Our Trip to Mount Kazbek and Tbilisi - Georgia

Hello friends, today I will take you to Georgia's highest mountain Kazbek. After returning from our trip to Antalya, we had the chance to visit many amazing places. Our route started with a stop by Jivanshi Lake, a breathtakingly beautiful spot with an incredible view. We were sunbathing, enjoying the stunning scenery and having a great time. The surroundings looked absolutely gorgeous.The color of the water was amazing, the area was lush with greenery and the landscape was filled with mountains and hills. And this was just the beginning.

To reach Kazbegi we had to travel for about 2–3 hours. Along the way, you can take photos with these beautiful landscapes and if you want a heart-shaped photo, it costs 5 lari (approximately 1.50 dollars). You can also just admire the spectacular scenery.

After driving for a while we arrived at another viewing terrace and each one was more amazing than the last. It would have been great to sit down, have a drink and relax here, but unfortunately we didn’t have much time. If you come on your own, you can stay longer, enjoy the scenery and sip a cup of coffee. The view from the terrace was absolutely stunning: rocky cliffs, steep slopes and lots of greenery. I love these green mountains! Unlike barren mountains in some places, here, the mountains are lush and smooth.

On the way up you can buy things like hot corn, baked potatoes, honey, cherries, strawberries, blackberries and peaches. There's also hot corn and strawberries available. Plus, you can even take a horseback ride here. Nearby there's a monument called the Friendship monument, featuring heroes from fairy tales and traditional Georgian figures.

We stepped outside the arch took in the views and felt relaxed. This place was so refreshing,it felt amazing to be here. The scenery was incredible. Below, there was something that looked like a natural pool. I love mountains, friends, but I wish there was a sea as well. If they somehow added a sea here, it would be like a true fairy tale.

Even before reaching Kazbegi, the main tourist spot, the views were already breathtaking. Every window, every angle had something beautiful to offer perfect spots for photos. In the distance I spotted a waterfall or stream, which probably formed the lake. On the other side, cows and horses were grazing. There were many cows along the road, sometimes walking across it, sometimes just resting in the fields. The nature here is wonderful.

There was another photo spot where you could sit and take pictures. The views were simply unbelievable. But one thing bothered me a little, the cloud in the sky. Because we were heading in that direction, we were a bit worried about what the weather would be like when we reached Kazbegi.

We took a traditional break to taste honey and wine. The scenery, nature and mountains were fantastic and to the right, there was an apiary. The honey here probably comes from there. There were also a lot of tourists around us, about half a bus full, including English-speaking visitors.

The nature here is just incredible: mountains, mountains, mountains! If you’re thinking of coming by car, the road is quite difficult. Our driver was like a real Schumacher, constantly overtaking trucks. There were so many trucks on the road leading to the Russian border because this is the only land border crossing between Georgia and Russia. The roads were narrow and busy, but our driver did an amazing job, overtaking the trucks one after another.

Then we switched cars and took a big jeep up to the mountain peak. We arrived at Kazbegi. Actually it now has a different name, but people still call it by its old name. The view of mount Kazbek was absolutely stunning. This mountain is one of the highest in the Caucasus and the highest in Georgia. Of course, it’s lower than Elbrus, but it ranks among the top five highest peaks in the Caucasus. The landscapes here are truly breathtaking. As you drive, all you can say is, Wow! This place reminds me of how much I love mountains and nature. I really love mountains. Of course, if mountains and the sea were together, it would be even better, but this place is a true mountain paradise.

So, what do you think? What are your thoughts on such scenery and nature? Let me know in the comments! Going to the Russian border means heading toward Vladikavkaz, Grozny and Dagestan. We were only 10–15 km away from the Russian border. You could even walk there.it’s just 10 km away. We were lucky with the weather because I was worried about rain or clouds, but Kazbek was completely clear, with almost no clouds. We were very fortunate to see it this way.

I booked this tour externally. Initially they said it was 70 lari per person, but in the end, they lowered it to 45 lari. I didn’t even bargain. They just reduced the price themselves. However, we had to pay an additional 20 lari to go further up the mountain. So, in a way, they lowered the price but later increased it again. But to go this high, we had to switch to another vehicle, as it wasn’t easy to reach with a regular car. You could still get here with a normal car, but we chose a jeep. This was a bit confusing because, in reality, regular cars could reach the place comfortably.

We watched the church at the mountain’s peak. From here, another breathtaking view unfolded. Many people were taking photos. The scenery here was just incredible. We started climbing up to the church, trying to reach the summit, but I was out of breath. I had to speed up because we were short on time. When I finally reached the top of the church, the view was magnificent.

I’ve traveled to many countries in my life, but no other mountains have impressed me this much. That’s why for me, this place is the best. Even the little friend who greeted us here seemed so happy. The church was impressive, but unfortunately, it was under restoration. There was construction work going on and scaffolding surrounded the church.

It was time to say goodbye, we had to get in the car and leave. I thought visiting Mount Elbrus would also be amazing. I really wanted to explore that region as well. This place was breathtaking, especially after visiting seaside countries like Turkey and Greece. Being here was mesmerizing.

For lunch I ordered khinkali. There was a small café here and actually, we were close to Pasanauri village. Pasanauri is where khinkali was born, so everyone who comes to Georgia eats khinkali and khachapuri, but khinkali is probably the most important. We weren’t exactly in Pasanauri, but just 10 minutes away. They say the khinkali here is really good, so I decided to try it.

The café had an incredible view. Everyone could enjoy the mountains and the river while sitting at their tables. But unlike Kazbek, it was much warmer here. By the way, they also do wine tastings here. You can find Kinzauli wines, one of Georgia’s most popular wines. They sell them in bottles, sacks and barrels. I don’t drink much wine, but I still bought two bottles.

By the way while traveling, the internet connection in the mountains and valleys is excellent. There’s even 5G everywhere! The internet in Georgia is really impressive. we had a connection throughout our entire journey, no matter where we went. That’s a great thing.

The khinkali arrived: 10 pieces for 26 lari. These are the classic ones with meat and greens, but they’re a bit different from the ones in Tbilisi. The ones in Tbilisi have thick twisted tops, whereas these don’t. Maybe the dough is also different. I think there should be plenty of broth inside—the more broth, the tastier. Still they are delicious. They actually resemble giant dumplings: very big, very tasty dumplings. There are various types of khinkali here: cheese-filled, mushroom-filled, minced meat-filled and more. After eating we continued our journey towards Tbilisi.

Next we arrived at Ananuri fortress and Ananuri church. The view here is stunning. There’s a church from the 15th century and a defense tower from the 10th century standing behind it. This place is very well preserved and remains in its original state. Looking at these structures from the outside, their history is impressive. You can even climb inside the tower to reach the top. The view from up there is amazing, but the space is quite narrow, so you have to walk carefully. If you’ve just eaten a lot of khinkali, climbing up might be a bit difficult. But it’s a great experience with breathtaking views.

One tower blocks the view of the other, so the scenery isn’t as perfect as it could be. If things were a little more symmetrical, the view would be even better. We climbed a bit higher. The main window here has been closed of,—maybe for safety reasons. That’s unfortunate because it could have offered the best view. Sadly it’s difficult to see through it. Afterward we entered the church and explored the interior. This church has a unique architectural style, different from classic churches, but it is still an Orthodox Christian church. Georgia has a distinct architectural tradition. Speaking loudly inside is prohibited.

Next we saw the reservoir. It looks like a lake, but it’s actually a massive dam. Then we climbed up again, but this time to a different observation point. There is a small tram here for climbing up. This tram ascends at an almost 90-degree angle. At the top there’s an amusement park and a television tower. It’s a very high place. It’s so tall that you can see it from everywhere. We took the tram up. The ticket costs 22 lari for a round trip. This funicular was built during the Soviet era. We reached the middle station and the view from here is incredible. I highly recommend taking a ride on this tram.

We climbed even higher. The scariest part of this mountain climb is also what makes it fun. The ascent is very fast and is over in about a minute. You can really feel the height. Looking down can be a little scary, but from above, it’s not too bad. Actually the most frightening part is the sudden acceleration on the way back down.

And finally we reached the summit! The view is spectacular.You can see all of Tbilisi from here. There’s an amusement park and an observation tower at the top. You can climb up and take in the entire city in one glance. Everything is so high up and everything feels so far away.

From here you can see Tbilisi’s old town, but this area is part of modern Tbilisi. There are more places to explore, fun attractions and different activities here. I got an iced coffee for 15 lari and there’s ice cream too. This whole area is fascinating. So many different things in one place. There are lots of amusement rides as well.

And right in front of us stands a giant Ferris wheel, visible from almost everywhere in Tbilisi. Of course, we had to get on. I think I can officially call myself a Ferris wheel expert now because I’ve ridden them in Abkhazia, Pitsunda, Gagra and now here in Tbilisi. I never used to ride them, but now I’m an expert! The entry fee is 10 lari. This Ferris wheel is the tallest one I’ve been on so far.It’s much higher than the others.

If you visit Tbilisi I highly recommend taking the funicular up and riding the Ferris wheel. It’s super fun and the prices are quite reasonable, each ride is just 10 lari. Also there’s a special card you use to enter. You buy this card for about 2 dollars and it’s non-refundable. You load money onto it and use it for all the attractions. The Ferris wheel, funicular and more. Plus when you ride the Ferris wheel, you can take free photos as a souvenir.

See you in my next travel post. Thank you all and take care!