Route guide
Tbilisi to Stepantsminda (Kazbegi)
About 155 km north along the Georgian Military Road, climbing from the Aragvi valley over the Jvari Pass (2,379 m) to the foot of Mount Kazbek. Allow 3 hours without stops and a full day if you want to see the fortresses and viewpoints on the way.
The road to Stepantsminda, still widely called Kazbegi, is the most scenic drive you can do in a day from Tbilisi. It follows the old trade route to the North Caucasus, passes a reservoir, a walled church complex and a ski resort, then crosses the main ridge of the Caucasus before dropping into the Tergi valley under the glacier of Kazbek.
Because so much of the interest lies between the two ends, the way you travel matters more here than on most routes. A marshrutka gets you there cheaply but drives straight through. With a private car the trip turns into a day out: a coffee above the Zhinvali reservoir, Ananuri, khinkali in Pasanauri, the Soviet mosaic over the Devil's Valley and the mineral springs below the pass.
Ways to go, compared
| Option | Time | Price (2026) | How often |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private transfer with stopsYour hotel in Tbilisi | 3 h driving, 6-8 h with stops | see vehicle prices below | Any day, any hour |
| Marshrutka from DidubeDidube bus station, next to Didube metro | About 3-3.5 h | about 15-20 GEL (about $6-7) per person in 2026 | Several departures a day from early morning, more in summer |
| Shared car seatDidube bus station | About 3 h | about 40-60 GEL (about $15-22) per seat in 2026 | Leaves when full |
| Kazbegi day tourYour hotel in Tbilisi | 10-11 h round trip | see the tour page | Any date |
- Time
- 3 h driving, 6-8 h with stops
- Price
- see vehicle prices below
- How often
- Any day, any hour
- From
- Your hotel in Tbilisi
- Pick-up at your door and stops wherever you like
- Costs more than the minibus for one or two people
- Time
- About 3-3.5 h
- Price
- about 15-20 GEL (about $6-7) per person in 2026
- How often
- Several departures a day from early morning, more in summer
- From
- Didube bus station, next to Didube metro
- Cheap and frequent
- Drives through without stopping at the sights; bags squeezed in; cash only
- Time
- About 3 h
- Price
- about 40-60 GEL (about $15-22) per seat in 2026
- How often
- Leaves when full
- From
- Didube bus station
- Faster and roomier than the minibus
- No stops for sightseeing; agree the price before you get in
- Time
- 10-11 h round trip
- Price
- see the tour page
- How often
- Any date
- From
- Your hotel in Tbilisi
- Driver-guide, Gergeti Trinity and the main stops in one day, back the same evening
- A long day; you sleep in Tbilisi, not under Kazbek
Prices are approximate for 2026 (1 USD is about 2.7 GEL) and change with fuel and season.
Stops on the way
9 stops, adding about 4 h 35 min to the drive. Easy with a private car; buses do not stop.
- 0 km1TbilisiStart
- 22 km2Jvari MonasteryStop about 30 min · Only a short climb off the highway, with the classic view down on Mtskheta and the river confluence. Easy to add first thing in the morning.
- 60 km3Zhinvali reservoir viewpointStop about 10 min · A roadside lay-by above the turquoise reservoir that supplies Tbilisi with water. Quick photo stop.
- 66 km4Ananuri FortressStop about 40 min · Two churches and a tall tower inside 17th-century walls on the shore of the reservoir. Walk up the tower stairs for the view.
- 88 km5PasanauriStop about 45 min · The village that gave its name to mountain khinkali. The natural lunch stop on the way up or back.
- 120 km6GudauriStop about 15 min · Ski resort at about 2,200 m; in summer a place to stretch your legs, ride a lift or book a tandem paragliding flight.
- 125 km7Russia-Georgia Friendship MonumentStop about 30 min · Curved concrete balcony from 1983 covered in a tiled mosaic, hanging over the Devil's Valley.
- 133 km8Travertine springs below the Jvari PassStop about 10 min · Orange and white mineral terraces right beside the road, just past the pass on the northern side.
- 148 km9SnoStop about 20 min · Short detour at the Juta turn-off to see the carved stone heads of Georgian poets and kings.
- 155 km10Gergeti Trinity ChurchStop about 75 min · Stepantsminda's 14th-century church at 2,170 m, reached by a paved road from town. Your driver can take you to the car park so you skip the steep walk.
- 155 km11Stepantsminda (Kazbegi)Arrive
Private transfer prices
Whole car with driver, one way, stops included. Sample prices
| Vehicle | Seats | One way |
|---|---|---|
| SedanComfortable saloon such as a Toyota Camry or similar hybrid. Right for one to three people with normal luggage on paved roads. | up to 3 | $110 |
| MinivanMercedes Vito, V-Class or similar. For families and groups of four to seven, or three people with a lot of luggage or ski gear. | up to 7 | $150 |
| SUV (4x4)Real four-wheel drive such as a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado or Mitsubishi Delica, with a driver used to mountain tracks. Needed for Tusheti, Khevsureti, the upper Truso valley and snowy winter roads. | up to 4 | $140 |
| MinibusMercedes Sprinter or similar with air conditioning, for groups of eight to seventeen. Paved roads only. | up to 17 | $240 |
- Start before 9:00 in summer: the road is busy with lorries heading to the Russian border, and parking at Ananuri and Gergeti fills by late morning.
- From late autumn to spring, winter tyres are required on this road and the Jvari Pass can close for hours after heavy snow. Keep a free day after a winter trip to Kazbegi before an international flight.
- It is often 8-10 degrees cooler in Stepantsminda than in Tbilisi. Bring a warm layer even in July.
- A one-way transfer works well if you stay a night or two in Stepantsminda and come back on the minibus, or the other way round.
Do it with us
Tbilisi to Stepantsminda (Kazbegi), privately
Any date, any group size. Private guide, transport, horses and camping gear if needed.
Ready-made tourKazbegi Day Trip1 day · from $140 pp (sample)Tbilisi to Stepantsminda (Kazbegi): FAQ
How many hours is it by car to Kazbegi?
About 155 km and roughly 3 hours without stops. With the usual stops at Ananuri, Pasanauri, the Friendship Monument and Gergeti, plan on 7 to 8 hours door to door.
Can you drive to Kazbegi in winter?
Yes, it is kept open all year as the main road to Russia, but the Jvari Pass section closes for hours or sometimes days after heavy snow or avalanche risk. Winter tyres are compulsory in the cold season.
Is a Kazbegi day trip from Tbilisi realistic?
Yes. Most people do it as a long day of 10 to 11 hours. If you want to hike to the Gergeti glacier, Juta or Truso, stay at least one night.
Where does the Kazbegi marshrutka leave from?
From Didube bus station in Tbilisi, beside Didube metro station. Come 30 to 45 minutes early in summer to get a seat.
Last checked Oct 2026 by the Maspindzeli team. Mountain conditions change: ask us before you go.
Tours on this road
Book a private transfer with stops
Tbilisi to Stepantsminda (Kazbegi) in your own car with driver, stopping at Jvari Monastery, Zhinvali reservoir viewpoint, Ananuri Fortress and more. Fixed price, any time.
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