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April 19, 2024
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Traveling to Georgia? Then chances are big you will want to visit the Caucasus Mountains! There aren’t that many super-detailed guidebooks about Georgia yet, so I’ve put together this Kazbegi Georgia Travel Guide for you. Kazbegi is a town in the Caucasus mountains that is the most accessible and a perfect introduction to what the Caucasus Mountains have to offer. Ready? Here we go!
Georgia Kazbegi.
Kazbegi is located near the Russian- Georgian border in the region of Mtskheta-Mtianeti in the North-East of Georgia. The town lies in the Valley of the Terek river and is surrounded by the mountains of the Greater Caucasus. It is known for the gorgeous natural scenery inside the Kazbegi National Park and is a hub for mountaineers, hikers, and weekend tourists who want to enjoy some fresh air.
Kazbegi Mountains, Georgia.
Yes, it is definitely worth it to visit Kazbegi. Even if you’re not an experienced hiker, Kazbegi offers multiple easy day walks and moderate hikes that you can do without any previous hiking experience. It’s a great place if you want to visit the Caucasus Mountains but don’t necessarily feel like you are cut out to engage in hard multi-day trekking sleeping in tents and preparing your own food.
Kazbegi town offers everything you need for a relaxed holiday, with multiple guest houses, cute restaurants, delicious Georgian food and easy transportation options to nearby natural attractions.
Caucasus Mountains, Kazbegi, Georgia.
If you’re looking for public transport from Tbilisi to Kazbegi don’t be alarmed if a marshrutka driver will direct you to a minivan with a sign for Stepantsminda. Kazbegi is the name the town adopted when it was under Soviet rule in the 20th century.
Originally called Stepantsminda, which means “Saint Stephan”, the Soviets weren’t keen on the religious name of the town so they titled it “Kazbegi” after the local magnate who was working under Soviet rule.
The Republic of Georgia changed it back to Stepantsminda in 2006, however, the names are now used interchangeably.
Road to Mount Kazbek, Kazbegi, Georgia.
Kazbegi lies within easy reach of the main capital of Georgia, Tbilisi, and is, therefore, the main town people tend to head to if they want to visit the Caucasus Mountains. Kazbegi is located along the Georgian Military highway, a very scenic road, connecting Tbilisi in Georgia with the city of Vladikavkaz in Russia.
The road is dotted with interesting attractions, both natural as well as some towns and monuments, so it’s advisable to think well about which transport option you prefer to make this trip.
I’ll make a quick overview below of the different transport options you can choose from, however, for a more comprehensive overview, I advise you to take a look at my Tbilisi to Kazbegi transport guide.
Kazbegi lies 155 kilometers (96 miles) north of Tbilisi. It is connected by the Georgian Military highway, which is actually not a real highway, but rather a two-lane road crossing into the Caucasus Mountains.
It takes generally 3 hours to get f to Kazbegi from Tbilisi, however, travel time can be longer when facing road issues like heavy snowfall or traffic jams due to the many freight trucks using the road to pass the Georgian-Russian border.
If you’re eager to drive yourself, renting a car is definitely the best option to explore all the good things the Georgian Military Highway and the Kazbegi region have to offer. Do keep in mind that traffic can be tumultuous but it is definitely doable if you are a confident driver.
I like to use the site Skyscanner to compare prices for renting a car. Whatever other option I explore, Skyscanner always seems to be able to find the lowest prices online.
Driving your own car allows you to explore the Georgian Military highway at your own pace and to make stops whenever you feel like it.
If you don’t fancy to drive yourself but want to have the freedom to make stops along the road according to your liking, hiring a car with a driver is your best choice.
The best thing to do in this case is to book a transfer through Gotrip. This website allows you to craft your own itinerary with stops on the way for a fixed price at the end of your booking.
It is possible to share a taxi to get from Tbilisi to Kazbegi. This is a pretty economical option and will get you there as fast as a private car, however, you will have to agree with your co-passengers if you want the driver to make stops along the way.
You can find the shared taxis to Kazbegi at Didube Station in Tbilisi. A shared taxi will cost you 25 GEL.
The least comfortable but cheapest option to get from Tbilisi to Kazbegi is to take a marshrutka van. To take a marshrutka van to Kazbegi, walk past the shared taxis at Didube Station and make your way to the Didube bus terminal. A seat in a marshrutka costs 15 GEL.
There are multiple attractions along the Georgian Military Highway, from scenic landscapes to UNESCO-protected villages and a mineral pool. For a complete overview, check out my Tbilisi to Kazbegi transport guide. In this article, I’ll let you in on the two most popular stops along the way.
Ananuri fortress, Georgian Military Highway, Georgia.
Approximately 70 kilometers from Tbilisi lies the castle complex called the Ananuri Fortress. It is a well-preserved medieval castle that was home to the dukes of Aragvi from the 13th to the 18th century.
It also includes two churches, one of which holds the graves of some of the dukes of Aragvi. Behind the Ananuri Fortress, you can see the artificial Zhinvali Lake.
Russian- Georgian Friendship Monument on the Georgian Military Highway
Around 120 kilometers from Tbilisi, just after the ski resort town of Gudauri, you can find the Russia-Georgia friendship monument. It was built in 1983, to celebrate the 200-year anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Gorgievs, in which the Russian emperor back then swore to protect and support the Georgian dynasty from foreign invaders.
It is needless to say that the monument was erected during the Soviet Period and that it actually represents something that never really existed. But it does make for an interesting stop along the way.
View from Gergeti Trinity Church, Kazbegi, Georgia.
To give you a straight answer: Yes. Kazbegi is incredibly safe to travel around, as is the whole of Georgia. There are a few things to look out for though but they don’t apply to Kazbegi in particular but to Georgia in general.
Hiking trails in Kazbegi, Georgia.
The best time to visit Kazbegi is from late May to late October. Since hiking is the main activity in and around Kazbegi there is no point going there in winter when access roads to places like Truso Valley and Juta Valley are impassable due to snowfall and bad weather conditions.
That said, it is possible though to get to Kazbegi during the winter months if you feel like snuggling up in a nice spa hotel with snowy mountain views rather than hiking. The ski resort town of Gudauri is also nearby so you won’t be the only tourist out here. Do keep in mind that a lot of guesthouses and restaurants in Kazbegi close during the winter months.
We visited Kazbegi in late May and the weather conditions were perfect. We think late May/early June and late September are the best periods to visit Kazbegi. Tourist season has not kicked in yet and you will have a lot of natural places all to yourself.
Gergeti Trinity Church, Kazbegi, Georgia.
There are so many beautiful sights in Kazbegi that you will need approximately at least four days to visit them all properly. While hiking around Kazbegi is the main thing to do here, there are also a few other activities you can participate in like paragliding, visiting Gergeti Trinity Church, and sampling the best Khachapuri and Khinkali around town.
Hiking trails in Kazbegi, Georgia.
There are countless hiking trails in and around Kazbegi and giving an overview of all of them here would be an impossible task. I will focus here on five easy to moderate day hikes in Kazbegi that are suitable for people with an average fitness level.
There are plenty of other multi-day trips to be done in and around Kazbegi. If that is what you want to engage in it is best to contact the crew at Mountain Freaks to explore possibilities in the area. Two examples of popular multi-day hikes are the Juta to Roshka hike via the Abudelauri Lakes and the three-day Kelitsadi Lake trekking.
It is very hard to find a decent map of the hiking trails around Kazbegi. There are very detailed maps hanging on the walls inside the office of Mountain Freaks. It’s a good idea to take some photos of them before leaving on a hike. Also, be sure to download Maps.me on your phone. It gives an okay overview of the hiking trials.
Pansheti Natural Swimming Pool, Kazbegi, Georgia.
The shortest hike we did, starting in the center of Kazbegi is the one to the Pansheti Mineral pool. While it is also possible to get there by car, this little walk is the perfect introduction to all the beauty the area has to offer and to get used to the high altitude if you are sensitive to that.
The location of this pure and magical natural pool is magnificent, offering great views of the town of Kazbegi. The water is cold but it was doable to swim in it during our time of visit at the end of May.
There is a spring on site where you can fill up your water bottle. The water is tasty and slightly sparkling and a lot of locals drove up the road to fill up big bottles of water when we were there.
There are no facilities on the site and this is pure nature at its best. To get to the Pansheti Mineral Pool, walk from the center of Kazbegi to the Georgian Military Highway. Take a right and then turn left right after crossing the bridge. don’t take the main road into the town of Gergeti but look for a pathway on the left right next to the river. The path will lead you all the way to the Pansheti Mineral Pool.
Dariali Gorge, Kazbegi, Georgia.
Another easy activity for the day is making your way up to The Gveleti Waterfalls, Gveleti Lake, and The Dariali Gorge. You will need a car or a taxi to do this trip. Mountain Freaks also offers transport to the waterfalls and Dariali Gorge for 45 GEL per person. Hitchhiking is also an option.
Right after the village of Tsdo, about seven kilometers from Kazbegi, you will see a parking lot on the left where a dirt road starts. This is the way to the small and big Gveleti waterfall. After a while, the pathway will split in two. One path will lead to the big waterfall. The other one leads to the small waterfall. The whole walk takes approximately one hour.
For Gveleti Lake, walk back to the start of the dirt road and take a path north. It takes about four and a half kilometers to reach Gveleti Lake.
The Georgian Military Highway passes straight through the Dariali Gorge. On the road, you will pass by many fabulous lookout points to snap some beautiful photos. End your trip with a visit to the Dariali Monastery complex.
The main attraction in Kazbegi is the Holy Gergeti Trinity Church. While not that much is known about the history of the church or its relevance, at present, it is an active formation of the Georgian Orthodox Church. Visiting the church itself is nothing special. What makes this an exciting experience is watching the church from the center of Kazbegi and then making your way up there to enjoy the view of Kazbegi town.
It is possible to visit the Gergeti Trinity Church by car or taxi. If your health doesn’t allow it, it is possible to get up there and enjoy the wonderful views. A paved road goes all the way up to the church.
Gergeti Trinity Church, Kazbegi tourism, Georgia.
But, the fun part is to visit Gergeti Trinity Church doing a one-and-a-half-hour hike up to the mountain. There are various ways to get there; you can take the paved road but this is a long stroll and is not scenic at all. for the most attractive walk up to the church, cross the bridge to the village of Gergeti, and make your way up to the village. Go straight on to a T-crossing and turn left. The trail up to Gergeti Triniti Church starts at Gergeti Café.
From Gergeti Trinity Church you can extend your hike up to Mount Kazbek. While you can’t decide this on a hunch (it takes preparation to climb Mount Kazbek) it is possible though to make your way up to a small campground. You can see this campground on Maps.me.
To get back to the center of Kazbegi you don’t necessarily have to take back the trail you came from. At Gergeti Trinity Church, you can see some stairs on the road that leads to the parking lot. these stairs will turn into a dirt road leading you back to Gergeti village through forest scenery.
Truso Valley, Kazbegi National Park, Georgia.
Another easy but rather long day hike is the Truso Valley hike. This 21-kilometer-long hike passes through a largely deserted valley passing by abandoned villages, monasteries, and a fortress all the way to the South-Ossetian border.
Aside from the gorgeous mountains surrounding you, what makes this hike special is the presence of some beautiful limestone travertine caused by the water of a few mineral springs in the area. Another point of interest is the small but cute Abano Mineral Lake.
The best way to get to the start of the Truso Valley hike is by private taxi or with the shuttle operated by Mountain Freaks. You can book a transfer with them to Truso Valley here. The walk starts at the small town of Kvemo Okrokana and passes through a gorge first before the valley opens up.
This walk mainly goes over flat terrain. The only point where you really need to climb is if you want to explore the ruins of the fortress near the South-Ossetian border. Check my Truso Valley travel guide for more detailed information.
Juta Valley, View from Fifth Season hotel, Kazbegi National Park, Georgia.
Juta Valley is another valley that lies in the proximity of Kazbegi. I have to say that this was my favorite walk in the area. Be sure to arrive early though in Juta Valley. We started our walk around 10h30 A.M. and when we returned in the afternoon hordes of tourists, probably on a day tour from Tbilisi, started to overcrowd the pathways, taking away the peacefulness of doing this hike.
To get to Juta, you can take a taxi or reserve a seat in the shuttle vans operated by Mountain Freaks for 45 GEL. You can book the shuttle to Juta Valley here. The Mountain Freak vans also make a small stop in Sno Village on the way where you can admire the large stone head sculptures created by local artists Merab Piranishvili.
Read my comprehensive Juta Valley travel guide to find out everything you need to know about this amazing hike.
If you’re a fan of crazy adventures, then paragliding in Kazbegi might be exactly your thing. It’s a fun way to get a bird’s eye view of the Caucasus Mountains while the adrenaline will be rushing through your veins. To start your paragliding adventure, get in contact with Skyatlantida, which offers different paragliding packages.
Prices start at 299 GEL for a short sightseeing flight while a cross-country flight will set you back at 629 GEL. I am personally not that adventurous, but please let me know in the comments below if you did dare to participate in this activity.
Giant head sculptures, Sno Village, Georgia.
Sno village is a small village on the way from the Georgian Military highway to Juta. You can easily walk to Sno village from Kazbegi in about one hour and forty minutes but most people make a stop here on the way to visit Juta Valley.
At Sno village, you have the chance to admire the giant stone sculptures created by local artist Merab Piranishvili. The giant head sculptures are often referred to as “Georgia’s Eastern Island” and it is Merab Piranishvili’s dream to create sculptures of all the great figures in Georgian history resulting in a gigantic open-air museum.
Other points of interest in Sno village are the statue of Vakhtang Gorgasali and the Ghudushauri fortress. While there seem to be a few guesthouses in Sno village I didn’t see any restaurants, so be sure to take some snacks if you would walk to Sno village from Kazbegi.
Kazbegi village, Georgia.
Relatively small in size and rather compact, the village of Kazbegi doesn’t offer that many spectacular sights in particular. That said, walking around Kazbegi town though gives you a feel for the real and authentic mountain town vibes.
There is a small church you can visit and it’s fun to find a little bench to stretch your legs after a long day of hiking and watch the traditional mountain life unfold in front of your eyes.
Here are the websites I personally use whenever I travel to Georgia:
Booking.com: For the best cheap guesthouses, homestays, or small hotels
Hostelworld: To find the best hostels located in the cities
Homestay: For unique immersive homestays in Tbilisi, Kutaisi and Batumi
12GO: Convenient for booking a private taxi or the Stadler train that connects Tbilisi with Batumi
BOLT: for taxi rides in cities and nearby attractions
Skyscanner: For affordable flights to Tbilisi, Batumi, and Kutaisi
GOTRIP: the best booking platform for private transport between a variety of locations
Viator and Get Your Guide: These are the best websites to book tours from Tbilisi and Kutaisi. Don’t forget to book a wine-tasting trip to Kakheti! The region is beautiful and the wine is delicious.
Check online if you need a visa for Georgia on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Buy a Georgian SIM card: Magti is the best service provider if you buy a SIM card on arrival in Georgia. For fast internet right away you can also opt to buy an E-sim for Georgia via AIRALO.
There are plenty of accommodation options to be found in Kazbegi. A lot of locals from Tbilisi own a guesthouse in Kazbegi and open it up from around the end of April to October. Kazbegi has something to suit every kind of traveler, whether you’re looking for a basic hostel or a high-end hotel.
As a conscious traveler, I like to stay in accommodation that is at least locally owned and if possible sustainably operated. Here are my recommendations on where to stay in Kazbegi:
Delicious grilled vegetables @ The Cozy Corner, Kazbegi, Georgia.
There are a few great restaurants in Kazbegi with some amazing tasty options. Plant-based travelers won’t be disappointed with the options on offer because a large portion of Georgian food is vegan or vegetarian.
Georgian food in restaurants is best shared with a few people. It consists of small plates, like mezedes in Greece, ranging from boiled meat to cheese-filled bread and a wide array of vegetable dishes.
Here are some great restaurants in Kazbegi:
If you have your own wheels, of course, you can get to a lot of places in and around Kazbegi. For the ones traveling by public transport, here are some ways to get around Kazbegi.
Taxis are located at the Kazbegi Bus Station and you will be able to find one there at every time of the day. If you travel with a group of at least three people, hiring a taxi is the most comfortable and cheapest option. To get to Dariala Gorge, Truso Valley, or Juta Valley, they generally charge 100 GEL/car.
If you are a solo traveler or traveling as a couple it’s best to find a few people at your accommodation to share a taxi. The other option is to book transport through Mountain Freaks Agency.
Mountain Freaks is a Moutain Travel and Adventure Agency in Kazbegi. You can book expeditions and trekking tours with them but they also offer transport options to Juta Valley, Truso Valley and the Gveletu Waterfalls, and Dariali gorge. A return ticket to these places costs 45 GEL. Shared taxi jeeps leave the Agency at 9h15 in the morning and return at 4.30 P.M. The cars leaving for Juta Valley also make a small stop in Sno village.
Don’t have a lot of time on your hands? It is possible to visit Kazbegi on a day tour from Tbilisi. Just remember that you will be spending a lot of time in the car! There are a few Tbilisi-Kazbegi tours that take in the best sights and activities in and around Kazbegi.
Get Your Guide and Viator are reputable online booking platforms advertising local tours. To get an idea about the best value out there, take a look at my Kazbegi Tour Guide.
Kazbegi, Georgia.
There you go! I hope you enjoyed this Kazbegi guide and that you have found some useful information here to plan your Kazbegi trip!
Here are a few other tips that can be useful during your trip:
Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions or drop me a message through my contact page.
Also, don’t forget to check out my resources page with my favorite booking platforms and tips to start planning your trip. Additionally, have a look at my favorite travel gear if you want to pack more consciously!
ENJOY!
Disclaimer: This post may include affiliate links. If you click on them, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Hi! I am Annelies and this is Travelers & Dreamers, a blog about conscious travel which means traveling in a more mindful way, with a positive impact on the world and yourself!
On this website, I cover different topics like slow travel, plant-based food guides, responsible travel, sustainable packing, eco-travel, and more!
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Ana
If you are truly a ‘conscious traveler’, you might want to take a closer look at Rooms and Adjara Group before promoting them…
annelies_degelas
Hey Ana, they “seem” ok. Or is the talk on their website greenwash? Let me know because if it is, I will take them out of the post!