Kazbegi Day Trip from Tbilisi: Ananuri, Gudauri, Gergeti Church

A day across mountain stops and a high peak

This guided day trip from Tbilisi covers Ananuri Fortress, Gudauri, and Kazbegi in the Caucasus, with a professional English or Russian-speaking guide and all transport included. The route runs 10.5 hours and passes Zhinvali Water Reservoir, the Friendship Monument, and ends at Gergeti Trinity Church, the highest-located cross-cupola church in Georgia. Lunch at a traditional Georgian restaurant in Pasanauri and honey tasting in Gudauri are part of the itinerary. Note: from late November to mid-April, road closures may prevent access to Kazbegi and Gergeti Church for safety reasons.

Step-by-step itinerary

Tour of Kazbegi and Gudauri highlights

• Meet guide at Avlabari Metro Station
• Check in at company office
• Visit Zhinvali Water Reservoir
• Explore Ananuri Fortress
• Lunch with traditional mountain dishes in Pasanauri
• Taste natural alpine honey in Gudauri
• Visit Friendship Monument and try Glintwine
• Free time for mountain activities
• See Gergety Trinity Church and views

The Experience

The day starts at 08:30 when your guide meets you at Avlabari Metro Station with a branded flag, then takes you to the office for check-in before departure. From there, the route climbs north through the Caucasus, stopping first at Zhinvali Water Reservoir—a greenish alpine lake ringed by forested mountains and the main photo stop heading up. Ananuri Fortress comes next, a well-preserved medieval castle with unique stone carvings and spiritual frescoes that anchor Georgian history on the mountainside.

Lunch happens in Pasanauri at a traditional Georgian restaurant where you try khinkali (Georgian dumplings) and other mountain dishes. In Gudauri, the tour pauses to taste varieties of natural alpine honey—flowers and plants from the mountain slopes turned into what locals produce there. The Friendship Monument, a large stone arch built in 1983, overlooks the Devil's Valley and marks the approach to the highest elevations. Here you have free time for optional mountain activities like quadro cycles and snowmobiles, and you can try glintwine (hot mulled wine).

The final stop is Gergeti Trinity Church, the highest-located cross-cupola church in the country, sitting on a slope above the town of Stephantsminda with Mount Kazbegi—5,047 meters—rising in the distance. The entire route covers all key sites in a comfortable vehicle with a professional guide who speaks English or Russian. Transport and guide fees are included; food and drink beyond lunch are not. A 4WD upgrade from Kazbegi to Gergeti Church costs 20 GEL (7 USD) per person, paid in cash on the day.

What’s included

• Professional guide in English or Russian.
• transportation in a comfortable vehicle.
• driver and guide fees.
• lunch at a traditional Georgian restaurant in Pasanauri with khinkali and mountain dishes.
• honey tasting in Gudauri.
• free time at the Friendship Monument for optional activities like quadro cycles and snowmobiles.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Gamarjoba Georgia Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want the three main mountain stops and Gergeti Church in one day—choose the standard vehicle to see Ananuri and Gudauri from below, or add the 4WD upgrade to reach the church itself at the highest point.

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Top questions

Can I visit Gergeti Trinity Church and Kazbegi in winter?

From late November to mid-April, the government sometimes closes roads in the Kazbegi area for safety reasons. When that happens, Stephantsminda and Gergeti Church are off-limits for the day. The operator prioritizes your safety and cannot control these closures, so check closer to your travel date.

What is Ananuri Fortress and why is it on this tour?

Ananuri Fortress is one of the best-preserved castles from the late Middle Ages in Georgia. It sits on the route north and holds unique stone carvings and spiritual frescoes that show Georgian history and culture, making it a natural stop between Tbilisi and the higher mountains.

Is lunch included, and what will I eat?

Lunch at a traditional Georgian restaurant in Pasanauri is part of the itinerary. You'll try khinkali (Georgian dumplings) and other typical mountain dishes. Other meals and drinks are not included, so bring money if you want to eat or drink outside the lunch stop.

How long is the full day, and what time does it end?

The tour runs 10.5 hours total. It starts at 08:30 at Avlabari Metro Station, so you'll return to Tbilisi in the late afternoon. Traffic jams can extend the day, so plan for a flexible return time.

Do I need to pay extra to reach Gergeti Church from Kazbegi?

Gergeti Trinity Church sits on a slope above Kazbegi town. A 4WD vehicle upgrade from Kazbegi to the church costs 20 GEL (about 7 USD) per person, paid in cash on the day. The standard vehicle cannot make that climb, so the upgrade is optional but necessary if you want to reach the church itself.

What language does the guide speak?

The guide speaks English or Russian. Confirm your language preference when you book so the operator assigns the right guide for your group.