Georgia & the Caucasus

The briefing

Georgia packs an improbable amount into a small country: serious mountain ranges on the Russian border, medieval tower villages in protected highland valleys, a baroque capital with sulphur baths, and a wine culture older than any in France. Kazbegi in the north is the most accessible serious mountain destination in the Caucasus - the Gergeti Trinity Church at 2,170 m above the valley floor is the most-photographed sight in Georgia, but the real draw is the trails above it toward the glaciers of Mount Kazbek. Svaneti to the west is more demanding and more spectacular: UNESCO-protected tower villages, multi-day trails, and a mountain culture that feels entirely its own. Georgia & the Caucasus rewards an early start and a loose afternoon, not a packed checklist.

Kazbegi in the north is the most accessible serious mountain destination in the Caucasus - the Gergeti Trinity Church at 2,170 m above the valley floor is the most-photographed sight in Georgia, but the real draw is the trails above it toward the glaciers of Mount Kazbek. Svaneti to the west is more demanding and more spectacular: UNESCO-protected tower villages, multi-day trails, and a mountain culture that feels entirely its own.

The price point makes Georgia almost unfair. Excellent food, warm guesthouses, and a hospitality culture built on the supra tradition - long communal feasts with toasting and wine - mean every evening is as good as the trail day before it.

How to get there

Gateway airports: TBS. Build the rest of the trip around the arrival.

Book first

Flights - TBS → Stay near the trailhead or hut belt in Georgia & the Caucasus → Operator - hut, permit, or mountain guide once the dates exist