Gergeti Trinity Church and Kazbegi

The Gergeti Trinity Church, standing alone on a green hilltop above the town of Stepantsminda in the high Caucasus, is one of the most iconic and breathtaking sights in Georgia. This solitary fourteenth-century stone church, with its simple dome, is framed and dwarfed by the towering, glaciated 5,000-metre cone of Mount Kazbek rising behind it, a scene of sublime beauty. Reached by a hike or a rough drive up from the town, and along the dramatic Georgian Military Highway, it epitomises the wild grandeur of the mountains.

What you actually see

• The church and Mount Kazbek - the lone church framed by the towering peak.
• The hilltop hike - the walk up from Stepantsminda to the church.
• The Georgian Military Highway - the dramatic mountain road there.
• The Caucasus scenery - the high peaks, valleys and villages.

When to go

June to September, the summer, for the clearest weather, green hillsides and safest mountain roads; the peak of Kazbek is often shrouded in cloud, so allow time or luck for a clear view. Winter brings deep snow and difficult, sometimes closed, mountain roads.

Honest expectations

The summit of Mount Kazbek is very often hidden by cloud, so the famous clear view of the church framed by the peak is not guaranteed; patience and a clear day are needed. The Georgian Military Highway is dramatic but winding and can be busy with trucks. The hike up is steep. The scene, on a clear day, is one of the most sublime in the Caucasus.

Nearby

The Georgian Military Highway, the Truso Valley and the mountains are around.