Kazbegi Tour: Military Road, Gergeti Church Full-Day

Two rivers meet in black and white water on the drive up the Military Road.

A 12-hour guided tour from Tbilisi to Kazbegi region along the Military Road, with door-to-door pickup and a live English or Russian-speaking guide. You stop at Zhinvali Reservoir, Ananuri fortress, the confluence of the black and white rivers, Gudauri ski resort, the Russia-Georgia Friendship Monument, and Gergeti Trinity Church at 2,130 meters on the slopes of Mount Kazbek. The route ends with a meal stop in Pasanauri village, known for khinkali dumplings and river fish. Access to Gergeti Church may close due to weather. A 4X4 vehicle to St. Elias the Prophet Church is available for an extra fee.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full day tour to Kazbegi region

• Door-to-door service
• Visit Zhinvali Reservoir
• Explore Ananuri fortress
• See confluence of two rivers
• Stop at Gudauri ski resort
• Visit Russia–Georgia Friendship Monument
• Discover mineral water source and rocks
• Visit Gergeti Trinity Church
• View Mount Kazbek from distance
• Lunch at Pasanauri village restaurant

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your Tbilisi location and a drive north on the Georgian Military Road, a route that climbs steadily into the Caucasus. The first major stop is Zhinvali Reservoir, an artificial lake formed by a 1986 hydroelectric dam on the Aragvi River. The water is a striking blue ringed by mountains. From there, the road passes Ananuri fortress, a sixteenth-century castle complex with high turreted stone walls, two churches, a watchtower and intricately carved facades in animal, floral and Celtic patterns, all overlooking the Jinvali lake.

As you continue upward, the tour reaches the confluence of two rivers where the water visibly separates into black and white streams: a natural phenomenon that marks the boundary between different mineral compositions. The next stop is Gudauri, a ski resort at 2,200 meters altitude with lift stations climbing to 3,306 meters at the summit Sadzele. Even outside ski season, the scale of the mountains becomes apparent. You'll also see the Russia-Georgia Friendship Monument, built in 1983 to mark the bicentennial of the Treaty of Georgievsk, and a mineral water spring surrounded by unusual rock formations shaped over millions of years.

The centerpiece is Gergeti Trinity Church, a twelfth or thirteenth-century monument standing at 2,170 meters on the southern slopes of Mkinvarcveri, directly below the white massif of Mount Kazbek at 5,033 meters. The church is the highest point of the day and the most photographed stop. Its stones have survived centuries of weather and conflict. Weather can close access to the church, and if conditions are poor, you may not reach it. The tour operator will offer an alternative date if that happens. On the return to Tbilisi, you stop in Pasanauri village, considered the birthplace of khinkali (Georgian dumplings), where you can order lunch from a restaurant serving khinkali, fresh river fish, lamb and other local dishes.

What’s included

• Door-to-door pickup from Tbilisi.
• a live guide in English or Russian.
• stops at Zhinvali Reservoir, Ananuri fortress, the black and white river confluence, Gudauri ski resort, the Russia-Georgia Friendship Monument, mineral water springs, and Gergeti Trinity Church at 2,130 meters.
• a meal stop in Pasanauri village.
• all taxes, fees and fuel surcharge.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00, 08:30, 09:00 and 10:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (under 12)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Russian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 30

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Friendly.ge: Transfers & Tours in Georgia

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see the high Caucasus and the Military Road without arranging transport or a guide yourself. The 12-hour day holds together with pickup, timing and a route that covers the major stops between Tbilisi and Mount Kazbek. The small group and private options let you choose whether to travel with others or alone.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Russian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 12).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Zhinvali Reservoir and why does the water look so blue?

Zhinvali Reservoir is an artificial lake formed by a hydroelectric dam built in 1986 on the Aragvi River in Georgia. The water appears a striking blue color because of the mineral composition and the surrounding mountains that reflect into it.

Can I hike to Gergeti Trinity Church or do I ride in the vehicle?

The tour offers a choice: you can hike to Gergeti Trinity Church or stay with the driver and vehicle. The church sits at 2,170 meters on a hill below Mount Kazbek, and weather conditions may close access on some days.

Is lunch included in the full-day tour?

Lunch is not included in the tour price. You stop at a restaurant in Pasanauri village on the return to Tbilisi, where you can order khinkali, river fish, lamb and other Georgian dishes at your own cost.

What makes the confluence of the two rivers look black and white?

The two rivers meet with visibly different water colors (one appears black and one white), because they carry different mineral compositions. This natural phenomenon occurs where the rivers join on the Military Road route.

What is the Russia-Georgia Friendship Monument?

The Russia-Georgia Friendship Monument, also called the Treaty of Georgievsk Monument, was built in 1983 to celebrate the bicentennial of the Treaty of Georgievsk and the friendship between Georgia and Russia. It stands along the Military Road with views of the surrounding mountains.

Is there an option to visit St. Elias the Prophet Church?

Yes, a 4X4 WD vehicle to St. Elias the Prophet Church is available as an add-on for 20 USD per group, in addition to the main tour stops.