# Georgia: Your Gateway to Hiking the Caucasus Mountains

> Find out why Georgia is called the gateway to the Caucasus Mountains: hiking routes, tips from local guides, and what to pack for your first mountain trek.

- URL: https://langandtrip.com.ua/en/article/pokhodiv-kavkazkymy-horamy/
- Language: en
- Published: 2023-08-20
- Categories: Hiking, Mountains, Georgia, Mountain, Relaxation, National Parks

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"Socks are the key thing. Dry socks, really. That's the most important thing you need to bring with you," says my guide, Giorgi. "You should never set off on a hike without a spare pair."

I nod in agreement, though I have nothing to add. We're racing along a narrow, unpaved mountain road toward the village of Juta, near the border between Georgia and russia.

I'd love to weigh in on the merits of proper hiking boots, but I'm far too busy picturing how our four-wheel drive might get stuck in one of the enormous potholes, or skid and tumble into the ravine below.

Sensing my silent unease, Giorgi is quick to reassure me. "We're almost there. Trust me, the views are absolutely worth it."

## Climbing Mount Kazbek

![Snow-capped Mount Kazbek towering over the mountain landscape](/storage/image/prev/Gryzia-1-Kazbek-1024x683.jpg)

Giorgi works as an outdoor activities guide at the Rooms Hotel Kazbegi, which clings to a mountainside at 1,800 metres above sea level (about 5,900 feet) in Stepantsminda, the capital of Georgia's Kazbegi district.

It was originally built as a sanatorium back in the 1980s, when the country was still part of the Soviet Union, and served as a retreat for the elite.

Left abandoned for years, it was renovated by Adjara Group Hospitality and reopened its doors to guests in July 2012.

The hotel's most striking feature isn't man-made at all. Settle into any of its communal spaces, especially the vast open-air terrace, and you'll have a front-row seat to the splendour of Mother Nature.

Mount Kazbek, Georgia's third-highest peak, presides over the town with a snow-capped summit that pierces the clouds. Under its watchful gaze, at an altitude of 2,170 metres (7,120 feet), stands Gergeti Trinity Church, a favourite spot for pilgrims and mountain hikers alike.

We reach Juta by mid-morning, just in time to stay ahead of the crowds of day-hikers who flock to the region from the capital, Tbilisi, and the surrounding towns. In the winter months the village is completely cut off from the outside world, so the moment it becomes accessible again, its popularity soars.

After the first steep climb, we arrive at the "5th Season" mountain lodge. It's a popular stop for hikers coming back from the trail, known for local dishes like kuserbo, mashed fried potatoes blended with salty mountain cheese.

"The flavour here is incredible, especially after coming back from the pond," Giorgi says.

## A Vast Natural Landscape

![Glacial pond in a green river valley framed by rising mountains](/storage/image/prev/Gryzia-2-nnn-1024x683.jpg)

He's talking about the glacial pond that sits at the foot of Mount Chaukhi, nearly five kilometres away, in a stunning green river valley ringed by soaring peaks.

The views are mesmerising: pristine nature, untouched by human development.

At the pond, hikers from all over the world join us, proof that Georgia stands at the crossroads of East and West. A group of daring Ukrainians brave the icy water and plunge straight in.

## A Growing Tourism Scene

![Hikers resting by the pond and taking in the summit views](/storage/image/prev/Gryzia-3-nnn-1024x683.jpg)

Nearby sits a group of Russians and Turks, soaking up the views of the summit while snacking on local cherries.

"This whole country is about the size of South Carolina, but there's so much to do here," says Tim, a visitor from Colorado on a two-week cycling tour of the Caucasus. "There are new hiking and mountain-biking trails and, of course, plenty of good old-fashioned walking. Plus, the food is amazing, and the people are the most welcoming I've ever met."

He's right, Georgia is one of a kind. Breathtaking scenery and wonderful food meet a generous kind of hospitality. On top of that, it's only gradually finding its feet as a tourist destination, so there's still a romantic sense of discovery in the air.

As I muse on the country's tourism potential, I manage to sink knee-deep into the river at the bottom of a hill. Giorgi helps me out, but he can't quite hide his triumph.