Introducing Georgian Military Highway
This ancient passage from Tbilisi over the Caucasus to Vladikavkaz in Russia is a spectacular adventure. The dirt track through the challenging mountain terrain was only properly engineered as a road in the early 19th century with the Russian annexation of the Caucasus. The scenery is dramatic even before the road gets into the Caucasus itself – the road clings to the side of the turquoise Zhinvali Reservoir and passes the sublime architecture of Ananuri and the ski resort of Gudauri before entering the most remote, eerily deserted mountain regions around its highest point, the Jvari (Cross) Pass. It then descends the Tergi (Terek in Russian) valley with its several settlements as it approaches the Russian border. Unfortunately, due to the continued closure of the Russian–Georgian border, the route is currently a dead end, but Kazbegi, the last town, is a superb base for walking, climbing and bird-watching.
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Last updated: Feb 17, 2009
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
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RE: 2-day mountainbiking route - looking for advice
by hitchhikershandbook 07 May 2012
Hi Juri, We have recently published a guide on travelling in Georgia that might be useful to you. You can read it [here|http://hitchhiker…
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RE: Suggestions for a 7000 mile walking trek...and no, I'm not crazy...
by donjojohannes 24 April 2012
@ rings of saturn, thanks for your interest. Russia > Georgia I've been following the relevant threads here on LP about 3rd-country…
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East Turkey, Georgia and Israel in 3 weeks!
by pauljs77 10 February 2012
I'm flying to Trabzon in East Turkey at beginning of May and plan to head up to Georgia to see Tbilisi and the Caucusus mountains on the…
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