Crossover / SUV
- Season
- March–November
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Click a marker for details. Coloured lines are ready-made road trips.
A cultural route linking frescoes valleys and a rock-cut city.
Day-by-day plan
Day 1: Samtavisi → Kintsvisi → Rkoni. Day 2: Ateni → Uplistsikhe.
Stops on this route
Samtavisi Cathedral
A cathedral of 1030 near Kaspi — the benchmark of Georgian facade decoration, copied for two centuries afterwards.
1 h
Kintsvisi Monastery
A 13th-century monastery in the woods, home to the Angel of Kintsvisi — the best-known fresco in Georgian art.
2 h
Rkoni Monastery and Tamar's Bridge
A medieval monastery at the head of the Tedzami gorge, with a single-arch stone bridge among the best preserved in Georgia.
3 h
Ateni Sioni Church
A 7th-century church in the Ateni gorge with outstanding 11th-century frescoes and historic vineyards.
1 h
Uplistsikhe
A city carved into the rock above the Mtkvari — Georgia's oldest urban centre, with over 3,000 years of history.
2 hTips
- An SUV suits Rkoni road.
- Dress respectfully.
Best car for this trip
Cars in this category
Guides
- The Best Time to Visit Georgia, Counted Month by Month Georgia does not have one season. It has two countries: a 60% country from November to April and a 99% country
- Driving in Georgia: What the Distances Actually Cost You Georgia is a small country with slow roads. Here is what 267 measured drives from Tbilisi say about how long y
Pickup locations
Car Rental in Tbilisi — 39 km (straight line)
Booking and enquiries
The easiest way to reach these places is by car — you pick the route and the stops.