T’bilisi Trip Overview
The road is picturesque
All 11 hours of travel will be accompanied by breathtaking landscapes. You will observe the “transformation” of small hills in the outskirts of Tbilisi into the highest mountains of the Caucasus. On the way there will be several beautiful stops and amazing natural phenomena:
Admire the azure Zhinvali reservoir in the arms of the wooded mountains, you will learn about its creation and significance for Tbilisi.
Nature will also impress you in the place where the White and Black Aragvi merge. The color of the rivers corresponds to their names, and the waters flow for a long time without mixing – you will see this confluence almost at the distance of an elongated river.
The road will go higher and higher, past the meadows with herding flocks of sheep, and we will reach the Arch of Friendship on the edge of the mountain near Gudauri. This is the highest point of the pass and the perfect place to submit to the mountains forever!
Additional Info
Duration: 11 hours
Starts: T’bilisi, Georgia
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore T’bilisi Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting T’bilisi, Tbilisi, Georgia
The road is picturesque
All 11 hours of travel will be accompanied by breathtaking landscapes. You will observe the “transformation” of small hills in the outskirts of Tbilisi into the highest mountains of the Caucasus. On the way there will be several beautiful stops and amazing natural phenomena:
Admire the azure Zhinvali reservoir in the arms of the wooded mountains, you will learn about its creation and significance for Tbilisi.
Nature will also impress you in the place where the White and Black Aragvi merge. The color of the rivers corresponds to their names, and the waters flow for a long time without mixing – you will see this confluence almost at the distance of an elongated river.
The road will go higher and higher, past the meadows with herding flocks of sheep, and we will reach the Arch of Friendship on the edge of the mountain near Gudauri. This is the highest point of the pass and the perfect place to submit to the mountains forever!
Stop At: Kazbegi National Park, PJQH+6FF, Dariali, Georgia
Kazbegi National Park is located on the northern slopes of the mighty Caucasus range, and its protected area covers a total of over 8,700 hectares. At 5,047 metres above sea level, Kazbegi Mountain (or Mkinvartsveri) is the third highest mountain in Georgia, and is surrounded by myths and religious tradition. According to Greek mythology, as punishment for teaching mankind how to make fire, the Titan Prometheus was chained to a mountainside in the Caucasus for all eternity. According to Georgian stories, it was the icy slopes of Kazbegi to which he was chained. Prometheus (known as Amirani in Georgia) was supposedly imprisoned in a cave 4,000 meters high. The cave, now called Betlemi (Bethlehem), later served as a dwelling for orthodox monks, and is said to have contained many sacred relics, including Abraham’s tent and Christ’s manger. Hot springs and acidic and carbonated lakes surround the mountain, and earth tremors are fairly frequent. Covered with 135 square kilometres of glacier, Kazbegi is a great place for ice climbing and mountaineering. The Dariali Gorge is an impossibly steep cleft in the mountains connecting Russia and Georgia, running for 18km from Stepantsminda to the Russian border at Zemo Larsi (Upper Lars). For millennia, this mountain passage has been strategically crucial, and has been fortified since at least 150 BC. In places, the cliff faces are more than 1,000m high, and medieval watchtowers, waterfalls and wildlife make this one of the most incredible roads in the world. The steep valleys either side of the gorge are great places for bird watching. Eagles, hawks and the massive griffon vultures all nest among the rocky outcrops. The town of Stepantsminda (also called Kazbegi) itself is charming and a wonderful base camp for exploring the region further. There are many guesthouses where locals are happy to treat you like family, rustic and beautiful with views of the mountains, and often the picturesque Gergeti Trinity Church.
Duration: 4 hours
