Easy & Adventurous Day Trips from Kazbegi Georgia
There are many spectacular and adventurous day trips from the north mountain village of Kazbegi Georgia. The small hamlet lies in the heart of the impressive and diverse Caucasus Mountains and is any hikers delight. Kazbegi is most famous for its iconic Gergeti Trinity church with stellar views of the jagged mountain peaks. While many travelers opt to visit Kazbegi in one day from Tbilisi, the surrounding area are ideal to explore over a few days. It’s best to explore the nearby valleys and attractions as day trips from Kazbegi.
☛ Kazbegi is also known as Stepantsminda, but is still commonly referred to as Kazbegi by tour companies and agencies. For simplicity, this guide will also stick to the name Kazbegi.
The day trips from Kazbegi are plentiful. There are multiple organized Kazbegi tours that you can join, but with excellent shuttle options, shared taxis, or even hitchhiking, many of these day trips from Kazbegi are possible to visit independently!
Here’s how a quick overview on how to take these day trips from Kazbegi and a little inspiration to visit the surrounding valleys!
Table of Contents
- How to Get to Kazbegi from Tbilisi
- Truso Valley & Zakagori Fortress
- Savor the “Dolomites” Views in Juta
- Other Day Trip Ideas from Kazbegi Georgia
- Using Kazbegi Georgia as a Base
- Easy & Adventurous Day Trips from Kazbegi
How to Get to Kazbegi from Tbilisi
There are many ways to get to Kazbegi from Tbilisi.
Public Transportation
The marshrutkas, or small mini buses run frequently to Kazbegi from Tbilisi. The buses follow along the Georgian Military Highway.
🚐 Tbilisi to Kazbegi | Depart from: Didube Bus Station | Average Fare: 10 GEL ($3.50 USD) | Frequency: Every hour on the hour, during high season, every half an hour | Duration: 2.5-3 hours depending if the driver takes breaks
Taxi
Alternatively, many travelers book a full day tour with a private taxi from Tbilisi to Kazbegi. The driver stops at popular places along the Georgian Military Highway like the Ananuri Fortress and the controversial Russia–Georgia Friendship Monument. This is option is kind of living having a loosely guided group tour to Kazbegi
Rent a Car
It’s also possible to rent a car from Tbilisi and enjoy sightseeing along the way. A car will be extra handy to explore Kazbegi and the surrounding valleys. For a majority of these day trips from Kazbegi, a 4WD will come in handy.
Truso Valley & Zakagori Fortress | Easy Day Trip from Kazbegi
The scenic Truso Valley is an otherworldly day trip from Kazbegi. The mostly flat path follows along a dirt road and the beautiful Terek River. Appreciate the Truso Gorge that boasts unique travertine springs, tiny villages, dramatic mountains, shepherds, and the grand and crumbling Zakagori fortress. The end of the hike is the border of the Russian occupied South Ossetia, so expect to see border guards set up just below the fortress. Curious eyes can spot Russian tents not too far off in the distance.
The Truso valley hike engages all of the senses. From the strong scent of sulfur wafting in the air, the bright orange mineral deposits near the springs, to the silence of abandonment.
The Truso Gorge is one of the best day trips from Kazbegi.
Truso Valley Hike as a Day Trip
- The Truso Valley hike is an out and back trail
- The trailhead for the Truso Valley is past the Kobi Cable Car in the village of Kvemo Okrokana.
- All the transportation options drop off at the start of the trailhead
- The trail is mostly flat along a gravel road
- Allow 5-6 hours for this hike, but it can be completed faster
How to Day Trip to Truso Valley from Kazbegi
If you have a car, it’s easy to drive to the trailhead, but with a 4WD vehicle you could drive all the way to the fortress. Plus, you would miss out on walking and appreciating this day hike.
Shuttles to Truso Valley
The most popular way to day trip from Kazbegi to the Truso Valley is with the company Mountain Freaks, who offers a shuttles from May – October. In the peak season from June to September, they offer two daily shuttles.
🚐 Mountain Freak Shuttle Logistics | Kazbegi to Truso Valley Trailhead | Round-Trip Ticket Cost: 45 GEL ($15 USD) | Shuttle Times: 9:00 (Return at 16:00) / 11:00 (Return at 18:00) | Duration:+/ – 40 minutes from Kazbegi office to the Truso Gorge trailhead | Verify the shuttle schedule for Mountain Freaks here
💬 Real Talk | Even in September, the start of the shoulder season, the shuttle was booked out a full week in advance. Plan accordingly if you wish to take the Mountain Freaks shuttle.
Private Taxi to Truso Valley from Kazbegi
There are multiple taxis waiting near the Kazbegi Tourist Information Center. Look for fellow hikers to help split the cost of the fare. Make sure to agree on time and money before entering the taxi.
🚕 Taxi Logistics | Kazbegi to Truso Valley Trailhead | Standard Cost: 90 GEL ($30.25 USD)
Savor the “Georgian Dolomites” Views in Juta Valley
Juta is a cute little mountain village that sits at an altitude of almost 7,220 feet. It is the entry point to the stunning Chaukhi Pass. The mountains in this area are nestled in a valley and contain those jagged peaks which are often compared to Italy’s famous Dolomites Mountains.
Fifth Season Hut & Easy Juta Valley Day Hike
For those not looking for an intense hike in the Juta Valley, stop by the Fifth Season Hut to soak in the incredible views of the Chaukhi Massif. The Fifth Season Mountain Hut is home to a restaurant, basic sleeping accommodations, and a welcoming green yard. In the sprawling yard, find hammocks, bean bag cushions, and lounge chairs scattered among the grass. It’s a great place to grab lunch, stop for a coffee, or enjoy a beer at the end of a hike.
Fifth Season is still not accessible by car, so plan on walking 3/4 of a mile up the hill from the entrance of Juta to reach it. This can be a little challenging for those with mobility issues. There are horses available, but please analyze their well-being before choosing to ride them. I’ve seen a lot of animals suffering in the name of tourism.
- Hikers:
- Plan on 20-25 minutes from the drop-off spot in Juta to the Fifth Season Hut. The path is mostly uphill.
If looking to hike a little deeper into the Juta Valley, leave Fifth Season Hut and walk to the small man-made Chaukhi Lake. On this artificial lake is a welcoming little cafe with a few pleasant outdoor seating options. If you packed a picnic, sit next to the lake and enjoy the views
- Hikers:
- The Juta Valley hike from the Fifth Season to the Chaukhi Lake is less than an hour with a slight ascent. It’s less than 2 miles (3 KM) to the Chaukhi Lake from Fifth Season.
This Juta Valley hike route suites those looking for just taking a quick, and lax day trip from Kazbegi.
Juta Valley 2 Day Trek | Juta to Roshka via Chaukhi Pass
Intrepid hikers may choose to travel deeper and hike the steep Chaukhi Pass. Be mindful it’s a steep 4.35 mile (7 KM) hike from Fifth Season Hut to the Chaukhi Pass. The Chaukhi Pass is best to hike as a 2 day trek by sleeping in Roshka or with camping at the Abudelauri Lakes.
After tackling the steep pass, visit the colorful Abudelauri Lakes. The three lakes are the Abudelauri White Lake, Abudelauri Blue Lake, and Abudelauri Green Lake. Both the Blue and Green Lakes are easy to reach on the way to Roshka, while the White Lake is at the foot of the mountain and requires a bit of a backtrack.
If you don’t overnight near the campsites by the lakes, opt to sleep in a simple guest house in the tiny village of Roshka. After Roshka, it’s possible to return to Juta via the Sadzele Pass. This pass isn’t as steep as the Chaukhi Pass, but still breathtaking. The trail ends back in Juta, making it a nice 2 day loop trail from Juta to Roshka.
Day Trip from Kazbegi to Juta Valley
Again, Mountain Freaks offers two daily shuttles from Kazbegi to Juta Valley from June to September. On the shoulder season months of May and October, the shuttles drops to one daily departure.
🚐 Find Mountain Freaks Kazbegi here: Kazbegi 44 | Shuttle Times High Season: 9:00 Departure from Kazbegi & 16:00 Return from Juta / 11:00 Departure from Kazbegi & Return from Juta at 18:00 | Round-Trip Cost: 45 GEL ($15 USD) | Shuttle Duration: 30 minutes | Verify the Shuttle Information Here
Kazbegi to Juta By Taxi
Taxis run to Juta from Kazbegi, but it’s harder to find fellow travelers to help take down the price. For an additional fee, taxis will wait 3-4 hours in Juta and then return to Kazbegi. However, it’s much easier to catch a ride back to Kazbegi from Juta. There are multiple taxis and shuttles waiting in Juta to take the return ride back.
🚕 Taxi Kazbegi to Juta: In front of the Kazbegi Tourist Information Center here | Average One-way Taxi Fare: 60 GEL ($20 USD)
Hitchhiking Kazbegi to Juta
In general, it is safe to hitchhike from Kazbegi to Juta. Cars are frequently driving on the Georgia Military Highway, as it connects Tbilisi to Kazbegi. If you have the time and the patience, hitchhiking is the way to go. Most oftentimes, you will get dropped at Achkhoti village. From here, walk towards Sno village.
Sno village is also where you’ll find the “Gigantic Sculptures by Merab Phiranishvili.” These large head sculptures are found up on the hillside. From Sno, there are less less cars passing into Juta village, but it’s still doable.
💬 Real Talk | I was able to hitch a ride from three different drivers and it still took me less than one hour to reach Juta.
Other Day Trip Ideas from Kazbegi Georgia
While Truso Valley and the Juta Valley are two of the most popular day trips from Kazbegi, there are plenty more surrounding valleys and things to do.
To the north of Kazbegi, follow the Georgian Military Highway to the of the nearby border of Russia. This area is the Dariali Valley, which houses the Dariali Monastery Complex, the cultural small village of Tsdo, and the Gveleti Lakes. There’s also the Gveleti Great Waterfall and a smaller one nearby. With the Dariali Gorge gaining popularity, Mountain Freaks offers a shuttle.
But again, there are incredible valleys in every direction along the Georgian Military Highways, so the day trips from Kazbegi are endless. It just depends on how much time you allocate to Kazbegi on a Georgia itinerary.
Things to Do in Kazbegi & Using it as a Home Base
Kazbegi is a lovely village to explore this mountainous region of Georgia. There are some worthy points of interest that are easy to reach including the Gergeti Trinity Church and the Gergeti Glacier. Feast on yummy, traditional food of the region, and participate in a “supra.” Of course, use Kazbegi as a base to take some diverse day trips of the majestic Caucasus Mountains. Mount Kazbek towers dramatically in the backdrop of this adorable mountain village.
✔ Travel Resources | All the epic things to do in Kazbegi Georgia
Where to Sleep in Kazbegi
There are tons of local Kazbegi Guesthouses and hotels to choose from in the picturesque mountain village.
- Rooms Hotel Kazbegi is probably one of the most popular places to stay in Kazbegi
- Guest House Ketino Sujashvili is an amazing guesthouse run by an extremely warm and kind house mama.
Easy & Adventurous Day Trips from Kazbegi
In conclusion, the Truso Valley and Juta are both worthwhile adventures to have in this mountainous region of Georgia. There are multiple ways to reach these beautiful destinations, making these day trips easy options to explore from Kazbegi. This area in the diverse Caucasus Mountains offers even more day trips, such as the Dariali Valley and the lesser traveled Khada Gorge. Kazbegi is the ultimate “home base” to explore these stunning day trips.
Have you taken any of these day trips from Kazbegi? Which one was your favorite? Have you visited the Dariali Valley or the Khada Gorge? I would love to hear your experiences, since they are on my radar for my next trip to Georgia! Let me know in the comments below!
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