Caucasus 4x4: Tusheti, Khevsureti & Kazbegi — 8-Day Private Expedition

Rising above the Aragvi River, Ananuri is a fortified complex that once served as the stronghold of the Dukes of Aragvi, a feudal dynasty whose battles shaped this corner of Georgia. Within its walls stand two churches and a defensive tower, adorned with the intricate carvings and frescoes that define Georgian sacred art. From the ramparts, the view opens across the turquoise Zhinvali Reservoir and surrounding mountains, making it one of the country's most rewarding historical stops.

Stepantsminda, still widely called Kazbegi, is the base for Georgia's high Caucasus. The 14th-century Gergeti Trinity Church sits alone at 2,170 meters with Mount Kazbek—the country's third-highest peak at 5,054 meters—rising behind it. Reach the area on the 152 km drive from Tbilisi along the Georgian Military Highway (about 3-3.5 hours), then hike to the Truso Valley's mineral springs or walk the cliffs of the Dariali Gorge.

Set against the snowcapped cone of Mount Kazbek, this 14th-century church is one of Georgia's most photographed sights and a living Orthodox pilgrimage site. We walk you up from Stepantsminda, about 60-75 minutes up through meadows that bloom with wildflowers in summer (about 430 meters of climb), or drive up the sealed road for those who'd rather save their legs. Once a refuge that safeguarded Georgia's religious treasures during invasions, it still holds travelers spellbound with its alpine isolation.

A high valley west of Kobi at the head of the Terek, with mineral springs, orange-white travertine terraces, the Zakagori fortress and the ruins of abandoned villages. Most visitors walk or ride a 4x4 along the mostly flat valley road; the upper valley ends at the occupation line of the Tskhinvali region.

High in the Caucasus, Juta is a Mokheve mountain village where traditional stone houses and a pastoral way of life have carried on for centuries. The reward for the rugged 4x4 climb from Sno is a valley of scenic hiking trails leading toward the dramatic Chaukhi peaks, with the Fifth Season Hut and the small Chaukhi (Juta) lakes within an easy walk. Evenings bring genuine mountain hospitality, homemade khinkali and khachapuri, fresh dairy from local herds, and stories shared over local honey.

A medieval fortress village of tightly packed stone towers and houses in Khevsureti, on the north side of the Greater Caucasus near the Chechen border. It is reached over the Datvisjvari pass and is one of Georgia's most striking highland villages; guesthouses operate in summer.

A fortress village perched on a rocky ridge above the Andaki valley in Khevsureti, with stone towers and houses that have been restored in recent years. It is reached from the Shatili road by a steep walk.

Telavi is the heart of Kakheti, Georgia's wine country, where vineyard-covered valleys meet centuries of royal history. A royal seat of the Kakhetian kings, whose Batonis Tsikhe fortress was King Erekle II's residence in the 18th century, it surrounds you with sights like the towering Alaverdi Cathedral, the Ikalto academy, and the Chavchavadze estate and cellars at Tsinandali. Days here move from castle walls and monasteries to long tables of mtsvadi, fresh shoti bread, and deep-red Saperavi poured straight from the source. Come in autumn for the grape harvest and you'll taste the region at its most alive.

At about 2,850 m, the Abano pass carries the only road into Tusheti: an unpaved, single-lane mountain track with long drops and hairpins. It is open only in summer and is driven by local Tusheti jeep drivers.

The main village of Tusheti, a remote highland region reached by a single mountain road over the Abano pass. Above Upper Omalo stand the restored Keselo towers, and family guesthouses make it the base for Shenako, Diklo and the Dartlo valley. The road is open only in summer.

A stone-tower village in the Pirikiti Alazani valley of Tusheti, restored with slate-roofed houses and overlooked by the Kvavlo tower cluster. It is the start of the day walk to Parsma.