Kazbegi national park National Park

Kazbegi National Park is a protected mountain area in northern Georgia in the Greater Caucasus around the town of Stepantsminda. The park conserves high alpine landscapes, glaciers and important peaks, including the prominent Mount Kazbek.

Outdoor recreation is the main draw - day hikes and multi-day treks access alpine meadows, glacial valleys and high passes, while the Gergeti Trinity Church provides a compact cultural destination above Stepantsminda. Mountaineering routes on Mount Kazbek attract climbers to the park’s glaciated slopes.

The protected area was created to safeguard the distinctive high-mountain ecosystems and cultural sites on the southern slopes of the Caucasus; traditional highland pastures and historic mountain routes remain part of the landscape. Local communities based in Stepantsminda provide guiding and support services.

The park sits on the northern edge of Georgia along the Georgian Military Road corridor, immediately around Stepantsminda and about 150 kilometres north of Tbilisi by road.

• Season/conditions: High-altitude terrain with glaciers and seasonal snow - many hiking routes are best in late spring to early autumn and require weather-aware planning.
• Access point: Stepantsminda (formerly Kazbegi) serves as the main gateway town for access, services and accommodation for excursions into the park.

What to See#

• Mount Kazbek: A major volcanic summit in the region reaching 5,033 metres above sea level, forming a prominent glaciated massif and a target for experienced mountaineers.
• Gergeti Trinity Church: A 14th-century cross-domed church located on a steep hill above the town of Stepantsminda at about 2,170 metres, often visited on short hikes and photographed against Mount Kazbek.

Stepantsminda (Kazbegi town) is about 150 km north of Tbilisi along the Georgian Military Highway (Mtskheta-Kazbegi route). Regular marshrutkas (minibuses) and tourist vans run from Tbilisi’s Didube station; the drive takes around 3 hours depending on traffic and weather.

• Drive early to the village of Stepantsminda and park before the main tourist minibuses depart; the walk up to Gergeti Trinity Church takes about 45 minutes from the village.
• For colder months hire crampons for the snowed approaches; local guides offer jeep shuttles when weather or time are limiting.
• Photograph Kazbegi (Mount Kazbek) at dawn - the mountain's north face catches the first light dramatically; viewpoint crowds are smallest before 8am.