What to do in Kazbegi
How To Get To Kazbegi
The cheapest option to get to Kazbegi is taking the local mini buses called marshrutka. They start in Tbilisi from the Didube Bus Station. The price for marshrutka is 15 Lari (about 5 USD in 2022) and has quite a convenient schedule – it leaves hourly from 8 am. to 7 pm. If you look for more comfort you may consider hireing an personal driver. Its easy to book online. Its more expensive than the minibuses but a big benefit is that you can do stops on the the way. You can make for example a stop at Ananuri Fortress, Zhinvali Water Reservoir and the Friendship monument. If you are a bigger group and can share the costs, I would recommend considiring taking a private transportation for gettin to Kazbegi (at least to get there, on the way back you can take the local buses.)
Gergeti monastery
First and foremost, one of the most eye-catching places to visit in Kazbegi is the Gergeti monastery. It is seen from every place in the city and is approximately a 15-minute drive from the city center. Being one of the highest places in Georgia, on top of 2 170 meters hill, on a snowy and windy day, it can be difficult to get there. Legend has it, the mythical bird has a great contribution to the construction of the church located on the highest place in Georgia. According to folk tales, birds carried huge stones that would have been unable to be carried by locals because of the extreme road.
Nowadays, the route leading to the historic place is still dangerous for beginner drivers. So if you are traveling with your own vehicle, you better use the local driver’s service who has suitable driving skills on extreme roads, has a suitable car, and knows the road by heart. So follow our tips in order to have a safe and carefree vacation. If you are a nature lover and fancy taking pictures, this is a place for you. The mountains that surround the Gergeti monastery create a breathtaking background for your photos.
Gveleti Waterfalls Kazbegi
Another very nice outdoor acitvity in Kazbegi is visiting the Gveleti Waterfalls. Ist easy to get there from the Stepantsminda center. You have to two options. You can just ask a taxi driver to bring you to the parking lot which is about 7km (10 min. drive with a car) or you just walk there. Walking there takes about 1 hour but there is no extra hiking trail. You have to walk along the narrow main road which leads to the russian border. I can be busy road with a lot of trucks heading to the border. When we went there we decided to take a taxi and the price where 30 Lari (in 2022).
Once you arrived at the parking lot you hike up the trails. After 10 min. the trails splits to the way to the small Gveleti Waterfall and the big Gveleti Waterfall. The small one is about 10 min away, the bigger one about 15 min. I can recommend to visit both, in which order doesn’t matter. Both of them are very beautiful and you can take some cool photos.
Truso Valley
If you fancy difficulties, Truso valley in Kazbegi is more moderate in comparison to Gveleti. Hiking from Kvemo Okrokana village to the ruins of Zakagori fortress takes 6 hours. The 22 km route walks you to the South Ossetia borders. Another way of getting there is transportation, for sure. Drivers in Kazbegi will be happy to take you to the valley, wait for you for as long as you desire, and bring you back to Stepantsminda.It will approximately cost from eighty to a hundred lari.
Juta
Bonfire and camping in the middle of mountains can be experienced in Juta – a magnificent place is one of the highest settlements in Stepantsminda, Kazbegi. The distance from Kazbegi capital is 24 km long with 4 hours hiking up and 2 hours down. Although being a camping place, staying in the wilderness is not mandatory as there are cottages to stay in with all necessary facilities.
Activities
Being one of the most famous and loved tourist places, another activity option would be making group trips with bicycles. In the summer times, while wandering or biking between the mountains, near the riverside you will come across sheepherders, cows and horses on the way to your destination.
If you are a travelling photographer looking for some breathtaking views for some inspiration or project ideas, Juta definitely is a place for you. Besides that, in the case of being a blogger or a vlogger, you can find a lot of interesting places, activities, and stories for the content. So, do not forget to talk to locals and ask about mysterious legends and myths.
Where to stay in Kazbegi
Kazbegi is a small village but there are more and more hotels and guest houses popping up. So will find a place in every price range, from luxury hotels to a low budget accommodation. Read our Kazbegi hotel recommendations for find a good place for your stay.
