Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Georgia

LAA

Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Georgia

LAA

Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Georgia

LAA

Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Georgia

LAA

Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Georgia

LAA

Ananuri

Georgia

REGION

Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Georgia

ALTITUDE

~800 m

TOP SIGHTS

Fortress walls and towers · Church of the Assumption · Zhinvali Reservoir viewpoint · Carved stone grapevine cross

BEST TIME TO VISIT

Year-round; the reservoir is at its most turquoise in early summer

HOW TO GET

70 km / 1 hr from Tbilisi on the Georgian Military Highway

TIME NEEDED

1–2 hours

Ananuri is the first great stop on the Georgian Military Highway and the reason most drives towards Kazbegi begin with a pause. The fortress was the seat of the dukes of Aragvi, and its walls, towers and two churches sit on a spur directly above the Zhinvali Reservoir.

The Church of the Assumption, finished in 1689, carries a famous carving on its façade: a grapevine cross flanked by beasts, the vine growing from the tomb of the man who built it.

The reservoir below turns an improbable turquoise in early summer when the snowmelt is running. By late summer the water drops and the drowned trees of the old valley reappear along the shoreline.

NEARBY LOCATIONS

Kazbegi

Gudauri

Mtskheta

Explore this destination with ORIENTO

Kazbegi Day Trip – The Georgian Military Highway

One of Georgia’s most dramatic drives in a single day. The Georgian Military Highway climbs north through gorges and alpine valleys to the foot of Mount Kazbek (5,047 m), ending at the iconic Gergeti Trinity Church. A long but unforgettable day of mountains, monuments and panoramic stops.

Departure from

Tbilisi

From

€

1 Day

Tbilisi and Kazbegi – Capital and Caucasus

A perfectly balanced two-day introduction to Georgia: the capital’s old town and a journey to the high Caucasus, with an overnight that lets you reach Gergeti Trinity Church without rushing.

Departure from

Tbilisi

From

€

2 Days

Kazbegi and Alpine Valleys Tour from Tbilisi (3 Days)

For mountain lovers: an overnight in Kazbegi allows a full exploration of the high valleys of Truso or Juta, away from the day-trip crowds.

Departure from

Tbilisi

From

€

132

3 Days

Kazbegi and Gergeti Overnight Tour from Tbilisi (3 Days)

A mountain-focused tour with an overnight in Stepantsminda, giving you the chance to see Gergeti Trinity Church in the early-morning light before the crowds.

Departure from

Tbilisi

From

€

102

3 Days