Kazbegi - Stepantsminda - Georgia

The town is surrounded by large mountains on all sides. The most notable mountain of the region, Mount Kazbek, lies immediately to the west of town. The second most prominent peak, Mt. Shani, rises to an elevation of 4,451 meters (14,600 feet) above sea level, 9 kilometers to the east of Stepantsminda.
There are amazingly beautiful hiking routes, that attract tourists to Kazbegi from all over the world. The nature around is very beautiful and the air is fresh and cool.

Distance from Stepantsminda to Tbilisi is 157 kilometers (98 mi), that allows one day trips. However one day might be not sufficient for seeing all the beauty of Kazbegi and engaging to all the activities it has to offer.

Where to stay at in Kazbegi Stepantsminda?

As there is quite a good choice of accommodation, finding a room in Kazbegi will not be difficult, provided you make your booking in advance.
Prices of stay start from $12 per person per night. A meal will cost around $10. Good quality Wi-fi is available in most of the hotels and guesthouses. Some properties offer tours and guides to help you spend your time with most benefits.  Most of the properties on our website are located in the center of Stepantsminda, as you can see from the map.
There is a good choice of restaurants in Stepantsminda, that offer delicious Georgian dishes, made from local products. Some guesthouses offer three meals a day service and shared kitchens, where you can cook by yourself.

How to go to Kazbegi from Tbilisi

Mini bus shuttles go to the main square of Kazbegi from Tbilisi Didube station once every hour. The return shuttle also comes once in an hour from Stepantsminda square. Price of a ticket is about $4 per person.
Alternatively, you can order a taxi, that will charge you around $50, or ask your hotel if they provide tours or have transfer service.

Things to do in Kazbegi

Gergeti Sameba Trinity Church
Gveleti Waterfall
Natural mineral waters
Mount Kazbek climbing
Glaciers
Hiking
Horse-riding
Paragliding
Bike-riding

Gergeti Trinity Church is a must do in Kazbegi. It is located near the village of Gergeti. The church is situated at an elevation of 2170 meters (7120 feet), under Mount Kazbegi. The Gergeti Trinity Church was built in the 14th century. Its isolated location on top of a steep mountain surrounded by the vastness of nature has made it a symbol for Georgia.
The church is a popular waypoint for trekkers in the area, and can be reached by a steep 3 hour climb up the mountain, or around 30 minutes by jeep up a rough mountain trail.
The famous photo of Gergeti Trinity Church, where the church is photographed against the background of snow-covered rocks was published in National Geographic Journal.
The British Newspaper The Telegraph has published a list featuring the world’s most stunning churches. Among the 23 selected buildings are famous churches such as the Sagrada Familia in Spain, lesser known jewels such as the Church of St George in Ethiopia or the Borgund Stave Church in Norway – and Georgia’s Gergeti Trinity Church. The list includes 23 churches around the world and Georgia’s Gergeti Trinity Church comes in the sixth place.
 
Gveleti Waterfall is located in the village of Gveleti, 7 km from the town of Stepantsminda. You must first drive through the stunning Dariali Gorge, from which a short, leisurely hike up a narrow footpath leads the way to the Gveleti waterfall. Gveleti means "place of snakes" in Georgian, so keep an eye out for local wildlife!