Kazbegi Day Trip
One long, scenic day up the Georgian Military Highway: Ananuri Fortress, the 2,379 m Jvari Pass and a 4x4 ride to Gergeti Trinity Church under Mount Kazbek.
Ananuri FortressPhoto: Vadim Tolbatov, CC BY-SA 3.0From Tbilisi, the Georgian Military Highway heads north over the Greater Caucasus as far as the Russian frontier, and its best-known section finishes at Stepantsminda, a town most people still call Kazbegi. This private day trip follows it along the Zhinvali Reservoir to Ananuri, a fortress of the 17th century, through Pasanauri, a village famous for khinkali, and the ski resort of Gudauri, then on to the Friendship Monument and across the Jvari Pass (2,379 m). The last leg is by 4x4 from Stepantsminda up to Gergeti Trinity Church, which sits at 2,170 m with the snowy 5,054 m peak of Kazbek rising behind it.
Expect a full day of ten to eleven hours, about six of them on the road, though the highway is in good shape and you stop often. There is only light walking at the stops. The trip runs year-round. From December to March, heavy snow sometimes shuts the Jvari Pass for a few hours, so we follow the forecast closely and pick the best date together with you.
Highlights
- The towers and churches of Ananuri over the Zhinvali Reservoir
- Lunch of khinkali in the mountains, in Pasanauri or Stepantsminda
- The mosaic Friendship Monument perched over the Aragvi gorge
- Crossing the 2,379 m Jvari Pass
- Gergeti Trinity Church framed by Mount Kazbek
- Roadside mineral springs and wide mountain views along the highway
Tour facts
Most stops, including the Friendship Monument, can be seen close to the vehicle, and the 4x4 brings you near Gergeti church. The final path to the church and the walls at Ananuri are uneven with steps, so you may prefer to enjoy them from below.
Places on this tour
6 places · tap any place to read its guide
- 1Up the Georgian Military Highway to Kazbegi and back
Day by day
01Up the Georgian Military Highway to Kazbegi and back
You leave Tbilisi at about 8 am, skirt Mtskheta and follow the Aragvi north to the Zhinvali Reservoir. At Ananuri, the 17th-century stronghold of the Aragvi dukes, walk the walls and see its two churches above the water. The road continues through Pasanauri and up to Gudauri, where the Friendship Monument, a mosaic balcony built in 1983, hangs over the gorge. Beyond the Jvari Pass, pull over at the roadside mineral springs, where the travertine has turned bright orange. In Stepantsminda, a 4x4 takes you on up to the 14th-century Gergeti Trinity Church, 2,170 m above sea level. After a late khinkali lunch, you drive back, reaching Tbilisi in the evening.
Prices
Price per person for a private tour, by the size of your group. Sample prices
| Group size | Per person | Whole group |
|---|---|---|
| Solo traveller | $245 | $245 |
| 2 travellers | $140 | $280 |
| 3-4 travellers | $100 | from $300 |
| 5-8 travellers | $70 | from $350 |
| 9-15 travellers | $50 | from $450 |
Room and children
- Children under 6 travel free; ages 6-11 pay 50%.
- Prices change with hotel level and season; your quote is final.
Popular add-ons
- Lunch at a family guesthouse$20
- Upgrade to a 4x4 for the whole day$50
What's included
- Hotel pickup and return in Tbilisi
- A private guide fluent in English
- Private, air-conditioned car with your own driver
- 4x4 ride up to Gergeti Trinity Church
- Khinkali lunch in the mountains
- Bottled water during the drive
- Drinks beyond those listed
- Optional tips for your guide and driver
- Personal spending
- Travel insurance cover
Good to know
Who it's for
- Visitors based in Tbilisi who want to see the High Caucasus in one day
- Photographers after the classic view of Gergeti church under Mount Kazbek
- Travellers who enjoy road journeys with frequent stops for fortresses and viewpoints
- Fit walkers who would like to swap the 4x4 for the old footpath to Gergeti
If ten hours in a day feels too long, spend a night in the mountains on Tbilisi, Mountains & Wine, or stay close to the city with the Mtskheta Day Trip.
What to bring
- A warm layer even in July, as Stepantsminda and the Jvari Pass are much cooler than Tbilisi
- Sunglasses and sun cream for the high, bright Kazbegi light
- A headscarf, skirt or long trousers for Ananuri and Gergeti churches
- Walking shoes with grip, especially if you hike up to Gergeti
- Your passport, which is sometimes asked for on the highway near the Russian border
- Snacks and water for the long road day
- In winter, roughly December to March, heavy snowfall sometimes shuts the Jvari Pass for several hours. We watch the forecast and may move your date or turn back at Gudauri.
- Plan on 10 to 11 hours door to door, with about three hours of driving each way.
- Lorries queue on this highway toward the Upper Lars border crossing, which can slow the return drive.
- Above about 2,000 m some people feel slightly breathless. Move slowly at Gergeti if you do.
Guest reviews
Questions about this tour
Is a Kazbegi day trip too long?
It fills the whole day, roughly ten to eleven hours, with about three hours of driving in each direction. We stop about once an hour, and the views along the road are a big part of the experience. If your plans allow, staying a night in Stepantsminda makes the day far more relaxed.
Can we walk up to Gergeti Trinity Church instead of driving?
Yes. On foot, the old path from Stepantsminda is roughly 90 minutes up and an hour back down, with about 400 m of climbing. Please let us know beforehand, because the walk adds about two hours to the day.
