Stepantsminda (Kazbegi, 1744m) is a legendary village at the very foot of Mount Kazbek (5033m). This small village lies in an exceptionally picturesque place, in the valley of the Terek River. It is literally sandwiched between the spurs of Kazbek and the steep walls of Mount Shan (4451m). In many houses you can't even see the sky from the windows. From any point of the village, the ice peak of Kazbek is perfectly observed.
How to get to Kazbegi from Georgia
The nearest large city with a well-functioning system of getting there is Tbilisi. It is located 165 km, minibuses, buses, transfers and taxis go from there.
All transport to Kazbegi departs from Didube bus station. There are no signs, charts, platforms or ticketing points here. Didube is a mixture of a spontaneous bus station and a market. However, do not despair - finding the right transport is quite easy:
Barkers are prowling everywhere, who, at the sight of a tourist, yell "Kazbegi!";
There is a megaphone near the starting point of minibuses, you need to focus on it.
An easy way to get to Didube
Near the bus station is the surface metro station "Didube" (with one exit - you can't go wrong :). Immediately after the exit, the stairs to the tunnel begin, which bifurcates - you go to the right.
Tbilisi metro operates from 6:00 to 24:00 and is very convenient to use. You buy a metro card (at the ticket office at any metro or funicular station) and immediately replenish it with a few lari. This card gives you the right to travel in all types of public transport in Tbilisi: metro (0.5 GEL), trolleybuses, minibuses, buses and funicular (2.5 GEL). Save your receipt for the metro card. You can return it and get the money back if you present a check and a passport.
Metro station names are announced in Georgian and English.
Cost of moving to Kazbegi
A regular minibus costs 10 lari (about $ 4). These run from 7 am to 7 pm with an average interval of 1 hour. However, drivers may depart not according to the schedule, but as the minibus fills up - you need to be prepared for irregular departures. Travel time - 3 - 4 hours.
A taxi will cost 80 lari ($ 34) per car or 20 lari ($ 8.3) per person. There are many people who want to take a taxi, so the cars are completed quickly. If this is your first time in these parts, it is better to take a one-way taxi, because drivers make 15-minute stops near the most popular sights of the Georgian Military Highway: Ananuri Fortress, Zhinvali Reservoir and Arch of Friendship of Peoples. Taxis can be found here from 6 am to 11-12 am (while the metro is running).
Checkpoint "Kazbegi" (border with Russia) is located 12 km from the village. From it to Vladikavkaz - only 31 km.
In Soviet times, the village was called Kazbegi, and Georgians use this name in everyday life to this day. So minibuses and taxis are signed. However, on all road signs you will see "Stepancminda" - this is the same Kazbegi.
What to see in Kazbegi
The village itself, its surroundings and the road leading to these parts are already serious sights. But, of course, not the main ones.
- The center of the village is small, this is where you will arrive. many shops, cafes and restaurants of Georgian cuisine with reasonable prices. Each cafe owner makes their own unique homemade wine, which is definitely worth a try. In these parts it is better to take dry white;).
- 5 kilometers from Kazbegi there is a small beautiful waterfall. Another, larger one, 15 km away, taxis go here (50 GEL per car). You can get a route map from the visitor center near the bus stop.
- Sources of healing mineral waters are located 2 km from Kazbeki, in the village of Pasheti.
- Very popular in this area paragliding. The most daring can fly alone or paired with an instructor.
- Visitors are offered a huge selection of various means of transportation in the mountains: horses, bicycles, motorcycles, quad bikes... You can find this kind of rental near a familiar bus stop or at a visitor center. Remember that it is worth clarifying the presence of a saddle on a horse - the locals prefer not to bother with a harness.
- Wherever you go, in the vicinity of Kazbegi you will meet stone watchtowers reminiscent of Svan. They stand on steep slopes and look extremely mysterious and picturesque...
Where to sleep in Kazbegi
The village has many hotels, hostels and homestays. The cost of housing is from $8 (20 GEL per bed in a hostel) to $250 (a hotel room). All of them are easily searched and booked on the Internet. If you haven't booked your accommodation, don't worry. Most likely, you will be offered several options along the way. You can ask the driver. Georgians are friendly people, everyone communicates with each other and helps. The driver will immediately start calling friends and arrange you in a couple of minutes.
If you are going on a trip to Georgia, be sure to visit Kazbegi. Beautiful panoramas of the Greater Caucasus, various entertainments and hospitable people will leave an indelible impression in your soul;).
The Kazbegi region, located high in the mountains, is a picturesque place in Georgia, lost among the Caucasian ranges. The road to it lies through mountainous areas. It will take 2-3 hours to get from Tbilisi to Kazbegi. How to get there, how long to travel, what sights to see, what route to lay when traveling on your own, we will talk about this in the article.
Kazbegi is an urban-type settlement 12 km from the MAPP (International Automobile Checkpoint "Upper Lars"). The journey from Russia to Tbilisi passes through the Kazbegi region.
The village is located in the gorge at the foot. From Tbilisi to Kazbegi, the distance is 156 km, to Vladikavkaz - 43 km. It is located at an altitude of 1880 meters above sea level.
The city was named after Alexander Kazbegi, a Georgian writer who was born in these places. In 2007, the city was officially renamed Stepantsminda. It is the administrative center and the only urban-type settlement in Mohave. In the West, from the central street of the village under the cliff, the Terek River slowly stretches.
Important! In the navigation system and on the maps of various printed publications there is no single name for the district settlement. You can meet two names of the same place at the same time.
Since the beginning of 2014, three restaurants have opened in the village (all three are located on the central square). In 2015, a wine house was opened, where tourists can taste wines and get advice from the staff.
Also on the central square there is a currency exchange office. Based on the reviews of tourists who visited the Kazbegi region, we recommend taking cash, since the Internet only works in the form of wi-fi in hotels and guest houses. Credit cards are accepted only in large retail outlets.
In 2016, the Information Center was opened south of the central square. Here, tourists offer to rent equipment (sleeping bags, helmets, crampons, carbines, etc.), buy maps, gas cylinders, and ask the center staff for more information.
What is the best time to visit
The mountain wind always blows. In winter, the temperature drops to - 5. In summer, the air warms up to + 18. Relative humidity in the summer months is about 70%. The weather can change during the day, at night the temperature can drop to 0.
A favorable season for tourist trips is summer. It is better to send small children to the Kazbegi region in August, when the wind becomes warmer and the sun warms the mountain air during the day to a comfortable temperature of +15 - +18 degrees Celsius.
What to bring
The weather in Kazbegi is changeable even in summer due to the location of the village in the highlands. Sunny morning can be replaced by heavy rain. Therefore, when going on a trip, take warm clothes: jackets, hats and sneakers. Be sure to take a jacket - a raincoat, rain can catch you when sightseeing. Choose sports and strong shoes, most of the hiking routes are laid along racing trails, where there are a lot of stones.
If you are traveling from Tbilisi for a day, bring food and water with you. Kazbegi is a mountainous area and the delivery of products familiar to us is carried out infrequently, prices are 10-15% higher than in Tbilisi.
Important! Be sure to take water with you. During descents and ascents, the body spends a lot of energy, dehydration occurs imperceptibly.
How to get from Batumi to Kazbegi
- It can be reached by car in 6 hours. The road in the form of a serpentine will not allow you to pick up speed. The distance from Batumi to Kazbegi is 475 km, the route is laid along the Georgian Military Highway.
- By plane you will get to Shota Rustaveli International Airport. The distance from point A (Batumi) to point B (Tbilisi) by air is 266 km. Then take a taxi or a car.
- By bus. The Metro Georgia carrier operates daily flights from the Batumi bus station (Gogol St., 1) to the Ortachala bus station in Tbilisi. The buses offer drinks, free wi-fi, air conditioning. The inscription on the buses: Batumi - Tbilisi. The fare at the beginning of 2019 was 25 GEL. Tickets can be ordered in advance on the company's website (geometro.ru) or at the box office. Then you need to get to the Didube bus station and take a minibus, take a taxi or rent a car.
- On the bus. From the new bus station on Gogol street to the bus station of Didube metro station. The minibus leaves in the morning, check the information about the departure at the ticket office of the bus station, tickets are bought from the driver. The fare is 25 lari. Upon arrival, transfer to a minibus to Kazbegi. If you find it difficult to find a minibus, contact the locals (Georgians) - they are friendly and speak good Russian.
- By train you will reach Tbilisi in 5.5 hours. Departure at 07.30 am, price 40 GEL. There is a fast night train. Check the schedule on the official website of the Georgian Railway. How to get from Tbilisi to Stepan, read on.
How to get from Tbilisi to Kazbegi
The Tbilisi-Kazbegi road is 156 km away. You can get to the highland area by car or bus, there is no airport or railway track.
tour bus
Upon arrival in Tbilisi, you can order by bus. There are enough travel companies in the city that organize one-two-three day tours. The cost of a one-day trip is from 45 USD.
If you like to enjoy the beauty for a long time, wait for the right light for a beautiful shot, refuse to travel in a group, it is better to choose an individual tour.
shuttle bus
Minibuses from Tbilisi to are the most economical transfer option. Minibuses depart from the Okriba bus station, located next to the Didube metro station. You can get to the place in 3-4 hours. There is no timetable, the minibus will go as it fills up. The first bus from Tbilisi leaves at 9 am. Tickets are taken at the box office of the bus station.
There are two types of minibuses:
- Without stops. In such a bus you will not be able to enjoy the beauties of the road. Cost 4 USD;
- with stops for tourists. Such a trip is a little more expensive and takes longer to Kazbegi, but you will be able to see amazing landscapes.
You can get from Kazbegi to Tbilisi both by bus and by minibus. Minibus "Kazbegi - Tbilisi" departs from the central square at 7 pm.
Taxi
You can order a transfer from the airport or from the railway station. Cost from 60 USD. It is better to order a taxi in advance through a mobile application. Traveling by taxi is more comfortable than by public transport.
You can also take a taxi from the Orbi bus station. The cost is from 150 to 250 lari. The price of the trip depends directly on the fuel used by the taxi.
A car
You can get to Stepantsminda (Kazbegi) on your own by car, rent or choose a taxi. Being able to move freely is a major advantage. Moving without time limit, stops along the way will allow you to fully enjoy the scenery. The disadvantage, according to tourists, is the lack of driving ethics on the part of Georgian motorists: turning lights do not turn on, they drive at an excessive speed even in dangerous areas, often go into the oncoming lane. Traffic in the summer can be difficult due to the large flow of cars.
Important! It is forbidden to drive while intoxicated!
The main costs for renting a car are as follows:
- rental price from 35 to 50 USD per day;
- the cost of gasoline.
If you rent a car with a driver, then the costs increase. Renting a car with a driver has a number of advantages, despite the high cost of rent:
- driver with driving experience only;
- well orientated in the area;
- route worked out in advance;
- takes into account the wishes of travelers.
A car with an experienced driver will cost about 100 USD per day.
You only spend money on gasoline when you travel alone in your car.
What to see along the way
The road from Tbilisi passes through the Cross Pass.
Important! Before you set off on your own, find out if the pass is open today or not. This can be done by calling the Georgian Patrol Police phone number. Vehicle traffic may be suspended due to bad weather conditions. In summer, the reason for the closure can be mudflows, in winter - snowfalls, snow avalanches.
- – monastery of the 6th century, almost destroyed. It is mentioned in Lermontov's poem "Mtsyri" and stands at the confluence of two rivers:.
- . The artificial reservoir was created in 1985. The fortress of the 16th century was built to protect the Darial Gorge from raids.
- –
village at an altitude of 1000 meters above sea level. It is considered the birthplace of khinkali. There are no ancient sights in the village, but it is worth driving there to try khinkali.
- near Gidauri was built in 1985 near the resort of Gudauri. The arch is a building decorated with scenes from the life of the Georgian people with mosaic tiles. There is also an observation deck here. It offers stunning views of the gorge.
- The cross pass is located at an altitude of 2379 meters above sea level. Cross or Gudauri pass is named so because of the monument in the form of a cross, installed in the middle of the 19th century. The cross was placed 50 meters from the paved road. Immediately behind it is a stunning view.
- break through the rocks, forming bright red stones. We recommend trying the purest mineral water.
Sights of Kazbegi
In the Kazbegi region there is the highest peak in the Caucasus - Mount Kazbek. On the way to the top is the famous Trinity Church. There are several less well-known temples (Zionsky in the village of Sioni). Two fortresses, several inactive volcanoes, Trussovskoe and Darial gorges.
Museum of Local Lore
The village has a museum opened in the two-storey house of the writer Alexander Kazbegi. The building keeps memories of the life of Georgian aristocrats in the 19th century. The exposition about the life of the aristocratic Kazbegi clan is located on the second floor.
On the first floor of the museum, artifacts of church utensils dated from the 13th to 19th centuries are stored. 20 items of the exhibition were found in the Betlem cave, located on the rock of Mount Kazbek: a brass bell, a small communion spoon, fish hooks, a shallow bowl, a candlestick and others. The cave is located at an altitude of 4000 meters above sea level.
A few facts about the Bethlehem (Bethlehem) cave:
- On January 6, 1947, the Georgian climbing club, together with speleologists, began climbing to a height of 4000 meters;
- the cave is located on a sheer cliff, which was climbed by chains (the artifact is presented in the museum);
- the entrance to the cave was closed with a metal door 0.5 meters wide and 1 meter high. The researchers were unable to open it, so they entered the cave through the window above the door;
- artifacts found dating from different periods suggested that the cave was used as a place to store jewelry during raids and invasions of foreigners.
The museum is open on weekdays. Discounts are provided for group excursions, students and schoolchildren. How much does a ticket cost - check at the box office.
Church of the Holy Trinity in Gergeti
Not far from the village of Stepantsminda, the Church of the Holy Trinity has been standing for more than 600 years. Historians suggest that the cross-domed church was built in the 14th century. The temple got its name "Gergeti Church" because of its proximity to it. Another name for the temple is. This is a unique type of construction for the Kazbegi region.
The church is active, services are held here regularly. Next to it there is an observation deck with a view of the mountain peaks.
The walk to the Trinity Church in Gergeti will take about two hours, a narrow serpentine road passes through the forest. In 2016, the road to Tsminda Samebi was dug up, you have to get there only on foot, it will not be possible to get there by car.
A two-cascade waterfall is located near Kazbegi, north of the village of Gveleti. Its height is 25 meters. You can get to the Gveleti waterfall on foot from the village of Gveleti in a few hours, by car - one hour. The distance from the village to the destination is 1.3 km. The winding rocky road is within the power of vehicles with increased cross-country ability. Most often, local residents deliver tourists to the Niva. From the parking lot up to the waterfall there is a mountain path with signs.
Important! For setting up a tent near the weather station, you will have to pay 15 GEL (the cost is indicated for 2017). A night in the building of the weather station will cost tourists 30 GEL. After 8 pm, when the generator is turned on at the weather station, you can charge your gadgets.
- from the weather station to the top of Kazbek 1300 meters. It's better to go up.
Conclusion
There are several ways to get from Batumi or Tbilisi to Stepantsminda, each of the travelers will find a comfortable transport for themselves. Choose a trip around Georgia on your own (no passport needed) or take it on arrival in Tbilisi or Batumi. To see the beauties of the Kazbegi region and visit all the local attractions, travel in August.
Choice between bus or taxi? Better pay attention to GoTrip - a unique platform that provides the opportunity to comfortably travel accompanied by a local driver. Transfer from Tbilisi to Kazbegi (Stepantsminda) will become, unlike other services, an adventure that you want to tell your loved ones about. Meeting at the appointed place, according to the schedule, stops on demand, recommendations for the best places to stay, local news and cultural features are just some of the benefits of this service. If you get tired, you can rest. When the view outside the window captures your attention, ask them to stop and give you the opportunity to take a good look. A few photos in such a situation will be simply invaluable, and the GoTrip employee will not only be happy to help you get them, but will also recommend exactly where it is best to arrange a small impromptu photo shoot. On the site you can pick up a person who will take you to Kazbegi, see photos of drivers, study the parameters of cars, pay attention to customer reviews. The rating will help you quickly navigate, and the price can become an additional factor for analysis. The cost of the trip is determined by the driver himself, thus, GoTrip maintains a trusting relationship with the staff. At the same time, services for the client are significantly lower than those of competitors, since the loyalty of travelers is the basis of the company's success in the market. Cars are air-conditioned (some also have Wi-Fi), drivers speak foreign languages, live for a long time in the service area and are well versed in the area. The trip will allow you to quickly immerse yourself in the local culture, learn interesting facts about the area, etc.
In the central part of the Greater Caucasus Range at the base of the extinct volcano Kazbek (height 5033 meters). Distance to Tbilisi - 165 km, to the border with Russia - 11 km. The main settlement and the center of the district is the village of Stepantsminda.
How to get to Kazbegi
The most convenient option is an air or bus tour to Georgia with an arrival in Tbilisi, from where you can book an excursion to Kazbegi (travel time is about 4 hours, as there are landslides on the road), or live in Stepantsminda in one of the guest houses or book the Rooms hotel Hotel Kazbegi 4*.
What to see in Kazbegi
Stepantsminda is a place with perfect views of the snowy peak of Kazbek. But in addition to the mountains, there are ancient monuments and natural attractions.
Trinity Church in Gergeti (Tsminda Sameba) was built by the 10th century at an altitude of 2000 meters above sea level - now people come here to admire the opening landscapes and consider the contrast between the external and internal decoration. Here is the iconostasis of the 4th century with the icon of the Mother of God, which survived the fire in the 20th century. The path to the church is not easy, but you can book a jeep ride on the spot.
Another popular historical site and tourist route is Georgian military road, passing through the Darial Gorge. On the road there is a monument to the friendship between Russia and Georgia, the ancient castle of Tamara and the temple of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel.
In Stepantsminda, lovers of local history and literature can go to local lore house-museum of Alexander Kazbegi- a Georgian writer who devoted his work to the life and life of the highlanders.
Natural attractions of Kazbegi are Kehl volcanic plateau And Gveleti waterfall, the drying system of three lakes Kelistba, Archvebistba and Kelitzad - trekking trails are laid to them, but without appropriate preparation they are difficult to overcome. Prepared tourists conquer Kazbek.
Active rest in Stepantsminda:
- horseback riding,
- paragliding,
- bicycles for rent,
- hiking to waterfalls, churches and watchtowers,
- mineral springs
- rafting on mountain rivers.
You can visit the mineral waters in Pansheti, where Kazbegi is bottled.
Because of the calm and even ascetic atmosphere, Stepantsminda is called "Georgian Siberia" and compared with Tibet, therefore holidays in Kazbegi will be meditative and measured.
What else to do in Kazbegi:
- Go to a wine shop, taste the pearls of Georgia and take home a delicious reminder of your vacation in Kazbegi.
- Have a bite to eat in the Georgian fast food - sakhinkle - khinkal in the center of Stepantsminda.
- Arrive on July 16 in Stepantsminda for the traditional holiday of Gergetobu - "The Day of Spiritual Love".
- Visit the tourist route of the Georgian Military Highway and see the beauty of nature combined with Georgian architecture.
- Even if you don’t stay at the most beautiful hotel in Georgia, Rooms Hotel Kazbegi, then at least dine on the terrace with a gorgeous view of Kazbek and take beautiful photos.
Here we are in Georgia! To the village of Stepantsminda, it remains to go some 10 kilometers along the Georgian Military Highway. This is our first stopping point in Georgia. Here, at an altitude of 2170 meters at the foot of Kazbek, there is the famous Trinity Church, built in the 14th century. We drive through a picturesque gorge along the river and look forward to what the first impressions will be from getting to know a new country and new people. Stepantsminda turns out to be a small border village, it is from here that many travelers begin their acquaintance with Georgia, there are many hostels, guest houses, hotels, cafes, people with backpacks from different countries scurry around, you can immediately change money for the Georgian currency - lari. It is most profitable to withdraw money from an ATM, the rate is better than in exchangers. The bank is located right there in the center, but not on the central square, but a little to the side, it will not be difficult to find it. The village is full of Mitsubishi Delica cars, the locals earn money in this way by delivering tourists directly to the church along the mountain serpentine.
Accommodation in Gergeti
Having changed some money, it was decided to first start looking for housing, and then calmly go for a walk in the mountains, but they decided to stop not in Stepantsminda, but in the village of Gergeti, which is located higher in the mountains and from where you can safely walk along the path to the church. The search for housing led us to a wonderful hospitable Georgian family, who recently created a guesthouse (Guest House Mariami) on the territory of their house.
The hosts offered accommodation with a dinner of traditional Georgian dishes and breakfast, we did not refuse, especially since on the first day of our stay in this country we wanted to try everything.
Trinity Church in Gergeti and Kazbek
Having decided on housing and scattering things, we changed clothes, armed ourselves with cameras and went to the mountains for a walk. Right behind the village, near the cemetery, a short mountain path begins, leading to the Trinity Church, which rises majestically on top of the mountain. Behind the forest, shrouded in a veil of clouds, the snowy Kazbek silently stands guard. You can, of course, go along the serpentine, where cars deliver tourists, but the trail is more interesting and shorter. The trail winds along the dry riverbed, in spring streams flow from melting glaciers. The ascent is quite steep and we progressed slowly. Tall trees covered the mountains from our view, only occasionally fragments of snowy peaks were revealed to us through the gaps. But then the trees ended and we finally ended up on a huge mountain plateau, from which a stunning view opens up. Below, in the gorge, there are villages that are now visible at a glance, we are surrounded on all sides by a wall of mountains headed by Kazbek, clouds are slowly floating across the sky, casting massive shadows, a fresh wind pleasantly ruffles our hair, there is a feeling of happiness and boundless freedom . What is there to tell, no words are enough to describe, just enjoy this beauty.
The whole day we walked and enjoyed the pictures that nature itself created before our eyes, the clouds either thickened or dispersed, catching on the tops of the mountains, blocking the sun, changing the lighting. We were all waiting for Kazbek to open its peak to us, getting rid of the captivity of the clouds, but on this day he did not want to fully open up to us. Locals say that it is great luck to see the top of Kazbek against a clear sky.
Many travelers, in addition to the church, also go to the glacier and the abandoned weather station, which is located at an altitude of 3600 meters.
The sun was going down as we began our return descent. Overflowing with new positive emotions, we were ready for a hearty Georgian dinner, but we had no idea what was waiting for us downstairs. The table set by the Georgian family was simply bursting with the amount of food: khinkali, chakhokbili, khachapuri, Imereti cheese, adjab-sandalwood, shish kebab, habizgina, satsibeli, well, what is a Georgian table without wine and chacha. In general, we fully experienced Georgian hospitality. After a day in the mountains and such an unforgettable dinner, we were instantly knocked out as soon as we got to the beds.
In the morning a completely different view awaited us.
