Kazbegi | Always Visit the Church Closest to Heaven ⛪️

There's a place you want to see just for the view, and that leads you to a whole country. This is Kazbegi, located at the border between Georgia and Russia, and it's the highest peak of the Caucasus Mountains. The Gergeti Trinity Church on the mountain is known as the church closest to heaven. Starting from May, the snow mountains gradually melt, the grassy mountains turn green, wildflowers bloom, filling the air with romance and freedom. From the capital of Georgia, Tbilisi, it's a 3-hour drive to the town at the foot of the mountain, Stepantsminda, which is also charmingly called "Stepantsminda" in Chinese. It's highly recommended to spend a night here; waking up under the snow mountain is an amazing experience! 📍 How to Get There There are three common ways to get there: ❶ Self-driving: It's a 3-hour drive from Tbilisi, but the mountain roads are not easy to navigate, and Georgian drivers can be quite aggressive, so be cautious. ❷ Mini-bus: There are mini-buses from Didube station in Tbilisi to Kazbegi. Look for the right license plate. The fare is 15 Lari per person, with a stop halfway for a restroom break. ❸ Day tour: Many travel agencies near Freedom Square offer day tours. The trip stops at three scenic spots, including the Ananuri Fortress on the cover of Lonely Planet, as well as a restaurant and a shopping spot. You can usually negotiate the price to 45-50 Lari per person, but the schedule is a bit tight. Both the mini-bus and day tour require a transfer to a mountain-climbing vehicle in town, with an additional cost of 20 Lari per person. The driver usually waits for 30 minutes on the mountain. 📷 Photography Tips Don't go all the way up to the top of the church; the parking lot below is the best viewing spot. Here are two recommended spots: ❶ From the lawn in front of the parking lot, you can take a group photo with the lawn, church, and snow mountain, which is the most classic spot. Sitting on the lawn and looking at the church and snow mountain is really healing. ❷ Near the cross opposite the parking lot, you can capture the cross, church, and snow mountain in the same frame. Using the height of the small hill for portraits is also beautiful. I personally prefer this spot more. 🏨 Accommodation Tips It's highly recommended to spend a night here. Firstly, it's not too tough, and you'll have more time to experience the place. Secondly, the afternoons are often cloudy, and the weather is better for an early morning visit. If you're lucky, you can witness the golden sun illuminating the snow mountain. The recommended hotel is Rooms, which has an amazing view of the town. All public areas have floor-to-ceiling windows facing the snow mountain, and the American retro-style soft decoration creates a great atmosphere. Opt for a mountain view room, and you can see the snow mountain from your room's balcony. It must be mentioned that the hotel's food is excellent. I had three meals a day here, and the quality is really top-notch. The various baked goods for breakfast are super delicious; I can eat two croissants by myself. The special drinks at the lobby bar are also very tasty. It's a bit more than a kilometer from the town station to the hotel, and walking uphill with luggage can be difficult. A taxi ride is about 10 Lari, or you can directly take a Bolt from the hotel to the church on the mountain. #Kazbegi #Georgia #Caucasus #Travel #SnowMountain #Strategy #Food