# Georgian Military Highway — Ananuri, Gudauri and Gergeti in a Day

> gtour.ge — G Tour, Gateway to Georgia. Cite as: GTour desk, gtour.ge.

- Canonical: https://gtour.ge/tour/ananuri-gudauri-kazbegi-day-trip/
- Author: 
- Published: 2026-10-27
- Updated: 2026-10-27
- Language: en
- Russian edition: https://gtour.ge/ru/tour/ananuri-gudauri-kazbegi-day-trip/

€210 per person11 hoursPrivate · car & English-speaking guideBased on two travellers

Drive the Georgian Military Highway from [Ananuri](https://gtour.ge/georgia/ananuri/) to [Gudauri](https://gtour.ge/georgia/gudauri/) and [Stepantsminda](https://gtour.ge/georgia/stepantsminda/), then ride a 4×4 up to Gergeti Trinity Church above Mount Kazbek, all in one day from [Tbilisi](https://gtour.ge/georgia/tbilisi/).

The route

[Tbilisi](https://gtour.ge/georgia/tbilisi/)[Ananuri](https://gtour.ge/georgia/ananuri/)[Gudauri](https://gtour.ge/georgia/gudauri/)[Stepantsminda](https://gtour.ge/georgia/stepantsminda/)

Why this tour

- —[Ananuri](https://gtour.ge/georgia/ananuri/) fortress and the Zhinvali reservoir, 1h25 from [Tbilisi](https://gtour.ge/georgia/tbilisi/), with time to walk the walls and towers

- —Friendship Monument at [Gudauri](https://gtour.ge/georgia/gudauri/), a wide stop over the Devil's Valley with views of the main Caucasus range

- —Jvari Pass at 2,379 m, the highest point of the highway, weather permitting

- —4×4 transfer up to Gergeti Trinity Church at 2,170 m, included in the price rather than sold as an add-on

- —Lunch with a Kazbegi family in [Stepantsminda](https://gtour.ge/georgia/stepantsminda/), home-cooked rather than a tourist menu

- —Licensed English-speaking driver-guide and a private vehicle, no shared minivan stops

Itinerary

08:00Pick up in [Tbilisi](https://gtour.ge/georgia/tbilisi/) and drive north on the Georgian Military Highway.

09:25Stop at [Ananuri](https://gtour.ge/georgia/ananuri/) fortress on the Aragvi River, above the Zhinvali reservoir, 30 to 45 minutes.

10:30Photo stop at the Friendship Monument near [Gudauri](https://gtour.ge/georgia/gudauri/), with views over the Devil's Valley.

11:15Cross Jvari Pass at 2,379 m, road and weather permitting, checked on the day.

12:30Arrive in [Stepantsminda](https://gtour.ge/georgia/stepantsminda/) and transfer into a local 4×4 for the mountain track.

13:00Visit Gergeti Trinity Church at 2,170 m, with Mount Kazbek behind it when the clouds allow.

14:30Lunch with a Kazbegi family in [Stepantsminda](https://gtour.ge/georgia/stepantsminda/), Georgian home cooking.

16:00Drive back south over the pass toward [Tbilisi](https://gtour.ge/georgia/tbilisi/).

19:00Drop off in [Tbilisi](https://gtour.ge/georgia/tbilisi/), roughly 11 hours door to door.

Included

- ✓ Private car with licensed English-speaking driver-guide

- ✓ 4×4 transfer from Stepantsminda up to Gergeti Trinity Church and back

- ✓ Lunch with a Kazbegi family in Stepantsminda

- ✓ Fuel, tolls and parking

- ✓ Hotel pickup and drop-off in Tbilisi

- ✓ 60 minutes of free waiting at pickup

Not included

- — Entrance fees where applicable, checked at booking

- — Alcoholic drinks

- — Personal expenses and tips

- — Travel insurance

Good to know

- · Bring warm layers even in summer, [Gudauri](https://gtour.ge/georgia/gudauri/) and the Jvari Pass sit above 2,000 m and temperatures drop fast

- · The road can close for snow, fog or avalanche control in winter, check https://gtour.ge/road-status/ before booking a winter date

- · The 4×4 track to Gergeti is rough gravel, fine for most travellers but not recommended in late pregnancy or with back problems

- · Dress modestly for the church, shoulders and knees covered, scarves are usually available on site

- · This is a long day on the road, around 11 hours including roughly 5 hours of driving, pace accordingly

- · Cash in Georgian lari is useful for small stalls at [Ananuri](https://gtour.ge/georgia/ananuri/) and [Gudauri](https://gtour.ge/georgia/gudauri/)

Questions

**Is the Georgian Military Highway open in October 2026?**
It is usually open, but snow and fog can close sections without much notice late in the season. We check road status the morning of departure and adjust the plan if needed.

**Can we skip the 4×4 and walk up to Gergeti instead?**
The walk up from [Stepantsminda](https://gtour.ge/georgia/stepantsminda/) takes about 3 hours each way and would not fit an 11-hour day trip. For a walking visit, our 2-day Kazbegi tour allows for it.

**What is the price for a solo traveller or a group?**
Solo traveller is €256, two travelling together €160 each, three €152 each, four to six €136 each, full details at https://gtour.ge/tour/kazbegi-gergeti-trinity-church-in-a-day/.

**Will we reach Mount Kazbek itself?**
No, this trip reaches Gergeti Trinity Church at 2,170 m with views toward Kazbek's 5,047 m summit when weather allows. Reaching the mountain itself requires a multi-day trek with a certified mountain guide.

Prices are per person for two travelling together, in euros; solo travellers and larger groups are quoted on request. Every departure is private and adjusted to you. Hotels, wineries and restaurants on our routes are [verified by GTour](/verified/).

*Image: Gergeti Trinity Church perched on a green ridge beneath the snow-capped peak of Mount Kazbek. Photo: Lidia Ilona / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0*

*Image: The Russia-Georgia Friendship Monument perched on a cliff above the dramatic Jvari Pass valley. Photo: Tadeáš Gregor / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0*

Ananuri fortress towers with conical roofs overlooking the Aragvi reservoir and green hills. · Photo: Bernard Gagnon / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0