Georgia 🇬🇪 Day trip to Kazbegi. 15 July 2026

Walking to Budget travel for the 2nd day of North and Eastern area of Georgia.

Our first stop is the Zhinvali water dam for a photo stop.

Dogs and the traditional open Bazar of souvenirs.

Driving a few kilometers further we stop at Ananuri castle. 

The legend goes that the invaders (Tatars), surrounded Ananuri Castle. They assumed that the trapped Georgians would quickly starve or surrender, the defenders survived comfortably for weeks because of a secret underground tunnel that led directly to the Aragvi River, allowing them to fetch fresh water and food.

The tunnels.

To mock the starving invaders, the castle guards threw fresh fish out over the walls. Realizing a secret passage existed, the invaders captured Ana, a brave local woman, who came from the nearby village of Nuri. They tortured her severely to reveal the tunnel's location. Ana chose to die under torture rather than betray her people. In honor of her ultimate sacrifice, locals combined her name and home village to name the stronghold "Ana-Nuri".

Tower to watch out for enemies.

The Ananuri Castle Complex is a late-medieval fortress in Georgia that served as the primary stronghold and seat of the powerful Eristavis (Dukes) of Aragvi. Positioned along the Aragvi River, it controlled vital mountain trade corridors linking central Georgia to the North Caucasus. This historical bottleneck allowed the Aragvi dynasty to collect taxes, build defensive fortifications, and play a major role in Georgia's regional feudal wars from the 13th to the early 19th centuries

After the excursion in complex we are heading to the north. On the way we stop at place were 2 rivers (Black and White 

"Aragvi" mix)

The next stop is Viewpoint of Gudauri. There is a wonderful view on Caucasus mountain range from the viewpoint.

Then we visit Holy Trinity Church of Gergeti.