Kazbegi Adventure Weekend: Rafting, Hiking & Paragliding — 3-Day Private Tour

About 3–3.5 hours of driving plus activities.

1. 08:30

   Pickup in Tbilisi

2. 09:45

   Ananuri fortress

   • Ananuri FortressDay 1: Ananuri fortress above the Zhinvali reservoir on the way north (about 30 min).

     Day 1: Ananuri fortress above the Zhinvali reservoir on the way north (about 30 min).

     Ananuri is a 17th-century fortress of the Dukes of Aragvi above the turquoise Zhinvali reservoir, about 70 km (1–1.25 h) north of Tbilisi on the Georgian Military Highway. Inside its walls stand two churches, one with richly carved façades from 1689, and a square watchtower you can climb for a view down the reservoir. It is the usual first stop on the way to Kazbegi or Pasanauri, and 30–45 minutes is enough to see it.

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3. 10:45

   Pasanauri: briefing and rafting (25–60 min on the water depending on the month)

   • PasanauriDay 1: about 12 km of the White Aragvi from Pasanauri with an experienced local rafting crew; the water is higher and faster in May–June and calmer from July.

     Day 1: about 12 km of the White Aragvi from Pasanauri with an experienced local rafting crew; the water is higher and faster in May–June and calmer from July.

     Pasanauri is a village at about 1,050 m on the Georgian Military Highway, where the White (Tetri) and Black (Shavi) Aragvi rivers meet, about 90 km (1.5 h) north of Tbilisi and 25 km above Ananuri. It is the main base for rafting on the White Aragvi from late spring to early autumn, and the classic lunch stop on the road to Kazbegi: Pasanauri is famous across Georgia for its khinkali, and roadside restaurants make them fresh all day.

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4. 13:30

   Lunch in Pasanauri (not included)

5. 15:00

   Gudauri: paragliding slot 1 if the wind allows

   • Gudauri Ski ResortTandem paragliding with an experienced pilot over the Gudauri valley: slot 1 on day 1, slot 2 on day 3 as a weather back-up (one 10–20 minute flight included).

     Tandem paragliding with an experienced pilot over the Gudauri valley: slot 1 on day 1, slot 2 on day 3 as a weather back-up (one 10–20 minute flight included).

     Gudauri is Georgia's largest ski resort, on the Georgian Military Highway about 120 km north of Tbilisi, just below the Jvari Pass. The resort village sits at about 2,200 m, and its lifts, including gondolas, run from about 1,990 m to 3,279 m, serving wide open pistes above the tree line and large freeride slopes. The ski season usually runs from late December to mid-April. In summer the same slopes are used for hiking and tandem paragliding, and Gudauri is a common stop on the way to Kazbegi.

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6. • KazbegiTwo nights in Stepantsminda (hotel, breakfast), below Mt Kazbek (5,054 m).

     Two nights in Stepantsminda (hotel, breakfast), below Mt Kazbek (5,054 m).

     Stepantsminda, still widely called Kazbegi, is the mountain town at about 1,740 m on the Georgian Military Highway, 152 km north of Tbilisi (3–3.5 h) and 15 km from the Russian border. Above it the 14th-century Gergeti Trinity Church stands at 2,170 m with Mount Kazbek (5,054 m) behind. It is the base for walks to Gergeti, the Gveleti waterfall and the Dariali gorge, and by 4x4 for the Truso and Juta valleys. Come as a long day trip, or stay a night or two to walk in the morning light.

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7. 17:30

   Stepantsminda

8. Overnight: Stepantsminda (hotel, breakfast)

A local 4x4 to the trailhead and a local hiking guide.

1. 08:00

   Juta (Jul–Sep): 4x4 from Sno to the road closure, 1 h walk into Juta, then 3–4 h towards the Chaukhi peaks and back

   • JutaDay 2, July–September: 4x4 from Sno to the road closure, an hour's walk into Juta, then a guided hike towards the Fifth Season hut and the Chaukhi peaks (+360–400 m).

     Day 2, July–September: 4x4 from Sno to the road closure, an hour's walk into Juta, then a guided hike towards the Fifth Season hut and the Chaukhi peaks (+360–400 m).

     Juta is a small mountain village at about 2,200 m at the head of the Sno valley, south-east of Stepantsminda (Kazbegi), under the jagged Chaukhi massif (3,842 m), often called the Georgian Dolomites. From the village an easy path climbs through meadows past the Fifth Season hut towards the foot of the peaks: about 10–12 km return with 360–400 m of climbing. Since a road collapse in June 2025, the last 2.6 km of road below the village has been closed, so you finish the approach on foot or by village taxi. Go from July to September.

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2. or 08:00 Truso (May–Jun, Sep): 4x4 to Kvemo Okrokana, passport check, 3–4 h walk to the travertines and the Abano mineral lake and back

   • Truso ValleyDay 2, May–June and September: a guided, nearly flat walk in the Truso valley to the travertine springs and the Abano mineral lake; passports for the border-police check.

     Day 2, May–June and September: a guided, nearly flat walk in the Truso valley to the travertine springs and the Abano mineral lake; passports for the border-police check.

     Truso is a high valley of the upper Terek river, starting near Kobi on the Georgian Military Highway about 20 km south of Stepantsminda. From the village of Kvemo Okrokana a dirt track runs up the nearly flat valley floor past bubbling mineral springs, orange and white travertine terraces, the small Abano mineral lake, the abandoned village of Ketrisi and the towers of Zakagori fortress. You walk part of it or ride in a local 4x4. The upper valley ends at the occupation line of the Tskhinvali region.

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3. Picnic lunch on the trail (not included)

4. 17:00

   Back in Stepantsminda

5. Overnight: Stepantsminda (hotel, breakfast)

Stepantsminda to Gudauri about 45 min; Gudauri to Tbilisi about 2 hours.

1. Early start: Gergeti Trinity at sunrise (about 05:30 in June, 06:40 in mid-September)

   • Trinity Church GergetiDay 3: the 14th-century Gergeti Trinity Church (2,170 m) at sunrise, before the drive south.

     Day 3: the 14th-century Gergeti Trinity Church (2,170 m) at sunrise, before the drive south.

     Gergeti Trinity Church (Tsminda Sameba) stands alone on a grassy ridge at 2,170 m above Stepantsminda, about 152 km north of Tbilisi, with the glaciated cone of Mount Kazbek (5,054 m) behind it. The 14th-century church and its bell tower are a working Orthodox site and the classic view of the Georgian Caucasus. You reach it by car on the paved road from town or on foot in about 1–1.5 hours up through meadows, 430 m of climbing. Most people stay 45–60 minutes for the church, the views and the photos.

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2. 09:00

   Drive to Gudauri (about 45 min)

3. 10:003 h

   Paragliding slot 2 if the day-1 flight did not go

4. 14:00

   Lunch (not included); 17:00 in Tbilisi