Are you going on a trip, but you don’t know which sights in Kazbegi (Georgia) are worth seeing first? Looking for affordable and varied entertainment for the whole family? We have selected the most interesting and popular places of Stepantsmindy (modern name Kazbegi) to make your trip memorable for many years to come. You will love this town, located at the foot of Mount Kazbek, for its landscapes, architecture and ancient buildings. So, your attention is drawn to the 6 most beautiful sights of Kazbegi.
Gergeti Church
Built in the 14th century, Trinity Church in Gergeti is one of the most visited attractions in Georgia. If you have already come to Kazbegi, you should definitely look at it. The church is located at an altitude of over 2000 meters, directly above the village of Stepantsminda. From there, you can enjoy excellent views of the mountains and villages of Georgia, so be sure to bring a good camera.
There are two ways to get to the temple: on foot and by car. Lifting on your own takes from 1.5 to 3 hours, depending on your physical fitness. The road is quite steep and constantly goes up, in addition, there are no amenities along the way, so you should not go to the church with children. It is better to go on a hiking trip early in the morning, so as not to get burned and get sunstroke.
The ascent by car takes only 30-40 minutes. At the foot of the mountain there are always taxi drivers and cars of Kazbegi residents, who will gladly take you to the most beautiful places and even arrange a small excursion (for a fee). You should not go to the Trinity Church in your car. First, only very powerful SUVs can master this trip, and secondly, the road is steep and quite dangerous, and an untrained driver can experience significant difficulties.
Recommendations:
- Choose the right clothes and shoes. The best option for traveling to Kazbegi in spring, summer and autumn is a sweatshirt worn over a T-shirt, long track pants and closed comfortable shoes. Take a backpack with food, water, and a windbreaker (the weather changes frequently in this area). In winter, be sure to wear a hat and scarf, a warm jacket, but not a coat, because it will be inconvenient to move around in it.
- Don’t go to the church in fog or rain. The most beautiful view that opens from this attraction is the clouds that “fall” on the mountains. Here you can take amazing photos of Kazbegi, but only in clear weather.
- You should not go on foot on the road intended for cars. Although cars pass through here infrequently, it is quite dangerous, because it is strewn with stones. In addition, it is almost one and a half times longer than the one that travelers usually walk on.
About the Gergeti Church itself
Made of stone, it is perfectly preserved to this day. Women wearing trousers and bareheads are not allowed here, so you can take a handkerchief and skirt free of charge at the entrance. The Gergeti Church is lit only by the candles of people who came. Here you can buy icons and crosses. They say that any wish made here will definitely come true. You should definitely visit this sacred place.
Mount Kazbek
Many writers, including Lermontov and Pushkin, wrote about this mountain. I must say, not in vain. The scenery that can only be seen here is breathtaking, and from the top of the mountain, where the height reaches 5000 meters, you can enjoy the most stunning views in Georgia.
Only trained climbers can overcome this climb, but ordinary travelers should also visit Kazbek (for example, you can get to the Trinity Church, which we wrote about above). Also, at an altitude of just over 400 meters, there is a plateau with a unique view of the temple and Kazbegi. You can get to the plateau on foot by purchasing a map in the town or viewing the route on the Internet. The easiest option is to take a taxi (the cost is about GEL 50).
On a note! To visit this attraction in Kazbegi and spend a minimum of effort on the ascent, find experienced fellow travelers or take a bus tour. Use the recommendations given above to choose the right clothes and time for your trip.
Gweleth Waterfall
It is located in a small mountain gorge, not far from the central Kazbegi highway. It can be reached on foot or by car. An exciting walking trip takes about an hour, but it is not suitable for the elderly and people with poor physical fitness. You should also be careful when hiking with small children – sometimes the path is very narrow and rocky. To get to the waterfall itself, you need to cross the mountain river (a popular place for photos in Kazbegi and Georgia in general)on a wooden bridge and go upstream.
It is only a 15-minute drive from the foot of the mountain to the equipped parking lot, but you will need to walk 700 meters to get to the waterfall. You can swim in it, but there is a strong current and there are always a lot of tourists.Recommendations
- It is better to visit the Gweleth Waterfall on a mild sunny day to get maximum impressions and beautiful photos.
- The waterfall is one of the attractions that you can see in Kazbegi both in winter and in summer, since the surrounding places are picturesque both under the cover of snow and in a green outfit.
- In early spring, there is still snow, so if you like to travel in warm weather, it is better to wait until the end of April. The most suitable time to visit the waterfall is May-June, when it is most full-flowing.
- Wear comfortable sportswear and shoes, and take food and water with you, since there are no shops in this area at all.
Truso Valley
This wonderful place is not so popular with tourists, it is great for lovers of a quiet and relaxing holiday. To fully enjoy the local scenery, you can go camping with tents, as there is usually no strong wind and it is quite warm in the spring and summer. The path through the valley ends with border control, so make a route in advance and do not forget to take a map.
You can drive an SUV through the valley by booking it in the city. The two-way trip takes 1-2 hours, excluding stops. Along the way, you can see a mountain river, a lake with mineral “boiling” water, a natural gorge, abandoned fire towers. Right in the valley there is a cafe where you can relax and gain strength, and a small village where residents sell delicious cheese and other home-made products.Travel Tips:
- The best travel companions to visit the Truso Valley are locals, who usually gather at the beginning of the path. These wonderful guides will not only save you money compared to official organizations, but also show you the most beautiful places, cook dinner over a campfire and make a great company.
- Only off-road vehicles can drive through the valley. Don’t trust drivers in other cars – you’ll probably get stuck on the road.
- The journey on foot takes 3-4 hours, so you should not go on the road if you do not have a sufficient level of physical fitness. The valley is very large and beautiful, and it’s a great place for a two-or three-day camping trip.
- Don’t go on a trip right after a rainstorm or the next day. At this time, the already rough and rocky road becomes even more dangerous, which is why drivers raise fares, while not guaranteeing that there will be no trouble on the way.
- Make an agreement with the driver about the time in advance. They usually only wait an hour for tourists, so if you stay late without first agreeing on it, you can stay in the valley without an escort.
- The best time to visit this attraction is late summer or early autumn. During this period, it keeps the most suitable temperature and is full of beautiful plants.
Bethlem Cave
Another fascinating place on Mount Kazbek, located at an altitude of 4000 meters. This is the oldest cave temple of Christians, formed in the 6th century AD, found by a Georgian mountaineer in the 1950s.
Useful tips
The cave is located between glaciers, it is one of the unique places of Georgia that you need to see in Kazbegi. Monks ‘ cells, tombstones and many other memorials were found here, which are now kept in the city museum.
- The caves are very cold, so you should bring a scarf and hat. Don’t forget your spare shoes – one pair should be comfortable (for the lift itself), and the other pair should be warm.
- If you want to visit this place, but do not have a sufficient level of training, you can visit one of these caves (there are several of them on Kazbek, all at different heights), located a little lower.
Borjomi-features of recreation and wellness in a Georgian resort
Kazbegi National Park
This is one of the most visited and popular nature reserves in Georgia. It is located in the mountains, the lowest section is located at an altitude of 1400 meters. Most of the area of the park is protected, with stormy mountain rivers.
On the territory of the attraction there are several forests with rare tree species. Subalpine birches, mountain ash and pines grow here. In addition, this is the only place where Radde birches grow, which are listed in the Red Book.
In the southern part of the park there are meadows with various types of shrubs and green plants. It is home to rare species of fauna, such as lynxes and mountain eagles, if you are lucky, you can look at them from a fairly close distance.
To date, the territory of the reserve is not equipped, there is practically no developed infrastructure and there is no full-fledged Tourist Reception Center yet. Kazbegi National Park offers regular walking and bus tours, which can be booked both in advance and upon arrival. In addition, you can enjoy a horse ride on the territory of the reserve or become a member of a specialized educational tour, which is organized daily for everyone to observe the animals of the park.
For a walk in the park, you need to take two sets of clothes – warm and light. Since the park is located at different heights, the temperature varies depending on the part of the reserve you are walking through. So, in areas that are located at an altitude of more than 2000 meters, there is no summer as such, it is always cold and everything is covered with snow.
We hope that our selection and tips will help you visit the most interesting sights in Kazbegi (Georgia). This is a beautiful city where you can enjoy a relaxing holiday and insanely beautiful landscapes. Have a good trip!
