Kazbegi National Park Additional Sightseeing in the Region
While visiting Kazbegi National Park you will have a chance to see the following:
- Gergeti Holy Trinity Church - The monument is located 6 km away from Stepantsminda borough and represents XIV c. temple. In order to get to Gergeti you must take the course toward village Gergeti, from where you can get to the top of the mount to see the monument, either in a 4-wheller drive car or on foot.
- Gveleti Waterfall - is located in Dariali Gorge near village Gveleti, 7 km away from Stepantsminda borough. In order to get to the waterfall you have to descend in Dariali Gorge, from where there is a narrow path leading to the waterfall. You must get off the car and walk on foot for last 700 m of the trip.
- Jvari Overpass - is located in the north of the Caucasus watershed and is branded by the US National Geographic Society as a boundary between Europe and Asia. The overpass is located 5 km away from Gudauri and 30 km away from Stepantsminda.
- To the right of Jvari Overpass toward direction of Stepantsminda there is Cemetery for German Prisoners of War. It is worth noting that after the end of Warld War II thousands of German Prisoners of War were involved in force labour and many of them had died. The cemetery was restored in 2002 with the financial support of the Government of Germany.
- Truso Gorge - is located in the gorge of river Terek on the northern slopes of the Caucasus, between the main watershed of the Caucasus and Khokhi ridge. The distance from Truso Gorge to village Kobi is 25 km. The distance from Stepantsminda to village Kobi is 20 km. In the gorge you can find historical-cultural monuments, remains of villages, travertines deposited from mineral waters, glacial and river covers. There are contemporary glaciers on surrounding ranges (Western, Middle and Eastern Suatis, Mna, Resi etc.) Truso Gorge is rich with hydrocarbonatic mineral waters. The springs of Keterisi and Abano are distinguished by their large debit. Birch trees can be found scattered around the gorge.
- Dariali Gorge - is a part of river Terek in Kazbegi Municipality. It starts at the mouth of river Chkheri (Stepantsminda Borough) and ends at Upper Larsi (length 11 km). The gorge becomes the narrowest and rocky at the part where rivers Kabakhi and Khda merge. The Georgian Military Highway runs along Dariali Gorge, while the remains of the old bullock cart road are still visible (at the mouth of river Devdorak). There are waterfalls and two small lakes in the gorge near Gveleti.
- In Dariali Gorge, on the right bank of river Terek, on the high rocky mountain, the northern and eastern sides of which were inaccessible, and to the west the mountain base is blocked with walls, is situated the monument of Georgian architecture - Dariali Fortress. In order to get to the forterss, you have to go toward Dariali Gorge (10 km from Stepantsminda borough). It is impossible to get to the fortress without a pass, since you have to go through the customs.
- Khda Gorge - is located at the northern edge of Georgia, near Larsi border crossing. Mountain climbers are the most frequent visitors of the gorge. In order to get to Khda Gorge it is necessary to descend in Dariali Gorge, then there is a foot path on the side of the newly built monastery complex, which runs along river Brolistskali. The distance from Stepantsminda borough to the monastery is 11 km. The length of the foot path is approximately 17 km.
- Artkhmo Gorge - starts from village Akhaltsikhe (Sno Gorge) and runs along the bed of Artkhmostsklali river. Here we can find old and deserted villages of Miguda and Artkhmo. There are waterfalls here as well. The road from Stepantsminda to the direction of Sno Gorge until village Akhaltsikhe is 10 km. The distance to Artkhmo Gorge is 8 km.
- Village Juta - the highest inabited area (2,200 m) in Kazbegi Municipality. Nearby Chaukhi mountain system is located on the main ridge of the Caucasus, at the start of river Bakurkhevi. The heighest pint is 3,688 m above sea level. The road from Stepantsminda to village Juta is 24 km, 8 km of which (to village Sno) is paved, and 16 km is a gravel road.