Georgia / Kazbegi & the Military Road / Kazbegi (Stepantsminda)Kazbegi (Stepantsminda)
Gergeti Trinity Church Under Mount Kazbek
The mountain village at the end of the Georgian Military Road, 3 hours north of Tbilisi and a few kilometres from the Russian border. The 14th-century Gergeti Trinity Church on its ridge, with 5,047 m Mount Kazbek behind it, is the photo of Georgia. Walk or take a 4x4 up to the church, hike to the Gergeti glacier or into the Truso and Juta valleys. The road crosses the Jvari Pass (2,379 m), which snowstorms close for days at a time in winter.
Highlights
- Gergeti Trinity Church against Mount Kazbek
- Hike to the Gergeti glacier
- Juta valley and the Chaukhi massif
- Truso valley mineral springs
- Dariali gorge and monastery
- Jvari Pass and the Friendship Monument on the drive up
- Ananuri fortress on the way
Things to do
- Hike (or 4x4) to Gergeti Trinity ChurchMorning · 3h
- Juta valley walk to the Chaukhi viewpointMorning · 5h
- Truso valley walkMorning · 5h
- Dariali gorge and Gveleti waterfallAfternoon · 2h 30m
- Mountain-view dinnerEvening · 2h
Tours & tickets
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When to go
Best time: June – September
Worth knowing
Jvari Pass Closes in Winter Storms
The Georgian Military Road crosses the Jvari Pass (2,379 m) between Gudauri and Stepantsminda. Snowstorms and avalanche risk close it for hours or days at a time, mostly from December to March; you can be stuck in Kazbegi, or turned back at Gudauri. Check the road status (Georgian Roads Department, police announcements, your guesthouse) the evening before, and keep a spare day before a flight home.