Kazbegi Private Tour: Jinvali, Ananuri, Gudauri & Paragliding

Jinvali's lake, a medieval fortress, mountain views, and a chance to paraglide over the Caucasus

A private 12-hour tour from Tbilisi through the Caucasus mountains to Kazbegi, with stops at Jinvali dam, Ananuri Fortress Complex, and the Georgian-Russian friendship monument. You visit a UNESCO Heritage Site fortress, photograph the Aragvi gorge, and have the option to paraglide from the mountain pass. The tour ends at Gergeti Trinity Church, a 14th-century complex perched at 2,200 meters above sea level.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Caucasus highlights and activities

• Visit Jinvali dam and lake
• Explore Ananuri Fortress Complex
• See Georgian-Russian friendship monument
• Try paragliding over mountains
• Visit Gergeti Trinity Church

The experience

Kazbegi is the destination, and the route to get there is half the reason people take this tour. You start at Jinvali dam, a water supply built in 1985 that created a lake surrounded by forests where the light shifts across the water and the surrounding hills. From there the drive climbs toward Ananuri Fortress Complex, a medieval stronghold that has survived centuries of attack and now sits as a UNESCO Heritage Site where the fortress walls meet the Aragvi gorge. The road itself is the journey. This region's views come from the car as much as from the stops.

The paragliding happens at the Georgian-Russian friendship monument, a viewpoint on the military highway where the Caucasus mountains open in front of you. This is optional and arranged on the day. If snow blocks the road beyond Gudauri, the tour stays at the ski resort instead, where paragliding, ATV bikes and horse riding are available. Either way, the mountains are the constant. The final stop is Gergeti Trinity Church, a 14th-century complex built at 2,200 meters above sea level, surrounded by terrain steep enough that the British newspaper Telegraph listed it among the world's most beautiful churches.

Bring warm clothes and sturdy shoes: the weather in the mountains changes fast and the altitude is real. The whole day runs 12 hours from hotel pickup to drop-off. You can choose a guide for the tour or a driver only. Either way, the transport and support are private to your group.

What’s included

• Private transportation from Tbilisi.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• 24/7 online support.
• a live English-speaking guide if you select the guided option.

Options for this experience

2 options

Driver-only (Without Guide)Guide in English · 08:30 and 09:00Non-guided tour (driver only); includes pickup

Guided TourGuide in English · 08:30 and 09:00Guided tour with private transportation; pickup is included

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

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

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (3 to 80 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

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.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by We Are Georgia Tours

Is this one for you?Choose the guided option if you want context and history at each stop. The driver-only version suits travelers who prefer to set their own pace and explore independently. Either way, the 12-hour day is built around the drive itself (the mountain views, the stops, and the optional paragliding), so the choice is about how much explanation you want, not about what you see.

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Top questions

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 Ananuri Fortress and why is it worth the stop?

Ananuri Fortress Complex is a medieval stronghold that once defended the region and has survived repeated attacks over centuries. It sits where the fortress walls meet the Aragvi gorge, and it is now a UNESCO Heritage Site. The setting itself (the stone structures against the gorge landscape) is what draws most visitors to photograph it.

Can I paraglide on this tour, and how does it work?

Paragliding is available at the Georgian-Russian friendship monument on the military highway, where you have views of the Caucasus mountains. It is optional and arranged during the tour itself, not booked in advance. If snow closes the road beyond Gudauri, paragliding is still available at the Gudauri ski resort along with other mountain activities.

What is Gergeti Trinity Church like?

Gergeti Trinity Church is a 14th-century complex built at 2,200 meters above sea level, surrounded by steep mountain terrain. It is isolated and high enough that the landscape around it is the main draw: the church sits in what many travelers describe as a remote, dramatic setting.

What happens if snow blocks the road to Kazbegi?

If snow closes the road beyond Gudauri, the tour stays at the Gudauri ski resort instead. You can ski, ride a cable car to the mountain top, try paragliding, ride ATV bikes, or go horseback riding. The mountains are still the focus. The activities just shift to what the weather allows.

Do I need a guide, or can I do this tour with a driver only?

You choose at checkout: either a guided tour with a live English-speaking guide, or a driver-only option without guide service. Both include private transportation, hotel pickup and drop-off, and 24/7 online support.