Kazbegi Trip – 3 Days
This is an example of a standard day trip to northern region of Kazbegi – Stephantsminda town.
This tour is described here for the convenience of independent travelers who choose to travel by a car without assistance of a travel company or a guide. All times are specified based on our experience of traveling with tourists to these locations. Durations and locations can be changed upon your preferences and desires.
Locations and times are chosen and optimized for a day trip starting and returning to the capital – Tbilisi.
Day 1 – Tbilisi – Kazbegi
09:30 – Departure from Tbilisi / Hotel
10:30 – Sightseeing stop at Jinvali Water reservoir – located in the Mtskheta-Mtaineti region, Dusheti Municipality, north of the small town of Zhinvali, in the middle of the Aragvi River. It is one of the most beautiful places in Georgia and attracts many tourists. Zhinvali Reservoir is a perfect place to unwind in nature, for a picnic or to escape from the summer heat. The reservoir and its surroundings are beautiful at any time of the year.
11:00 – Ananuri Fortress Complex – a fortress of the feudal era (XVI-XVIII centuries) near the village of Ananuri. In the past, this place was the main key point of Aragvi Saeristavo, where it gathered, on the one hand from the north – Tergi-Aragvi valleys and on the other hand, from the middle of Kartli, the main roads coming through Dusheti.
Ananuri Architectural Ensemble is one of the best monuments of the late feudal era of Georgia.
12:00 – Departure from Ananuri
12:30 – Sightseeing stop at Pasanauri – Small town at the confluence of the rivers Mtiuleti Aragvi and Gudamakari Aragvi, at 1050 meters above sea level.
(black & white Aragvi viewpoint)
Lunch in Pasanauri
Here you can also taste Mtiuletian cuisine, khinkali from Pasanauri, which is especially popular.
14:00 – Departure from Pasanauri
15:00 – Sightseeing at Gudauri (viewpoint stop)
Here you can see amazing panoramic views from so called “Georgian-russian Friendship Monument” – a monument built in 1983 to celebrate the bicentennial of the Treaty of Georgievsk and the ongoing “friendship” between Soviet Georgia and Soviet Russia.
16:30 – Arriving in Kazbegi / Stepantsminda – small town, formerly known as Kazbegi, is situated at an elevation of 1700 meters above sea level
17:00 – Sightseeing at Gergeti Trinity Church – The church situated on the right bank of the river Chkheri (the left tributary of the river Terek), at an elevation of 2,170 metres, under Mount Kazbek. The Gergeti Trinity Church was built in the 14th century by an unknown architect, and is the only cross-cupola church in Khevi province.
Free Time / Overnight in Kazbegi
Day 2 – Kazbegi Area & Truso Valley
9:30 – Departure from The Hotel
10:30 – Sightseeing at Gveleti Waterfalls – one of the most splendid waterfalls in Georgia in the Gveleti village. It’s really very easy to get there. The traffic road from Kazbegi to the village is only 7 kilometers and the path from the Gveleti village to the waterfall- less than 1 km. There are many wonderful places for a picnic near the waterfall, from here one can see picturesque views all over the Caucasus.
12:30 – Departure to Kazbegi
Lunch in Kazbegi
14:00 – Departure to Truso – Truso Gorge is one of the quieter, more atmospheric corners of the Kazbegi region – an open valley filled with mineral springs, abandoned stone villages, and wide alpine views.
15:30 – Sightseeing at Truso Valley:
Truso Travertines Natural Monument – a calcareous sinter or tufa in Truso valley on the right bank of Terek river at 2093 meters above the sea level
Abano Mineral Lake Natural Monument is a small karst lake in Kazbegi Municipality in Truso valley on the left bank of Terek River, to the east of the village Abano. The lake was created by a carbon dioxide filled underground stream flowing to the surface through carbonate rocks from the late Jurassic period. The lake “boils” loudly with carbon dioxide bubbles bursting.
Keterisi Mineral Vaucluse Natural Monument – a cluster of powerful artesian aquifers pouring out mineral water at the foot of the Greater Caucasus, known as Narzan vaucluse.
18:30 – Departure to Kazbegi
Free time / Overnight in Kazbegi
Day 3 – Juta – Tbilisi
09:30 – Departure from Kazbegi
10:00 – Sightseeing at Sno – Giant head Sculptures
In the village of Sno, near Stepantsminda , lies a captivating open-air gallery of stone sculptures known as the Stone Heads of Sno. Created by self-taught sculptor Merab Piranishvili.
Stone Heads of Sno offer a unique and memorable experience for those who take the time to visit. To support Piranishvili’s artistic endeavors, visitors can leave donations in a small wooden box near the sculptures
11:00 – sightseeing at Sno Fortress – built in the 16th/17th century, on a cliff in Sno village. It has a tower, a wall with gunports, and was part of Shiola Gudushauri’s domain. In the past, Sno Fortress acted as the valley’s main defensive fortification, where the inhabitants of the village could defend themselves during invasions.
Hiking:
12:00 – sightseeing at Village Juta – located high in the mountains, at 2200 meters above sea level. Juta is the last village of the valley, from where the footpath will take you to the Chiukh (Chaukh) Massif – which at first glance seems impregnable but is the best place for both beginners and professional climbers and mountaineers. The massif has several peaks higher than 3500 meters, on which routes of different categories and difficulty can be approached. However, this does not mean that Chiukhi is only for mountaineers, there is a 4 km easy hiking trail from Juta to the base of the Chiuhi massif that takes 1.5 hours to complete. On the trail, you will also come across the ice-cold Juta Lake.
17:00 – Departure to Tbilisi
Optional stops on the way
21:30 – arrival in Tbilisi / Hotel
Offroad 4×4 car’s needed on this tour for access to Juta and Truso
