Kazbegi from Cyprus: Gergeti Church, Mount Kazbek and the Georgian Military Road

Kazbegi is the Georgia of postcards: a small stone church alone on a green ridge, with the snow-covered cone of Mount Kazbek rising behind it. It is only three hours' drive from Tbilisi, and Tbilisi is under two hours from Larnaca, so you can be in the high Caucasus within a day of leaving Cyprus. Here is how to plan it.

Flight schedules and mountain roads change with the seasons, so check before you go.

Why go

The town's official name is Stepantsminda, though almost everyone calls it Kazbegi. It sits about 11 km from Georgia's northern border, on one of the oldest crossroads between Europe and Asia, below Mount Kazbek (5,054 m). The drive up, along the Georgian Military Road, is one of the great mountain roads, past a 17th-century fortress, a ski resort and a pass at almost 2,400 metres.

Above all, it is a place for walking. Even a short hike gives you views that feel a world away from the Cypriot coast, and in summer the air is fresh when the island is at its hottest.

The direct flight from Cyprus

To Tbilisi (best for Kazbegi): Georgian Airways flies from Larnaca daily, all year, in about 1 hour 50 minutes. In the winter 2026–27 schedule the flight leaves Larnaca at 19:00 and lands at 21:50 Tbilisi time, so plan to sleep in Tbilisi and drive up the next morning.

To Kutaisi: Wizz Air flies from Larnaca to Kutaisi in western Georgia, in about two hours. It can be cheaper, but Kutaisi is about 5 hours 30 minutes by road from Kazbegi, compared with about three hours from Tbilisi.

From Paphos: there are no direct flights to Georgia, so fly from Larnaca.

Time difference: Georgia doesn't change its clocks, so it is two hours ahead of Cyprus in winter and one hour ahead in summer.

Our Tbilisi guide covers the capital, and our winter trips from Cyprus includes Georgia for skiing.

From the airport to Kazbegi

Into Tbilisi: Tbilisi airport is about 20 minutes' drive from the centre. City bus 337 runs into town, and taxis and ride-hailing apps such as Bolt are easiest after a late landing.

Tbilisi to Kazbegi (about 150–160 km):

• Minibus (marshrutka): from Didube bus station, next to Didube metro station. In autumn 2026 there were departures roughly every hour from 08:00 to 19:00, taking about three to three and a half hours, for about GEL 20 (2026). Some fares went up in May 2026, so carry a little extra. Arrive early, as drivers may leave when the van is full.
• Taxi or private transfer: about three hours, and you can stop for photos on the way.
• Hire car: the most freedom, but take care on the mountain road, where you will share the tunnels with lorries heading for the Russian border.
• Day tours: many companies run long day trips from Tbilisi, but staying at least one night lets you see the church in the quiet of early morning or at sunset.

What to see and do

On the Georgian Military Road

• Ananuri: a 17th-century fortress on the Aragvi River, about 66 km from Tbilisi, with towers and two churches inside its walls. The main Church of the Assumption was completed in 1689 and is covered in carved reliefs.
• Gudauri: Georgia's best-known ski resort, on the way up. A cable car also links Kobi, near Kazbegi, with the Gudauri slopes.
• The Jvari Pass: the highest point of the road, at about 2,395 m, between Gudauri and Kobi.
• The Peace Monument: a curved Soviet-era viewing platform from 1983, covered in a tiled mosaic and overlooking the Devil's Valley. It is often called the Friendship Monument.

Around Kazbegi

• Gergeti Trinity Church: the 14th-century church at about 2,170 m, on a ridge above the village of Gergeti. Walk up from Stepantsminda (about 6 km there and back, 1.5 to 2 hours uphill) or take a 4x4 taxi (20 to 25 minutes each way, about GEL 50–70 return, 2026).
• The Gergeti Glacier: a full-day hike of about 20 km there and back (7 to 9 hours) beyond the church, towards Mount Kazbek. It is moderate to hard, so go with proper boots and an early start.
• Gveleti Waterfalls: about 7 km from town in the Dariali Gorge, then an easy 30- to 45-minute walk there and back.
• The Truso Valley: a mostly flat walk of about 22 km there and back (5 to 6 hours) from Kvemo Okrokana, about 40 minutes by taxi from town. There are no services on the trail, so take food and water.
• Juta: a high village with walks to Chaukhi Lake (1 to 2 hours from the village). The last stretch of road is rough and often open only from late May to October.
• Stepantsminda Historical Museum: in the memorial house of the writer Aleksandre Kazbegi.

Best time to go

• June to September: the best months, with warm days, green valleys and all the trails open.
• May and October: fewer visitors and snow on the peaks, though some high trails can still be closed.
• December to February: quiet and snowy. The Gudauri–Kobi section of the road, over the Jvari Pass, sometimes closes because of avalanche risk, and in spring driving hours there are sometimes limited around midday. Keep a spare day before your flight home. Gudauri's ski season usually starts in December; check the opening date before booking.

Kazbegi is chilly at night all year, so pack a warm layer even in August.

Where to stay

• Stepantsminda: the main choice, with guesthouses and hotels for every budget, close to the minibus stop and the path up to the church.
• Gergeti: the village across the river, closer to the church and quieter.
• Juta: for walkers, in summer only, with camps and simple stays.
• Gudauri: in the ski season, on the road between Tbilisi and Kazbegi.
• Tbilisi: for your first and last nights; the Old Town and Sololaki are the most convenient.

A three-day plan

1. Day one: fly from Larnaca in the evening and sleep in Tbilisi.
2. Day two: an early start up the Georgian Military Road, with stops at Ananuri, the Peace Monument and the Jvari Pass. Check in at Stepantsminda and walk or drive up to Gergeti Trinity Church for the late-afternoon light.
3. Day three: a morning walk to the Gveleti Waterfalls, or the Truso Valley if you are fit and the weather is good, then back to Tbilisi for the evening.

Add a day in Tbilisi itself before you fly home, or a second night in Kazbegi for the Gergeti Glacier hike.

Practical tips for travellers from Cyprus

• Entry: EU citizens can visit Georgia without a visa and stay for up to a year, on a passport or national ID card. If you live in Cyprus on another passport, check Georgia's rules for your nationality.
• Insurance is compulsory: since 1 January 2026 every visitor must hold health and accident insurance for the whole stay, with cover of at least GEL 30,000, in Georgian or English. Carry it on your phone or on paper. The EHIC does not apply in Georgia.
• Money: the Georgian lari (GEL). Take cash up to Kazbegi, as ATMs there can be unreliable.
• Phones: EU roaming doesn't apply, so check your provider's rates or buy a local SIM or eSIM.
• Weather: conditions change fast in the mountains. Check the forecast before long hikes and turn back if the cloud comes down.

For other short-haul ideas, see our spring trips from Cyprus for 2027.