National park · Georgia
Kazbegi National Parkკაზბეგის ეროვნული პარკი
Enter Kazbegi NP (≈5 GEL per adult) and hike Gergeti Trinity Church early (≤9 AM) for a short view, or tackle Mt Kazbek (hard) in June‑Sept; avoid July‑Aug crowds by starting at sunrise.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
More
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
1,446 km² (558 sq mi)558 sq mi (1,446 km²)
approximate
Established
1976
Best months
May–Jun, Sep
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 7The Armenia–Azerbaijan and Armenia–Türkiye land borders a…Georgia treats entry to Abkhazia or South Ossetia from Ru…Do not plan travel to Abkhazia or South Ossetia
- Caucasus ↗The Armenia–Azerbaijan and Armenia–Türkiye land borders are closed; any route that crosses them is not a route, however short it looks.
- Caucasus ↗Georgia treats entry to Abkhazia or South Ossetia from Russia as illegal; entering that way can mean arrest or a ban when you next reach Georgia proper.
- Georgia ↗Many passports enter visa-free for a long stay; if yours needs a visa, apply only on the official e-visa portal.
- Georgia ↗Do not plan travel to Abkhazia or South Ossetia: crossing their boundary lines from Georgian-controlled land is treated as illegal entry, and many governments advise against it.
- Georgia ↗In Orthodox churches women cover their heads and shoulders and wear a skirt or a wrap; men remove hats and avoid shorts.
- Georgia ↗Carry Georgian lari in small notes for minibuses, markets and the metro card; cards work in most Tbilisi cafés and shops but not everywhere outside the capital.
- Kartli ↗Minibuses (marshrutkas) have little space for large bags: leave the big bag at the Tbilisi hotel and take a day pack.
At a glance
- Country
- Georgia
- Area
- 1,446 km² (558 sq mi)558 sq mi (1,446 km²)
- Park covers about 1,446 km² of alpine terrain (check for exact boundary revisions).
- Established
- 1976
- Best months
- May–Jun, Sep
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Kazbegi
Kazbegi National Park protects Georgia's high‑altitude landscapes, including Mt Kazbek, glaciers, historic sites like Gergeti Trinity Church, and diverse alpine wildlife; it offers trails from easy day hikes to challenging summit treks.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- Special national siteProtected alpine landscape.
Size and age
1,446 km² (558 sq mi)558 sq mi (1,446 km²) · national park since 1976
Park covers about 1,446 km² of alpine terrain (check for exact boundary revisions).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Kazbegi.
Why go
- Alpine scenery with Mt Kazbek and glaciers.
- Historic monuments like Gergeti Trinity Church nearby.
- Well‑marked trails from easy to challenging.
When to go
- JanCaution
- FebCaution
- MarGo
- AprGo
- MayBest
- JunBest
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepBest
- OctGo
- NovCaution
- DecCaution
- JanCold, snow on high passes.
- FebWinter conditions persist.
- MarSnow melt, fewer tourists.
- AprWildflowers, still some snow.
- MayClear trails, moderate temps.
- JunStable weather, good for summit.
- JulThunderstorms possible.
- AugRainy, avalanche risk.
- SepDry, autumn colours.
- OctCool, early snow.
- NovSnowfall begins.
- DecWinter conditions.
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden eagles, chamois, alpine marmotsJun–Sep | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Brown bears (rare sightings)May–Aug | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Tbilisi
Bus or minibus to Stepantsminda (Kazbegi) – 3 h; then 5 km (3.1 mi) road to park gate.Bus or minibus to Stepantsminda (Kazbegi) – 3 h; then 3.1 mi (5 km) road to park gate.
3–4 h
Open the page →
From Stepantsminda (Kazbegi town)
Local taxi or walk 5 km (3.1 mi) north to the gate.Local taxi or walk 3.1 mi (5 km) north to the gate.
15 min by taxi, 45 min walk
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Stepantsminda entrance area | Visitor centre, ticket office, short trails to Gergeti Church. | Open daily, ticket required. |
| High alpine zone | Mt Kazbek summit route, glaciers, alpine meadows. | Guided access only. |
Sketch map
Take the points offline
3 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Coordinates approximate for main attractions; park spans a large alpine area.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry (adult) | GEL 5 | person | Check at gate for child rates. |
| Guided Mt Kazbek summit | GEL 150–200 | person | Required for summit; includes equipment. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry permit or guide
Summit permit permit or guide
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- GEL 5
- GEL 150–200
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on National Parks of Georgia – Kazbegi NP before you go.
Park rules
- Guides
- Required for any trek beyond the Gergeti Church area.
- Camping
- Only in designated campsites; wild camping prohibited.
- Drones
- Not allowed without park authority permission.
- Fires
- Open fires banned; use stoves only in campsites.
- Pets
- Dogs must be on leash; some zones prohibit pets.
Where to stay
Near the park
Stepantsminda guesthouses
Simple rooms, family‑run, 5‑10 min walk to gate.
In the park
Kazbegi mountain lodges
Basic cabins for summit trekkers, require reservation.
Safety
Altitude sickness medium
Rapid weather change high
Avalanche on glacier high
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Visitor centre reachable by car; short trail to Gergeti Church has steep sections, not wheelchair‑friendly.
Visiting lightly
- Use licensed guides to support local economy.
- Carry out all waste; avoid single‑use plastics.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Kazbegi National Park?
Entry is about 5 GEL per adult; children pay less. Check at the gate for exact rates.
What are the best hikes in Kazbegi National Park?
Gergeti Trinity Church (easy, 1–2 h) and the Mt Kazbek summit trek (hard, 2 days with guide) are the most popular.
When is the best time to visit Kazbegi National Park?
June to September offers stable weather and open trails; May and October are also possible with cooler temps.
Do I need a guide for the Gergeti Church hike?
No, the short trail is marked and can be done independently after paying entry.
Is camping allowed in the park?
Only in designated campsites; wild camping is prohibited.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Ask about Kazbegi National Park
Loading…
Was this useful?