Kazbegi and Ananuri Day Tour

Tour Itinerary:

A driver and guide will meet you at your hotel in Tbilisi to begin your day trip to Mount Kazbek in Georgia’s northern Kazbegi Region. Drive to Stepantsminda in Kazbegi (160km, 3hrs) via Ananuri Castle.

• Visit Ananuri Castle Complex (16th-17th centuries) to explore the fortresses, admire its churches, climb the medieval tower and stand awestruck before a sweeping view of the Caucasus Mountains and Zhinvali Reservoir.
• Relax as you continue driving to Mount Kazbek; if you’re lucky, you may even come across an army of sheep on the road.
• Stop for a quick photo shoot at the People’s Friendship Arch (1983), from which you’ll have a stunning view of the Caucasus. Also known as the Russia-Georgia Friendship Monument, the mural commemorates solidarity between the nations.
• Arrive in Stepantsminda and take a 10-minute drive* up 2170 meters to Gergeti Holy Trinity Church (14th century), with the snow-capped peak of Mount Kazbek looming before you at 5030 meters. Enjoy the breathtaking view and fresh air as you walk about the mountain, church and bell tower, which represent Georgian history and tenacity in full grandeur.
• Drive back to Tbilisi by way of Jvari Monastery (6th century), a unique remnant of the early Georgian church built at the top of a hill. The church overlooks the confluence of the Mtkvari and Aragvi Rivers and amazes its visitors with simple yet beautiful facades.

Arrive in Tbilisi. End of Kazbegi and Ananuri Day Tour.

Tour duration: 11-12 hours

*As an alternative to driving, you can take an easy one-hour hike up to Gergeti Holy Trinity Church from Stepantsminda on a road that winds through a thorny forest.