Kazbegi & Ananuri day tour from Tbilisi: Gergeti Church at 2170m

Ride to the edge of Europe and stand at a 14th-century church wrapped in mountain peaks

This 10-hour guided day tour from Tbilisi travels north on the Georgian Military Highway to Kazbegi, stopping at Ananuri Castle, the Jvari Pass travertine formations, and the Gergeti Trinity Church perched at 2,170 meters on the slopes of Mount Kazbegi. A professional English or Russian-speaking guide leads the group in a comfortable air-conditioned minibus, and the tour includes a tasting of Georgian honey and chacha (traditional alcohol). Entrance fees to Gergeti Church and lunch are separate; a jeep ride up to the church costs 20 GEL.

Step-by-step itinerary

Kazbegi and surrounding sights tour

• Stop at Jinvali Water Reservoir
• Visit Ananuri fortress
• See White and Black Aragvi rivers
• Lunch at restaurant mleta
• Taste Georgian honey and chacha
• Explore Jvari Pass Travertine Monument
• Visit Stepantsminda town
• Tour Gergeti Trinity Church

The Experience

Ananuri Castle sits on a bend of the Aragvi River, a fortress from the 16th to 18th centuries that once sheltered feudal dukes and their people through countless battles. The stone walls frame views of both the castle and the Zhinvali Water Reservoir across the valley—a landscape photographers stop for. From there, the road climbs toward the high plateau, passing the point where the white Aragvi and black Aragvi rivers flow parallel without mixing, their colors distinct enough to see the line between them.

The Jvari Pass travertine monument appears at 2,197 meters—white mineral deposits built up over centuries where carbonate-rich water flows down the Baidara River valley, still actively forming. Stepantsminda, the small town near the Russian border, sits on one of the oldest crossroads between Europe and Asia. The Gergeti Trinity Church, built in the 14th century, stands alone at 2,170 meters on the mountainside under Kazbegi peak (5,047 meters). In times of danger, precious relics including Saint Nino's Cross were carried here from Mtskheta for safekeeping. The isolation and the sheer rock around it make the view from the church—of the whole valley and the mountain itself—the reason most travelers come this far north.

The minibus is air-conditioned and equipped with WiFi; the guide speaks English or Russian and handles the route and the timing. A stop includes a tasting of Georgian honey and chacha. The 10-hour day means an early start and a late return to Tbilisi, so plan accordingly if you have evening plans. Reaching the church itself requires a separate jeep ride (20 GEL) from the lower parking area; lunch and entrance fees are paid separately.

What’s included

• Professional guide in English or Russian.
• comfortable air-conditioned minibus with WiFi.
• Georgian honey and chacha tasting.
• all transport on the Georgian Military Highway from Tbilisi to Kazbegi, Stepantsminda and back.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Imperial Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour for your first or second day in Georgia if you want to see the high Caucasus and the oldest crossroads between Europe and Asia without arranging a rental car or navigating mountain roads yourself. The fixed route and timing hold the whole day together—Ananuri, the travertine formations, Stepantsminda and Gergeti Church all fit inside 10 hours because the guide knows the stops and the driver knows the road.

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Top questions

What is Ananuri Castle and why do people photograph it?

Ananuri is a fortress built between the 16th and 18th centuries on the Aragvi River, once the seat of the Eristavis (feudal dukes) of Aragvi. It was the scene of numerous battles and remained in use until the early 19th century. Photographers stop there because the castle walls frame views of both the fortress and the Zhinvali Water Reservoir across the valley in a single frame, and the complex is on the UNESCO tentative list for World Heritage inclusion.

How high is Gergeti Trinity Church and what makes it special?

Gergeti Trinity Church stands at 2,170 meters on the mountainside under Mount Kazbegi (5,047 meters), built in the 14th century as the only cross-cupola church in Khevi province. During times of danger, precious relics from Mtskheta, including Saint Nino's Cross, were brought here for safekeeping. Its isolation on a steep mountain surrounded by harsh nature made it a symbol of the preservation of Georgian Orthodox faith, and it remains an active church today.

What are the white and black Aragvi rivers and where do you see them?

The white Aragvi and black Aragvi are two rivers that flow parallel to each other in the east of Georgia without mixing, their different colors visible as a distinct black-and-white stream. The tour passes the point where they run side by side on the way to Kazbegi.

Is the jeep ride to Gergeti Church included, and what does it cost?

The jeep ride up to Gergeti Trinity Church is not included in the tour price and costs 20 GEL (Georgian Lari) separately. The minibus takes you to a lower parking area, and from there a jeep carries you the rest of the way up the steep mountain to the church.

What is included in this tour and what do I pay separately?

The tour includes transport in an air-conditioned minibus, a professional guide in English or Russian, WiFi on board, and a tasting of Georgian honey and chacha. Entrance fees to Gergeti Church, lunch, and the jeep ride to the church (20 GEL) are paid separately.

How long is this tour and when does it start?

The tour is 10 hours long, which means an early departure from Tbilisi and a late return. The guide and driver handle the route and timing; public transportation options are available near the meeting point if you need alternative transport to or from the tour start.