Which Kazbegi day trip should you book?
Book Visit Georgia With George’s private day for most trips. It is your own car and driver-guide from your door to Gergeti Trinity Church, from one of the most consistently well-reviewed private teams in Tbilisi, for $110 a person for two. Couples watching the budget should take Karlo-Georgia’s private day at $138 for one or two, and from June to October Friendly.ge’s 4x4 day adds the Truso valley, off the paved road.
Best for most trips: a private car day from your door
The private Gergeti day10 hours, private$110a person for 2 guestsBookSee the dayWe may earn a commission. You pay the same.
Best value: a private day with a waterfall walk
The value private day8 to 12 hours, private$69a person for 2 guestsBookSee the dayBest for the Truso valley by 4x4, June to October
The 4x4 Truso dayJune to Oct, up to 6$109a person in the shared 4x4BookSee the dayWe may earn a commission. You pay the same.
Gergeti Trinity Church, Kazbegi Pick 1 of 3Anyone setting their own pace
The private Gergeti day
$110a person for 2 guests
Book with GetYourGuideWe may earn a commission. You pay the same.
Kazbegi private day tour from Tbilisi to Gergeti and Gudauri. Run by Visit Georgia With George, booked through GetYourGuide.
The classic Military Highway day in your own car, from one of Tbilisi's most consistently praised teams.
Paved highway only, your guide doubles as your driver, and the plan gives Gergeti half an hour.
- 10 hourspickup at 07:30 to 10:00, where you stay
- Privateyour own car and driver-guide
- Winter tooGergeti by car, weather permitting
- Freecancellation up to 24 hours before
The day
- 07:30 to 10:00Pickup where you stay in Tbilisi, at the start time you choose
- First stopZhinvali reservoir, 30 minutes
- ThenAnanuri fortress, 45 minutes
- ThenThe Friendship Monument above Gudauri, 30 minutes
- Last stopGergeti Trinity Church by car, then an optional lunch
- Drive backAbout 2.5 hours to Tbilisi
Why it's great, and who should skip it
Why it's great
- Pickup where you stay, at a start you choose between 07:30 and 10:00, the latest of the three.
- Careful driving on the mountain road, and a day shaped around what you want to see.
- Priced by the car, so four pay $75 each, and it cancels free up to 24 hours before.
- Sold through the winter, when the 4x4 Truso day does not run.
Skip it if
- You are a couple watching the budget: the value private day costs $138 for one or two.
- You want off the paved road and into a side valley: the 4x4 Truso day, June to October.
In the price
- Private car with air conditioning
- Local driver-guide
- Fuel, parking and taxes
- Stops at Zhinvali, Ananuri, the Aragvi confluence and the Friendship Monument
- Drive up to Gergeti Trinity Church, weather permitting
Not in the price
- Lunch (optional, at a restaurant near Gergeti)
CancellationFree cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Price checked 5 October 2026.
The Friendship Monument, near Gudauri Pick 2 of 3Couples and small groups on a budget
The value private day
$69a person for 2 guests
Kazbegi and Gudauri full day private tour from Tbilisi. Run by Karlo-Georgia, booked through Tripadvisor.
Your own car to Gergeti and a short waterfall walk, for $138 for one or two.
More driver than guide, a brisk pace, and in snow the day can turn into a Gudauri day.
- 8 to 12 hourspickup at 07:30, 08:30 or 09:30
- Privateyour own car and driver-guide
- Waterfalla short walk to Gveleti, outside snow
- Freecancellation up to 24 hours before
The day
- 07:30 to 09:30Pickup where you stay in Tbilisi, at the start you book
- MorningZhinvali reservoir, then Ananuri fortress
- ThenHoney tasting, and the Friendship Monument above Gudauri
- KazbegiStepantsminda and Gergeti Trinity Church
- ThenA short walk to the Gveleti waterfall (not in snow)
- OptionalLunch at the Rooms hotel restaurant, paid on the day
Why it's great, and who should skip it
Why it's great
- The cheapest private day we would book: $138 for one or two, and about $165 (430 GEL) for four on the operator's own list.
- A short walk to the Gveleti waterfall north of the town, a walk built into a private car day.
- Honey tasting on the way, and the ride up to Gergeti included when the road is clear.
- Takes children of any age, with infant seats, and cancels free up to 24 hours before.
Skip it if
- You want more guiding than driving, or a start after 09:30: the private Gergeti day.
- You want off the paved road and into a side valley: the 4x4 Truso day, June to October.
In the price
- Private car and an English-speaking driver-guide
- Fuel
- The ride up to Gergeti Trinity Church, when the road is clear
- Honey tasting on the way
- The short walk to the Gveleti waterfall, outside the snow months
Not in the price
- Lunch (optional, at the Rooms hotel restaurant in Stepantsminda)
- In snow, December to March: the 4x4 up to Gergeti, about $23 (60 GEL) a car
CancellationFree cancellation up to 24 hours before, and you can reserve now and pay later. If bad weather cancels the day, you are offered another date or a full refund.
Price checked 5 October 2026.
The Truso travertines, Kazbegi Pick 3 of 3Anyone who wants off the tarmac
The 4x4 Truso day
$109a person in the shared 4x4
Book with GetYourGuideWe may earn a commission. You pay the same.
True 4x4 tour: Kazbegi, Truso, Gudauri and Ananuri. Run by Friendly.ge, booked through GetYourGuide.
Gergeti and the Truso valley, off the paved road on a rough 4x4 track, with six guests at most.
A 12-hour day on rough tracks in snug shared rows, and it runs only from June to October.
- June to Octthe only months it runs
- Up to 6in a 7-seat 4x4, shared or private
- 90 minutesin the Truso valley, with a walk
- 12 hoursfrom 08:30 at Europe Square, Tbilisi
The day08:30 to about 20:30
- 08:30Europe Square, Tbilisi (the private 4x4 collects you at 07:00 to 08:00)
- MorningZhinvali reservoir, 20 minutes, then Ananuri fortress, 30 minutes
- ThenPasanauri, and lunch at a local restaurant, paid on the day
- ThenGudauri and the Friendship Monument, 45 minutes in all
- Off-roadThe Truso valley by 4x4, 1.5 hours with a walk along the Terek
- ThenGergeti Trinity Church by 4x4, 50 minutes, and Stepantsminda
- About 20:30Back in Tbilisi, or stay on in Stepantsminda
Why it's great, and who should skip it
Why it's great
- An hour and a half in the Truso valley, among mineral springs and abandoned stone towers.
- A walk with the guide along the Terek, on the mostly flat floor of the valley.
- Fifty minutes at Gergeti, reached by 4x4, after Ananuri and the Friendship Monument.
- Shared or private, and both can drop you in Stepantsminda if you are staying the night.
Skip it if
- You travel between November and May, when this day does not run: take the private Gergeti day.
- You bring children under 12, or anyone prone to motion sickness: the private Gergeti day keeps to the highway.
In the price
- Guide and driver in a 7-seat 4x4, six guests at most
- Off-road into the Truso valley, with a guided walk
- Up to Gergeti Trinity Church by 4x4
- Water
- Drop-off in Stepantsminda if you are staying on
Not in the price
- Lunch (the operator suggests about $8 to $15 (20 to 40 GEL))
- Tips for the guide and driver
- Hotel pickup on the shared day (the private 4x4 includes it)
CancellationFree cancellation up to 24 hours before, and you can reserve now and pay later. Friendly.ge also sells the day on its own site, from $79 a seat depending on the date, paid in full when you book.
Price checked 29 September 2026.
What does a Kazbegi day trip cost?
A private car day to Gergeti costs $138 for one or two people on the value private day and $110 a person for two on the private Gergeti day, and a seat on the shared 4x4 Truso day costs $109 however many of you there are.
The private Gergeti day
$219a person
$110a person
$79a person
$75a person
$219 for 1
$220 for 2
$237 for 3
$300 for 4
- 10 hours, your own car
- Lunch extra
- Free to cancel 24h ahead
Priced by the car; the price for two read on 5 October, the other sizes on 29 September.
BookWe may earn a commission. You pay the same.
The value private day
about$134a person
about$67a person
about$50a person
about$41a person
350 GEL each
175 GEL each
130 GEL each
107.50 GEL each
About $134 for 1
About $134 for 2
About $150 for 3
About $165 for 4
Lowest price- 8 to 12 hours, your own car
- Lunch extra
- Free to cancel 24h ahead
The operator's price for the car; on Tripadvisor, where Book takes you, $138 for two.
BookWith Tripadvisor
The 4x4 Truso day
$109a person
$109a person
$109 for 1
$218 for 2
$327 for 3
$436 for 4
Lowest price- 12 hours, up to 6 a car
- Lunch extra
- Free to cancel 24h ahead
The same seat for any group size; meet at Europe Square at 08:30. June to October only.
BookWe may earn a commission. You pay the same.
Private 4x4
$420a person
$210a person
$145a person
$115a person
$420 for 1
$420 for 2
$435 for 3
$460 for 4
- 12 hours, hotel pickup
- Lunch extra
- Free to cancel 24h ahead
The same day with the 4x4 to yourselves and pickup where you stay; book it on the same page.
BookWe may earn a commission. You pay the same.
Sources and exchange rates
The private Gergeti day: GetYourGuide booking form: 2 guests read 5 October 2026 ($110 each); 1, 3 and 4 guests for 5 October, read 29 September 2026, prices in USD. The value private day: karlo-georgia.com price list and the Tripadvisor checkout for 8 October 2026, both read 5 October 2026, prices in GEL. 4x4 Truso day, shared seat: GetYourGuide booking form for 5 and 12 October 2026, read 29 September 2026, prices in USD. Private 4x4: GetYourGuide booking form for 11 and 12 October 2026, read 29 September 2026, prices in USD. Checked 5 October 2026. Dollars and euros at the official rate of the National Bank of Georgia in force on 5 October 2026 (2.6039 GEL to the dollar, 2.9257 GEL to the euro), rounded.
Private car, shared 4x4, coach or marshrutka?
A private car suits couples, families and anyone who wants to set the pace; a shared 4x4 seat suits one traveller who wants Truso; a coach suits the tightest budget; and a marshrutka suits travellers who will stay the night. Our other hand-picked experiences in Georgia cover more days out of Tbilisi.
Your own car and driver-guide, from your door
Priced by the car, so each seat costs less as the group grows: $138 for one or two on the value private day, about $75 each for four on the private Gergeti day, and a private 4x4 into Truso from June to October.
- Pickup where you stay, at a start time you book
- Children under 12 can go by car, but not on the 4x4 day
A seat in a shared 4x4, or on a coach
The 4x4 Truso day sells single seats at $109, from Europe Square at 08:30, June to October. Coach and minibus days cost far less, with a bigger group, a fixed timetable and about half an hour at Gergeti.
- Hotel pickup is not included on the shared 4x4 day
- Travelling alone, a 4x4 seat costs less than a private car
A marshrutka, and a night in Stepantsminda
Marshrutkas, shared minibuses, leave Didube station in Tbilisi for about $8 (20 GEL) in cash and take 3 to 3.5 hours with one short stop, with no stops at Ananuri or the viewpoints. A 4x4 taxi to Gergeti and back is about $19 to $27 (50 to 70 GEL) a car.
- Stay the night to fit a longer walk, in Juta or Truso
- Carry cash: many small places in Stepantsminda take no cards
Six questions to ask any operator before you pay
- Is the vehicle a real 4x4, and does the day leave the paved highway?
- How long do you stay at Gergeti Trinity Church?
- Is the ride up to Gergeti in the price, in snow too?
- Is hotel pickup included, and what time does the day start?
- What happens if the Jvari pass is closed on the day?
- Until when can you cancel with a full refund?
Can you do Kazbegi in one day?
Yes. Kazbegi is about 3 hours from Tbilisi each way, so a day trip of 10 to 12 hours leaves about 2.5 to 4 hours in the mountains after the stops on the way, which is enough for Gergeti Trinity Church and one short walk or one 4x4 track, but not for the long hikes. For less time on the road, there are shorter days out of Tbilisi that stay much closer to the city.
- About 3 hourseach way on the Georgian Military Highway, before any stop
- GergetiTrinity Church under Mount Kazbek, the high point of every day hereThe private Gergeti day: by carThe value private day: by carThe 4x4 Truso day: by 4x4
- A short walktime on your feet in the mountains, not only at viewpointsThe private Gergeti day: noThe value private day: Gveleti waterfallThe 4x4 Truso day: Truso valley
- Trusothe side valley up a rough track from Kobi, best driven by 4x4The private Gergeti day: noThe value private day: noThe 4x4 Truso day: 1.5 hours
How far is Kazbegi from Tbilisi?
Kazbegi, officially Stepantsminda, is about 155 km north of Tbilisi by road on the Georgian Military Highway, and the town stands at 1,740 metres. The Russian border at Upper Lars is about 11 km further north.
How long do you get at Gergeti Trinity Church?
Plan on half an hour to an hour. The two private days set aside between 30 minutes and an hour, the 4x4 day 50 minutes and the budget minibus day about half an hour, and on a private day you can stay longer by cutting a stop on the way. Big coaches cannot drive the church road, so coach days add a 4x4 ride up, sometimes at about $6 (15 GEL) a person extra. Go early if you can, because the church grounds are crowded by 10:00.
What you see on the way: Ananuri, Gudauri, the Jvari pass
On the way north you pass the Zhinvali reservoir, the fortress of Ananuri, the ski resort of Gudauri and the Jvari pass, the road’s highest point at 2,379 metres. All three picks stop at Zhinvali, Ananuri and the Friendship Monument.
Can you hike on a Kazbegi day trip?
Yes, but only a short walk. A day from Tbilisi leaves time for the Gveleti waterfall on the value private day or the walk in Truso on the 4x4 day. The classic hikes, Juta to the Chaukhi lake or the Gergeti glacier, each take a full day from Stepantsminda, so they need a night there or a multi-day hiking tour.
| Walk | On foot | On a day trip from Tbilisi |
|---|---|---|
| Gveleti waterfall | About an hour there and back, with a few steep, rocky stretches | Yes, on the value private day, outside the snow months |
| Truso valley | Mostly flat, along the Terek | Yes, on the 4x4 day, June to October; carry your passport |
| Gergeti Trinity Church from the town | 1 to 2 hours up, about 430 metres of climb | Rarely: the day trips drive up |
| Juta to the Chaukhi lake | 4.5 to 5 hours there and back from the roadblock 2.6 km short of the village, about 13 km | No: stay a night in Stepantsminda |
| Gergeti glacier | About 8 hours there and back from the town, to the foot of the glacier at about 3,200 metres | No: a full day from the town |
Can you walk up to Gergeti Trinity Church?
Yes, the path from Stepantsminda takes about 1 to 2 hours up and climbs about 430 metres to the church at 2,170 metres. On a day from Tbilisi there is rarely time for it, so all three picks drive you up the sealed church road.
Why is the road to Juta closed?
The last 2.6 km of the road into Juta collapsed on 17 June 2025 and is closed to cars; it was still closed in September 2026. Cars stop at the barricade, and a local taxi waiting on the far side takes you the rest of the way for about $15 (40 GEL), or you walk it in about 40 minutes.
When can you go? Seasons and road closures
You can do a Kazbegi day trip in any month, but the 4x4 Truso day runs only from June to October, and late May to mid June and September are the best months.
- Best months: Late May: May; Best months: June; Best months: September.
- The private Gergeti day: Bookable: January to February; Not on sale yet: March to May; Bookable: June to December.
- The value private day: Snow months, 4x4 to Gergeti: January to March; With the waterfall walk: April to November; Snow months, 4x4 to Gergeti: December.
- The 4x4 Truso day: Shared or private 4x4: June to October.
Sources
Best months: Late May to mid June and September are the best months for a day trip; the side valleys usually open in late May or June. (wander-lush.org Georgian Military Highway guide, updated 15 September 2026, and Juta guide, 11 June 2026) The private Gergeti day: Booking calendar open every day from October 2026 to February 2027; summer days run by its reviews; spring dates not on sale yet. (GetYourGuide listing and booking calendar (dates open October 2026 to February 2027), read 29 September 2026) The value private day: Runs all year. From December to March the 4x4 up to Gergeti costs about $23 (60 GEL) a car, the waterfall walk is off, and in deep snow the day can turn to Gudauri. (Karlo-Georgia's own page and its Tripadvisor listing, read 5 October 2026) The 4x4 Truso day: June to October only, shared or private; the operator sells no dates for 2027 yet. (Friendly.ge's own listing (June to October 2026), read 5 October 2026; GetYourGuide booking calendar, read 29 September 2026) Checked 5 October 2026.
Which day to book from November to May?
Book the private Gergeti day, which is sold through the winter; its spring dates are not on sale yet. The value private day runs in winter too, without the waterfall walk and with the 4x4 up to Gergeti at about $23 (60 GEL) a car from December to March. The 4x4 Truso day does not run, the side valleys are closed by snow, and in deep snow any day can end at Gudauri.
Is the road to Kazbegi open in winter?
Yes, usually. Between mid November and early May the Jvari pass between Gudauri and Kazbegi closes after heavy snow or when the avalanche risk is high, for a few hours or for several days; in the winter of 2025 to 2026 the longest closure ran from 10 to 14 April. The Roads Department of Georgia can hold lorries while it lets cars through, as it did on the Gudauri to Kobi section in January 2026. Winter tyres are compulsory on the Mleta to Kobi section from 1 December to 1 March.
Kazbegi day trip questions
Is a private Kazbegi tour worth it?
Yes, if the hours at the top matter to you. Two seats on the budget minibus day cost $78 and the value private day $138 for the car, and the extra buys a start from your door, stops on your own schedule and a short walk to the Gveleti waterfall. For a group of four, the private Gergeti day comes to about $75 each.
Kazbegi or Gudauri: which should you choose?
Kazbegi, for a first day trip, because Gergeti Trinity Church and the view of Mount Kazbek are there, and Gudauri is the ski resort you pass on the way. Gudauri earns the day in the ski season, from late December to mid April, or when snow closes the pass to Kazbegi; for a ski day from Tbilisi, see skiing in Georgia.
How many days do you need in Kazbegi?
One day shows you Gergeti, and one night lets you walk. Two or three nights in Stepantsminda fit Juta, Truso and the glacier; our guide to Kazbegi covers staying on.
Can children go on a Kazbegi day trip?
Yes, on the private days. The value private day takes children of any age and has infant seats; on the private Gergeti day, ask for a child seat when you book. The 4x4 Truso day does not take children under 12.
What should you bring?
Cash in lari, because many small places in Stepantsminda take no cards; a warm layer for Gergeti at 2,170 metres; and clothes for the church, with no shorts for men and a long skirt and a head cover for women; wrap-around skirts are lent at the gate. For Truso, carry your passport, because the valley is a border zone with a checkpoint.
Do you need a 4x4 in Kazbegi?
No, not for the highway, which is sealed all the way. Truso is a rough track best driven by 4x4, and in snow the church road can need one, which the value private day charges at about $23 (60 GEL) a car.
How we picked
We looked at the Kazbegi days sold from Tbilisi on GetYourGuide and Tripadvisor and by local operators direct, and read each shortlisted operator’s reviews for complaints that repeat. Between 29 September and 5 October 2026 we checked prices by group size, the stops and how long each lasts, start times, seasons and cancellation terms on the operators’ own pages and booking listings. For each day, we weighed how much time in the mountains, and of what kind, you get for the money.