The May 1 holiday is coming, and a route takes you to Kazbek, a small town in online celebrity, Georgia.

Kazbegi, officially known as Stepantsminda, is a small town surrounded by mountains, located in the northeast of the Georgian state of Mtskheta-Mdianeti, near the Russian border. It is about 15 kilometers away from the capital Tbilisi, and it takes about two and a half hours by car. With beautiful scenery and convenient transportation, it has attracted more and more tourists in recent years with its colorful natural scenery and amazing hiking routes, and has become one of the must-see destinations in Georgia. Its mountain range of the same name, Kazbek Mountain, is the third highest mountain in Georgia, enjoying the reputation of "the soul of the Caucasus" and being called "the closest place to God" by Lonely Planet. Local attractions include the Stepantsminda Historic Museum in the town, the nearby Gergeti Trinity Church, Kazbek Mountain and Kazbek Nature Reserve.

After reading the introduction of the town, do you want to play? Do you know how to have a good time in Kazbek? Come with me, a route will take you to Kazbek in all directions!

Didi ~ The car has started. Are you ready to get on?

First of all, we start from Tbilisi, go all the way north, go to Mtskhta, and turn into Military Avenue. Then start our Georgian-Kazbek 4-day tour!

Tbilisi)- Mtskheta)- Bazaletti Lake

After breakfast, drive away. Along the way, you can enjoy the scenery of the Kula River or take a nap. After 3 minutes, get off and visit Jvari Monastery. After 1 hour and 3 minutes, continue to travel to Mtskheta. Visit the city, have lunch, then continue on the road after 2 hours, and arrive at the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. Visit for about 3-4 minutes, drive to Bazaleti Lake, stroll by the lake and watch the sunset. Later, arrange your own dinner and stay at Bazaleti Lake Hotel at night. (Note: Reservation is required in advance)

Jvari Monastery, also known as the Cross Monastery, is an Orthodox monastery in the sixth century, which is located near Mtskheta in eastern Georgia. The church has survived to this day and has become a rare case of early medieval churches in Georgia. The ancient church stands on the top of Jvari Mount at an altitude of 656 meters, which is one of the examples of the harmonious integration of Georgian architectural features and natural environment.

It is said that in the early 4th century, San Nino, a missionary, was famous for converting the Kingdom of Iberia to Christianity. She erected a wooden cross on the mountain. This wooden cross can do miracles and attract pilgrims from all over the world, so a small church was built here. Divari Monastery is an early "four arches and four niches" church, which is only visible in Georgia and Armenia. For centuries, the building has been damaged by rain and wind erosion, and due to insufficient manual maintenance, it has been included in the 24 World Monuments Watch by the World History Foundation.

Mtskheta is one of the oldest cities in Georgia and its former capital. It is located in Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Georgia, about 2 kilometers from Tbilisi. The town is the birthplace of Georgia and one of the most active Christian centers, and is regarded as a "holy city" by Georgians. Due to its historical significance and several cultural sites, UNESCO listed Mzhota as a World Heritage Site in 1994. In 216, its historical sites were placed under enhanced protection, including the magnificent medieval church Jvari Monastery and the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral.

Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, founded in the 4th century, is one of the oldest churches in Georgia. It is also the second cathedral in Georgia, second only to the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Tbilisi. In its name, "Sveti" means "pillar" and "tskhoveli" means "giving life" or "living". The 11th century church is located in the middle of the old city.

According to legend, Jesus was crucified in Jerusalem in the 1st century. The holy robe he wore at the time of suffering was bought by Elias, a Georgian Jew from Mzhota, from a Roman soldier in Golgotha and brought back to Georgia. His sister Sidonia put on this robe out of curiosity and died before she took it off. Elias buried her sister's body with the holy robe of Jesus, and then a towering cedar grew out of the grave. 3 years later, San Nino came to Mtshita to build a church on this tomb. Seven pillars made of cedar have supernatural properties and take off on their own. Sannino knelt and prayed all night before the pillar fell back to the earth. The church got its name from this.

bazaletti lake, located on the plateau of bazaletti lake, 4 kilometers away from Tbilisi, is the birthplace of volcanoes. There are not only beautiful lakes and natural scenery, but also well-known holiday resorts, especially the beautiful sunrises and sunsets. Here, you can also watch the white cylindrical colonnade, which is a symbol of friendship and love between Georgians and Jews for 25 years. Lake Bazaletti is 9 meters away from the sea level, surrounded by mountains, with fresh air. The lake water has a convalescent effect and can cure dermatoses, gynecological diseases, rheumatism and bone and joint diseases. Therefore, if you want to spend a healthy holiday, enjoy the beautiful scenery and recuperate, it will be a good place to go.

Bazaleti Lake Hotel opened here in 27. This is one of the most popular hotels for young people, with open-air pools, alleys and sports fields. When you come here, you can play guitar in nature, swim, tan and enjoy a happy time in midsummer.

Bazaleti Lake)- Dusheti)- Ananuri Fortress)- Gudauri)-Kvemo Okrokana Village-Kazbek

Get up early to watch the sunrise, and you are full of energy. Stretch, have breakfast and start the next day's trip. Depart from Lake Bazaletti and arrive in Tushetti town in 15-2 minutes. Visit St. George's Church in the 9th-1th century and Chilashvili Family Palace in the 18th century in turn. If you are interested, you can taste the local khinkali. After one and a half hours, you will return to Lake Bazaletti by the original road, turn to the military avenue, and go to Ananuri Fort, and arrive in 2-3 minutes. After staying here for 3 minutes, continue to the north, pass through Pasanauri town and go straight for about 1 hour, and then arrive at the ancient road. This journey is suitable for catching up on sleep. After lunch, go to Gudaoli Ski Resort. After that, go to the Russian-Georgian Friendship Monument and stay here for 3 minutes. Start the car again and drive to Kvemo Okrokana village. After getting off the bus, take a four-hour hike along Trousseau Gorge to get close to nature. After that, I drove to Kazbek town and stayed at Kazbek Rooms Boutique Hotel after dinner.

Dusheti, a small town in Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Georgia, is located 54 kilometers northeast of Tbilisi. Tushetti is a gathering area, known as "Shangri-La of Georgia". Ancient pagodas, churches and villages are everywhere. Colorful wildflowers and golden jungles set off beautiful mountains and rivers. There are many historical buildings and leisure places in and around the town, such as St. George's Church in the 9th-1th century and Chilashvili Family Palace in the 18th century. Bazaleti Lake and Ananuri Castle are also very close to here.

The spectacular medieval villages in Tushetti District are still inhabited by people who abide by the ancient pagan traditions. The mountain path twists and turns, like a fairyland on earth. The fortress ruins and the Shatili gathering area are like the fantastic exotic places described in Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. The local mountaineers are also very generous and hospitable, and will entertain visitors from afar with the most authentic khinkali (a kind of jiaozi filled with meat, boiled steamed stuffed bun in the eyes of China people). There are buses leading to Tbilisi in Tushetti town, and there is also an asphalt road leading to the expressway connecting Tbilisi and Kazbek (StepanMinda).

The Military Highway in Georgia is the main trunk road connecting the mountainous provinces in the Caucasus between Georgia and Russia, with a total length of 212 kilometers. In 181, Tsar Alexander I of the Russian Empire ordered the construction of the highway to facilitate the passage of troops between Georgia and Russia. Later, it gradually developed into a business travel route for trade between the two countries.

The scenery along the Military Avenue is pleasant, attracting many world-famous poets and writers to come here for inspiration. Chekhov, a Russian writer, once wrote: "I have been addicted to the military avenue. This is not a highway, but a poem. In 1914, the famous Russian travel magazine Verlag Karl Baedeker described the Georgian military avenue as "one of the most beautiful mountain roads in the world".

Ananuri Fortress was built in 13th century, and it was the main stronghold of Aragwa eristavs, the ruler of this area, and it was still an important military fortress until 19th century. The fortress consists of two fortifications, the upper fortification is a large square tower called Sheupovari, which has been well preserved so far; The lower fortification with a circular tower is now in ruins. Next to it is a Georgian Orthodox Church with a strong atmosphere. Ancient Georgian characters are carved on the wall, and there are gold-plated icons and flashing candles in the church.

Ananuri Fort is 7km away from Tbilisi, located in semi-Yamanoe, overlooking the surrounding great lakes. The emerald lake, which sets off the elegant castle, is one of the most attractive scenic spots on the military avenue. Lonely Planet selected it as the cover picture of Caucasian fascicle. The Georgian government applied for its inclusion in the World Cultural Heritage.

Gudauri, located on the southern slope of the Great Caucasus Mountains, is a popular holiday resort for Georgians and foreigners. The resort is located in StepanMinda District, along the Jvari Pass near Georgian military avenue, 12km away from Tbilisi. At an altitude of 2-22m, it is already a high mountain area with many beautiful mountains. The unique geological terrain and climatic conditions give people the opportunity to enjoy the sunshine all day. White winter scenery can heal the soul. The beautifully decorated ski slopes seem endless.

Gudauri Ski Resort is the most famous speed skating and paragliding resort in Georgia. The skiing season lasts from December to April, and the ski resort is open to the public free of charge. Only renting ski equipment needs to be paid. The length and difficulty of the track are different, meeting the requirements of professionals and amateurs. The neat ski run is 2 kilometers long and can provide all kinds of skiing possibilities. There are five different kinds of ski lifts at work. Each cable car offers several operating options. The highest point of the track is 325 meters and the lowest is 25 meters. The total length of the prepared track is over 57 kilometers. The ski lift is open from 1 am to 16 pm.

Russia-Georgia Friendship Monument was built in 1983 to commemorate the bicentennial of the signing of the Treaty of Georgievsk between Russia and Georgia, as well as the growing friendship between Soviet Georgia and Soviet Russia. This monument is located on the Georgian military avenue between Gudauri and Jvari Pass, a ski resort, 12km from Tbilisi. It is displayed as Gudauri View Point on Google Maps.

Inside the monument is a large tile mural depicting the historical scenes of Georgian and Russian people's lives. The reason why this monument wins the favor of tourists lies not only in the monument itself, but also in its location. At an altitude of 2384 meters, the view is excellent. In the distance, there are rolling mountains in the clouds, and below is a valley. There is a blue pool of water in the valley, just like a huge sapphire embedded in the emerald valley. On the viewing platform, you can enjoy the magnificent scenery of canyons and small artificial lakes. It is reported that the height of the monument is about 1 meters, where tourists can try paragliding, and many coaches provide services near the scenic spots, including Russian pilots. The cost is about 26 lari/person.

The entrance of Trousseau Gorge is the source of Tergi river, which is located on Georgian military highway, about 2km south of Kobi village. In addition to the beautiful natural scenery, there are many historical and cultural attractions in the valley, including abandoned villages, ancient towers, Zakagori fortress ruins, carbonated mineral water, glaciers and rivers, and large tracts of birch forests. Kvemo Okrokana village is located 4 kilometers deep in the valley, and our hiking will be from here.