By Samantha Guthrie

Kazbegi Sightseeing The picturesque town of Kazbegi (officially called Stepantsminda) is located in north eastern Georgia, approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes north of Tbilisi by road. The Caucasus Mountains loom imposing over the town, creating what seems like endless hills, valleys, cliffs and gorges to explore. Hiking in the area is spectacular, with both natural and manmade beauties, such as the Gergeti Trinity Monastery, which sits on top of a mountain as if placed there by a crane, framed dramatically against the background of year-round snowcapped Mt. Kazbek. A trip to the mountains is mandatory for everyone who sets foot in this Caucasus country, and Kazbegi is undoubtedly one of the best places to see the beauty, drama, soul, and traditions of the higher altitudes. A day trip from Tbilisi is possible, but we recommend staying at least one night to get the full experience!

Here are some of our favorite sites to see while visiting Kazbegi:

GERGETI TRINITY MONASTERY

Sure, it might be a cliché, but it is for a reason. Gergeti Trinity Monastery is the most visited, and most photographed, site in Kazbegi. The beautiful church can be reached through a medium-difficulty hike, about two hours from the town center, or by hiring a seat in a car. With the new road built in 2018, most cars can make it up without a problem. The church was
built in the 14th century, at 2,170m above sea level, and itself holds many secrets, including beautiful icons, carvings, and murals. The view from the top is stunning – in one direction Kazbegi town and its surrounding villages, colorful dots throughout the landscape, and in the other direction, the Caucasus Mountains and, beyond, Russia’s North Ossetia.

DARIALI MONASTERY

Visitors to Dariali Monastery will also get a glimpse of the modern-day border crossing into Russia, and the long line of cars and trucks waiting their turn. This monastery complex has much less history than its neighbor, Gergeti Trinity, but it’s still worth a visit. Dariali was completed in 2011, in beautiful purplehued local stone. The Dariali Gorge where the monastery sits is of strategic importance – it has historically been one of the primary crossings of the Caucasus Mountains between Georgia and Russia.

GVELETI WATERFALL

Gveleti means “place of snakes” in Georgian, but don’t worry – we’ve never actually seen a snake here! An easy and fun hike brings you to a beautiful waterfall that splashes down around rocks and tree roots. On a sunny day, it’s a great place for a picnic. In the winter, the water is dramatically frozen. Grabbing a taxi from Kazbegi’s main square is easy, and will
cost you 30-50 GEL – or you can hitchhike! It’s just a few kilometers and there are always friendly tourists driving to and from the Russian border.

SNO FORTRESS

The village of Sno is famous for three things – as the birthplace of the current Patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church, for a popular brand of bottled spring water, and for Sno Fortress. The small tower sits on a high stone base that is easy enough to climb into with a boost, with no guards or even signs warning visitors to preserve the heritage. The
fortress is thought to have been built in the 16th or 17th century.

ARSHA WATERFAL

A slightly smaller but equally charming waterfall, Arsha is more easily accessible than Gveleti. Arsha Waterfall is located in, unsurprisingly, the village of Arsha. It drops down starkly from a high cliff face into a cold stream below that cows often take advantage of on hot summer days. There is no road or trail leading to the waterfall, so best to have a local show you the way.

STEPANTSMINDA HISTORICAL MUSEUM

Formerly the Alexander Kazbegi House Museum, the museum is located in the famous 19th-century writer’s childhood home. It houses exhibits that demonstrate the history and culture of the local area. Although descriptions of items are not always in English, there are some interesting things to see, including ancient stone carvings, 19th century saddle bags
decorated in the local Khevi style, and local artwork. For just 3 GEL – it’s definitely worth a visit! And it’s the perfect place to go on a rainy day.

Image source: global goose