Duration: 4 days, 3 nights | Total Driving: ~350 km | Total Trekking: 30-35 km

Activities: Hiking, Horse Riding (35 km), Rafting (50 min) | Difficulty: Moderate

Tour Highlights

• Hike to Gergeti Trinity Church with Mount Kazbek (5,047m) as backdrop
• Trek through the dramatic Chaukhi mountain range – “Georgian Dolomites”
• Discover the three-colored Abudelauri Lakes (white, blue, and green)
• Explore Shatili – a medieval fortress village frozen in time
• Visit Mutso’s clifftop ruins overlooking the Argun Gorge
• 35 km horse riding through the highland valleys of Khevsureti
• Whitewater rafting on the Aragvi River
• Cross the spectacular 2,395m Cross Pass on the Georgian Military Road
• Visit Ananuri Fortress and Jinvali Reservoir
• Stay overnight in the remote alpine village of Juta (2,200m)

The Greater Caucasus mountains stretch across Georgia’s northern border like a fortress wall – and this tour takes you deep inside. You’ll visit two of Georgia’s most dramatic mountain regions: Kazbegi (Khevi) with its iconic church and glacier-covered peaks, and Khevsureti, the isolated warrior kingdom where medieval traditions survived into living memory.

What makes this tour special is the combination of experiences. Day one ends with you standing beneath 5,000-meter peaks at Gergeti Trinity Church. Day two takes you over the rugged Chaukhi Pass to lakes that glow turquoise, emerald, and white. Day three puts you on horseback through highland valleys that most tourists never see. Day four finishes with the rush of whitewater before returning to Tbilisi.

The Mtskheta-Mtianeti region, where this tour takes plac,e is Georgia at its most dramatic: alpine peaks, narrow gorges, stone towers rising from clifftops, and communities that maintained their own laws and traditions for centuries. You’ll cover serious ground – 350 km of driving and 30+ km of trekking – but every kilometer reveals something extraordinary.

Driving: ~150 km | Hiking: 6-8 km | Duration: Full day | Overnight: Guesthouse in Juta (2,200m)

We depart Tbilisi early morning, heading north on the legendary Georgian Military Road – the historic route connecting Georgia with Russia through the heart of the Caucasus. The first stop is the Jinvali Reservoir, a man-made lake surrounded by forested mountains, followed by Ananuri Fortress, a medieval castle complex perched dramatically above the water.

The road climbs steadily toward the Cross Pass (Jvari Pass) at 2,395 meters, where a friendship monument and panoramic viewpoint offer your first truly dramatic Caucasus views. On clear days, you can see Mount Kazbek’s snow-covered summit from here.

Continuing north to the town of Stepantsminda (Kazbegi), we transfer to 4×4 vehicles for the steep drive or hike to Gergeti Trinity Church. This 14th-century church perched at 2,170 meters, with the 5,047-meter Mount Kazbek as backdrop, is one of the most photographed sites in Georgia. Time permitting, we visit the impressive Gveleti Waterfall in the gorge below.

In the late afternoon, we drive to Juta – one of the highest inhabited villages in Georgia at 2,200 meters, nestled beneath the dramatic rock towers of the Chaukhi massif. Tonight’s accommodation is in a traditional guesthouse with views of tomorrow’s trekking terrain.

Trekking: 23 km | Duration: 8-10 hours | Elevation: +600m / -1,388m | Max: 3,338m (Chaukhi Pass) | Driving: ~60 km | Overnight: Guesthouse in Shatili

This is the big day – the full Chaukhi Pass trek from Juta to Roshka, one of the most spectacular hiking routes in Georgia. We start early from Juta, climbing through alpine meadows toward the dramatic rock towers of the Chaukhi massif, sometimes called the “Georgian Dolomites” for their striking vertical formations.

The trail leads to the Abudelauri Lakes – three alpine lakes each with a distinct color: white (milky glacial water), blue (crystal clear), and green (mineral-rich). These natural wonders sit at around 2,800 meters in a glacial cirque surrounded by jagged peaks. The scenery here is otherworldly.

From the lakes, we continue climbing to Chaukhi Pass at 3,338 meters – the highest point of the tour. The views from the pass are extraordinary: the Chaukhi towers behind you, the Khevsureti highlands stretching ahead. The descent to the village of Roshka is steep but rewarding, with the landscape transitioning from alpine to subalpine meadows.

In Roshka, our vehicle meets us for the drive to Shatili, crossing into the historical province of Khevsureti. Shatili is unlike anywhere else – a medieval fortress village of interconnected stone towers and houses that seems to grow organically from the cliff face. Tonight we sleep in one of Georgia’s most extraordinary places.

Horse Riding: ~35 km | Duration: 5-7 hours in saddle | Sightseeing: Shatili, Mutso | Driving: ~80 km | Overnight: Guesthouse in Barisakho area

After breakfast in Shatili, we spend the morning exploring this remarkable village. The Khevsurs were legendary mountain warriors who maintained their own customs, language elements, and medieval traditions well into the 20th century. Walking through Shatili’s narrow passages between stone towers, you’re stepping into a world that few outsiders ever saw.

We then drive to Mutso, an abandoned fortress village perched dramatically on a cliff above the Argun River gorge. The setting is stunning – stone towers seem to grow from the rock itself, overlooking a river that forms Georgia’s border with Russia. The isolation here is palpable.

The afternoon brings a completely different experience: horse riding through the Khevsureti highlands. Local horses are sturdy mountain breeds, accustomed to the terrain. The route takes us through alpine meadows, past shepherd camps, and along valley floors where the only sounds are hoofbeats and rushing water. This 35-kilometer ride is the perfect way to cover ground while experiencing the landscape as Khevsur warriors did for centuries.

We overnight in a guesthouse in the Barisakho area, preparing for tomorrow’s final adventure.

Rafting: ~50 minutes (Class II-III rapids) | Driving: ~60 km | Return: Tbilisi by afternoon

The tour ends with an adrenaline rush. We drive to the Aragvi River, fed by the snowmelt and rainfall of the Greater Caucasus, for approximately 50 minutes of whitewater rafting. The Aragvi offers Class II-III rapids – exciting enough to get your heart racing, accessible enough for beginners with a professional guide.

All safety equipment (helmets, life jackets, wetsuits if needed) is provided. Our experienced rafting guides know every rapid and eddy. The river cuts through forested gorges with the mountains rising on either side – it’s a spectacular final perspective on the landscape you’ve spent four days exploring.

After the rafting, we dry off, change clothes, and begin the drive back to Tbilisi, arriving in the afternoon. Four days of hiking, riding, rafting, and cultural discovery complete – and you’ll have covered ground that few travelers ever see.

The Ultimate Greater Caucasus Adventure

This 4-day tour delivers more variety and adventure than any other multi-day trip in Georgia. You’ll hike beneath 5,000-meter peaks, cross a high alpine pass, explore medieval fortress villages, ride horses through highland valleys, and finish with whitewater thrills – all in four action-packed days.

We’ve been running adventures in the Greater Caucasus since 2015, and this tour represents our greatest hits: the most dramatic landscapes, the most authentic cultural experiences, and the most exciting activities, all combined into one unforgettable journey.

Ready to experience the real Caucasus? Contact us with any questions or to check availability for your dates.