Juta to Roshka 2 Day Loop Trek | Chaukhi Pass, Abudelauri Lakes & Sadzele Pass

Juta village is an adorable mountain hamlet only 30 minutes from Kazbegi (Stepantsminda) Georgia and is the gateway to one of the best Juta hikes, the stunning Chaukhi Pass. The beautiful Chaukhi Massif, with its jagged spires is often compared to the famous Italian Dolomites. This iconic peak is nestled in a lovely river valley, surrounded by the Caucasus Mountains, leads to the colorful Abudelauri Lakes, and provides endless hiking trail options.

What better way to experience all these epic mountain landscapes than the 2 day Juta Valley loop trail.

Just off the main Georgian Military Highway and through the Sno Valley, find Juta village. There are multiple ways to reach Juta from Kazbegi, from an organized shuttle, taxi, or simply by hitchhiking.

Once in Juta, follow the trail near the Fifth Season Lodge. Hike up the challenging Chaukhi Pass and then take the steep descent. From there, walk through the valley littered with massive boulders and pause at the colorful Abudelauri Lakes. This itinerary includes two of the three colored Abudelauri Lakes. Intrepid travelers can camp at the Abudelauri Lakes, or continue to one of the two guesthouses in Roshka.

For a change of scenery, take the Sadzele Pass to return to Juta. This two-day trekking itinerary is intense, but doable. This was one of my favorite trekking routes in Georgia, even if the weather didn’t fully cooperate with me.

Here’s a detailed two day hiking itinerary trek from Juta to Roshka, through the Chaukhi Pass, past the Abudelauri Lakes, with a return hike to Juta via the Sadzele Pass.

Table of Contents

Disclosure: This is part of my Hikes & Adventures series, which means these treks can be strenuous and challenging. These are my experiences and I am not an expert. Please have all the proper equipment, verify the weather conditions, use professional resources, do your own research, be mindful of constantly changing trail conditions, and take into consideration your own physical abilities and/or limitations. These guides are for entertainment purposes only. Please see my full disclosure for more information here.

• Juta to Roshka Trek Map & Overview in 2 Days
• Helpful Tips for Hiking Juta to Roshka Village in 2 Days
• How to Get to Juta from Kazbegi
• Day 1 | Juta to Roshka Trek via Chaukhi Pass & Abudelauri Lakes
• Trek Overview Day 1 | Juta, Chaukhi Pass, Abudelauri Lakes, & Roshka
• Sleeping in Roshka Village
• Day 2 | Roshka to Juta via the Sadzele Pass
• Trek Overview Day 2 | Roshka to Juta via Sadzele Pass
• Back in Juta Village
• Cost of Independently Hiking Juta to Roshka
• Juta Valley Loop Trek | Chaukhi Pass, Abudelauri Lakes, Roshka & Sadzele Pass

Juta to Roshka Trek Map | Chaukhi Pass, 2 Abudelauri Lakes, & Sadzele Pass

This is my 2 day trek from Juta to Roshka. Those serious about tackling the trek should download an offline map and verify correct information from the Kazbegi Tourist Information Center or one of the adventure tour shops in town (like Mountain Freaks).

After the Chaukhi Pass, the trail to the Abudelauri Lakes is not clearly marked, especially with foggy conditions. An offline Juta Valley map was essential.

⁉️ If downloading the Juta to Roshka trek map, please verify that the map is correct and follows the waypoints. Oftentimes there are updates to the site, map platforms, and other things, which can cause a bug in downloading. This map is solely a planning tool. Please comment below if something doesn’t download right or email me here, as it helps me keep the maps up to date and maintained. Always hike responsibly and respect the mountains by practicing no trace philosophy, avoid hiking alone, and don’t stray from the visible trail. I also love to check and plan my routes with useful tools like graphhopper.

Mileage distances are rounded to the nearest quarter of a mile.

Juta Valley Trek Overview

• 2 Day Loop Trail (Juta Village)
• Juta to Roshka via Chaukhi Pass: 10 miles
• Roshka to Juta via Sadzele Pass: 10 miles
• Difficulty: Moderately Challenging
• Juta Valley Trek Highlights:
  • Incredible valley views
  • Tranquil hiking paths
  • Abudelauri Lakes (even though they were low)
  • Reflective times in nature
  • Fall colors
• Trekking Challenges:
  • A steep descent after Chaukhi Pass
  • Aggressive dogs, some without shepherds
  • Rapidly changing weather
  • A small section after the Chaukhi Pass to the Abudelauri Lakes is not well marked

Helpful Tips for Hiking Juta to Roshka in 2 Days

Here’s some tips before departing on this 2 day Juta Valley trek.

When is the Best Time to Hike the Chaukhi Pass?

The road to Juta is often impassible and shuts down in the off-season due to heavy snow, which makes it impossible to reach the village. Oftentimes, the road to is open from mid April to the end of October, but that doesn’t ensure that the Chaukhi Pass is open. It is essential to check in with one of the mountain information centers in Kazbegi to see if the roads are passable and the hiking conditions are favorable. Each season the window to cross the Chaukhi Pass is different.

I hiked the Juta to Roshka trail in the middle of September and only saw 3 hikers the entire day. When I arrived in Roshka, I was the only person in my guesthouse.

💬 Real Talk | In mid-September, I encountered snow on the pass, foggy conditions, and extremely limited visibility. The lakes were also very low and not as spectacular due to minimal rain. However, I still enjoyed the beautiful countryside and spending time in the mountains. My main focus was not the Abudelauri Lakes, rather the trails themselves, so I loved it.

Be Mindful of Aggressive Shepherd Dogs

Oftentimes the mountains of Georgia are lonely and you won’t encounter anyone, except Shepherds and their dogs. From Juta to Roshka I did meet up with two aggressive dogs at different points along this route. One would not allow me to pass the road, so I had to add a 20 minute detour back down into the valley and create my own “bushwhacking” path to avoid him.

Never turn your back on these dog and wait for their shepherd.

If they are “rogue” find an alternative detour to pass them. Some say carrying trekking poles is essential to fend them off, but I did not carry poles with me.

Carry Your Passport / Photocopy if Hiking Sadzele Pass

From Roshka to Juta via the Sadzele Pass, there is a small hut with border guards just after the pass. Check in with them. The guards are super friendly and will sometimes offer you a lift from their “tent check-in” to the main road which leads to Juta.

Arrange Your Guesthouse in Roshka Before Starting the Trek

My guest house in Kazbegi was able to assist me with my guesthouse in Roshka. One, It was nice to know that someone was expecting me, since I was hiking this intrepid path solo. Two, there are only two guest houses in Roshka, so during busy season, you may be without a bed.

Vera from Guesthouse Ketino Sujashvili, in Kazbegi, was awesome. She booked the guest house, stored my valuables, and made sure my belly was full with a hearty breakfast before departing to Juta. She cooks up a storm, so I took my left over breakfast to eat for lunch. After my return from this epic trek, she offered me a shower, even though I was checked out.

➜ Guesthouse Ketino Sujashvili is an excellent lodging option in Kazbegi | ➜ Browse all of the Kazbegi guesthouse lodging options here

Also, if you just want to to experience Juta to Roshka as a full day hike, it would be nice to arrange your return ride back to Kazbegi. No one in Roshka speaks English, so make sure to prearrange all your sleeping and transportation needs.

☛ Before You Go | 6 Epic Things to Do in Kazbegi Georgia

Packing List for Juta to Roshka Trek

If you are planning on sleeping at a guest house is Roshka, you won’t need to carry much. Make sure to have:

• Layered clothing
• Good hiking boots or trail runners
• Hiking poles (especially for dogs)
• Baseball Hat, buff, sunscreen
• Offline Juta Valley Trek Map, chargers, battery packs, cords, ect
• Well Stocked first-aid kit
• Warm & Dry clothing for at night, extra socks
• Water-Filter is a must or water purification tablets
• Snacks & Food
• Plenty of GEL as there are no cash machines in Juta or Roshka
• Passport or copy for Sadzele Pass check-in

However, there are designated wild camping spots by the Abudelauri Lakes. Many people choose to camp near the Blue or Green Abudelauri Lakes. It gets cold at night, so make sure to have a warm sleeping bag, tent, stove, cook gear, water filter, and lots of layers, mittens, wool cap, and dry socks.

How to Get to Juta from Kazbegi

Here are some of the best ways to travel from Kazebgi to Juta. Take an organized shuttle-bus, a taxi, or hitchhike.

Kazbegi to Juta By Shuttlebus

Mountain Freaks offers two shuttles to Juta from Kazbegi during the high season. These tickets are round-trip for the same day, so keep this in mind if you plan on sleeping in Roshka. Tickets are only available to purchase in the office. If looking for a different return date, you will need to organize a private transportation option with them. With limited seating, you will need to purchase tickets in advance

🚐 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 frequently to Juta from Kazbegi, make sure to negotiate or try 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.

🚕 Taxi Kazbegi to Juta: In front of the Kazbegi Tourist Information Center here | One-way Taxi Fare: 60 GEL ($20 USD)

Hitchhiking from 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, where there are less cars, 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.

Day 1 | Juta to Roshka Trek via Chaukhi Pass & Abudelauri Lakes

Now that all the logistics are out of the way, here’s how to reach the trailhead to the Chaukhi Pass.

Fifth Season Hut

The trailhead is near the popular Fifth Season Mountain hut and it is still not accessible by car. Plan on walking 3/4 of a mile up the hill to past Zeta Camping, to reach the trailhead. This will take 20-25 minutes. Be mindful that although the hut provides incredible views of the Chaukhi Massif and mountains, it could be a challenge for those with mobility issues. There are horses available, but please check the animals’ well fare and well-being before choosing to ride.

Fifth Season to Chaukhi Pass

The path from the Fifth Season Hut is pretty flat and well marked. Many day trippers take the scenic and easy flat trail to the man-made Chaukhi lake. This artificial lake is only one mile from the Fifth Season Hut, but is a nice day trip from Kazbegi. At the Chaukhi Lake, find a small, but welcoming cafe with a few outdoor seats. Many hikers come to the lake to have a beverage and enjoy the views.

☛ Follow the blue and white trail markers to the Chaukhi Pass

For those tackling the Chaukhi Pass, continue along the well marked path. The trail will start to get fairly steep and challenging. Plan around three hours from the Chaukhi Lake up to the pass. There are plenty of opportunities to break. The weather can change quickly, so it’s important to be prepared. At one point, I had zero visibility and was following along on maps.me to see the trail.

The Chaukhi Pass

The Chaukhi Pass sits at a towering 10,951 feet. This steep climb is a challenge, and supposedly offers incredible views from the top. Sadly, I missed out any views of the colorful Abudelauri Lakes due to the extreme fog. In September, I found there was a fresh, thin layer of snow on the mountain. This made it difficult to see the foot path.

💬 Real Talk | Coming down from the Chaukhi Pass is the most challenging part of this trek

The downhill after the Chaukhi pass is incredibly steep and the shale is loose, making it hard to maintain your footing. There are two visible paths down the otherside. Take caution, the rocky path can be extremely slick, especially in the high altitude and snowy conditions. It was so steep, I actually intentionally used my hiking shoes as “skis” and slid down the mountain. The shale made it tricky, but when the fog temporarily lifted I could at least get a glimpse of the path I was trying to follow.

Abudelauri Lakes

After the steep and slippy descent from the Chaukhi Pass, the trail is less traveled. At this point it is easy to lose the marked trail, so just keep to the visible path. I strayed from the maps.me trail and followed the general direction until I could see the Blue Lake.

There are three Abudelauri Lakes. The Blue and Green Abudelauri Lakes are more “on the way” to Roshka village, whereas the White Abudelauri Lake requires some backtracking towards the foot of the Chaukhi Massif. The white lake is much harder to access.

The White Abudelauri is one mile from the Blue Abudelauri Lake, but with a gradual incline. With my late start, rainy conditions, and low water levels in the Abudelauri Lakes, I decided to skip this lake, so that I could arrive in Roshka at a reasonable time. However, the While Abudelauri Lake is the largest of the three Abudelauri Lakes.

☛ Travel Tip | The Blue and Green Abudelauri Lakes sit almost side by side. Once you reach the lakes, the path is quite easy to follow into Roshka. Those travelers who just want to experience the Abudelauri Lakes as a day trip hike, should come from Roshka, not Juta.

Blue Abudelauri Lake

Due to the season, both the Blue and Green Abudelauri Lakes had extremely low water levels, hence they and lacking their vivid colors. This could have also been due to the overcast skies. I could still appreciate the tranquility of this place and the incredible mountain pass I had just come down. The massive boulders that are scattered about the valley are supposedly some of the most “erratic” rocks in the world.

Green Abudelauri Lake

The Green Abudelauri Lake was extremely small, but the clouds parted just in time to snap some incredible photos of the jagged Chaukhi Massif.

☛ There are a few places to set up camp near the Blue and Green Abudelauri Lakes. In fact, I saw at least one tent, which I think belonged to a shepherd. Campers should be prepared to have all the proper gear and warm clothing for cold mountain nights.

The Trail to Roshka Village

After appreciating the Abudelauri Lakes, head towards the small hamlet of Roshka. This trail path is very defined. From the lakes to Roshka, the path is 3.5 miles with a gradual decent. Pass by some seriously impressive boulders that were carried from the Chaukhi Massiff.

There is also a signboard in Roshka village that explains the folklore and legend of the Abudelauri Lakes.

Trek Overview Day 1 | Juta, Chaukhi Pass, Abudelauri Lakes, & Roshka

• Trekking Duration Juta to Roshka: The hike to Roshka with a stop at the Blue and Green Abudelauri Lakes took me 7 hours from the Fifth Season Mountain Hut
  • Schedule: Departure at from Juta at 11:00 with arrival into Roshka at 18:00
• Distance:10 miles
• Highlights:
  • Incredible scenery of the Juta Valley
  • Hearing the Chaukhi glacier creaking from the foggy Chaukhi Pass
  • Views of the jagged Chauki Massif from the Blue and Green Abudelauri Lakes
  • Being the only guest at Rock Side Guest House in Roshka
  • Connecting with the Caucasus Mountains with no hikers

Sleeping in Roshka Village

There are three guest houses in Roshka, but in September, not all of them are open. It’s best to plan in advance if you plan to sleep in Roshka. During the summer months of June and July when the Abudelauri Lakes are at their prime, it is essential to arrange accommodation before leaving Kazbegi.

Rock Side Guest House was a great option on the outskirts of the tiny village. It is a very basic guest house run by an older man who speaks no English.

The rooms simple, but you’ll find warm showers and WiFi, plus plenty of blankets and space heaters to help battle the frigid mountain nights.

Want The Juta to Roshka Hike to Be Just A One Day Hike?

It’s a little more complicated than it sounds. Roshka village is isolated, so taxis are expensive here. There are no public transportation options to or from the tiny village of Roshka and basically on 4 x 4 jeep transportation. The man at Rock House did call a ride for three hikers to return to Tbilisi, as it’s actually shorter and easier to return to Tbilisi than Kazbegi.

☛ Transportation Tip | Be mindful that the 4 x 4 will drop you in Korsha where it’s a shocking 93 miles (150 Km) to return to Kazbegi, or 65 miles to reach Tbilisi.

This was also possible because one of them them could speak basic Georgian. If you do decide to end the trek in Roshka and chose not to return to Juta from Roshka hiking, plan in advance or go with someone who can speak Georgian.

Rock Side Guest House in Roshka

• Sleeping & Dinner Cost: 45 GEL ($15 USD per person)
• Cost for Sleeping, Dinner, & Breakfast: 60 GEL ($20 USD)
• Budget Tip: I took to the road early, so I skipped breakfast.
  • Dinner is big and there’s always a ton of bread. I took my leftovers from dinner and made it breakfast.

There are no restaurants in town, so make sure to either pack your own food, or go with the meal options at the guest house.

Day 2 | Roshka to Juta via the Sadzele Pass

On Day 2, take the Sadzele Pass back to Juta. This pass is moderately challenging, yet not as extreme or steep as the Chaukhi Pass. It makes an excellent option to return to Juta and appreciate the Juta Valley from a different angle. The Sadzele Pass is just over 10,050 ft.

Expect to see glacier chunks lining the river, lush valley views and the peaceful sounds of the Juta River. My view going through the pass was again clouded over, but before and after the Sadzele Pass I could appreciate the lovely vista points.

💬 Real Talk | Both the Chaukhi and Sadzele Pass are rewarding in their own ways. The Chaukhi Pass would be extremely difficult to climb up from the loose shale along the steep pass. The best way to return is via the Sadzele Pass.

Roshka to Sadzele Pass

Leave Roshka early in the morning. It’s a gradual incline to the actual Sadzele Pass, keeping the Roshka River to your right. To the left is the valley you arrived to Juta from the Chaukhi Pass and the now hidden Abudelauri Lakes. This section is on a gravel road, but soon turns into a fairly marked path.

🥾 Roshka to Juta Hiking Guide | The Sadzele Pass is a 5 miles hike from Roshka and follows the yellow and white markers

Coming Down the Sadzele Pass

Follow the trail down the Sadzele Pass and cross the river to join the path which is now marked with red and white trail markers. Keep the river to your left. I was fortunate to see large glacial ice chunks along the river.

The valley is stunning and soon, you will see a tent where the border guards will check your passport. They may even offer a ride to the road, which I happily accepted.

Sadzele Pass to the outskirts of Juta is around 5.5 miles and mostly downhill. This path is well marked and follows the red and white markers.

Trek Overview Day 2 | Roshka to Juta via the Sadzele Pass

• Trekking Duration Roshka to Juta: The hike took me less than 6 hours
  • This includes a 20 minute jeep ride with border guards who offered me a ride to avoid an extremely aggressive dog
  • Schedule: Left Roshka village at 7:00 and arrived in Juta by 12:30
• Distance: a little over 10 miles
• Highlights:
  • Riding in an old rickety jeep with border guards
  • Chaukhi Glacier pieces along the Juta River, after coming down from the Sadzele Pass
  • The incredible views of the valley in general
  • Having a rewarding beverage at the Fifth Season Hut
• Trail Markers:
  • Roshka to Sadzele Pass: Yellow and White trail markers
  • Sadzele Pass to Juta: At the base of the valley, trail markers will be red and white

Back in Juta Village

Once you arrive back in Juta, head back up to the Fifth Season Hut, if you wish. There are plenty of lunch and beverage options. It is a little more expensive here. Enjoy the views of the jagged Chauki Massif from the grass, a hammock or a comfy bean bag. If you feel inclined, or get into Juta late, the Fifth Season Hut has lodging options.

➜ Check availability for the Fifth Season Hut and Guest House here

How to Return to Kazbegi

If you arrive back to Juta early in the afternoon, it is easy to split a taxi back to Kazbegi. I just stood around the taxi stand looking for people negotiating. This is a popular day trip from Kazbegi, so it’s easy in the afternoon to find a ride. I found a group and we got the taxi down to 60 GEL ($20 USD) for the 3 of us, so only 20 GEL ($6.50 USD) per person.

Remember, the ride takes around 30 minutes from Juta to Kazbegi along a bumpy dusty road.

🥾 Looking for another hike from Kazbegi? Don’t miss the lovely Truso Valley Hike

Cost of Independently Hiking Juta to Roshka

So, how much did this 2 day hike cost me?

Prices on the table are rounded to the nearest 25¢

Expenses	GEL “Lari” (ლ )	USD ($)
Overnight in Roshka with Dinner	45 ლ	$15
Beverage at Fifth Season Hut	6 ლ	$2
Taxi to Juta (split by 3, my cost)	20 ლ	$6.50
Total	71 ლ	$23.50

The 2 Day Juta to Roshka Trek cost me under $25!

Want to lower the cost?

To decrease the price, camp by the Abudelauri Lakes and skip making any purchases from the Fifth Season Hut. I kept my costs low by packing a lunch the first day and using my leftover dinner for breakfast at the guest house. I also hitchhiked to Juta village which saved me quite a bit of money.

Juta Valley Loop Trek | Chaukhi Pass, Abudelauri Lakes, Roshka & Sadzele Pass

In conclusion, this two-day itinerary is a challenging and rewarding hike to experience the “Georgian Dolomites.” On Day 1, leave the village of Juta and head up the Chaukhi Pass. Come down the towering pass and visit two of the Abudelauri Lakes (or all three lakes if you have time). Set up camp along the Abudelauri Lakes, or continue on to the sleepy village of Roshka.

On Day 2, take the alternative Sadzele Pass from Roshka to Juta. In the adorable little village of Juta, enjoy rewarding views from the Fifth Season Hut.

Both the Chaukhi and Sadzele Pass are equally worthwhile. Enjoy these two diverse hikes where you’ll hardly see another soul. Although the two Abudelauri Lakes were not in their “ultimate viewing prime,” I could still appreciate their simple beauty nestled in the valley surrounded my beautiful mountains and glaciers. This is a stellar opportunity to go trekking in Georgia.

This 2 day adventure hike was a favorite during my 3 weeks in Georgia

Have you visited Juta and hiked up the Chaukhi Pass or Sadzele Pass? What did you think? Did you visit any of the Abudelauri Lakes or visit Roshka? Did you catch the Abudelauri Lakes in their prime viewing conditions? Let me know in the comments below!

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