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Kazbegi (officially Stepantsminda, the village name) sits at 1,750 m altitude where the Georgian Military Highway dramatically opens onto the slopes of Mt. Kazbek. The peak is the highest in the country and the 7th-highest in Europe — and the postcard image of Gergeti Trinity Church floating above the valley with Kazbek behind it is one of the most recognised photographs in travel.

The drive up from Tbilisi (3 hours) is itself the destination: stops at the Ananuri fortress on a turquoise lake, the Russia-Georgia Friendship Monument with its mosaic mural, and a half-dozen Soviet-era mineral springs. Plan for 1 night minimum if you want to do the Gergeti hike, which takes 4 hours round-trip from the village square.