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Private Kazbegi tours from Tbilisi take you up the Georgian Military Highway with your own vehicle and guide, stopping at Jinvali Dam, Ananuri Fortress, Gudauri, and Gergeti Trinity Church. Most tours include hotel pickup, air-conditioned transport, and free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure.
Free Cancellation Private full-day tour from Tbilisi: Ananuri, Gudauri monument, Gergeti Trinity at 2,200m, optional Gveleti hike.
Free Cancellation Kazbegi Private Day Tour from Tbilisi - Gergeti Trinity & Gudauri
Free Cancellation 10-hour private tour from Tbilisi to Kazbegi with stops at Ananuri, Gudauri, Jvari Pass and Gergeti Church.
Free Cancellation 12-hour private tour: Jinvali Dam, Ananuri, Gudauri and Gergeti Trinity Church, with hotel pickup.
Free Cancellation 11-hour private tour from Tbilisi along the Georgian Military Road to Gergeti Church, with five stops en route.
Free Cancellation Private full-day tour from Tbilisi to Ananuri, Gudauri, and Gergeti Trinity Church, 9:00 AM hotel pickup.
Free Cancellation Private minivan tour with lunch: Zhinvali Dam, Ananuri, Gudauri monument, Gergeti Church.
Free Cancellation Private 8-hour Tbilisi tour to Ananuri, Gudauri and Gergeti church by 4x4, with hotel pickup.
Read what travelers share about their experience visiting Kazbegi — from practical tips to personal highlights.
Every tour on this page follows the same spine: pickup at your Tbilisi hotel around 9:00 AM, then 152 km up the Georgian Military Highway with stops at Zhinvali Reservoir, Ananuri Fortress and the Friendship Monument at 2,379 m, before the final push to Stepantsminda and Gergeti Trinity Church. Plan on 8–12 hours door to door. The vehicle, driver and (usually) guide are yours alone, so stops bend to your pace rather than a group schedule.
First photo stop of the day, roughly an hour out of Tbilisi. The turquoise reservoir sits behind a 1970s dam, and tours stop 20–90 minutes depending on the operator. Bring a jacket — it's cooler here than in Tbilisi already.
A 17th-century complex of the Aragvi feudal lords with its main church built in 1689 and a UNESCO tentative listing since 2007. Entry is free (3 GEL parking), and you can climb the tower for views over the water. Tours typically allow 40–90 minutes here.
A curving tiled archway on the Jvari Pass at 2,379 m, built as a Soviet-era peace gesture, hanging over a sheer drop into the Caucasus. It's the most photographed stop on the drive and costs nothing. Most tours give it 40–60 minutes.
The 14th-century stone church sits at 2,170 m, about 420 m above town, with 5,054 m Mount Kazbek stacked directly behind it on a clear day. Entry is free and wraps for the dress code are handed out at the gate. Tours usually allow about an hour here.
The road to the church is a steep, bumpy dirt track, so you transfer to a local 4x4 for the final stretch — roughly 40 GEL return if arranged locally, and included in some private tours when the road is passable. The alternative is a 60–75 minute hike each way. Fog can swallow the church in minutes, so morning visibility is everything.
Some tours build in lunch at a restaurant such as Guda, with vegetarian options if you say so at booking; Karlo's tour adds a honey tasting on board. On tours without lunch, expect a stop of 45–60 minutes where you pay your own bill. Confirm which version you booked.
All eight tours on this page are private — your own vehicle and driver-guide, pickup from any Tbilisi hotel or apartment. The differences are in duration, price and what's bundled in, so match those to your priorities before you click book.
Everything here is a full-day private tour from Tbilisi, running 8–12 hours: the shortest is an 8-hour six-stop itinerary at $68.80, the longest a fixed 12-hour route at $89. Guided group tours of Kazbegi exist on other platforms from about $25–59, but nothing on this page is shared.
Book at least 24 hours ahead — that's the cancellation cutoff for a full refund on every tour here, so same-day bookings forfeit your refund window. Mid-June to September is peak season and the best operators fill up first. The most-reviewed tour (496 reviews, 4.9 rating) is the safest late decision; the 5.0-rated ones have under 25 reviews and smaller vehicle pools.
Entrance fees are essentially zero: Gergeti Trinity Church is free, Ananuri Fortress is free (3 GEL parking, covered by some tours), and Stepantsminda History Museum costs 5 GEL if you add it. Where tours list 'entrance fees' as an inclusion, it mostly means there's nothing to pay anyway.
Two tours include the Gergeti Trinity Church 4x4 ride 'if the road is good'; on the others it's a cash extra, with tours citing about $20 per person and local drivers quoting roughly 40 GEL return. Weather and track conditions decide, and the church hike (3.5 km one-way, 420–500 m of climb) is the free fallback. Agree any fare before the wheels move.
Only the $110 tour bundles lunch (at Guda restaurant, vegetarian on request at booking). Others list lunch as excluded or leave it to you — budget for it separately. One tour throws in honey tasting and onboard drinks, another has in-vehicle WiFi.
Guides work in English on every tour; Russian is offered on five and German on two. If you need German, your choices narrow to the 11-hour $60 tour or the $110 lunch tour. All pickup is from your hotel or apartment — the $68.80 tour asks for a Google Maps pin and calls 30 minutes before arrival.
Several tours accept infants with specialized seats and strollers, and all are rated suitable for most fitness levels — you're mostly sitting. But four operators flag the tour as unsuitable for travelers with poor cardiovascular health, and one adds spinal injuries and pregnancy. The churchyard itself has unfenced edges, so keep children close.
Every tour here uses the same policy: full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before departure, nothing after. Weather is the wildcard — if the Jvari Pass closes for avalanches (usually hours, occasionally 1–3 days in winter), talk to the operator early about rescheduling rather than cancelling.
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| Budget full-day tour ($60, 11h) | Popular classic (Karlo's tour) | Fixed 12-hour itinerary | Tour with lunch included | Compact 8-hour tour | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | 11 hours | Full day, 9:00 AM pickup | 12 hours | Full day | 8 hours |
| Price from | $60 per group | $69 per group | $89 per group | $110 per group | $68.80 per group |
| Best for | German- or Russian-speaking travelers; tight budgets | First-timers who want a proven operator | Travelers who like every stop timed in advance (20 min at Jinvali, 40 at Ananuri, 60 at the Friendship Monument, 60 at Gergeti) | Anyone who doesn't want to think about lunch logistics; vegetarian-friendly | Travelers short on time, with longer stops (90 min at the lake and Ananuri) |
| Includes | Private transport, A/C, guide (German/Russian/English) | Transport (minivan for 5–8 or sedan/SUV), entrance fees, honey tasting, 4x4 to Gergeti if road allows, guide | Transport, hotel pickup/drop-off, 24/7 support, guide if option selected | Private minivan, professional guide (EN/DE/RU), lunch at Guda restaurant, hotel/port pickup and drop-off | Private transport, A/C; lunch and extras extra |
| Rating | 4.8 (30 reviews) | 4.9 (496 reviews) | 4.98 (47 reviews) | 5.0 (22 reviews) | 4.83 (18 reviews) |
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Gergeti Trinity Church is open daily 9:00 AM–5:00 PM. The churchyard gates may be locked outside those hours, but you can still walk the grounds — useful if you're staying overnight and want the mountain to yourself.
Stepantsminda History Museum runs Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 AM–5:30 PM, and costs 5 GEL for adults. It's inside Alexander Kazbegi's birth house, worth 30–45 minutes if your tour allows a detour.
Ananuri Fortress is an open site with no ticketed entrance; one listing gives 09:00–19:00 and the churches inside close in the evening.
Tours on this page pick up around 9:00 AM from your Tbilisi hotel and return in the evening, 8–12 hours later. In winter, depart in the morning — Jvari Pass conditions worsen through the afternoon.
It's 152 km from Tbilisi to Stepantsminda via the Georgian Military Highway (S3/E117), crossing the Jvari Pass at 2,379 m. Without stops that's 3–3.5 hours; tours stretch it into a full day of sightseeing.
A new Kvesheti–Kobi tunnel, expected in 2026, should cut up to an hour off the drive. If the pass closes, the 9.5 km Kobi–Gudauri cable car is the designed backup crossing.
Mid-June to the end of September is the window: snow-free valleys, open trails, working guesthouses. In July, Tbilisi bakes at 38°C while Kazbegi sits at a crisp 15°C.
September and October add autumn colour and the rtveli grape harvest, though pass-side facilities wind down in October.
November–February brings real avalanche risk at the Jvari Pass — the road closes temporarily several times each winter, usually for hours, occasionally 1–3 days. January daytime highs average -4°C. March and April are a slush-and-mud lottery.
Whatever the month, book a night in Stepantsminda if you can. Kazbek hides in cloud more often than it shows, and morning light (before about 8:00 AM) is when the peak is most likely exposed behind the church.
Kazbegi is not wheelchair-friendly overall. The trail to Gergeti Trinity Church is rough dirt and rock, and the 4x4 track up is steep, bumpy and narrow. New ramps and viewpoint platforms have been under construction around the church in recent years, and access is improving.
The church hike is 3.5 km one-way with about 420–500 m of gain — lightly graded but with a steep final stretch, and the descent is hard on knees. Healthy older visitors manage it slowly; the 4x4 (~40 GEL return) gets almost anyone to the churchyard.
Older children in trainers can do the hike. Families with small children should note that several tours here offer specialized infant seats, and transfer services like GoTrip provide car seats free. Watch the unfenced edges of the churchyard.
On board: private tours on this page run air-conditioned vehicles — sedans or SUVs for 1–4 people, minivans for 5–8. One tour includes WiFi, another complimentary non-alcoholic drinks, and Karlo's adds a honey tasting.
Food: the $110 tour includes lunch at Guda restaurant (vegetarian option if requested at booking). On other tours lunch is excluded or optional — expect a 45–60 minute stop where you pay your own way.
In town: Stepantsminda itself is walkable, with guesthouses, restaurants and the 5 GEL history museum in Alexander Kazbegi's birth house. The 4x4 stand for the church ride is in the center. Guides on most tours handle the church transfer logistics for you.
Dress code at the churches: Gergeti Trinity is a working Orthodox monastery. Women cover head, shoulders and knees; men wear long trousers and remove hats. Wraps and headscarves are handed out at the entrance. Same rules at Ananuri's churches.
Photography: no photos inside Gergeti Trinity Church; outside and on the grounds are fine. Drones of 250 g or more must be registered at gcaa.ge, and near the border zones (Truso, Dariali) flying without local clearance can get you stopped by border guards.
Border zone: carry your passport for Truso Valley and Dariali — guards check documents, and a free permit (issued at the checkpoint near the Dariali border post) is required beyond Zakagori Fortress. Stay on marked routes near the frontier.
No permits are needed for the church, the town, or the standard hikes.
Between 8 and 12 hours door to door, depending on the tour. The drive alone is 152 km each way via the Georgian Military Highway — about 3–3.5 hours without stops — so even the compact 8-hour tour spends most of the day on the road. If you want breathing room at each stop, pick a 10–12 hour itinerary.
On two tours here, yes — but only 'if the road is good.' On the others it's a cash extra: tours cite around $20 per person, while local drivers at the stand in Stepantsminda quote roughly 40 GEL return. If the road is closed or you'd rather walk, the hike is 3.5 km one-way with 420–500 m of climb, about 60–75 minutes up.
No. Every standard private tour uses the 4x4 shuttle up the steep dirt track, and the tours rated suitable for all fitness levels assume you're not hiking. If you do want to walk, tell your guide in the morning — most will drop you at the trailhead in town and meet you at the top.
It's a genuine gamble. Kazbek at 5,054 m spends a lot of time in cloud, and fog can swallow the church within minutes. Your best odds come from a morning arrival — before about 8:00–9:00 AM the peak is most likely exposed behind the church. Tours leaving Tbilisi at 9:00 AM typically reach the church early-to-mid afternoon, which is exactly why staying overnight in Stepantsminda beats a day trip for photographers.
The standard route runs Zhinvali Reservoir, Ananuri Fortress (a 17th-century complex with a 1689 church, free entry), the Russia–Georgia Friendship Monument on the Jvari Pass at 2,379 m, then Gergeti Trinity Church. Some add the confluence of the Black and White Aragvi rivers. Stop lengths vary from 20 minutes at the dam viewpoint to 90 minutes at Ananuri on the longer itineraries.
Only on the $110 tour, which includes lunch at Guda restaurant with a vegetarian option if you request it when booking. The others list lunch as excluded or optional — you'll stop somewhere in the Kazbegi area for 45–60 minutes and pay your own bill. One tour includes a honey tasting on board instead.
Yes. Several tours here offer specialized infant seats, and infants can ride in a stroller on some departures. The day is mostly driving with short walks at each stop. The main things to watch are the altitude (town at 1,740 m, church at 2,170 m), fast-changing mountain weather, and the unfenced edges of the churchyard at Gergeti.
Every tour on this page offers a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before departure; inside 24 hours you get nothing back. In winter, if the Jvari Pass closes for avalanches, contact the operator about rescheduling rather than cancelling — closures usually last hours, not days.
Yes. All tours here offer English, five offer Russian, and two offer German — the 11-hour $60 tour and the $110 lunch tour. If you need German, book one of those two specifically, since the guide assignment depends on the operator's roster.
A marshrutka is 20 GEL per person from Didube station, but it stops for nothing — no Ananuri, no Friendship Monument. Shared group tours from $25–59 cover the same highway stops but on a fixed group schedule. A private tour from $60 per group means you set the pace, linger where you want, and get hotel pickup — worth it for three or more people traveling together, and for anyone who wants the 4x4 to Gergeti arranged for them.
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Karlo picks you up at your Tbilisi hotel at 9:00am in a private Mercedes minivan (for 5-8 people) or a sedan/SUV (1-4), and the route runs north up the Georgian Military Highway toward the Russian border. First stop is Ananuri castle, about 40 minutes, then a 40-minute panoramic viewpoint stop. In Stepantsminda (the official name for Kazbegi) you get around two hours, including a 60-minute stop at Gergeti Trinity Church at 2,200 meters — the 4x4 ride up is included when the road is passable; in winter it costs 60 lari per car (up to 6 passengers) and isn't covered. Two optional add-ons: a 1-kilometer hike to Gveleti waterfall (about 90 minutes round trip, not offered in winter) and, in snowy season, a ski-resort stop with paragliding, snow bikes, and cable car — if you choose that, Kazbegi is skipped. Lunch is an hour at a local restaurant in Kazbegi. Included are private transportation, church entrance fees, a honey tasting, an English-speaking guide (Russian also available), fuel surcharges, and the Gergeti ride when conditions allow. Pickup is from wherever you're staying in Tbilisi, and the itinerary can be customized. Cancel at least 24 hours before departure for a full refund.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Russian, English
Travel along one of the most scenic mountain roads in the Caucasus on this private tour to the breathtaking Kazbegi region. Enjoy stops at spectacular viewpoints including the turquoise Zhinvali Reservoir, the historic Ananuri Fortress Complex, and the panoramic Russian-Georgian Friendship Monument. The highlight of the journey is the iconic Gergeti Trinity Church, located high above Stepantsminda with unforgettable views of Mount Kazbek and the surrounding Caucasus Mountains. Along the way, your driver can recommend great local restaurants with stunning mountain views, where you can relax, enjoy authentic Georgian cuisine, and admire the beautiful landscapes. With private transportation, flexible stops and plenty of photo opportunities, this tour is the perfect way to experience the dramatic mountain scenery and natural beauty of Georgia.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Russian, English
A 10-hour private day trip from Tbilisi with your own driver-guide, an English-speaking licensed guide and an air-conditioned vehicle. Pickup is direct from your hotel or apartment anywhere in Tbilisi, and non-alcoholic drinks are provided on board. The route follows the Georgian Military Highway north. First stop is Zhinvali Dam, a 10-minute photo pause at the reservoir. Then 40 minutes at Ananuri Fortress, the walled complex above the reservoir's turquoise water. After that, about 50 minutes in Gudauri, the ski resort at the top of the pass area, followed by a 20-minute stop at the Russia–Georgia Friendship Monument on Jvari Pass at 2,395 meters. The longest stop is Gergeti Trinity Church — a full hour — at 2,170 meters, reached before the return drive to Tbilisi. In winter the road to Gergeti is snow-covered, so the vehicle can't always make the final climb; plan on a 4WD supplement or a hike up. Cancel at least 24 hours before departure for a full refund.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
English
A 12-hour private tour with a fixed route up the Georgian Military Highway: Jinvali Dam (20-minute stop), Ananuri Fortress Complex (40 minutes), the Georgia–Russia Friendship Monument above Gudauri (one hour), and Gergeti Trinity Church at 2,200 meters (one hour). Transportation is private and the driver picks you up and drops you off at your hotel; the guide meets you at your door holding a company sign. An English-speaking guide is available if you select that option, and the operator provides 24/7 online support. Lunch is not included, so budget for a meal stop on the way. Bring warm layers and comfortable shoes — the itinerary reaches alpine altitude and it runs cold even in summer. In heavy snow the road past Gudauri sometimes closes. When that happens, the tour stays at the Gudauri ski resort and swaps in cable car rides, paragliding, ATVs or horse riding instead. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before departure.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
English
An 11-hour private drive from Tbilisi up the Georgian Military Road, following the Aragvi River gorge to Kazbegi and back. The car and guide are yours alone, with pickup in Tbilisi, air conditioning, and a guide who speaks German, Russian, or English. The route builds through six stops. First is a dam on the Zhinvali reservoir (30 minutes), then the 16th-century Ananuri fortress for 45 minutes, where the stories of the Aragvi eristavs, the local ruling family, are part of the visit. After that come the confluence of the White and Black Aragvi rivers (30 minutes), the Russia–Georgia Friendship Arch (40 minutes), and a mineral spring that runs gold-colored (25 minutes). The final stop is the longest: an hour at Gergeti Church above the village of Stepantsminda, the monastery on the hill with the snow-capped ridge behind it. Cancel at least 24 hours before departure for a full refund.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
German, Russian, English
A private car and English-speaking guide pick you up at your Tbilisi hotel at 9:00 AM and head up the Georgian Military Highway toward the Russian border. First stop is Ananuri Fortress (40 minutes), a feudal-era complex on the Aragvi reservoir, followed by an hour at the Gudauri Friendship Monument, 120 km from Tbilisi. The Gergeti Trinity Church stop lasts 40 minutes — the church sits at 2,200 meters, and the ride up is included when the road condition allows. Lunch is an hour at Rooms Hotel Kazbegi in Stepantsminda, one of the town's best-regarded hotels, with mountain views from the terrace. The drive back to Tbilisi takes 3–4 hours, so expect a long day overall. Transport is a private modern sedan or business-class van with air conditioning and onboard WiFi; fuel is included. Lunch is not — budget roughly $20 per person. Photography and video services are available from the operator. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
English
A private full-day run up the Georgian Military Highway in an air-conditioned minivan, with a professional guide and lunch at Guda restaurant included. Pickup and drop-off at your hotel or port, so no meeting-point logistics. Guides work in English, German, or Russian. The route stops first at Zhinvali Dam, a 75-meter-deep Soviet-era reservoir on the Aragvi River (10 minutes), then 40 minutes at Ananuri Fortress. The longest stops come later: an hour at the Gudauri Friendship Monument, built in 1983, and an hour at the 14th-century Gergeti Trinity Church, perched on a hill above Kazbegi. Cancellation is standard: full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before departure.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
German, Russian, English
This is a private 8-hour tour from Tbilisi, so the vehicle and schedule are yours alone. Six stops over the day: a turquoise man-made lake (90 minutes), the 16th-17th century Ananuri fortress where you can climb the watchtowers (90 minutes), the confluence of the Black and White Aragvi rivers (60 minutes), the 1983 stone monument at 2,200 meters above Gudauri (120 minutes), the town of Stepantsminda at the foot of Mount Kazbek (60 minutes), and Gergeti church — a 14th-century stone church at 2,170 meters, reached by a 30-minute 4x4 ride up the mountain. Private transport with air conditioning is included, with guides in Russian or English. You'll need to send your exact Google Maps pickup location when booking; the driver calls 30 minutes before arriving. Wine tasting and paragliding in Gudauri are available as optional add-ons during the tour. Cancel at least 24 hours before departure for a full refund.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Russian, English