Ananuri Fortress
A 17th-century fortress with two churches, right on the edge of a turquoise lake. The first big photo stop of the day.
Kazbegi & Gudauri: Georgia's big mountains
The most beautiful road in the country, snow peaks over 5,000 m and a church on the edge of the sky. This is the trip everyone remembers.
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The mountain trip you came to Georgia for
The drive north from Tbilisi follows the old Georgian Military Road, and the views start almost at once: a turquoise reservoir, a fortress on the water, then the climb into the mountains past Gudauri and over the Jvari Pass.
At the end is Stepantsminda, better known as Kazbegi, where the Gergeti Trinity Church sits on a green hill in front of snow-covered Mount Kazbek. We stop wherever you want photos, and we know which roads are open in each season.
From TbilisiAbout 155 km to Kazbegi, 120 km to Gudauri
Drive timeAbout 3 hours to Kazbegi without stops
Best timeJune to October for green valleys, December to April for snow and skiing
Great forNature lovers, families, photographers, skiers
Places we take you in Kazbegi & Gudauri
Gudauri Ski Resort
Georgia's most popular ski resort in winter, and a base for paragliding and hiking in summer. Wide slopes that suit beginners and families.
Friendship Monument
A huge round balcony covered in colourful mosaics, hanging over a deep green valley. One of the most photographed spots on the road.
Gergeti Trinity Church
A 14th-century church alone on a hilltop, with Mount Kazbek behind it. Go up by 4x4 in 15 minutes, or hike in about 1.5 hours.
Stepantsminda (Kazbegi) town
A small mountain town with cosy guesthouses and restaurants with big windows facing the peaks. The perfect place to stay the night.
Gveleti Waterfall
An easy 30 to 40 minute walk through the forest to a tall waterfall. A nice short hike for families.
Juta Valley
A high valley under the sharp Chaukhi peaks, with meadows full of flowers in summer. The last part of the road is gravel.
Truso Valley
Mineral springs, colourful travertine rocks, small lakes and old stone towers. Quiet, wild and very different from anywhere else.
How a day with us looks
- 08:30 — Pickup in Tbilisi. We leave early to beat the traffic and the crowds.
- 09:45 — Ananuri Fortress on the Zhinvali Reservoir. Short walk and photos.
- 11:15 — Gudauri and the Friendship Monument above Devil's Valley. Paragliding in summer if you are brave.
- 12:30 — Lunch in Stepantsminda. Try khinkali (dumplings) or grilled trout.
- 13:45 — Up to Gergeti Trinity Church by 4x4 or on foot, with Mount Kazbek right in front of you.
- 15:30 — Optional: Gveleti Waterfall or the Dariali Gorge.
- 16:30 — Drive back to Tbilisi, arriving in the evening.
Good to know
- Bring a warm layer even in summer. It can be 10°C colder in Kazbegi than in Tbilisi.
- The road over the Jvari Pass sometimes closes after heavy snow. We watch the conditions daily and adjust your plan.
- Juta and Truso are best from June to October. Parts of the road are gravel, and we arrange a 4x4 where it is needed.
- Kazbegi is worth a night if you have time. Sunrise over Mount Kazbek is unforgettable.
- Ski season in Gudauri usually runs from December to April. We can drop you at the lifts and pick you up after.
Packages that visit this region
BEST FOR FIRST-TIMERS
Discover Georgia
5 days
Tbilisi & Mtskheta · Kazbegi & Gudauri · Kutaisi & Imereti
$573 / group
MOST POPULAR
Classic Georgia
7 days
Tbilisi & Mtskheta · Kazbegi & Gudauri · Borjomi, Bakuriani & Vardzia · Kutaisi & Imereti · Batumi & Adjara
$737 / group
COVER MORE SIGHTS
Grand Georgia
10 days
Tbilisi & Mtskheta · Kazbegi & Gudauri · Borjomi, Bakuriani & Vardzia · Kutaisi & Imereti · Batumi & Adjara
$975 / group
ALL-INCLUSIVE FEEL
Premium Package
14 days
Tbilisi & Mtskheta · Kazbegi & Gudauri · Kakheti & Sighnaghi · Borjomi, Bakuriani & Vardzia · Kutaisi & Imereti · Batumi & Adjara
$1227 / group
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More places to explore
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Photo credits: Gergeti Trinity Church and Mt. Kazbeg 01 — Braveheart (CC BY-SA 4.0) · 221 Ananuri fortress (1541502132) — DAVID HOLT from London, England (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Gudauri Ski Resort, Gudauri, Georgia (Unsplash) — Alexey Okhrimenko alexeyok (CC0) · Monument at Devil's valley, Georgia IMG 0733 — Peter from Bern, Switzerland (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Gergeti Trinity Church, Georgia — Vyacheslav Argenberg (CC BY 4.0) · Kazbegi, Stepantsminda, Georgia — Vyacheslav Argenberg (CC BY 4.0) · Gveleti waterfall — UG-GE (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Chaukhi Mountain & Tina Lake, Juta Valley, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Georgia — Boris Kuznetsov (CC BY 2.0) · Abano Mineral Lake — David Osipov 0000 0005 1802 960X 0009-0005-2713-9242 📱 This photograp (CC BY 4.0). Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under their free licenses.